Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. (Leviticus 23:34)

As the festival of Sukkot concludes, this year’s celebration of the Biblical Feast of Tabernacles saw an unusual convergence of thousands of Christians joining what is usually an exclusively Jewish holiday. In advance of Sukkot, more than one thousand Christians worldwide have downloaded a prayer guide known as the ‘Four Corners Prayer Journey’ for the 8 day festival prepared by the Jerusalem based organization, Israel Returns.

“The Four Corner Prayer Guide has helped us pray knowledgeably and biblically for Israel’s return,” said  Reverend Dr. Conrado Lumahan of the All Gospel Church in San Fernando City, Philippines. “God has promised to gather His chosen people, Israel from the four corners of the world. It is therefore a must for Jews and Christians to pray for the return of Israel to the land God had promised to the Patriarchs.”

Along with hundreds of other congregations throughout the world, the All Gospel Church included prayers for the Ingathering of the Jewish people as a part of their services during the eight days of Sukkot. In addition to preaching on ‘Why Jews Shall Return to the Land of Israel,’ Reverend Lumahan purchased Israeli flags for his entire congregation in the Philippines.

Under the leadership of Michael Freund, ‘Israel Returns’ has brought thousands of Jews from far flung communities such as Kaifeng, China and Cajamarca, Peru to live in Israel. Currently, Israel Returns is working hard to bring 899 descendants of the Biblical Menasseh (known in Hebrew as the ‘Bnei Menashe’) from India to their ancestral homeland. When the government of Israel scheduled a vote on whether to bring these 899 from India around Sukkot time, Freund organized a world wide prayer event for Jews and Christians from the four corners of the world to pray for the return of the Jewish people to Israel from the four corners of the world.

“I am so happy that for the first time in my life as a pastor and as a national leader of Assemblies of God I have had this special connection to the Jewish people,” said Pastor Lumahan. “As the Christians for Israel Philippine Coordinator, I have encouraged not only my own congregation, but also many churches in the Philippines to participate in this global prayer for Israel’s Return.”