The first Epicenter Conference in Asia was held in Manila, Philippines during the week of January 17-24, 2010. The theme: “Signs of the Times.” By God’s grace, we were able to educate pastors, ministry leaders and lay people in Asia about God’s love and plan for Israel and the people of the epicenter, teach about Bible prophecy, urge people to get ready and be prepared for the return of Jesus Christ in the last days, and share the work of The Joshua Fund.
Highlights:
* On Monday, Joel Rosenberg and a team of American, Filipino, Israeli and Iranian pastors were invited to a luncheon at the palace with Philippine President Gloria Arroyo. The team thanked Arroyo for strong Filipino-Israeli relations through the years. They noted that in 1939, then-President Quezon offered safe haven to 10,000 European Jews trying to flee the Nazi Holocaust. While only about 1,200 were able to make it here before the country fell to Japan, it was still tremendous offer. Then, on November 29, 1947, the Philippines gave the decisive final vote in favor of the Partition Plan at the United Nations. They noted that this gave the way to the creation of the modern State of Israel and thus the Philippines helped fulfill Bible prophecy.
* The team discussed the threat of Radical Islam and specifically the Iranian nuclear threat. Then, in a private, one-on-one meeting with the President, Joel asked the President in light of the strong historic ties between the Philippines and Israel to reconsider the vote the Philippines cast at the U.N. against Israel last fall over the Goldstone Commission Report. The U.N. resolution that passed asked the Security Council to consider war crimes charges against Israel because of the Gaza war. It did not, however, even mention the word “Hamas” or note Hamas’s terrorism or the fact that Operation Cast Lead (the war in Gaza in January 2009) was not an offensive action initiated by Israel but was a response to 12,000 rockets and missiles fired by Hamas terrorists from Gaza at the innocent civilian population in southern Israel over the course of many year. Israel responded when the U.N. wouldn’t. The issue will come back up for discussion in the U.N. in February. Joel shared that many Christians around the world will be praying that the Philippines reconsider their position and find a way to reaffirm Israel’s right to self-defense, while also expressing compassion for the Palestinians suffering under Hamas rule in Gaza.
* On Tuesday, the team had lunch with Israeli Ambassador Zvi Vapni. They, too, discussed Radical Islam, the Iranian nuclear threat, and the Filipino vote on the Goldstone Report.
* Throughout the week, the team did numerous radio, TV and print interviews in Manila in support of Israel.
* On Thursday night, Joel addressed more than 1,000 government, business, military and religious leaders at a Leaders Dinner at the Crowne Plaza, speaking on Bible prophecy and God’s promise in Genesis 12:1-3 to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. He publicly thanked the people of the Philippines for helping fulfill prophecy by supporting the rebirth of the State of Israel in 1947, and he publicly asked those attending — including current senior presidential advisors, Congressmen, and leading presidential and vice presidential candidates — to reconsider their country’s vote against Israel at the U.N. over the Goldstone Report.
* On Friday, the team led more than 4,500 pastors, ministry leaders and lay people through the day-long Epicenter Conference held at Christ’s Commission Fellowship church. The pro-Israel conference was also broadcast to thousands more via live webcast and a live satellite broadcast. In addition to teach in-depth on Bible prophecy and God’s love and plan for the people of the epicenter, the team also shared about the work of The Joshua Fund and the importance of building a global movement of Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the days ahead.
* On Saturday, the team trained more than 3,000 adults to be small group Bible study leaders. Later in the day, Joel addressed more than 3,000 young people who attended the youth portion of the conference.
* On Sunday, the team taught more than 20,000 through five services at CCF church.
It was a tremendous week and we are so grateful for everyone who prayed for The Joshua Fund team and our allies. God was working powerfully, and the Filipino Christians are excited about praying faithfully for Israel, blessing Israel in other practical ways, and finding news ways to educate and mobilize other Christians throughout Asia to do the same.





