Originally published in Charisma News.
As dignitaries from around the world flew into Jerusalem to pay their respects to Israeli leader Shimon Peres, who passed away last week, a hundred representatives from several continents gathered in Jerusalem to call the nations to prayer through a global television broadcast for The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ).
Started in 2002, and co-chaired by Evangelical Christian leaders Rev Robert Stearns, Dr Jack W Hayford and Dr Paul Cedar, the DPPJ is a movement calling believers to intercede for the city God calls His own and to invoke God’s blessing, purposes and provision upon all of Jerusalem’s people.
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On Sunday October 2, believers on six continents gathered in remote villages and sprawling metropolises, in grass huts and ornate cathedrals to lift their voice in obedience to Psalm 122:6.
Broadcast by GOD TV to 300 million viewers in 192 nations, people were also able to participate in the special Jerusalem DPPJ Celebration—hosted by Eagles’ Wings Founder/Executive Director Rev Robert Stearns at the Tayelet Haas Promenade overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem.
Some of the speakers included: Minister of Knesset, Rabbi Yehuda Glick; Joshua Reinstein, Executive Vice President, Israel Allies Foundation and Director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus; David Nekrutman, Executive Director of the Center for Jewish Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC); and Dr Faydra Shapiro, Director of the Galilee Center for Studies in Jewish-Christian Relations at the Max Stern Yezreel Valley College.
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Rev Stearns welcomed the nations saying: “Year after year, we continue to see Christians rising up and standing with God’s covenant with Israel, and agreeing with God’s promises for the seed of Abraham, both Isaac and Ishmael. Pastors all over the nations are leading their congregations to support and pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all her inhabitants.”
Josh Reinstein encouraged the audience: “When we pray for Jerusalem we are praying what God wants … He wants us to keep Jerusalem close to our hearts.”
Minister of Knesset, Rabbi Yehuda Glick, challenged those gathered: “We are seeing the word coming out of the book as we sit here … what was, is now happening. Each of us needs to be a flame in a menorah and burn bright for Jerusalem.”
David Nekrutman, the Executive Director of the CJCUC said: “I am amazed at the anointing on Robert Stearns’ life to unite Jews and Christians. I’m honored and privileged to call him my friend and continue to share his vision to partner together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Adding practical action to their commitment to bless Israel, during the event Rev Stearns presented a cheque for $10 000 (R138 201) to an Israeli charity dedicated to feed those in need in Israel.
The Jerusalem DPPJ celebration was saturated in prayer for God’s city and people. Sharon Sanders of Christian Friends of Israel-Jerusalem prayed: “Our Father, we stand here today because of your unfolding word to this nation. We see your promises coming to pass.”
Referencing the sadness of the passing of Israeli leader Shimon Peres, Rev Dr Petra Heldt, of The Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity prayed: “Our Lord, in the midst of turmoil we jointly witness your glory and see Jerusalem shine like a diamond.”
Throughout the 24 hours of October 2, over 600 believers from around the world also prayed together through the 24-Hour DPPJ Prayer Conference Call hosted by greatercalling.org.
Callers representing many states in the US were joined by believers from the nations, praying a total of 39 816 combined minutes of prayer, which is the equivalent to one person praying for the peace of Jerusalem non-stop for more than 27 days.
Social media was also a key part of October 2 with global believers in over 40 nations taking to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the world’s leading prayer app, PrayWithMe, pledging to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, including a single-day record of an estimated 705 912 people reached simultaneously with the message of prayer for Jerusalem.
The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem—on the first Sunday of every October—is the largest Jerusalem-focused prayer initiative in the world, involving tens of millions of believers participating each year from over 175 nations.
It is endorsed by prominent Christian leaders worldwide, including TD Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Samuel Rodriguez, Michael W Smith, Kenneth Copeland, Kay Arthur, Jane Hansen Hoyt, Ravi Zacharias, Lance Wallnau, Larry Stockstill, The Newsboys, Dennis Balcombe and Sunday Adelaja.
