Contact: Joel James, 716-759-1058
NEW YORK, June 4, 2012 /
Christian Newswire/ -- On Sunday, June 3, hundreds of Christians from dozens of churches across the Tri-State area joined with over 35,000 participants in the Celebrate Israel Parade, for an historic day in New York City. As far as is known, it is the first time in the history of the parade that an evangelical Christian group has joined the march.
Christian participation was organized by Eagles' Wings with the theme of the Christian float as "Israel: God's 'Grape' Promise Fulfilled!", taken from Amos 9:14, "I will bring back the captives of My people Israel… they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them."
Christians carried large fruit cutouts, fruit balloons, and balloons arranged into large grape clusters carried on poles between two people. Their banners and props showed the fruit of the modern gardens of Israel as a tribute to God's eternal covenant with the land of Israel and the Jewish people as prophesied by the prophet Amos nearly 2,700 years ago.
Thousands of people lined Manhattan's world-famous Fifth Avenue to cheer on the marchers. Some were brought to tears and cheers when they realized that Christians were marching with them in faith and celebration.
Eagles' Wings director Dr. Robert Stearns, who led the march of the Christians in the parade, referenced Israel's current struggle to survive as he spoke of the day in Manhattan: "The parade today was powerful and meaningful. We were blessed as Christians to be able to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters and let them know they will never be alone."
Expressing the sentiment of many other Christians who marched in the parade, Christian participant Anthony DeGuerre gave an apt response when asked by a local Jewish TV station why he was participating. He answered, "The Jewish faith is the foundation of my Christian faith. I stand with Israel because of God's enduring covenants with the people and the land."
Note to Editors: To arrange an interview with Robert Stearns, please contact WENDY MILLER, 716-759-1058 or
wendymiller@eagleswings.to.
