By Marney Blom and Daina Doucet
Eight Canadians have walked a massive 450kms off Israel’s beaten track in just 17 days while praying for the land and its people.
Team members were aged between 25 and 57 and comprised of native and non-native Canadians representing western, eastern and central Canada. They were Rob and Fran Parker, Robbie and Brandy Parker, David van der Kwaak, Michele Cloutier, Gordon Nicholson and Dwayne Flamand.
Fifty-four-year-old Rob Parker, Canadian National House of Prayer director, believes it’s a critical time to pray for Israel.
“We sense we’re coming into times and seasons when we need to be prepared for the coming of Jesus. Israel needs to be prepared. It’s the place where things are going to happen.”
It’s not the first time Rob Parker has prayer-walked a nation. In 2000 he trekked from Calgary to Ottawa, praying as he walked. He said his Canadian prayer-walk was an essential precursor to the establishment of the Canadian National House of Prayer (NHOP) in Ottawa in 2005.
“I only dreamed about doing in Israel what we did in Canada,” he said. However, in the fall of 2009 he sensed God say, “Now is the time. Prepare yourselves. The focus for our prayer was to be, “prepare the way of the Lord”.”
The Canadians began at Israel’s northern border town of Metulla and journeyed to Galilee, Haifa, Tel Aviv, and the Negev Desert before winding north to Jerusalem.
“Each day when we got up we read the Word, prayed for each other, and started to walk” said Parker. “Then it was literally, “God show us what is on your heart today. What should we be praying?””
The team declared God’s Word as they walked.
Langley B.C carpenter Dave van der Kwaak said when they walked down through the fields at Metulla they prayed and called out to the land to hear the Word of the Lord.
“Scripture talks about (crying out to the land), “Land, oh land, hear the Word of the Lord”.”
Often their journey caused them to re-trace the footsteps of Jesus. Walking into Nazareth was particularly meaningful for Parker.
“I thought, this could be a key spot for revival to break out. Can you imagine revival breaking out in Nazareth?”
Parker’s son Robbie appreciated the history.
“I got a chance to pray over the Sea of Galilee and I thought to myself just how interesting it was that I might be taking in a view that Jesus Himself would have taken in.”
But at 30kms a day, the walking was gruelling said Parker.
“It took us about six hours (every day), so we walked about 5km an hour.”
Sunburn, blisters and muscle inflammation afflicted the walkers. Some days Parker found himself limping slightly due to muscle soreness and stiffness. “As the day went on, it was all right. And each day has its rewards. Tonight we are going to a hot springs,” he said at the time, “and we are going to soak our sore muscles. I’m really looking forward to that.”
The walkers believed the prayer walk also had spiritual significance for Canada. Rob pointed out from Scripture that anyone who blessed Israel would themselves be blessed. “I feel that something of what we are doing here will effect greater reconciliation in Canada,” he said, referring to the move among Canada’s aboriginal nations to forgive the Canadian government concerning the residential school system.
But more important was the outcome for Israel.
Jerusalem’s KKCJ Pavilion Prayer Tower prayer co-ordinator Hilda Chen said the prayer walk had been a huge accomplishment for Canada in the spirit realm. “This prayer walk will shift how we move in the Spirit and deal with Israel. It will bring in the strategies of God (so) Canada can come forth in these last days and stand strong with Israel as a covenant nation.”
Canada is the only nation with a leaf on its flag, and scripturally, the leaves of the trees by the River of Life are for healing. Many believe Canada’s destiny, based on in Revelation 22:2, is for the healing of the nations.
It makes sense that it should begin with Israel.
Copyright © Acts News Network, Inc.