MIDDLE EAST

A Global Prayer Effort for the Peace of Jerusalem

By Chris Mitchell
Middle East Bureau Chief

October 1, 2004

CBN.com – JERUSALEM -- Jerusalem means "The City of Peace." But for decades now, the city has been scarred by violence and death. This past spring, hundreds of Christian and Jewish leaders met in New York City. Their goal: to designate an annual call to prayer for the peace of Jerusalem. Christians from around the world signed a resolution committing themselves to pray for the city and to support Israel.

And this past spring, the United Nations General Assembly also voted to grant sovereignty over East Jerusalem to the Palestinians.

While the nations of the world have their plans for Jerusalem, Christians from many nations plan to unite in prayer the first Sunday of every October to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Rob Stearns is helping to coordinate this worldwide concert of prayer.

Stearns said, "The day of prayer for the peace of Jerusalem is a global effort of Christian leaders around the world who are calling the body of Christ, whatever their denominational background, to fulfill the Biblical mandate of Psalm 122 and many other scriptures, that urge all of those who call on the name of the Lord to pray for the city of Jerusalem."

Christian leader and Bible scholar Jack Hayford believes it means to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. He said, "To pray for the peace of Jerusalem is to pray, 'Lord, let your Kingdom come and Your will be done on Earth,' not only in the ultimate revelation of His King coming from Heaven, but in the present revelation of God's peace, as it comes into our hearts in a troubled world, to bring to the heartbeat center of the world, something of a peace that alleviates the tensions, the hatred, the bombings … the torments."

Former Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert says the prayer effort might be historic. "I genuinely believe that this may change the course of history," said Olmert, "and may bring people and political leaders to recognize there is only one way for us to go forward, which is to turn our faces toward Jerusalem."

Stearns says that Israeli political leaders, the chief rabbi of Israel, and Christian leaders in Israel and around the world stand behind this initiative. "And literally, every day, our office is receiving more and more response from across America and around the world," said Stearns, "of those who are hearing this call to prayer and responding."

He believes those responding will play a part in both history and prophecy. "This is the city for our present and our future. We see Biblical prophecy being fulfilled here, and we will see the day when Messiah will come and His government will issue forth out of this city."