Over 70 Millions Christians Expected to Unite for Historic Global Day of Prayer for Israel
Christian leaders from 175 countries are preparing to join a worldwide celebration of prayer, friendship and solidarity centered in Jerusalem
Jewish Onliner is an independent publication. If you find our work valuable, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
More than 70 million Christians across 175 countries are expected to unite on October 4, 2026, for the 24th Annual Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, according to organizers. The global initiative, organized by the Christian ministry Eagles’ Wings, will connect churches and believers around the world with a central gathering broadcast live from Jerusalem’s Tower of David Museum. More than 500 senior Christian leaders from 50 countries are expected to attend in person, creating what organizers describe as the largest annual Christian prayer gathering for Israel in history.
A Worldwide Movement Centered on Jerusalem
The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem is held each year on the first Sunday of October. Eagles’ Wings has scheduled the 2026 observance for October 4, when participating churches will dedicate services, prayers and livestream programs to Jerusalem and Israel.
Although most participants will join from their own countries rather than travel to Jerusalem, the coordinated nature of the event gives the gathering its extraordinary reach. Congregations separated by continents, languages and denominations will pray on the same day, united around the biblical call in Psalm 122 to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Organizers expect the central gathering to bring more than 500 Christian leaders from 50 countries to Israel. The Jerusalem program is expected to feature prayer, worship, Scripture readings and messages from international faith leaders before being shared with participating communities worldwide.
From a Prayer Initiative to a Global Network
Bishop Robert Stearns and the late Pastor Jack Hayford launched the initiative in 2002 following meetings with religious and political leaders in Israel and the United States.
What began as an effort to mobilize Christian prayer for Jerusalem has since developed into an international movement. Eagles’ Wings says more than 1,400 prominent evangelical leaders have supported the initiative, while earlier organizational materials reported representation in more than 175 nations and involvement from hundreds of thousands of churches.
The 2026 gathering will mark the initiative’s 24th year. Its growth reflects the expanding network of Christian communities that see prayer for Jerusalem, friendship with the Jewish people and support for Israel as central expressions of their faith.
For many participants, the day is both deeply spiritual and joyfully communal: a chance to sing, pray and stand alongside millions of fellow believers while focusing global attention on Jerusalem.
The Organization Behind the Gathering
Eagles’ Wings is a New York-based Christian nonprofit founded and led by Stearns. For more than three decades, the organization has worked to strengthen Christian engagement with Israel and build relationships between Christian and Jewish communities.
Its activities extend beyond the annual prayer day. Eagles’ Wings brings pastors and emerging ministry leaders to Israel, provides educational resources for churches, organizes advocacy initiatives and supports humanitarian programs inside the country.
The organization says its pastors’ trips have brought more than 1,000 Christian leaders to Israel from dozens of countries and across much of the United States. Many participants later return with members of their congregations, expanding the network of churches with direct experience of Israel.
Eagles’ Wings also operates feeding initiatives in Jerusalem and Tiberias that provide hot meals to people in need. Through its Frontlines campaign, the organization has mobilized practical assistance and solidarity efforts for Israelis affected by war and terrorism.
Jerusalem’s Old City as the Global Stage
The central broadcast is expected to originate from the Tower of David Museum beside Jaffa Gate, placing Jerusalem’s history and distinctive skyline at the heart of the worldwide event.
The setting has already served as a gathering point for Eagles’ Wings. In October 2025, the organization hosted its Day of Prayer and Awake Jerusalem events at the Tower of David, bringing together pastors, artists, influencers and believers from around the world. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion participated alongside international Christian leaders in a public expression of prayer and solidarity.
The 2026 gathering is expected to build on that event with an even broader international presence.
Organizers have announced delegations from Africa and Latin America, including 175 Latin American Christian leaders led by the Rev. José Wellington Costa Jr., president of Brazil’s Assemblies of God. Eagles’ Wings says the participating Latin American delegations collectively represent more than 51 million Christians.
Delegations from Nigeria, Kenya and Togo are also expected, illustrating the growing prominence of African and Latin American churches within the international movement supporting Israel.
Millions Preparing to Pray Together
The projected figure of 70 million participants is an estimate supplied by Eagles’ Wings and represents Christians joining through congregations, ministries, broadcasts and online platforms—not the number physically assembled in Jerusalem.
Even with that distinction, the anticipated reach is striking. A prayer gathering launched less than a quarter-century ago is now preparing to connect believers in 175 countries with a live event from the heart of Jerusalem.
As October 4 approaches, churches around the world will prepare their own services while hundreds of leaders travel to Israel. Together, they will send an uplifting message across borders and denominations: Jerusalem and the Jewish people are not standing alone, and millions of Christians remain ready to pray, celebrate and express their friendship with Israel.