Korean pastor congratulates Israel's 70th year of foundation

Pastor Lee Young-hoon congratulates Israel on the 70th anniversary of establishment of its government and talks about his hope for unification of two Koreas at Orient Hotel in Jerusalem, June 6. Yoido Full Gospel Church

By Grace Lee

Pastor Lee, right, and the Israeli President Reuben Rivlin during the reception at Orient Hotel. Yoido Full Gospel Church

Lee Young Hoon, the senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, was invited to be one of the main speakers at a prayer meeting in Jerusalem for this event on June 6-7.

As Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary of its establishment of a government, many celebrations are taking place. One of the events that stands out is that Israel, a Jewish state, invited Christian leaders and Christian politicians from all over the world to hold a prayer meeting for peace in Jerusalem.

From the National Assembly Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein's request, Pastor Lee delivered the message of congratulations as the first Korean to speak at the Israeli National Assembly (Knesset) at 11 AM of June 6.

The National Assembly Speaker referred to the fact that the US embassy recently recognized the fact that Jerusalem had been the capital of Israel since three thousand years ago. Many US presidents have promised to relocate but has been overlooked until President Trump has praised the courage and determination to keep the promise.

From 7 PM, there was a concert and celebration at the Orient Hotel. Israeli President, Reuben Rivlin, spoke to Lee with greetings. Rivlin said that he is grateful for the presence of Christian representatives from all over the world for Israel's 70th anniversary, and that now Judaism, Christianity and Islam are one in Jerusalem, contributing to world peace.

Ann Graham Lotz, the daughter of pastor Billy Graham, and Pastor Lee gave a congratulatory message after the President's congratulatory message.

Pastor Lee gave the speech “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” to Christian leaders from 70 countries, and requested that they pray for the US-North Korea summit meeting coming up June 12 in Singapore.

He particularly mentioned the fact that though there are many leaders who pray for President Trump of the United States, no one to prays for the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un.

He suggested that they pray that God change Kim's heart and that the summit be finished well. All of the participants prayed for the peace of Jerusalem, peace of the Korean peninsula, and the successful US-North Korea summit.

At 7:30 AM of June 7th, there was a 4 hour prayer meeting held at Orient Hotel Jerusalem, and Pastor Lee was the first speaker, celebrating the 70th anniversary of Israel's foundation.

He also stated that the soon it will also be Korea's 70th anniversary of its establishment of a government. He prayed not only for the peace in Jerusalem, but also encouraged others to pray for the peace in the Korean Peninsula and for unification of Korea.

This prayer meeting consisted of 650 Christian leaders and politicians from 70 countries.

Pastor Lee saw that the Koreans did not have a voice, and only had contention, conflict and confrontation, and thought that the Korean National Assembly should imitate the mature state of the Israeli parliament.