Thousands of Christian churches are expected to participate in a “Day of Prayer for Israel” on Sunday, standing in solidarity with the Jewish state.
Organized by the Stand for Israel project of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the event will include more than 7 million Christians, a statement from sponsors said.
According to the statement, the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Church of the Four Square Gospel International and Calvary Ministries Inc. International have signed on to participate, along with other denominations.
The annual event, which last year involved 16,000 churches, “is key to mobilizing Christian leadership and grass-roots support for Israel at this critical time,” said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, co-chair of Stand for Israel.
“It is more important than ever to speak out against the relentless terror and unrelieved pressure faced by Israel, our only democratic ally in a hostile Middle East,” Eckstein said in the statement. “At this time, when the same terrorists who have murdered nearly 1,000 Israelis over the past three years now are targeting and killing U.S. diplomatic officials, we ask our Christian friends to join in this massive prayer effort to draw the eyes of the world to the truth about Israel’s struggle for peace.”
Churches participating in the event pledge to devote part of their Sunday service to preaching about Israel and leading the congregation in prayer for the nation and its people. In addition, Israeli government officials will be invited to the U.S. to address participating congregations.
“I am honored and excited to team up with Rabbi Eckstein to mobilize Christian support for Israel,” said Stand for Israel co-chair Ralph Reed. “Given the commitment of these American Christians to the state of Israel and her precarious position during the current outbreak of terrorism, I look forward to a groundswell of support for Israel in the Christian community.”
