Three years after Hamas terrorists perpetrated the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, murdering 1 200 Israelis and kidnapping 251 people into Gaza, Christians across the world are showing solidarity with Israel.
Currently more than 1 000 Christian leaders from 117 nations — including from South Africa and other African countries — are in Israel for the Friends of Zion Ambassador Summit, bringing together believers from around the world to strengthen Christian support for the Jewish state and confront rising antisemitism.
The summit, which runs until October 11 was founded by American Christian evangelist Mike Evans and is being held for the second consecutive year in cooperation with Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
Worthy Christian News reports that, according to organisers, about 300 summit participants are aged between 18 and 29, reflecting an effort to introduce a new generation of Christian leaders to Israel firsthand.
Also in Israel at this sensitive time is a group of more that 550 Christian leaders from 51 nations for a 10-day Eagles’ Wings visit led by founder and president Bishop Robert Stearns, reports themedialine. The group’s itinerary combines worship and commemorative events with discussions involving Israeli government, military, and diplomatic representatives. Organisers say the meetings will give participants firsthand insight into Israel’s security concerns and the effects of the past three years on its people. Among African representatives in the group are His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III and Her Royal Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, the king and queen of Nigeria’s Warri Kingdom.
The Eagles Wings delegation was scheduled to link up with the Friends of Zion group today to commemorate October 7..
Also happening today is a global prayer event linking believers around the world in 24 hous of prayer for Israel. The event is being livestreamed from the Western Wall in Jerusalem. You can join at globalprayerevent.com
Vivienne Myburgh director of the South African branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) told Gateway News that she had just returned from leading a group of 60 South Africans at the ICEJ’s annual Christian Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in Israel. While there they also met another group of 50 South Africans there to show solidarity with Israel, she said,
She said that the hotel where her tour group had stayed told them they were the first group they had hosted since the October 7 massacre. “That is how it has affected their business. So, it has been tough on the people of Israel on so many levels.”
Vivienne said she is currently organising a subsidised tour to Israel for young South African adults from the November 30 to Deccember10. “We are focusing on young adult leaders in student organisations and churches within the ages of 18 to 30,” she said.
Christians and Jews worldwide are also partnering in planting more than 5.2 million Israeli flags during October globally as part of the the third annual Flags of Fellowship campaign to mark the third anniversary of October 7. Organised by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), the initiative brings together 4 375 churches, synagogues, universities, and organisations across 14 countries — more than doubling the participation from the previous year.
In Johannesburg today South African Friends of Israel in parthership with Christian community groups hosted a time of prayer for Israel from 11am to 12.30pm at at Rhema Greenstone (Redemption Church) in Greenstone.
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