Millions of Christians Participate in Jerusalem Prayer Event
by JNS.org
JNS.org – Millions of Christians from around the world gathered Oct. 6 to mark the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ).
Founded in 2002, DPPJ has grown to become one of the largest Israel-focused prayer events in the world. It is held annually on the first Sunday of every October in order to “raise global awareness and intercession for G-d’s purposes in Israel,” according to DPPJ.
Worshippers from more than 175 nations gathered to pray in their churches, homes, college campuses, regional gatherings, and even on a 24-hour prayer conference call.
The main prayer session in Jerusalem was broadcast by GOD TV, a Jerusalem-based Evangelical Christian channel, to more than 900 million homes. It featured leading Christian and Jewish figures such as Dr. Jurgen Buhler, executive director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Naomi Tsur, deputy mayor of Jerusalem, and Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin, chief rabbi of Efrat.
“God has a blessing both for the descendants of Isaac and those of Ishmael… When we turn our hearts from darkness to light, we embrace God’s peace plan for Isaac and Ishmael. God’s love is infinitely stronger than the god of hate and will cause us to triumph in our lives, ” Rev. Robert Stearns, founder and director of Eagles’ Wings, the Evangelical group which organizes DPPJ, said in a statement.
In addition to prayer, more than $15,000 was raised to support Eagles’ Wings centers in Israel, which feed both Arab and Jewish poor in Jerusalem and Tiberias.