On January 1, 2025, New Year's Day, the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, hosted the 61st edition of a rally organized by the La Batalla de la Fe (Battle of Faith) ministry, with over 20,000 attendees.
The event, considered one of the most significant Christian gatherings in the country, united believers from various denominations in one location. The activity was also broadcast live on multiple Dominican television channels and radio stations, reaching millions of homes.
Pastor Ezequiel Molina Rosario, president of the organizing ministry, centered his speech on the biblical passage from Jeremiah 2:12-13, under the theme: Broken Cisterns. He reflected on the shortcomings of the current political and religious systems, addressing the challenges, obstacles, and repression facing contemporary society.
Amid occasional showers and moments of sunshine, Molina Rosario began his message declaring: "Hard times demand hard words, but hard words understandable to all."
Through a historical lens, he revisited the global impact of the September 11, 2001, attacks and how these events brought significant changes to humanity. “We lost freedom and privacy for the sake of security and mobility,” he lamented.
He urged the audience to reflect on the experiences of the people of Israel, emphasizing two key principles from the biblical text: Firstly, that God controls the course of history, and nothing happens without His permission. And secondly, departure from God's principles has serious consequences.
He challenged attendents: “What has God done to you to cause you to turn away? What injustice have you seen in Him?”
“The mistakes of the past, if repeated today, will have the same results. The system has failed because it is based on lies and deceit,” he cautioned.
He denounced the limited effectiveness of anti-corruption measures and cautioned against a growing “spirit of ungovernability” that he observed not only in the Dominican Republic but also globally.
The rally began with a heartfelt welcome from Yirenni Pérez, who expressed the ministry's joy in starting the year with communal worship.
Renowned singer Marcos Witt, together with Dominican artists Arianny Aquino and Cales Louima, delivered inspiring music, filling the stadium with uplifting praise.
During a poignant moment of prayer and intercession, led by Pastors Julio Morales and Juan Tiburcio, attendees knelt in unity to pray for the Dominican Republic, Israel, and the entire world.
The event was also attended by various public figures, including mayors, congressmen, and senators, whose presence was acknowledged during the ceremony. It emphasized the unity of the body of Christ, as thousands gathered to dedicate the start of the year to faith and hope.
The 61st Battle of Faith rally once sought to again showcase the transformative power of faith in times of uncertainty, serving as a call to return to the true and lasting sources of hope and purpose.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
