Watchmen on the Walls: Praying for Israel at a Time of War
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Pastor Nekemeya Steven Mukisa was preparing for a worship service in Jerusalem when the blare of sirens shattered the calm — an unfamiliar and alarming sound for the seasoned Ugandan pilgrim. Hamas had launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel, igniting a war whose reverberations are still being felt today.
“For the first time, I heard sirens all over and had to run into a bomb shelter,” Mukisa recalls. “It was fire in Israel. I felt the way Israelis feel.”
A veteran intercessor and founder of Jerusalem Intercessors Church in Lugazi, Uganda, Mukisa has visited Israel nearly every year for two decades. But nothing could have prepared him for the chaos of that October morning. Thanks to the kindness of an Israeli family who offered him a ride, he narrowly caught his return flight on October 8, delayed by just an hour.
For many Christians, Israel is more than a pilgrimage destination. It’s a spiritual calling – a land where prayers are sown, tears are shed, and deep intercession is made. In April this year, Pastor Mukisa returned once again to Jerusalem, undeterred by the security situation, this time with two fellow Ugandan ministers: Apostle Catherine Atiang and Apostle Tonny Sekyanzi. “We came not just to visit, but to pray for both Israel and Uganda,” he said. “You must replace fear with faith.”
Their mission echoed a timeless prayer once offered by King Solomon nearly 3,000 years ago:
“…they will come from distant lands when they hear of Your great Name and Your strong hand and Your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, then hear from heaven where You live, and grant what they ask of You…” 2 Chronicles 6:32-33
Mukisa’s April visit came just weeks before the Hamas conflict escalated into a broader regional war involving Iran. The skies over Israel have since been invaded by ballistic missile strikes and numerous drone attacks. And as the threat expands, so does the spiritual burden felt by many Christians across the world. To them, this is not just a geopolitical struggle – it’s a call to urgent and unrelenting prayer. If war is intensifying, then prayer must intensify even more.
Across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and beyond, Christian ministries and prayer movements have responded with fervent prayer, standing with Israel in what they view as a biblical mandate to intercede for Israel.
In Nigeria, the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Prayer Outreach organized special rallies following the Hamas attack, according to local news reports. Evangelist Mati Acka, one of its leaders, declared at one gathering, “The Lord God Himself is the Fighter for Israel. He is the Captain of the armies of Israel, and He will arise now, just as He has always risen for them in times past.” CUFI Nigeria also called for global pressure on Hamas to release hostages, echoing the cries of many concerned believers.
In Kenya, Kenya Friends of Israel (KEFI), founded in 2012 by Francis Gitau after a five-year stay in Israel, urgently launched a 24/7 prayer watch in response to the more recent Israel-Iran conflict. Dozens of volunteers rotate in continuous prayer, anchored in Isaiah 62:6: “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night.”
In the United States, Intercessors for America (IFA) issued a nationwide prayer alert in June this year when U.S. policy toward Israel hung in the balance. “As President Trump weighs his options,” the alert read, “we pray he would come to a decision that blesses Your chosen nation.” The group also declared a Global Day of Prayer for Peace on June 21, calling believers worldwide to unite in intercession for global stability, particularly in the Middle East.
From its headquarters in Jerusalem, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) has also been quick to get involved. The organization mobilized over 20,000 Christians globally for online prayer gatherings immediately following the Hamas assault, according to their website.
Throughout Scripture, the survival of ancient Israel was believed to hinge on divine intervention, and prayer was central. Today, Christians believe that intercession remains just as vital. From vibrant churches in Africa to global networks spanning continents, believers are sounding the trumpet, praying for peace, protection, and restoration.
As the prophet Ezekiel wrote: “I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land…” Ezekiel 22:30.
That call to stand in the gap is being answered by thousands, including ordinary believers like Mukisa, quietly, faithfully, and urgently. Prayer, Christians believe, can still move the hand of God in the darkest of times.
