The largest fire in Israel’s modern history killed at least 42 people, forced more than 30,000 evacuations and burned more than 12,000 acres of forest in December. The blaze started just outside the village of Isfiya, where Peter Tsukahira’s ministry center is headquartered. “The flames came to less than 1 kilometer of our center, but God caused the wind to keep the fire from reaching us,” said Tsukahira, co-founder and a pastor of Kehilat HaCarmel congregation on Mount Carmel in Israel.
“In the end, we all feel that God used the fire to prepare us for even more challenging times that are coming in the future,” Tsukahira added. “It was God’s gracious warning to be more ready for the unexpected and alert in the Spirit.”
The Israel fires sparked an international prayer response for the safety of the nation. Tsukahira and his staff were also praying. On the third evening of the fires, the Kehilat HaCarmel staff waved banners and blew shofars over the forest. Said Tsukahira: “The following day it rained for the first time in months. We are praying for an exceptionally wet winter.”
