By Pastor Dick Mirpuri
While international outcry ring loud against Israel for recently not allowing ships to violate the maritime blockade that it has imposed, along with Egypt, on Gaza to prevent the smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups – the Word of Grace Family Christian Fellowship of the Christian & Missionary Alliance (U.S.A.) led by its Founder & Spiritual Director, Rev. Richard Mirpuri, expressed its support for Israel by holding a “Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem” on June 13 at its ministry and worship center located at 3901 N Whipple Ave., Chicago, IL 60618.
This event has been held annually by the Word of Grace since 2005 in cooperation with the Israeli General Consulate for the Midwest with its offices in Chicago. Representing the Israeli General Consulate at the 2010 event was Mr. Robert Schwartz, Senior Policy Advisor, who was the guest speaker. Rev. Mirpuri is shown in the photo leading the Word of Grace congregation in prayer for the peace of Israel and for blessings of wisdom, courage and protection upon its leaders and its people. At the event, Rev. Mirpuri emphasized that the bible instructs Christians to support Israel especially in prayer based on Psalms 122: 6.
The ties between the Philippines and Israel is very strong. As one country after another was denying entry to Europe’s imperiled Jews in the 1930s, Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon declared the doors of the Philippines open to Jews, and even donated some of his own land to build a Jewish community center in a suburb of Manila. Unknown to many today, Pres. Quezon approved immediate plans then to admit 10,000 Jewish refugees – with thousands more that were to follow. Plans were even proposed to provide Europe’s displaced Jews with a permanent home on the island of Mindanao.
In December 1941, however, the Philippines was invaded by Japan, an ally of Nazi Germany, abruptly ending the flow of European Jews into the country. After the war, the Philippines became the only nation in Asia to vote for the creation of the State of Israel in the UN.
As part of its support for Israel, the Word of Grace will also be going on a Prayer Pilgrimage and Bible Tour to the Holy Land and Egypt on March of 2011. Anyone interested in joining this tour may call Rev. Mirpuri at 773-267-2706 for more details.