Christian Leaders Honor Outgoing Israeli Ambassador

By Michelle Vu 15 Jan, 2007 15:20 EST

WASHINGTON – Prominent Christian figures joined Jewish leaders to honor the outgoing Israeli ambassador Daniel Ayalon and his wife Anne on Sunday.

Some 700 people gathered for an intimate gala where congressmen, a megachurch pastor, a Grammy award artist, and holocaust survivors felt at ease among one another.

The reason for this unity – love of Israel.

“I think Israel is the apple of God’s eyes and the nation is built on covenant land that God has given to the Jewish people,” said Gary Bauer, president of American Values and former chief domestic policy advisor for President Ronald Reagan.

“In addition to that, we have these shared democratic values and they are our only reliable ally in the Middle East,” he added.

Bauer said he was raised in a Southern Baptist church which taught him to have a “strong heart” for Israel and committed to vocally support Israel in the aftermath of 9/11 when he realized Israel and the United States faced the same threat.

Ayalon, who is a Christian Israeli married to an American, was praised Sunday evening for building bridges between the American Christian and Jewish communities as well as strengthening U.S.-Israel ties.

His wife Anne shared about the importance of their Christian faith in their love for Israel.

She read from a letter her mother sent her earlier that day that emphasized the importance of faith in her parents’ daily lives and God’s calling of the Ayalons.

“Like Isaiah of old who saw God’s glory fill the ancient temple and heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ Isaiah responded, ‘Here I am. Send me.’ So you two responded to God’s call to represent Israel as a light of hope throughout the whole world. You went forth in faith…,” the letter stated.

Anne concluded, “This is the reason why it is so important to me to build bridges between the Jews and Christians.”

Among the Christian leaders who honored the Ayalons were Pastor Paula White, co-pastor of the 22,000-member Without Walls International Church in Tampa, Fla.; Dr. John Hagee, founder and senior pastor of the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in Texas and founder of Christians United for Israel; Congressman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.); Grammy Award winner Miri Ben-Ari; and holocaust survivors Congressman Tom Lantos (D- Calif.) and international singer Dudu Fischer.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

In order an effort to promote traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, in collaboration with Macao YMCA, Guangzhou Suigang'ao Teenagers Institute, and the Teacher Chang Foundation of Taiwan, has conducted a survey on teens measuring their cultural awareness. They found that Hong Kong youths generally identify with and support the values of traditional Chinese culture.
Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.
Yesterday, October 31, was Reformation Day, and Lutherans around the world held various events in commemoration. In Singapore, the Lutheran Church advocated for Christian communion, while the German Lutheran Church encouraged believers to face the challenge of “trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time.”
Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.
2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation
In the afternoon of Reformation Sunday, Oct. 27, some 2.1 million Christians gathered for a joint worship service from 2pm to 5pm in Seoul, Korea to “unite for repentance, revival, and restoration of holiness in our society.” According to organizers, an estimated 1.1 million joined onsite despite the bad weather with another 1 million joining online. The unprecedented joint worship service brought together Korean churches across denominations as they affirmed traditional marriage and family and
Willow Creek Community Church invites believers to write prayer cards for the next president
This past Sunday, Willow Creek Community Church based in Illinois invited believers to “pray for the next president” during the service. The church not only expressed its concern for the upcoming election but also emphasized the role believers should play in the process and the importance of offering prayers for the nation's leaders.

Christian Leaders Honor Outgoing Israeli Ambassador

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.