14th September, 2004

An estimated 40,000 German Christians marched through Berlin on Saturday,  11th September, and commemorated the third anniversary of the terror attacks against the United States,  the German evangelical news agency IDEA reported. 

The singing and praying Christians took part in the 'Jesus Day', one of Germany's largest Christian events, which was organized by evangelical believers from mainly charismatic and Pentecostal backgrounds. Their march started and ended at Berlin's Brandenburg gate, where United States film maker Gordon Pennington told the crowd that September 11 had taught people that ultimately "they can not decide themselves over their lives", IDEA said.    
 
On their way through the German capital participants reportedly stopped at six political, commercial, financial, and cultural centers to offer prayers. Near the US-embassy they not only prayed for the roughly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks, but also for those killed in other acts of terrorism, such as last week's school siege in Beslan, South Russia.

"The Jesus Day is an antidote against terrorism, violence and separation," IDEA quoted Rev Axel Nehlsen, chairman of the organizing committee as saying. FIve hundred participants also took part in a rally of solidarity with Israel and Messianic Jews amid growing concern among both Christians and politicians over escalating anti-Semitism in Europe,  including Germany.

- BosNewsLife News Center with WOLFGANG POLZER and STEFAN J. BOS