Organizational Highlight: Tent of Nations
by Natalie Wisely, World Vision
Located in the southwest hills of Bethlehem, Tent of Nations is a family run farm focused on bringing people of various cultures together to build bridges for understanding, reconciliation, and peace.
Though their land is under constant threat of confiscation by the Israeli military, the Nassar family has adopted the slogan “We Refuse to be Enemies” to define their ministry.
This steadfast courage is never more poignant than when it is directly faced with opposition.
On Monday, May 19, 2014, at 8:00am more than 1,500 of their apricot and apple trees were uprooted and grape plants were smashed and destroyed by the Israeli military. These trees were planted by the Nassar family on their land 10 years ago and are some of the most fruitful the family owns.
Two weeks prior, on May 5, military authorities placed a sign declaring the trees were planted on “State Land.” The Nassars immediately filed an appeal to clarify the land was not state land and that the trees belonged to the family. The Nassar family has spent years re-registering their land with the state to prove their legitimate ownership and clarified in the appeal that this process is underway. According to Israeli law, once an appeal is filed, no demolition or evacuation is allowed until the final verdict has been decided. Despite the fact the Nassars have followed all laws, their property has been destroyed. They are taking the case to court and seeking compensation for the trees that were illegally destroyed.
Despite this tragedy, Daoud Nassar’s response is, “We cannot overcome evil with more evil. We cannot overcome hatred with more hatred. We must do good. We must live the Jesus way.”
Get further updates on this story and learn more about Tent of Nations at: http://www.tentofnations.org/
Also learn what action steps you can take to support Tent of Nations at Friends of Tent of Nations North America: http://www.fotonna.org/
We invite you to pray with us…
Father,
You said: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV) But we confess that we are often troubled and fearful when we receive news of wrongdoing being done. Knowing our own weaknesses, we ask for your strength and courage for our brothers and sisters, the Nassars.
We ask for your peace for the Nassars as they seek to follow Your call to show love to all people.
We ask for You to protect their hearts from becoming hardened.
We ask for wisdom for their lawyer as they bring this destruction of property before the court.
We pray that Daoud and his family’s material, emotional, and spiritual needs will be met.
We ask that You would transform this tragic circumstance and use it as an opportunity to build understanding and reconciliation.
We pray for an end to this conflict, and abundant life for all people of the Holy Land; Christian, Jew, and Muslim.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I have been blessed to know see the ministry of the Tent of Nations first hand. It is a blessing to many! The children who attend the summer camps are given the opportunity of dreaming about a better future. Internationals from around the world have a first hand glimpse of the power of Christ through the ministry of the Nassar family and their farm. God, I pray that you would be especially close to them during this time. Strengthen their hearts and their spirits as they seek to respond to the material loss of so many fruit trees and olive trees. Give them the material resources they need to continue to remain in the land of their forefathers. God, I pray that the ministry of the Nassar family would be a blessing to their neighbors and to people around the world. As the global church seeks to follow Jesus, help us to come alongside of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering. We pray for your divine intervention on behalf of the Nassar family. Thank you, Lord Jesus. In Christ.
Amen.
Lord,
We know that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. In Jesus’ Name, we come as brothers and sisters and intercede for this injustice. As the body of Christ, we hurt with Daoud and his family. This destruction of property has been done against all of us. Bring to justice those who have wronged Daoud. And we pray forgiveness as well.
I pray for the miraculous, knowing that anything is possible through you. We put our hope in YOU, Lord– not the government, not in man, not in land… but in You alone. May You continue to be glorified even in the things we don’t understand.
“I will remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of The Lord.” Psalm 27
Amen.
We are praying peace, comfort and forgiveness over this situation as we stand together and believe God to bring restoration and justice to this family. We pray this family knows the amounts of people who mourn with you in this injustice and are readily taking action on their behalf. God, you said we are to care for the under-dogs and the oppressed. We serve a God who is personal and true to HIs word. We love you Lord and choose to trust you right now. Pour out blessings on this family and ministry we pray…we need your favor. Amen.
Dear Lord,
I pray for the Nassar family in this time of great difficulty. Thank you for their hearts in refusing to be enemies with those who have wronged them. Lord I lift them up to you and reveal to them your perfect will and way in regards to their situation. Continue to protect the heart of Daoud as he leads his family for wisdom in the coming days. Guide his hands and feet so that the world may see the love of Christ through the Nassar family. Lord, please be with all those who are involved and I pray you transform the hearts of all through this.
In Jesus name. Amen.
Father,
Magnify Your Name. You are worthy of all praise and adoration. “Be exalted” is the cry of my heart. Lord, Your Word informs me that You are a God of Justice. Your heart aches for the poor and the oppressed, and you proved that when You came to earth. Lord I lift up my brother Daoud to You. Please continue to pour out more of Your Chesed upon Him. More of Your Spirit upon Him. More of Your love. Please continue to transform His heart more into the likeness of Yours. Please comfort Him in this struggle and help Him to see this situation the way You see it. Thank You for Daoud and the witness he is shining for Your glory in that place. Fill him so he may continue to be the light of the world, a city on a hill. In Jesus’ name, amen.
You are the God who sees.
You are the God who is just.
You are the Lord of lords.
Help us to trust You and serve you through this difficult situation.
Comfort those who are suffering.
Help us to seek your help and guidance as a family in all the things that are happening.
Help us to allow You to work in and through this.
Lord, please be with those who suffer. May your presence provide for their needs.
In Jesus Name,
You are in our prayer,
Amen.
O King and Divine Creator of all things,
Please humble your children before you, I come with a heart of frustration and sadness. There is war and conflict in the land. May your Spirit of Truth, Reconciliation, and Love cleanse and heal the land. May your Spirit bring Holy understanding to the people of the land. I ask that your love permeate all the hearts of both the Israelis and Palestinians and spur them on to live in peace and joy. Let the way of Jesus overflow onto all nations. By your love we are free, by your love we are loved. You are mighty and pure, let your will be done and your Kingdom come here on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.
Lord,
We thank you for the Nassar family. We thank you for their love and commitment to nonviolence and to loving their neighbor. Father we pray blessings and favor over this family. We ask that you would continue to strengthen them in the midst of the chaos and struggle. We ask that their pain would become our pain, that their struggle would become our struggle. As we enter into their pain, allow us to carry their burdens so that they would not walk alone in this. Lord thank you for your faithfulness, your love and your grace.
In Jesus holy name,
Amen
“I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate, myself, and every time I see it, I say to myself, hate is too great a burden to bear. Somehow we must be able to stand up against our most bitter opponents and say: We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you…. But be assured that we’ll wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day we will win our freedom. We will not only win freedom for ourselves; we will appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.” – MLK