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Over 900 churches in all fifty states participated this past weekend in Christians United for Israel’s first CUFI Sunday. The same day, the nation’s leading Christian Zionist organization celebrated its one-hundredth Night to Honor Israel in Colorado Springs.
COLORADO SPRINGS On Sunday more than 1,100 churches in 49 countries, including over 900 churches in all 50 states, united in prayer and action in support of Israel during their Sunday morning services. The event, dubbed CUFI Sunday, was organized by Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the nation's leading Christian Zionist organization.
With so many participating churches, CUFI Sunday services varied in there specifics, but all embraced support for Israel's right to exist as a Jewish State and right to defend itself from terrorism.
“From the largest cities to the smallest towns, in mega-churches and home-churches, in every state in our great country Christians have come together to express their solid support for America’s loyal ally, Israel,” CUFI Chairman Pastor John Hagee said. “As the threats to Israel increase, our position is clear: we stand with Israel."
That evening, CUFI held its one-hundredth Night to Honor Israel, in Colorado Springs. The event featured David Brog, CUFI’s Executive Director as the keynote speaker. He was joined by special guests Rabbi Mel Glazer of Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs and Pastor George Morrison of the Faith Bible Chapel in Denver.
Nights to Honor Israel are intended to teach Christians about the importance of standing with Israel and to build bridges between the Christian and Jewish communities. Having held 100 such events just three years after CUFI’s inception was a landmark the organization’s Western Regional Coordinator Randy Neal was very proud to have reached.
“Celebrating CUFI’s one-hundredth Night to Honor Israel is significant on several fronts,” Neal said. “These events are evenings of solidarity representing tens of thousands of people locking arms and speaking with one voice in support of Israel. From Alaska to Florida and California to New York, Christians that have been praying for Israel for years are now joining together and putting their faith into action, and I am very confident that this is just the beginning.”
“I have been a pulpit Rabbi for over 35 years, and I thought that I had seen it all, but I was unprepared for the outpouring of affection for the State of Israel that I have seen from the Colorado Springs Christian community,” Rabbi Glazer said. “Christians and Jews are coming together in love and respect, to pray for Israel, to cheer its achievements, and to support its elected officials in their daily struggle to protect Israel for the next generation.”
According to David Brog, CUFI’s Executive Director, these two events sent a powerful message. "Having over nine hundred churches in every state in the union participate in CUFI Sunday and, on the very same day, to celebrate our 100th Night to Honor Israel is of deep significance. It demonstrates the breadth and depth of Christian support for Israel's right to exist and defend herself from terrorism."
While CUFI set the date for CUFI Sunday well before it was known that Prime Minister Netanyahu would be visiting with President Obama the following day, Brog saw significance in the coincidence. "This outpouring of support for Israel certainly sends a message to President Obama that millions of Christians across America are concerned about Israel's security. During the campaign, the President pledged that Israel's security is 'sacrosanct' and that a nuclear Iran is 'unacceptable.' There is clearly a very large Christian constituency in America which wants our President to keep these promises."
CUFI Sunday events were held in all fifty states in the US and on six continents in the following countries: Albania, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Congo, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zambia.
Christians United for Israel, founded by Pastor John Hagee, is the nation’s leading Christian pro-Israel organization and is among the largest Christian grassroots organizations in the United States, spanning all fifty states and reaching millions with its message. CUFI’s mission is to provide a national association through which every pro-Israel church, parachurch organization, ministry or individual in America can speak and act with one voice in support of Israel.
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