Largest Delegation of American Pastors Visits Israel to Counter Rising Antisemitism

One thousand American Christian pastors and influencers arrived in Israel last week in what organizers describe as the largest delegation of American Christian leaders to visit the nation since its founding in 1948. The mission, coordinated through the Friends of Zion initiative in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to equip participants to serve as advocates for Israel upon their return to communities across the United States.

The timing of this unprecedented gathering carries particular significance. As antisemitic incidents continue to rise globally, and as Israel faces sustained criticism in international forums, the delegation represents a tangible expression of solidarity between American evangelical Christians and the Jewish state.

Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem, organized the mission with explicit purpose. Evans, who has maintained close relationships with Israeli leadership for decades, including a 45-year friendship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke candidly about the threats facing both Jewish and Christian communities.

“These devils that hate Jews hate Christians just as much,” Evans stated, drawing a sobering historical parallel. “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.”

The selection process for the delegation was rigorous. From more than 2,000 applicants, organizers chose participants based on their community influence and media reach. Each delegate signed a pledge committing to stand in solidarity with the Jewish people. According to Evans, these thousand pastors collectively represent tens of millions of Americans and command substantial media and social media platforms.

The itinerary included visits to sites of profound emotional weight. Delegates met with former Hamas captives at the location of the Supernova music festival, where hundreds were killed or taken hostage during the October 7 attacks. At Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery, participants heard testimony from widows and families forever altered by terrorism.

Tamryn Foley, a member of the National Faith Advisory Board’s executive team, described the personal 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,” Foley recounted.

The National Faith Advisory Board, led by Pastor Paula White-Cain, represents the largest coalition advocating for people of faith in America. The organization’s mission rests on four foundational pillars: protecting religious freedom, promoting a strong America, defending life at all stages, and honoring family values. Within this framework, the board identifies the United States-Israel alliance as central to its agenda.

Evans emphasized that modern conflicts have evolved beyond traditional warfare. “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,” he observed.

This assessment underscores the strategic dimension of the delegation’s mission. By training influential American Christian leaders to serve as unofficial ambassadors for Israel, organizers hope to counter what they perceive as a dangerous imbalance in how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is portrayed in media and academic institutions.

The initiative received approval from Prime Minister Netanyahu, reflecting the Israeli government’s recognition of American evangelical Christians as crucial allies in an era of increasing international isolation and criticism.