Kairos International will gather believers from around the world Oct. 24 in show of unity.
By the time he was 12, Bruno Ierullo was so notorious in the Canadian crime scene, he was sneaking heroin into maximum security prisons.
“I was really bad and by 15, I had people working for me on the street,” Ierullo, who is now a pastor, told CBN News.
When Ierullo got caught, he was sent to a detention center but later was ordered to attend an Anglican boy’s school. A few years passed, but he was still involved in crime.
“It came to a point where I was involved with the Columbian drug cartel,” he admits.
Bruno Ierullo
Once during a drug deal, they thought he was going to steal the drugs so they stabbed him in the stomach and held him at gun point. “I heard an audible voice say, You live by the sword, you die by the sword,” says Ierullo. He walked right up to the guy with the gun and tried to convince him he wasn’t stealing the drugs. “They just ran from me!” Ierullo was amazed.
After his encounter, Ierullo told his mom he wanted to serve God and enrolled at a Christian university. There he accepted Christ as his savior and began his journey as a Christian.
“I had a vision of Jesus rescuing me from the darkness,” says Bruno. He shares how he wanted to know more about Jesus so he read the Bible from cover to cover. “I was on fire for the Lord,” he says.
So began a lifetime journey of serving God and bringing that message of saving grace to others. But there’s another issue close to his heart–unity among believers.
“There is nothing more powerful than unity,” he says. “Jesus is coming back for one bride.”
Ierullo is one of the organizers behind an effort to bring Protestant, Evangelical, Charismatic, Messianic, Catholic and Orthodox leaders from around the world together in Kansas City Oct. 24–26 for round table discussions, worship, and prayer. Christians who share their heart for John 17 unity are invited to join them in celebrating a year of destiny, as they come together for a historic, three-day meeting and then carry the blessing of unity back to their respective communities.
“God is calling His people to unity in Christ, as Jesus prayed in John 17. ‘…so the world would believe that God sent His Son,’” says Matteo Calisi, Founder of United in Christ and Host Ambassador for Kairos 2017. “This unity is not about doctrines, but is a simple focus on spiritual unity, based upon our shared faith in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation, recognizing the contributions of each diverse group, the hope of which can bring healing and revival to the nation.”
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Joseph F. Naumann.
The conference also celebrates the significance of 2017 for the Church internationally, recognizing a number of historically significant anniversaries. These include the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation (1517), the 50 year anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (1967), the 50 year anniversary of the modern Messianic Movement (1967) and the 40 year anniversary of the Ecumenical Charismatic Conference in Kansas City (1977).
“Kairos 2017 in Kansas City is the place to build bridges with leaders of other Christian traditions, to focus on our faith in Jesus, to celebrate our diversity and to help heal the wounds of the past,” says Calisi.
Keynote speakers include Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Kenneth Copeland, and over two dozen other Christian leaders. Worship will be led by Catch the Fire Music, Misty Edwards, Laura Hackett Park and Jaye Thomas.
The conference, which will take place at the Forerunner School of Ministry, 12418 Grandview Road in Grandview, will include panel discussions and dialogue promoting understanding and respect between Christian traditions as well as discussions of ways to work together with large group prayer, worship, prophetic intercession focused on God’s presence, repentance, the unity of Christians, and revival. The meeting will close with a challenge by national leaders to carry the torch of Christian unity and revival back to their communities.
“When we come together, our evangelization will be greater than ever. By this, all men will know you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:35),” says Lierullo.
For more information visit www.Kairos2017.com