Today's Devotion








Former Islamic terrorist to speak at local conference

by Carolyn McBreen Gibbs/HG

She's always had a passion for prophecy, but Debbie Blank, Director of Living Word Ministries, also had a desire to bring a conference to Omaha. Rev. Curt Dodd, Senior pastor at Westside Church, Omaha agreed. Israel, Islam,& Bible Prophecy Conference will not be an ordinary conference. "I had prayed about it for a long time," Blank said. "I had the passion, but never quite the vision." When she got the vision, Pastor Dodd agreed that Westside Church would co-sponsor the event, May 1 and 2, 2011. "I asked him if the church wanted to co-sponsor, or at least let us rent the church. He said he'd love to do it."

Blank had done a lot of studying about Islam, their goals, their involvement with, and their impact on Israel. "I think it's important that the Christian community understands God's covenant relationship with Israel," she said. When the vision came full circle for Blank, she knew Jewish evangelist, Jacob Damkani had to be involved. She met him in Israel at an Easter Sunrise Service on the shores of the Mediterranean. Blank was sharing the Gospel, and realized she had lost everyone's attention. "I turned to see what they were looking at, and saw two men jogging on the beach. They came closer and closer, and just sat down," Blank said. "One of the men asked if he could share a few words. That was Jacob, and he encouraged us to make the Jews jealous, and just love them to Jesus."

Blank said Jacob came to know the Lord in the United States. He had a calling to go back to Israel and share his faith with his fellow man. He now lives in Tel Aviv. The other speaker, Walid Shoebat is a very sought after speaker. Blank said he will talk about what's going on in Islam in the Middle East. "He is a former Muslim terrorist, who became a believer when he tried to convince his wife to become a Muslim," Blank said. "He was going through scripture to show her how to refute Christianity. All he saw was, ' Wow, this is what's going on today. This fits Islam perfectly.'" Shoebat has been a believer for 20 years and has been trying to get people to understand the truth about Islam's agenda.

Shoebat will be sharing Islam's agenda for Israel and the United States, and will be the speaker for all three Sunday morning services at Westside Church, May 1.

"I call Walid colorful," Blank said. "He doesn't mince words. He says it like it is, and isn't afraid to speak the truth." Sunday evening both speakers will speak individually and a question and answer session will follow. Damkani will be the speaker for the Monday evening sessions, from 6:15 to 9:30 p.m. "Pastor Dodd and I will also speak Monday evening on the prophetic aspects of what these men have shared," Blank said.

All the sessions are free, and Blank encourages people to arrive early. She also encourages everyone to attend their own churches and then come to one of the services at Westside Sunday morning. "They don't want to miss Shoebat. If they miss that, they will miss a lot," she said. "It will be powerful and it's what's happening today in our world." Blank said Christians need to realize that Islam is a threat to Israel. "Look at the 22 League of Arab Nations that surrounds Israel. You have to understand that their goal is to annihilate Israel," Blank said. "That gives us an idea what their future plans are." She said the whole future is about Israel, and God's not finished with Israel yet. God still has a plan and a purpose for the land and the people." She said this isn't just a church thing. "This is a community wide event that people need to hear about."

For more information go to Debbie blank@aol.com, or call 402-330-1228.†