American Christian Leaders Stand United With Israel Amid Rising Antisemitism

In a powerful display of solidarity, an unprecedented delegation of 1,000 American Christian pastors and influencers arrived in Israel last Tuesday, marking the largest group of U.S. Christian leaders to visit the Jewish state since its founding. Organized by the Friends of Zion initiative in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this historic visit aims to equip these faith leaders to become effective ambassadors for Israel upon their return home, countering a rising tide of antisemitism and misinformation spreading across American universities and social media platforms.

Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem and a confidant of former President Donald Trump, explains the urgency behind 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.” Evans believes the 21st century’s conflicts have evolved beyond traditional battlefields into media, ideological, economic, and proxy wars—arenas where Israel’s enemies have been strategically advancing while Israel has struggled to respond effectively. The delegation, carefully vetted from over 2,000 applicants, represents tens of millions of American Christians with significant media influence, all of whom have pledged unwavering solidarity with the Jewish people in this critical moment.

For many participants, the experience has transcended political or theological motivations, touching them on deeply personal levels. Tamryn Foley, a member of the National Faith Advisory Board’s executive team, recounted a heart-wrenching moment at 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.” This emotional connection has ignited a passionate commitment among the delegates to combat what they describe as pervasive antisemitic propaganda targeting young Americans. “I am going back home with a fire to make sure young people in my country know the truth,” Foley declared. “It’s one thing to understand something intellectually, and another to come here, meet people who have been affected, and connect with them on a heart level.”

The training received by these Christian leaders specifically addresses what Evans describes as an ideological war being waged against Israel by organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood and nations such as Qatar, which he claims have invested millions to spread antisemitic content through educational institutions and digital platforms. This ideological warfare presents a unique challenge because, as Evans puts it, it’s “a powerful demon because it doesn’t clear customs, and you can’t kill it with a bullet.” The delegation’s organizers believe that the Evangelical movement, representing nearly 10% of the global population and a significant voting bloc in American politics, can serve as a crucial counterforce to these efforts by articulating a biblically-based case for supporting Israel and the Jewish people’s connection to their ancestral homeland.

The delegation’s itinerary included powerful encounters designed to deepen their understanding of Israel’s current struggles. They met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and visited the site of Hamas’s October 7 massacre at the Supernova music festival, accompanied by former hostages who shared their harrowing experiences. Pastor Mike Atkins, a delegation member, emphasized the unity this visit aims to demonstrate: “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 described how delegates received “at the highest levels” firsthand insights into the realities on the ground in Israel, equipping them to combat what he called “antisemitic deception” when they return to their communities and congregations across America.

The initiative has garnered support from prominent American political figures like former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who framed the delegation’s mission in medical terms: “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.” As these thousand Christian leaders return to their pulpits, social media platforms, and community networks across America, they carry with them not just information but deeply personal testimonies and connections formed during their time in Israel. Their message to young Americans facing a barrage of anti-Israel sentiment is direct and hopeful, as articulated by Atkins: “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.” In the face of what these leaders view as a dangerous resurgence of antisemitism globally, they believe truth remains the most powerful “antibiotic” against conspiracy theories and falsehoods targeting both Israel and the longstanding U.S.-Israel relationship.