Garlington Honored at the Jerusalem Banquet
The ninth annual Jerusalem Banquet, a gala event gathering influential leaders from both Jewish and Christian communities, was held Thursday, June 4, at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park.
The high energy evening included an address from Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, and Consul General of Israel in New York, Ido Aharoni. Prominent leaders of the evening included Jon Loew, Bishop Joseph Garlington, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Dr. A.R. Bernard, Irwin Hochberg, Bishop Don Hilliard, Michael Miller, and other religious and community leaders.
Event chair Rev. Robert Stearns spoke to the crowd, enthusiastically sharing, “Tonight in this room is evidence of a 2,000-year miracle in the making. Once, our faith communities were separated but in our day and our time Jews and Christians, while respecting our significant theological differences, are coming together to declare there is more that unites us than separates us.”
Joining Rev. Stearns at the event was an extraordinary leader, whose life has impacted millions around the world for many years, Bishop Joseph Garlington of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, PA. Bishop Garlington was honored for his dedication and service through the establishment of a scholarship which will send college students to Israel as part of the Israel Experience College Scholarship Program, which has been dubbed the “Christian Birthright” program by various press outlets.
Bishop Garlington addressing the banquet in response to the evening tribute, said, “We are living in a moment where being silent is not an option. It is time to say something, and I am blessed to be part of sending young Christian leaders to Israel.”
The evening of honor and celebration included special musical selections, including joyous traditional songs which brought the room to their feet singing and clapping.
Several graduates of the program represented those in attendance. Ryan Mauro, 2009 Israel Experience Scholar, leading national security analyst, who is regularly featured on various media outlets, shared, “The support for Israel and Judeo-Christian values that we take for granted will vanish within a generation if we do nothing. Based on my experience with the Israel Experience program, I can say without hesitation that this program is the key to the future of this support.”
Rebekah Gordon, 2013 Israel Experience Scholar who works at the United Nations shared how the Israel Experience made her a strong advocate for Israel. She said, “Everywhere I go I am an ambassador for Israel, thanks to this powerful program.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor, addressing Robert Stearns and Eagles’ Wings said, “Thank you for standing each and every day with the State of Israel and strengthening the amazing bond between Jews and Christians that brings us together.”
Support was raised from the evening to scholarship the best and brightest of tomorrow’s Christian leaders to participate in the eighth annual Israel Experience Program this summer, a study tour which gives tomorrow’s leaders an educated heart for Israel. Each year students are educated first hand on the realities in Israel. Students have participated from over 100 American Universities.
For more information, visit: www.jerusalemprayerbanquet.com or call 1-800-519-4647.
(Source: Christian Newswire)
