“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
“I think this describes very beautifully the way how God has been steering the International Christian Embassy over the last 40 years,” said Dr. Jürgen Bühler, President of International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), after reading Lamentations 3:22-23 during the ministry’s weekly Global Prayer Gathering on Wednesday as it celebrated its 40th anniversary.
In the summer of 1980, the Israeli Parliament declared the city of Jerusalem to be the undivided, eternal capital of the State of Israel, resulting in protests resounding across the international political spectrum and the closure of 13 national embassies in Jerusalem.
A number of Christians living in Israel were then hosting a Christian celebration during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. They sensed Israel’s deep hurt over the withdrawal of the foreign embassies and felt the Lord calling them to open a Christian embassy in Jerusalem.
So, on September 30, 1980, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was established in Jerusalem by Christians who had a love for Israel and a heart for prayer. Ever since, the embassy has provided a “servant’s heart” ministry to the people of the land, representing Christians from around the world and speaking words of comfort and support to Israel.
“Looking back over 40 years, I can say the embassy stepped in to meet a need,” said Susan Michael, ICEJ USA Director, during Wednesday’s Zoom conference.
According to Michael, the ministry’s founders saw the need (1) for the Gentile Church to make restitution to the Jewish people after centuries of anti-Semitism and to be a voice of love and comfort; (2) for a Christian movement to stand up in support of Israel; and (3) to bring the Church into a greater understanding of the Feast of Tabernacles, including where we are in God’s timetable and the prophetic meaning behind the Feast of Tabernacles.
“They stepped out with great faith and with great boldness and vision and started what is truly an amazing work,” said Michael.
From its inception, the ICEJ has had two dominant goals: first, to serve as a conduit of comfort and blessing through which believers in the nations could show their love and support to Israel; and, second, to stand as a prophetic voice to this generation concerning God’s plan to fulfill His covenant promises to the fathers of Israel – specifically, that He would ultimately restore the children of Israel to their rightful land and sequentially to a right relationship with their God, the God of Israel.
For the past four decades, the personnel of ICEJ, in Jerusalem and worldwide, have worked diligently to accomplish these God-ordained responsibilities. Even in the face of consistent struggle, the work has impacted literally hundreds of thousands of Christians and Jews throughout the earth.
“God blessed our ministry with a very unique gifting in order to win the hearts of this nation and to reach out to this nation in a very special way,” said Bühler.
“I’m so proud of the organization,” said Michael, “that it has lasted for 40 years, and I don’t mean just lasted; it has thrived. It has gone from strength to strength. It will continue.”
“Our best years are still ahead,” she added.
The ICEJ is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week at the annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration October 2-8. For more information, go to www.icej.live.
