This Sunday, millions of Christians around the world will celebrate Pentecost, the birth of the Church. As recorded in the Book of Acts, it happened in Jerusalem:
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4)
This year, a ministry called "IPray TV" will provide a live video feed of the Pentecost celebrations here in Jerusalem. They've already provided video feeds of other celebrations like Christmas last year and this year's Easter from the Holy Land. Their founder, Mike Peros, describes the live feed as a virtual pilgrimage:
"Naturally it would be ideal if we could bring each and every believer to experience the Holy Land in person, but at least we now have the technology to bring them closer. Viewers in all parts of the world have been logging on year-round to strengthen their personal connection with these sites. It has been very rewarding to see that so many people share this desire and that they have been able to turn to IPrayTV on holidays and year-round as a meaningful spiritual resource."
Here's how IPray TV describes their unique ministry:
IPrayTV is dedicated to linking ministries to Jerusalem and the Holy sites through its simulcast technology. Through the company’s new video streaming technology, Christian pastors and ministries will be able to virtually connect to these Holy Land sites and deliver their sermons and biblical teaching.
The service, which was launched in October 2008, maintains live streaming video 24/7 from key Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including Calvary, Mount of Olives, Mount Ascension, the Eastern Gate, the City of David, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the city of Jerusalem.
For believers, who until recently could only witness these sites through pilgrimage in person, the ability to see and hear events at these sites in real time represents a new way to strengthen their knowledge and their faith.
The Pentecost events begin on Friday at 9:30 am; 11:30am and 7:30 pm. On Saturday May 30th, IPrayTV plans to deliver a live streaming video feed of the special holiday services at the Prayer Tent, by the Seven Arches Hotel on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives. The feed is available at www.ipraytv.com and it's free.
Next week, one of the world's most important elections will be held. The European Parliament elections take place from June 4th to the 7th.
These elections could well shape the destiny of Europe for years to come. Twenty-seven member states will elect 736 members to the European Parliament to represent nearly a half a billion people. It's the largest transnational election in European history.
Given their significance, the European Coalition for Israel (ECI) is trying to inform and mobilize Christians throughout Europe with a media campaign. The ECI believes Christians can play a pivotal role in these elections. Their campaign includes these two videos: www.youtube.com/prayandvote2009 www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0d5l5aZwpM
They also have a Web site at www.prayandvote2009.eu
They're highlighting three main issues: the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, the erosion of Christian values throughout Europe, and the nuclear threat Iran poses to Israel and the world.
Concerning the Iranian nuclear threat, ECI campaign director Tomas Sandell commented, "It is alarming that a leader who promises the destruction of the Jewish state can be invited to address a UN Conference against Racism here in Europe. Christians in the 30´s probably had more of an excuse not to know what Hitler was up to at the time than the world community today, which is perfectly aware of the plans and intentions of the Iranian leader [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad.”
They want to encourage pro-Israel candidates with Judeo-Christian values. With a record low turnout expected, the ECI believes every vote will be crucial and that Christians have a duty to pray and vote. Sandell notes Europe's history has shown only too dramatically what happens when Christians do not get involved.