The Words of the Jenkins Family

Message From Israel

Michael Jenkins
September 22, 2003

Dear Family,

Today history was made in Israel. For the first time Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders walked together in prayer through the old city of Jerusalem pledging with their lives that God had called them to end the divisions and become one family. They walked through an area where no marches rallies or gatherings of such a type are permitted. They were on a mission to end the divisions of the historic Abrahamic faiths.

The march was the fulfillment of inspiration of our True Parents and came on the solid foundation of the reconciliation of the first and second Israel during the first Pilgrimage last May. 123 of the Christian leaders came from America on the second Pilgrimage. This group of clergy are much more clear about our mission this time having the benefit of understanding the first pilgrimage through the "Beyond the Cross" video and True Father's incredible revelation that the last Pilgrimage reconciled the sons of Abraham and created a condition of lifting up Jesus in such a way that forgiveness could come for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. On this foundation Father proclaimed the forgiveness of the first, second and third Israel through the Jerusalem, Washington and Seoul Declarations. These Declarations brought forgiveness to the first (Judaism, Israel), second (Christianity, America) and third Israel (Unificationism, Korea). All three faiths did not receive the Messiah properly but all has been indemnified and on this basis the fourth Israel was proclaimed by our True Parents through the Seoul Declaration.

The Fourth Israel is real. It is made up of believers from all major religions who have been blessed by our True Parents. It has authority and power to bring God's Kingdom. We saw that great power today. We marched where you could not go.

We began at the Jaffa gate of the old city. The 123 ACLC clergy were joined by the Golden Path, Jewish and Arab peace walkers, the Druze religion (which takes it origin from Jethro the Father in Law of Moses), Rev. Abu Hatoom, (brought 50 clergy from Nazareth), Ethiopian Orthodox church, the Peace Promise Initiative (President and founder Debra West), Rabbi Moshe Chen (pronounced Ken) - a prominent Rabbi in Israel. Hundreds came from all over Israel. Over 120 Arab Muslim (many who were Palestinians) clerics and community leaders joined. Jews and Christians, just kept coming until our march originally planned for 360 swelled to 500.

We began in silence (we were instructed by our organizers that this was the only way we could get through this path and not be stopped. ) with approximately 5 marchers per row and 100 rows. We began through the streets of the ancient city and the reality of the danger and tension became apparent right away. 5 minutes into the walk the police stopped us with grave concern for what was going on. You don't march with Muslims, Christians and Jews through Palestinian and Jewish sections of the old city. Meetings for dialogue is one thing, but 500 marching on the street at a time many feel is the most dangerous, volatile and tense is unthinkable. However, from heavens point of view, this is the era of Cheon Il Guk and every wall and border will eventually fall down if we walk in faith.

Suddenly our march came to a dead stop. Our Jewish IIFWP Ambassadors for Peace sprung into action. This was Shelley Elkayam Shando, Baruch Shalev who advises one Israeli Cabinet member, Dr. Eliezar Glaubach and Dr. Shuki Ben Ami (all scholars and Ambassadors for Peace) immediately stood in between our marchers and the police and with incredible finesse and conviction helped the Israeli police understand that this march would bring peace not conflict. They introduced Bishop Stallings, myself and Rev. Hartoom. A conflict now ensured at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which has Jesus' tomb inside. Suddenly something changed in the countenance of the Police. Not only did they permit us to go forward but felt that they now must make the March a success. They gave us total trust and support. It was unreal. Our way was blocked by one religious order who didn't understand who we were and were afraid. The Police did understand and we reversed our - we all did an about face in the narrow (only 5 can stand side by side) covered streets of the old city (with small kiosks and Palestianian / Arab merchants along the sides - and the end of the march became the front. Then because we now had full support we broke into a cadence of Peace, Shalom, Salaam Ailaikam, Peace, Shalom, Salaam Ailaikam, Peace, Shalom, Salaam Ailaikam, Peace, Shalom, Salaam Ailaikam. Now as we walked the shop keeper smiled and the spirit of tension turned into a spirit of joy.

