God TV to gather thousands in Israel for anniversary broadcast
Global Christian broadcaster, GOD TV, is planning a mammoth tour which will see thousands of Christians from different countries visit Israel next May to celebrate her 60th Anniversary as a modern nation.
by Jennifer Gold
Posted: Friday, November 2, 2007, 11:27 (GMT)
Global Christian broadcaster, GOD TV, is planning a mammoth tour which will see thousands of Christians from different countries visit Israel next May to celebrate her 60th Anniversary as a modern nation.
Hosted by GOD TV founders, Rory & Wendy Alec, the tour will comprise of a full variety of events. Tour members will be able to choose from four different itineraries including a youth adventure option.
With several different regional offices participating, GOD TV has already received bookings from all over the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia and 3,000 beds have been booked in Jerusalem for the tour which takes place from 8-16 May 2008.
Seats have also been reserved on several flights to take all the pilgrims to Israel.
GOD TV has taken many tour groups to Israel before, but it says this journey will be unique due to its historic timing and a major 60th Anniversary event is being planned with many high profile guests, which will be broadcast worldwide.
"The re-gathering of the Jewish people to their Promised Land and the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948 were a major fulfillment of Bible prophecy." GOD TV chief executive, Rory Alec said. "This shows how faithful God is to keep His promises to us as believers today, as well as to His ancient people. Now sixty years on, we are privileged to be able to celebrate this monumental milestone with the Jewish people."
As the only TV Channel ever to transmit from Jerusalem, GOD TV says it enjoys a unique relationship with the nation of Israel. It says its partners are committed to better understanding Christianity's Jewish roots and fostering ties between all the peoples of the Middle East, as they fulfill the Biblical command to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
"Prayer will be an integral part of our time in Israel," said GOD TV network controller, Wendy Alec, "in fact we are delighted to announce that two leading prayer events will now be included, TheCall Jerusalem and The Global Day of Prayer, adding further incentives for people to participate in this extraordinary tour."
Well known for stadium gatherings in different cities across the USA, TheCall aims to bring believers together for a radical time of prayer and fasting and TheCall Jerusalem will follow this trend.
Hosted by Lou Engle at the Givat Ram stadium facing the Knesset, this event will be held on May 11th and televised internationally as part of the wider Global Day of Prayer on GOD TV. Thousands of GOD TV's anticipated tour members together with believers in Israel will be able to attend this event in person.
The Global Day of Prayer headed by Graham Power is an annual event held on Pentecost Day each year in different countries across the globe and is broadcast LIVE on GOD TV.
Rory & Wendy Alec will host the televised version of this event from Jerusalem, with crossings to different stadiums across the different time zones including Givat Ram.
"GOD TV's 2008 Israel Tour is an opportunity not to be missed," said tour co-ordinator and GOD TV executive director, Bo Sander.
More information can be found at: www.god.tv/israel2008
Copyright © 2007 Christian Today. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Saturday, November 3, 2007, 17:16 (GMT)
Messianic Jews do not meet the requirements of being considered ethnic Jews, as they are seperated from the Jewish community at large, and most do not meet the basic requirements of halakah (Jewish law) to qualify, as defined by 3000 years of tradition and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
Some Messianic Jews are truly Jews, whether by observance or their genealogical background. Unfortunately, a Christian understanding of what it means to "be Jewish" is not informed by Jewish tradition, but rather a 2000 year history of what orthodox (Catholic) gentiles considered "Jewish". It's spotty history- so many Jews have been killed or forced to convert by the Inquisitions, pogroms, and anti-semitic violence throughout history. So you can understand why Israelis would be wary regarding this issue. And many Messianic congregations only have a Jewish veneer, sponsered by Baptists organizations and such not as a way to re-connect Christianity to Judaism, but rather a covert attempt to evangelize Jews to Christianity in a way they would be more likely to accept Jesus. For all of these reasons and more, this is why Messianic Jews are not legally considered Jews.
The Messianic community is not cohesive, and many congregations follow practices that fly in the face of any Jew as vehemently non-Jewish according to everything tradition has passed down to them. It will happen, but don't blame Israel. Messianic Judaism is still trying to find its way. It will happen, but Messianic Jews have to do more than call Jesus by his Aramaic name, call the Pentateuch "Torah", and use Hebrew terms and integrate Jewish music. For now, the Jewish people are skeptical, and rightly so. Give it some time, and let the kinks be worked out.
And besides, that's patently false, what you said. Yes, they have no right to emigrate under the "Law of Return", but they can become naturalized citizens just like in any other democratic country in the world. No one is keeping them out! They just don't want to open up a millenia-old can of worms as to what it means to be "Jewish" and have their country turned on its head in the meantime. Patience. In the meantime, they can apply for citizenship the old-fashioned way.
Daniyyel Yochanan Frum, Cincinnati, United States
Added: Friday, November 2, 2007, 12:51 (GMT)
i am fully of the opinion that God has restored Israel for such a time as this, and if you had asked me to go to Israel on such a tour a month ago I would have said yes....
Now I would say an emphatic NO... Not because of the land, but because the Jewish ruling authorities say that Jews who believe Jesus to be Messiah can no longer be declared to be Jews, and as such have no legal rights to live in the land as citizens.
I would say to people considering going, email knisset interior ministers and express your displeasure at what is blatant religious discrimination.
Remember Yeshua is Lord, Son of Man and Messiah, God's righteous judge!
steven holmes, chesterfield UK
