March 23, 2002

Jason Upton, Matt Brinkmann, Marissa Barkey, Jim Parroco and Duane Clark were invited by Lars Enarson, founder of The Watchman International, to come and lead worship for their annual Passover Conference and Prayer Convocation in Israel.

This year, the "Passover in Israel" event began on March 23rd with an intercessory prayer tour of Israel and culminated with the 4-day conference where we led worship.

For the sixth year, The Watchman International invited intercessors from around the world to come to Israel during Passover to intercede "on site with insight" for the promised salvation for Israel.

They had held this event for the 5 previous years, but had never seen the breakthrough they had been praying for. During the planning for this year's event, Brad Carignan, of WI had been given a copy of Jason's "Key Of David" CD, and the Lord spoke very clearly to him that THIS was the group that they needed to invite to lead worship.

The conference promoter said, "The body of believers in Israel is in DESPERATE need for a touch from God. Many other ministries have tried in the past to see God move here, some have succeeded, but there has yet to be a move of God that has sustained."

" . . . there will be a stage for a MAJOR move of God that could eternally change the direction of the Church in Israel forever. You guys are key to what we are believing God for."

And as it turned out, there were Israeli Jews, Russian Jews, Ethiopian Jews, Arab believers, Lebanese believers and western Christians all together; all praising and worshiping Jesus with all their hearts. A full 25% of the believing population of Israel was gathered there to be ministered to. The Watchman International invested $500,000 to pay the expenses so those who hungered for the presence of God could come and drink deep from the river of God.

Here is a first hand report from Duane Clark, worship team member.

"Our time there was more intense than anything I've ever known in my life. In the 5 days we were there, there were 5 suicide bombings (one was only a couple of miles from where we were). And each night, the Orthodox Jews were massed outside the gates of the compound, protesting and rioting and wrestling and fighting with the men assigned to protect us. Reviling and accusing us of coming to steal the souls of their children. Without exaggeration, the odds of our very survival weren't in our favor. But inside, the presence of God was so strong and powerful that many times, it was difficult to stand, because the weight of His Glory was so heavy.

And we believe that every single person was touched and transformed. Even though there were 5 different languages spoken (only a few spoke English), The Holy Spirit was able to transcend that barrier to do the work necessary in each life. There were those who were baptized in the Holy Spirit and who began to sing and pray in a language they did not know. There were people set free from demonic oppression (for example, a 21 year old man who had not been able to speak since he was 4 years old because of a mute spirit, began to speak during the song "Freedom"). And there were those wracked with pain who were instantly healed in the midst of praise and worship (for example, a woman who had been injured in a suicide bombing attack in 1997, and who had had to take up to 20 pain relief pills a day even to get the pain to a tolerable level was completely healed).

They were touched and they were taught (by Dr. Michael Brown and Bob Gladstone, formerly of the Brownsville Revival Church); they were encouraged and they were equipped to go back to their towns and villages to share the gospel and to minister hope and healing to a people that are hurting so badly."

The sponsors believe that the breakthrough they had envisioned and had been praying for since 1993 has finally arrived! Some leaders are saying there has NEVER before been a gathering of this nature in the history of Israel since the days of the Bible. And the entire team returned home safe and sound! Praise God!

For Praise & Worship resources and study tools, click on:

http://praiseandworship.homestead.com/GreetingPage.html
www.mp3.com/WDuaneClark