Millions of Christians pray for 'Peace of Jerusalem'

Millions of Christians in more than 175 nations participated and prayed for the "Peace of Jerusalem" on Sunday, marking the 8th annual Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ).

The participants include Christians from the underground churches in seven primarily Muslim countries and in China, according to the prayer initiative's sponsor and New York-based Eagles' Wings Ministries.

Dr. Robert Stearns, founder of Eagles' Wings and co-chairman of the event, led a Jerusalem Celebration of the DPPJ at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem that was attended by leaders of the Christian, Jewish, and Arab communities, and which was broadcast globally on GOD TV live to 192 nations. The main auditorium was filled with approximately 2,000 believers from Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Canada, and Europe.

"It is a new day in the Christian Church," said Stearns. "There are millions of Christians declaring that they will pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We are not spectators, we are not bystanders, and we will not be silent...The sin of silence (during the Holocaust) will not be repeated... Shalom to Israel is Shalom for the world!" Dr. Stearns received a standing ovation and shouts of support by the audience at these comments.

Representing the government of Israel, Uzi Landau, Minister of Infrastructure addressed the Christians gathered in Jerusalem and watching around the world: "Thank you for the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, it is important...we need more Watchmen on the Walls of Zion."

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, chief Rabbi of Efrat also spoke, saying, "Why do I believe God is with us? I have witnessed a new Christianity - one that observes the Covenant between God and Israel - between God and the Jewish people. It is a Christianity that proudly says to us that 'you are the root and we are the branch'...You stand with us, and for this we are eternally grateful."

In addition to global prayer rallies and church services, the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem inspired more than 1,000 callers to access a 24-hour Day of Prayer international conference call that united Christians from 10 nations and 36 U.S. states in a virtual prayer room. For 24 hours, believers from nations including Canada, Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Australia, and the U.S. called in, praying in multiple languages for supernatural peace to canopy Jerusalem and all her people, both young and old, Jew and Arab.

The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem occurs the first Sunday in October every year, connecting the Christian and Hebrew calendars. The initiative involves tens of millions of people and is endorsed by more than 1,200 prominent Christian leaders worldwide, including Jack Hayford, Paul Cedar, Ron Luce, Kay Arthur, John Hagee, Jane Hansen Hoyt, K.P. Yohannan, T.D. Jakes, Ravi Zacharias, Mosy Madugba, Kenneth Copeland, Thomas Wang, Sunday Adelaja, and many more.