Argentina 2007
I just returned from Argentina. I’m amazed at what I witnessed. Five hundred leaders from around the world gathered to explore the possibilities for societal transformation. Marketplace ministers joined church leaders to recount victories and strategize for the future. Concurrently my wife Katharine was in Israel with Cindy Jacobs. They were on a compassion mission, ministering both to the Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. It was difficult for Katharine and I to be in different nations, but we felt that there was a prophetic significance to the timing and meaning of this trip. Rosemary Schindler of Schindler’s Ark also came to the conference in Argentina. For many years Rosemary has carried the mantle of Oskar Schindler. She has been instrumental in building bridges between Christians and Jews in our day. Rosemary is our ministry partner in many Israel ventures.
From the very first evening in Buenos Aires, it was clear that God was going to highlight the importance of Israel to the church today. Ed Silvoso, the convener of the conference, leader of Harvest Evangelism and International Transformation Network asked me to open the first meeting with prayer. I did so in Hebrew and English welcoming the attendees and asking God to bless our time together. Maurice Sklar, a gifted violinist provided music that evening and for the rest of the week. Maurice is an anointed Messianic Jewish worshiper and we were privileged to have him with us in Argentina.
ITN is a consortium of business and church leaders implementing five paradigms identified by Ed Silvoso. The paradigms are:
- We are called to disciple nations, not just individuals. (Matt. 28:18-20)
- The Marketplace, which is the heart of the nation, has been redeemed and now needs to be reclaimed. (Luke 19:10)
- Every Christian is a minister, and labor is worship. (1 Tim. 2:1-8; Acts 20:34-35)
- We are called to take the kingdom of God to where the gates of hell are for Jesus to build His Church. (Matt. 16:18)
- Nation transformation must be tangible and the premier social indicator is the elimination of systemic poverty. (Gal. 2:10)
ITN is succeeding in diverse places with breakthroughs in harvest, healing and hope. Examples can be seen at
harvestevan.org. Documented transformation is happening in Hawaii, Minnesota, South Africa and other places. One outstanding example of transformation is Olmos Prison in Argentina. The inmates and guards are all Christians living, working and worshiping together. The revival in Argentina became the springboard for these transforming works. As this year’s meeting approached in Argentina, the question arose in the spirit, “Is it possible that the next phase of blessing for Argentina and ITN is connected to God’s protocol and heart regarding Israel?”

The previous year we saw wonderful reconciliation between the generations in the body of Christ. Jews, Catholics and Protestants prayed and wept over the grievous past of church history. The Crusades, Inquisition, pogroms and the Holocaust were dealt with as error, as sin. For the Jewish people, it is vital to know the difference between those things done in the name of Christ, and those done in His true spirit. Real Christians love the Jewish people and pray for them.
This year God had a special blessing for Argentina. It was important for them to deal with the sinful history of the 20th century. At the end of World War II, when Juan and Eva Peron came to power, they embraced the Nazis who were fleeing Germany. Two submarines of stolen gold arrived in Buenos Aires. The subs were filled with gold bars. These bars were melted from the wealth stolen from Jewish people murdered by the Nazis. This gold was exchanged for blank passports, which allowed the Nazis entrance into South America. Argentina’s history was exposed and dealt with spiritually during the time of this conference. What an honor it was for me to participate!

Join us in prayer in the days ahead as we ask God to delay the so-called peace process. This includes the dangerous dividing of Jerusalem, and giving away the heartland of Israel, Judea and Samaria, erroneously called the “West Bank”. We need time for God to continue this masterwork of knitting the hearts of Jews and Christians together in preparation for the Messiah.
Let’s fulfill the Scripture that Mordecai spoke to Esther when he said “Who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this…”