They helped us get through the security check points quickly and we could assemble before the Holy site of the Western Wall. It was there that Dr. Lonnie McLeod offered a Christian Prayer, Imam Kiwan offered a Muslim Prayer (Imam Kiwan gave the main prayer representing all religious leaders at the July WCSF Blessing in Korea), and then Rabbi Moshe Chen. The Rabbi was deeply moved that this march could occur. He said, "Many have died on this path we are walking so we are like Martyrs, however today I feel no danger and that we will be like living Martyrs." The Rabbi brought great respect for Judaism to the Muslim and Christian leaders.

Then we marched to the Temple Mount (Mt. Moriah where it is believed that Abraham sacrificed Isaac, and Muhammad ascended into heaven). It is one of the three most revered and holy sites of all of Islam. Again we passed smoothly through security checkpoints and became the first Interreligious group since the second Intifada to go before the mosque. The meetings we had the day before with the Imam and key leaders of the Mosque made an incredible foundation. Imam Bundakji of California, did so much to help Jewish and Christian leaders appreciate Islam. For many Jews who have lived their whole lives in Jerusalem it was the first time in the Al Aqsa plaza. To our astonishment and the profound shock of the Police they Muslim Imams and key leaders welcomed us with love and total respect.

500 gathered before the steps of the Dome of the Rock and led by Imam Bundakji we shouted God is Great. Allah U Akbar !!! Out of total respect and reverence for their heart and tradition before God we followed only the Muslim expression of honoring God. Imam Bundakji said we believe and love Moses, Isaac and Ishmael. We believe and love Jesus and we believe and love Muhammad. We believe and love True Parents. Again, the Imam brought great respect and a feeling of love for the greatness of Islam and many Jewish and Christian leaders were deeply awakened to the fact that this is God's holy religion.

From the Dome of the Rock we marched through the Lions gate and then on to our buses.

Our rally concluded at the Mt. of Olives. All faith traditions assembled there in the sun on the eastern side of the old city across a great valley. You can see the Holy City from the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Lk:19:41 - 42 "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."

However we come to proclaim to that same hillside overlooking the city and proclaim, Jesus we love you and now we know the "things which belong unto thy peace." We are reconciling Jesus and accepting True Parents. Through this you are being lifted up and liberated. Your family is feeling love and Ishmael and Isaac are in permanent fellowship now that will bring a healing power that will end the strife. The Christians and your beloved Jewish family are repenting and forgiving one another and through that they are discovering the "real" love of Jesus.

Dear Jesus, "Weep no more." It is time for your tears of sorrow to turn into tears of Joy.

Dear True Parents, Please "Weep no more" the Elder son and the religions that you are longing for have come to understand that God's love through True Parents is healing our hearts and allowing all brothers to become one together.

Thanks America. Thanks Israel. Thanks Palestine.

Thank you Rev. Kwak and Dr. Walsh and the IIFWP for developing religious leaders in the Middle East who will be the Ambassadors for Peace and the founders of the Middle East Peace Council and the World Peace council. We really thank Rev. Ji, Dr. Abe and Rev. Hod Ben Zwi for the Israeli Families incredible work to make it happen. Also Dr. Wilson and Dr. Frank Kaufmann out of pure heart sacrificed from their hearts to make it all work. God is blessing this work. Father told us that ACLC would bring peace to Israel. I see it now with my own eyes, the walls have come down. We are entering the era where there will no longer be borders and check points. This is the time of the Cheon Il Guk.

Thank you Rev. Hwang and the 840 who are pouring your blood sweat and tears into New York right now. We are on the road to total victory for the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Special thanks to Dr. Chang Shik Yang who has Father's heart of righteousness but incredible patience and love that allows this movement to continue to walk through the fires and trials that historically have divided all religions. We are ending divisions now.

America - sacrifice now and come to New York. This is the time that the darkness of midnight can be turned into the glorious dawn of a new day for mankind. Don't hesitate now. Pour out your blood sweat and tears. Pour it out.

Tomorrow we go on another journey with 12 clergy that we cannot talk about now. Please pray that our mission continues to open the doors for Peace.

Love,

MWJ

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