The Flags of Fellowship of Jews and Christians held an intimate memorial for the Oct. 7 attacks at God’s Glorious Praise Ministry on Tuesday evening.
Alma Nelson, a pastor for the ministry, said the reason she wanted to do a memorial is because she believed the attacks affected everyone.
“We’re basically here to gather the community in solemn prayer because of what happened on Oct. 7. But we understand that, you know, Oct. 7 didn’t happen just to the Jews. It happened to the world … using Israel as a pointed contact for all the oppression that’s going on all over the world, whether it’s in Gaza, whether it’s in North Korea again, whether it’s in Mexico, people are being oppressed,” Nelson said.
When asked how she felt being at the memorial, Nelson said that she is asking God to forgive His people.
“To ask God to forgive us because we all commit sins and iniquities. And the Bible says that God will heal our land. God will heal our prayers if we repent of our sins,” Nelson said.
Christopher Ethakpemhi, another pastor at the ministry, said that some people may want to do things, like prayer, individually but there is power in numbers.
Ethakpemhi added that events like this are a great way to educate and make people aware of what is happening in the world.
“It also provide rooms for people to kind of share common ideas and kind of, when I use the word fellowship, to rub minds together and also to provide support because in the course of community or in the cause of fellowship, people can share their needs and we’re able to speak to those needs. We’re able to pray for each other,” Ethakpemhi said.
Ethakpemhi added that he felt emotional coming to the memorial because every day is precious and that the victims on Oct. 7 did not know it would be their last day.
Nawal Helo, an attendee who said she was Jordanian and still supports Israel, felt it was important to show her support because she believes Israel belongs to the God of Israel.
“So whatever you believe, you can’t be a Christian without supporting Israel, because the Bible was legitimately written by Jews. So I’m here to support Israel, to support my God. And just to be here for my family,” Helo said.
