Israel Christian Nexus Pastors Tour Highlights Solidarity
More than 40 pastors from 20 states are touring Israel this month as part of the Israel Christian Nexus initiative, a strategic pastors’ network led by Bishop Robert Stearns and founded by Eagles’ Wings.
Early stops included Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Caesarea, where participants gained firsthand knowledge and perspective about the historical rebirth of the state of Israel, as well as seeing the biblical context of the Mediterranean region that is so prominent in the accounts of the prophet Jonah, the apostle Peter, the Roman centurion Cornelius and more.
Not just a trip
“This isn’t just a trip; it’s a time to refocus, listen to the Lord and return with renewed vision for the church and the mission he’s given us,” said Pastor Simeon Young of New Community Church in Muskogee, Okla. ”At the Tel Aviv Museum of Art today, I stood in front of a powerful and heartbreaking display honoring the hostages taken during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. This exhibit is a sobering reminder of the pain still felt across Israel and the urgent need for compassion, peace and the safe return of those still missing.”
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The delegation met with Jay Shultz, founder of the Am Yisrael Foundation, whose work includes initiatives such as “Adopt-a-Safta,” “Join the IDF” and “White City Shabbat,” all focused on supporting Jewish life and resilience in Israel. After time along the coast, the group journeyed north to the Galilee, where they worshipped on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, were baptized in the Jordan River and visited Magdala, a site of extraordinary archaeological discovery from the time of Jesus. The pastors will also visit Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Sderot and the Nova Festival grounds, all tragic epicenters of the October 7 attacks.
“In this unprecedented moment, as Israel faces the gravest threats in a generation, this delegation is a prophetic witness to the power of solidarity,” Stearns said. “This group of next-generation leaders is a living statement of hope for the future of the security of Israel. There is no greater friend of Israel than those who come to her aid and defense in times of greatest need.”
More information about the organization is available at www.israelchristiannexus.org.
–Dwight Widaman
