Pastor Robert Stearns, leader of the Christian organization Eagles' Wings, warned in an interview with Israel Hayom that evangelical support for Israel could decline if the government does not invest resources in strengthening ties with the global Christian community. His warning came as 220 pro-Israel Christian leaders from around the world arrived in Israel on Thursday, part of yet another delegation Stearns has been bringing to the country for the past 31 years.
Over the years, Stearns has brought more than 35,000 Christian leaders to Israel. Two-thirds of them later returned with additional delegations—five, six, or even seven times—creating what he describes as an exponential effect in global Christian support for Israel. The current delegation includes dozens of artists and influencers with a combined reach of more than 300 million followers.
Today, the delegation will hold a massive event at the City of David in Jerusalem, to be broadcast to 175 countries. It is expected to be one of the most significant displays of Christian solidarity with Israel. Despite this, Stearns voiced concern about waning evangelical support, particularly among younger generations.
"I would tell the Israeli government that the evangelical friendship with Israel is not guaranteed," Stearns told Israel Hayom. "It's a blessing that must be renewed in every generation. We need resources and educational initiatives to keep this bond strong—without them, I'm deeply worried about what the future may hold for both our communities."
A call to action
Practically speaking, what should the Israeli government or the State of Israel do?
"It must build relationships and allocate budgets for programs that encourage and develop ties between Israel and the global Christian community. The Foreign Ministry, embassies, and consulates need to take a more active role in educating people about Christian Zionism and helping them understand it on a local level.
"In the past, evangelical support was seen as something nice, 'our friendly Christian allies.' But now we need to work on the difficult issues, and we must stand united in how we address them."
Stearns is not the only one sounding the alarm. In recent months, increasing signs suggest that among the younger generation of evangelicals, support for Israel is no longer a given.
Why is this shift happening?
"The answer is complex," Stearns said. "There is an unholy, dangerous alliance between radical Marxism and extremist Islam that has fueled this conspiracy. To counter it, there must be a righteous alliance between the Jewish and Christian communities to uphold the values of Western civilization. Israel stands at the forefront of that struggle."
According to Stearns, millennials and Generation Z view the world through the lens of "social justice" and the narrative of "the oppressed and the oppressors." "In that narrative," he said, "Israel can appear from afar as Goliath, while the Palestinians are seen as David."
He added that what was once a consensus among evangelicals, strong support for Israel, is no longer the case. "Things are changing," he said. "But we are here to ensure that Israel remains the center."
Stearns emphasized that "evangelicals are not here to deceive Jews or convert them. We are here to stand with Israel and the Jewish people. It is a hand of friendship extended to you."
