Sabeel Wave of Prayer – Week of Oct. 19, 2026
Church at the Crossroads conference will be held for its second year in Atlanta from November 5-7, 2026. They will also host in Belfast from November 13-14, in Sydney from February 25-27, and in Aukland from March 5-6. Organized by the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, Church at the Crossroads centers voices of Palestinian Christians in honest and biblical conversations about Israel and Palestine.
God of love, we thank you for the leadership and actions of Bethlehem Bible College and Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, who are part of the prophetic tradition of Palestinian Christianity. We pray that Church at the Crossroads will ignite the liberating fire of the Holy Spirit and encourage Churches around the world to be witnesses to the God of the oppressed.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Prisoner advocacy groups reported that around 9,300 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are currently held in Israeli prisons, including more than 3,100 administrative detainees, about 1,400 people classified by Israel as “unlawful combatants,” nearly 90 women and more than 350 children. In addition to torture, starvation, solitary confinement, and enforced disappearance, around 1,500 prisoners suffer from illnesses or health problems. More than 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have died in Israeli prisons and detention centers over the past three years, amid fears that other deaths, especially among Gaza detainees held in military camps, remain undisclosed.
God of the oppressed, you know the pains and fears of imprisonment, torture, and crucifixion. Lord, be with the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, and may they come into freedom and safety. Liberate us from the physical and spiritual chains of dehumanization and violence. Help us increase our witness to speak out and work for the liberation of all.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Sabeel continues to welcome international visitors despite the challenges of traveling to the region, including heightened regional tensions, restrictions on entry into the country, and escalating violence in the West Bank, particularly as a result of settler violence.
Holy God, we are your pilgrims always seeking to journey with you. Teach us to love you through the faithful work of solidarity and witness to the poor and marginalized. We pray for the safety of Sabeel staff and all communities involved in solidarity pilgrimages. May the courage and creativity of the Holy Spirit follow all delegation participants back home, that they may do the work of solidarity wherever they are.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked American journalist Heidi Levine while she was covering the olive harvest. In September this year, the Committee to Protect Journalists documented an increase in intensity of settler attacks against journalists in the West Bank. In 2026 alone, CPJ has reviewed at least 16 incidents involving at least 35 local and international journalists that involved physical attacks, harassment, obstruction and intimidation of members of the press.
God of Truth and Justice, we pray for the safety and protection of journalists, photographers, and all those who courageously bring the realities on the ground to the world. In places where truth is silenced, voices are threatened, and the lives of those who bear witness are at risk, surround them with your protection and give them strength and courage. Strengthen the freedom of the press, uphold the right to truth, and open the eyes of the world to the suffering and injustices that must not be ignored. May their witness help pave the way toward liberation, justice, and peace.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
In Palestine and Israel, the olive harvest has begun. For centuries, olive trees have been a vital source of livelihood, sustenance, and cultural identity for Palestinian farmers and their families. Yet in recent years, many Palestinian farmers have been unable to access their lands due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli military. Even when they are granted access, or attempt to reach their olive groves, they often face attacks and intimidation by extremist Israeli settlers. As another harvest season begins, many families fear for their safety and the loss of their livelihoods.
God of the Harvest and God of Justice, we give thanks for all people of conscience in Palestine and Israel, and for internationals who stand alongside Palestinian farmers, sharing their struggles and helping gather the olives. May the olive trees remind us of your promise: that every person may sit under their own vine and fig tree, unafraid (Micah 4:4).
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the people of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers