Christian Leaders Unite in Jerusalem, Support Israel and Combat Jew Hatred
An unprecedented number of pastors and other Christian leaders gathered in Israel in early December to stand against antisemitism, which is more commonly being referred to as “Jew Hatred”.
“It’s the first time in history the state of Israel has officially partnered with 1,000 strategic pastors to commission them as ambassadors to combat antisemitism and reach the youth of their generation,” Mike Evans, founder of Friends of Israel, says. “Right now, there’s an ideological war that Israel is losing. So, they need the evangelicals, they need the Zionists, to fight an ideological war.”
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The gathering was organized by Friends of Zion Heritage Center (FOZ) in conjunction with Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking what organizers say is the largest-ever evangelical delegation to visit Israel.
In an opening ceremony at the Center, the group was welcomed by Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, who hailed the event as “extraordinary” and called the participants “Ambassadors of the Truth.” He expressed gratitude to the pastors for standing with Israel and referred to Jerusalem as “the eternal capital of the Jewish state and the people” according to IsraelNews.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee – a former pastor – urged the visiting leaders to use their pulpits back home to defend Israel. “We need the pulpits of America to be on fire with the truth,” he said in a fiery address. “I hope you will go back to the U.S. with the fire of God burning in your bones … it is time to be pro-biblical, because then you will find your voice to be pro-Israel.”
Huckabee singled out what he described as “anti-Israel narratives” clouding support among younger Americans, criticizing both media and public figures for spreading misinformation. The audience reportedly responded “amen” when his remarks named critics.
The itinerary of the delegation included a visit to the massacre site of the Nova Music Festival massacre – where 378 people were slain and 44 kidnapped – underscoring the urgency that organizers attach to their mission.
Pastors also made a symbolic pilgrimage to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where many placed notes bearing the names of the Nova victims, offering prayers and solidarity with bereaved families. (The Kotel)
For FOZ and organizers, the summit – often referred to as the “Ambassadors Summit” – is more than a one-time solidarity visit. They say it is a first step in a broader global campaign set to begin in 2026, which aims to engage one million pastors and churches worldwide in what they describe as a “biblical worldview,” equipping them to defend Israel and counter rising antisemitism. (CBN)
“This is not a sightseeing tour,” Evans wrote in a commentary on the pilgrimage. “It is an urgent mobilization – a battle over the Bible and over whether the Jewish people have a legitimate, permanent home in the land where their story began.”
As the delegation disperses, leaders say their hope is that the trip will translate into sustained advocacy: pastors returning home with renewed commitment, church pulpits raised in defense of Israel, and a global network ready to push back against antisemitism.
–Dwight Widaman
