A recent phenomenon swept the globe, which while still relatively unheard of, is gathering steam at an overwhelming pace. It involved a prayer initiative which was undertaken by individuals, communities, and churches all around the world praying on the same day, October 5th, for the peace of Jerusalem.
Prayer gatherings were held across the globe in over 200 countries as part of the Peace and Safety of Jerusalem and Israel initiative.
Robert Stearns, a chief officer at Eagles Wings, the organizer of the International Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ), explained the importance of continually praying for Israel.
“As impossible as it is to imagine, two hundred nations united on one day…to pray with one heart and one mind for one thing- The Peace of Jerusalem and Her People!,” he said. “It is truly difficult to grasp the width and the breadth of this global, grassroots prayer movement until you begin to read the multitude of reports that have come in from churches – both large and small – from all corners of the earth.”
According to Eagles Wings, the goal of the DPPJ was “to raise global awareness, and intercession for God’s purpose in Israel, and to unite believers around the world in raising a cry to heaven on behalf of this troubled but strategic land and its people.”
One of the most befuddling things in modern history is how much positive attention, interest and time the nations of the world spend focusing upon Israel. Why should people half a world away pray for Israel? Is it simply because of a Biblical commandment or is there something more, some force that is causing people from countries as distant as the Philippines and Zambia, who have never set foot on Israeli soil, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem?
There are dozens of passages in the Bible where God gives instruction to pray for Israel and Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6, to name but one, reads:
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.”
This may give us an answer as to why nations all over the world come together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the overwhelming interest that they shower upon Israel. Not only does this passage say that we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and by extension, Israel, but it says that those who do will receive the blessing of being secure.
One location among the numerous locations where participants of the DPPJ prayer day assembled was in Copenhagen in front of the Parliament Building. In spite of the cold, people stood together in public assembly and prayed for Jerusalem. The Israeli Ambassador to Denmark, Barukh Binah, addressed those gathered, and many prayers for Jerusalem were recited.
Other locales included Johannesburg, numerous locations in the Czech Republic and India. One regional director who helped organize the DPPJ event in India said: “All the people who came up to the stage to pray really poured out their hearts while praying…We also had a team of young girls who performed a Jewish dance to the song ‘Hineh Ma Tov U Manaim’: Behold How Good and Pleasant It Is When Brothers Dwell in Unity. The people really loved it.”
Across the globe thousands gathered from Canada to Madagascar, and from Tanzania to Papua Guinea where a march was held through the streets to show solidarity with Israel in addition to prayer services.
In South Korea a group of some 50,000 people attended a prayer service for Jerusalem which was led by Dr. Young Hoon Lee, Senior Pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church whose congregation numbers 450,000. In attendance was special guest Israeli Ambassador in Korea, Uri Gutman.
