Christian Leaders, Influencers Join 1,000-Strong Mission Supporting Israel and Combating Antisemitism

An unprecedented delegation of 1,000 American Christian leaders arrived in Israel last Tuesday, marking the largest group of U.S. Christian representatives to visit the country since its founding. The initiative, organized by the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to equip participants with firsthand knowledge to counter antisemitism in their home communities.

The visit comes at a critical time when antisemitism has surged globally, particularly following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center and a longtime associate of former President Donald Trump, emphasized the urgent need for this mission.

“These devils that hate Jews hate Christians just as much. What is being said against the State of Israel is one hundred times worse than what the Nazis said on their party platform in 1920, and everyone is ignoring it. They don’t realize how dangerous this is,” Evans told Fox News Digital.

Evans, who has known Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 45 years, secured approval for the initiative directly from the prime minister. The delegation was carefully vetted from over 2,000 applicants, with participants signing a pledge of solidarity with the Jewish people before joining the mission.

“We chose those best suited for this first trip. These 1,000 pastors represent tens of millions of Americans and have major media and social media influence,” Evans explained.

The delegation’s itinerary included meetings with high-profile Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, and visits to significant sites like the Supernova music festival, where Hamas carried out part of its October 7 attack. Participants also met with former hostages, including Emily Damari, Tal Shoham, Moran Stella Yanai, and Aviva and Keith Siegel, who were honored with the “Here Am I” Award for their advocacy work.

Tamryn Foley, an executive team member of the National Faith Advisory Board, described the emotional impact of these encounters. “When we were on Mount Herzl, one widow was there sharing her story. Her daughter no longer has a daddy. Thinking that my little girl might not have her dad broke my heart. I connected on a deep personal level,” she said.

The National Faith Advisory Board, led by Pastor Paula White-Cain, represents one of the largest coalitions of faith advocates in the United States. The organization identifies the U.S.-Israel alliance as central to its mission of protecting religious freedom, promoting American strength, defending life, and honoring family values.

A key focus of the delegation is countering what they describe as a coordinated ideological campaign against Israel, particularly among young Americans. Evans claimed that countries like Qatar have invested heavily in spreading antisemitic content through universities and digital platforms.

“The new wars of the 21st century are media wars, ideological wars, economic wars and proxy wars. And while Israel has never fought an ideological war, its enemies have,” Evans stated, adding that the Muslim Brotherhood has waged an ideological warfare that “doesn’t clear customs, and you can’t kill it with a bullet.”

Pastor Mike Atkins, another delegation member, emphasized that the mission aims to present a unified front against antisemitism. “We are seeking to unify — and demonstrate that unity — between evangelical Christian leaders in America, Israel and the Jewish people, and to counter any perception that this community is divided on the issue, because it is not,” he said.

The evangelical movement, representing nearly 10% of the global population according to Evans, has historically influenced U.S. foreign policy regarding Israel. This influence stems from the theological belief among many evangelicals that the biblical land belongs to the Jewish people.

Following their return to the United States, delegates plan to leverage their collective reach to counter misinformation about Israel, particularly among younger audiences.

“To the youth, I say: join the movement. Commit to never again allowing the poisonous deception of antisemitism to penetrate our culture. Take a stand, speak up, and do not remain silent,” Atkins urged.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, commenting on the initiative, described the delegation’s work as providing an essential “antibiotic” against what he termed “Jewish Derangement Syndrome.”

“The best medicine for Jewish Derangement Syndrome, an acute form of bigotry and antisemitism, is for people to come to Israel and see and hear for themselves. These American spiritual leaders are committed to using their pulpits and influence to provide truth,” Huckabee told Fox News Digital.