Awake Jerusalem to bring Christian leaders from 51 nations to Jerusalem

Hundreds of Christian leaders from around the world are gathering in Israel for a ten-day delegation culminating in a major worship event at Jerusalem’s Tower of David.

Jerusalem will host an international gathering of Christian leaders on 3 October, as Eagles’ Wings brings together representatives from 51 countries for its annual Awake Jerusalem music and worship festival.

The event at the Tower of David is the public centerpiece of a ten-day delegation led by Eagles’ Wings founder and president Bishop Robert Stearns. More than 550 Christian leaders have travelled to Israel as part of the programme, which began during Sukkot and coincides with the period leading up to the third anniversary of the 7 October attacks.

The purpose of the visit extends beyond the festival itself. The delegation has been designed to give Christian leaders an opportunity to meet Israelis, hear directly from communities affected by the events of October 2023 and gain a firsthand understanding of the country and the wider regional environment.

The visiting leaders represent churches and Christian networks with a combined reach of tens of millions of people. Their presence also reflects the importance of Israel’s relationships with Christian communities around the world, particularly at a time when direct people-to-people engagement can play an important role in strengthening understanding and solidarity.

For Israel, Christian communities represent an important international constituency, with churches and faith networks spanning North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The organisers say the delegation is intended to give participants experiences and perspectives that they can take back to their own churches and wider communities.

Among those taking part are Bishop Dr. David A. Sobrepeña, founder and senior pastor of Word of Hope Christian Church in the Philippines; Rev. Ricardo Castillo Medina, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Costa Rica and President of the World Hispanic Assemblies of God; and Rev. Dr. Reinaldo dos Santos of Brazil.

The delegation also includes prominent figures from Nigeria. His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III and Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III of the Warri Kingdom are participating, alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa.

Throughout the ten-day programme, delegates are scheduled to meet Israeli political and security officials, representatives of the Israel Defense Forces and Foreign Ministry, Christian and other faith leaders, returned hostages and families who have lost relatives since October 7.

A strategic briefing involving Israeli officials and faith leaders will focus on Israel’s security environment and its position in the region. According to Eagles’ Wings, the sessions are intended to provide participants with context they can communicate to their own congregations and wider networks.

“We are here to let the people of Israel know that we are standing firmly by their side,” Stearns said. “We have come to add tangible actions to our prayers for Israel and Jerusalem, and to make a statement to our spheres of influence that an accurate understanding of and fervent support for Israel are of urgent importance in this hour.”

The timing of the delegation carries particular significance. The visit takes place during Sukkot and in the days surrounding the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, when Israel and communities around the world are reflecting on the attacks, the hostages and the continuing impact on families and communities.

For Eagles’ Wings, the anniversary period provides an opportunity for Christian leaders to engage directly with Israelis rather than relying solely on events and developments viewed from abroad.

That approach is part of a broader programme that has been developed over three decades. Eagles’ Wings has regularly brought Christian groups to Israel to explore the biblical and historical roots of their faith while developing relationships with Israeli communities.

Awake Jerusalem will bring that long-running engagement into the public spotlight.

The festival will feature international Christian artists and an evening of worship at the Tower of David, one of Jerusalem’s most recognisable historic landmarks. The event is also scheduled to be broadcast and streamed through Christian television and media platforms, allowing audiences outside Israel to participate.

For the hundreds of delegates in Jerusalem, however, the significance of the gathering is intended to extend beyond the music.

The organisers describe Awake Jerusalem as an opportunity for Christian leaders to encounter Israel personally and to return to their home countries with a deeper understanding of the country, its people and the experiences of the past three years.

Stearns has said the participants are expected to return to their own countries better equipped by their firsthand experiences to speak about Israel and engage their own communities.

With participants from 51 nations and Christian networks reaching millions of people worldwide, the organisers hope the impact of the delegation will continue long after the final performance at the Tower of David.

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