More than 550 Christian leaders from 51 nations gather in Jerusalem for worship and prayer

JERUSALEM — Organizers and multiple news outlets report that more than 550 Christian leaders and dignitaries from 51 nations have come to Israel for a ten-day delegation focused on prayer, worship and solidarity with Israel.

On Saturday evening, October 3, many gathered at Jerusalem’s Tower of David for Awake Jerusalem. Eagles’ Wings organized the event, hosted by its founder and president, Bishop Robert Stearns. The visit takes place during Sukkot and shortly before Israel marks three years since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.

Prayer and worship in Jerusalem

The approximately two-and-a-half-hour program opened with the Shema. Christian musicians and worship leaders from several nations took part, while members of the delegation sounded shofars. The artists included Paul Wilbur, Nate Diaz, Israel Portnoy, Jesse Alcantara, Brad & Rebekah and Hebron Antonio. Ynet Global and Daystar TV carried the gathering to audiences outside Israel.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Eagles’ Wings organized the delegation in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organizers say the visit is intended to help pastors and Christian representatives encounter modern Israel and the Jewish people directly, rather than only through news reports and social media.

The in-person delegation is distinct from the worldwide Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem on Sunday, October 4. The movement says churches and believers in more than 175 nations have participated historically; that worldwide figure is reported by the organizers and has not been independently audited.

After returning home, delegates are expected to share their experiences with churches and Christian networks in dozens of countries. Whether the visit changes understanding over time remains to be seen. On this weekend, however, representatives from 51 nations stood together in Jerusalem to worship and pray.