In a world where Israel is increasingly judged through headlines, political arguments and competing narratives, there is no substitute for seeing the truth firsthand.
A news report cannot convey the grief of a bereaved parent. A photograph cannot fully capture the silence of the Nova festival memorial, where young people were murdered on October 7, 2023. And no political speech can replace listening directly to a former hostage describe the experience of losing freedom, family and home.
That is why I brought more than 1,000 Christian leaders, community leaders and influencers from around the world to Israel for the Friends of Zion Ambassador Summit, held in cooperation with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They did not come simply to attend a conference. They came to meet Israelis, hear their stories and witness the reality behind the headlines.
The human stories behind October 7
One of the most powerful moments took place at the Nova festival memorial, where participants met former hostages Romi Gonen, Elkana Bohbot and Noa Argamani, along with survivors, bereaved families and others whose lives were changed forever by the massacre.
For Noa Argamani, returning to the site where she was abducted was an especially moving moment. Romi Gonen and Elkana Bohbot also shared their experiences of captivity and the difficult journey back to their families.
These were not abstract discussions about the Middle East. They were personal testimonies of terror, survival, loss and resilience, heard in the very place where the tragedy unfolded.
I believe that such encounters can change the way people understand Israel. Those who hear these stories firsthand can return to their communities with something far more powerful than talking points: the voices and experiences of the people they met.
A message from Jerusalem that reached the world
On October 7, we gathered at Jerusalem's Southern Wall, a sacred site of profound historical significance, for an international memorial honoring the victims of the massacre and expressing solidarity with the survivors, hostages, bereaved families and wounded Israelis.
More than 2,300 people attended, including international Christian leaders, Jewish community representatives, diplomats, media figures and survivors. The memorial was organized by Friends of Zion in partnership with Sylvan Adams, President of the World Jewish Congress Israel.
The gathering was also the centerpiece of an international initiative featuring a special 24 hour live broadcast from Jerusalem.
According to Friends of Zion's figures, the memorial and broadcast reached more than 250 million people across 176 countries including more than 3.8 million people in Syria, 1.2 million in Egypt, and 1.1 million in Algeria. In Brazil, it reached more than 8.5 million people following a public appeal by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro encouraging Brazilians to watch.
Across its social media platforms, Friends of Zion reached more than 96.6 million people in over 190 countries. Notably, 59.8% of the audience was between the ages of 25 and 34, highlighting the initiative's significant reach among younger adults.
These figures do not mean that every viewer agreed with our message. But they demonstrate that Israel's story can cross borders and reach audiences that might otherwise never hear directly from its people.
At a time when misinformation and antisemitism spread rapidly, making the voices of survivors heard internationally is not a public relations exercise. It is a moral responsibility.
Solidarity must become action
For decades, I have worked to strengthen the relationship between Christians and the Jewish people. I founded Friends of Zion because I believe that standing with the Jewish people is not simply a political preference. It is a moral responsibility rooted in faith, history and the recognition of where hatred can lead.
Christian leaders have a particularly important role to play. They influence congregations, educate young people and shape the values of their communities. They can challenge antisemitism, confront falsehoods and ensure that the lessons of October 7 are not erased by the passing of time or lost amid political debate.
During the summit, participants met Israeli leaders and diplomats and visited places central to Israel's history and identity. Yet the most meaningful part of the experience was often the simplest: listening to an Israeli survivor, meeting a family that had lost a loved one or hearing firsthand what it means to rebuild a life after unimaginable trauma.
Those encounters created relationships that can continue long after the visitors return home. The responsibility of these leaders begins now. They must share what they witnessed, educate their communities, challenge antisemitism wherever it appears and refuse to let the victims of October 7 be forgotten.
No single summit or broadcast can eliminate hatred. But sustained efforts to educate, build relationships and speak the truth can make a difference. The memorial has ended. The delegation has returned home. The work, however, must continue.
At Friends of Zion, we will continue to build bridges between Israel and Christian communities around the world and amplify the voices of those whose stories must be heard. More than 250 million people encountered our October 7 memorial and broadcast. More than 1,000 international leaders came to Israel and experienced its reality for themselves.
But the real measure of this initiative will not be the size of the audience. It will be what those people do next.
Solidarity is not measured only by the number of people who hear a message. It is measured by the number who carry it forward.
Dr. Mike Evans is a number one New York Times bestselling author of 120 books and the founder of the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, the ten Boom Museum in Holland, and Churches United with Israel, a Christian Zionist network in America with more than 30 million followers.
