By: Aaron Hecht

Pilgrims from over 80 countries attend opening service

The ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles 2016 opened Sunday evening at the Ein Gedi Spa with nearly 4,000 pilgrims from more than 80 countries from around the world enjoying the traditional picnic, Davidic dance and worship and an invigorating message from Pastor Dionny Baez from Philadelphia, USA. The colorful and diverse crowd on the shore of the Dead Sea was very much alive with loud voices of prayer and praise all throughout the evening.

ICEJ National Directors from four continents opened the evening in prayer for the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Valley of the Dry Bones from Ezekiel chapter 37. Apostle Rene Terra Nova from Brazil told of an amazing answer to prayer in his country, where the government retracted a recent vote of approval at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on a resolution saying that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem had no connection to Judaism.

Several pilgrims commented with joy and excitement what it means for them to attend the Feast.

“We have brothers and sisters here from all over the Chinese-speaking world,” said Pastor Phillip Ho Wai Man from Hong Kong. “We are in the joy of Jesus and we pray for Israel every day at our fellowship!”

Sarah Renske from South Africa was attending the Feast for the first time.

“This event projects such hope for Israel and all of God’s people,” she declared. “When we come together with God as our King we’ll be victorious no matter what the enemy tries to do.”

Michael Fuchs from the UK agreed, saying “This is God’s Land, no one can take away what belongs to Him. He will carry out His plans in this time and we need to do our part. I’m German by nationality, South African by birth and I live in the UK, but Israel is the most important country in my life.”

Susan Michael, the Director of the ICEJ-USA Branch who has attended every Feast since the first one in 1980, commented on the vast numbers of Christians from China, Brazil and other non-Western countries who are attending this year.

“The demographics of the global Church are changing rapidly and the annual Feast of Tabernacles reflects that change,” she said. “Evangelical Christianity has plateaued if not weakened in Europe and America while it is growing exponentially in Latin America, Africa and Asia.  For example, the nation with the largest number of Christians will soon be China. Therefore, as the Feast audience changes we are making a great effort to accommodate them with an array of musical and speaking styles.”