Dr. Robert Stearns speaking at the event

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (ANS) -- More than 400 Christians attended today (Sunday, October 03, 2010) an International Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem in the Israeli capital, and upwards of 300 million Christians had committed to participating from their home nations including 10's of millions who watched it live on God TV. Founded by Dr. Robert Stearns in 2002, the founder and executive director of Eagles' Wings Ministries, a dynamic organization focused on building bridges of relationship and hope around the world, the Day of Prayer is a global grassroots prayer initiative that links the Christian

liturgical calendar with the biblical, Jewish calendar.

This year the event was held at the Haas Promenade overlooking Jerusalem's Old City. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, giving the keynote address, reinforced the importance of a united Jerusalem. "Jerusalem is special to 3.0 billion people of faith in the world. No other city in the world is a destination that fills our hearts like Jerusalem. My mission for the city is to return it to its role of 2000 to 3000 years ago and to welcome people from around the world, to explore our

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat addresses the prayer event

ancient past and build our modern future."

To do this Barkat insisted Jerusalem must be kept open to people of all faith to enjoy and to freely practice their religion and he was very proud to point out that during Ramadan, which fell in the latter part of August/September 2010, there had been over 200,000 Muslims who had freely traveled to the city in order to visit the Temple Mount to pray.

"As mayor, I'm committed to maintaining that. This is not trivial," he emphasized. "Jerusalem must keep reunited, undivided and be the sovereign capital of Israel. It is the heart of the world. You can't divide the heart," he continued, "I read the Bible, and it is very clear who the capital of Jerusalem is for."

Musical performers

According to the website set up for the event (www.daytopray.com), the Day of Prayer has "quickly become the largest Israel-focused prayer event in history." More than 300,000 churches from 175 nations annually take part in the event. The people and ministries behind the Day of Prayer note that while they "pray every day for Israel, we seek on this day to unite believers around the world in raising a cry to Heaven on behalf of this troubled, but strategic land and its people."

Several other Israeli officials, pastors including Tom Hess who gave the invocation and prominent rabbis such as Rabbi Shlomo Riskin joined together with Christians in petitioning the Almighty on behalf of the holy city.