Fifty-one nations attend Awake Jerusalem event at the Tower of David with Bishop Robert Stearns
A Christian delegation representing 51 countries is visiting Israel for meetings with officials, returned hostages, and bereaved families ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
Eagles’ Wings founder and president Bishop Robert Stearns is leading the 10-day program, which organizers say has brought more than 550 participants to the country during Sukkot. The delegation includes senior church leaders whose churches and networks collectively reach tens of millions of people worldwide.
The itinerary combines worship and commemorative events with discussions involving Israeli government, military, and diplomatic representatives. Organizers say the meetings will give participants firsthand insight into Israel’s security concerns and the effects of the past three years on its people.
We are here from many, many different backgrounds, but we are here serving one God
“We are here from many, many different backgrounds, but we are here serving one God,” Stearns said at a pre-event gathering in Jerusalem.
The program included Awake Jerusalem, a worship festival on October 3 at the Tower of David, featuring international Christian artists.
On October 7, delegates are due to attend a Jerusalem event organized by Friends of Zion and its founder, Mike Evans. A 24-hour international broadcast will commemorate those killed in the 2023 attacks and honor survivors, former hostages, and bereaved families.
Among the Nigerian participants are His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III and Her Royal Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, the king and queen of the Warri Kingdom, alongside several church leaders.
Apostle Daps Dalyop Gwom, the African representative of Israel Christian Nexus, told The Media Line that he invited the royal couple to join the delegation. Stearns credited Gwom with bringing together participants from across Africa, including Nigerian bishops.
Gwom named five Nigerian church leaders attending and said they would return home able to share their experiences with millions of Christians. He added that Nigeria’s defense minister, Gen. Christopher Musa, was expected to join the delegation during the following week.
He also emphasized the importance of established leaders engaging with young people seeking answers about faith. “People like Robert are looking [in] their direction, which is very important for mentorship,” he said.
For Seyi Ajala, a Nigerian Christian who has lived in the United Kingdom for about five years, the first-time visit to Israel offered a chance to encounter places previously known through Scripture.
“What attracted me to Eagles Wings was the opportunity to experience Israel beyond what I have read in the Bible,” he told The Media Line.
Ajala described the trip as meaningful, emphasizing the value of meeting people and seeing the country directly rather than knowing it only through biblical accounts or news coverage.
Coming here is about being present, learning, listening, and experiencing the land and its people firsthand
“Coming here is about being present, learning, listening, and experiencing the land and its people firsthand,” Ajala said.
He said a large number of Nigerian Christians shared his interest: “Many Nigerians have always had a desire to visit the biblical sites and experience the land where many of the events we read about in Scripture took place.”
Stearns noted that the delegation participants had come to Jerusalem “believing together that God’s love, God’s light, God’s hope, God’s peace will overcome all darkness.”
