Bishop Robert Stearns doesn’t mince words. “Support for Israel doesn’t just seem to be weakening; it is weakening, and at a concerning, alarming rate. We are in the emergency room, in [the] ICU, and nearly on life support.”
For over 30 years, Stearns has been one of the most visible evangelical voices for Israel, a pastor and musician whose mission has always extended beyond sermons. When asked what drives such unwavering dedication, he responds with the clarity of someone who has thought about this his entire life.
“There are three reasons I do what I do for Israel and the Jewish people,” he begins. “First, as a Christian, I owe a debt of gratitude to the Jewish people, to the Torah. These scriptures, these stories that I draw inspiration from, are also the foundation of Western civilization. My hope, my beliefs, and my moral outlook are rooted in the Jewish soul.”
But gratitude alone isn’t enough. “For 2,000 years, terrible atrocities and horrific crimes have been committed against the Jewish people in the name of Jesus. We say these were never true followers of Jesus, but still, the Jewish people have suffered under Christianity’s banner. My role is teshuva – repentance – to work to undo the wrongs that have been done.”
The third reason, perhaps the most urgent, is entirely focused on today’s moment. “Today, we face similar threats. On one side is radicalized, woke Marxism seeking to dismantle Western civilization. On the other is radicalized Islam. And strangely, they have formed an alliance. I believe the only remedy is to re-establish the alliance between the Jewish people and Bible-believing Christians.”
Inspired by the Jewish program that brings young people to Israel to connect with their roots, Stearns’s project invites emerging Christian leaders to visit the land itself. “We select young evangelicals who aren’t anti-Israel but aren’t necessarily pro-Israel, either. They’re unsure what to think. And we invite them to see for themselves. Join a Shabbat dinner. Talk with an Israeli soldier. Visit Bethlehem with me and meet Palestinian Christians.
“Don’t base your opinion on a damaging photo, which may well be staged. Israel speaks for itself, but you need to experience it firsthand.”
He repeatedly returns to misinformation as a key concern. “Israel faces battles on seven fronts, but the biggest is the propaganda war. Evangelicals are deeply committed; they pray, give money, and show support – but often lack understanding. They confuse Fatah with Hamas, don’t know about the Green Line or the 1967 borders, or how to counter the apartheid claim. Education is crucial.”
Stearns recalls leading a group to Israel during the pandemic when everyone needed COVID testing upon arrival. “One of them asked me, ‘Bishop, who are these people? That doctor has a name tag that says ‘Muhammad.’ That woman’s wearing a hijab. I thought this was an apartheid state. Are we in the Arab part of Israel?’ He had only been in Israel for five minutes, and the myth of apartheid immediately dissolved.”
Over the years, nearly 900 pastors, influencers, and young leaders from 18 countries have taken part. Most are between 18 and 35, but Stearns emphasizes that the program welcomes all ages. “They are the next generation of defenders – shomrim, guardians of Zion.”
THE URGENCY intensified on Oct 7. Stearns was in Israel when the conflict began, and he stayed for 10 days. Since then, he has led 12 solidarity missions.
“Our message to Israel and the world is simple: The truth about Israel is not what the media shows. The conflict isn’t Jews versus Arabs. It’s radical extremist ideology versus the free world. Everyone must take a stand now.”
These missions extend beyond Jerusalem, as Stearns escorts these delegations while they visit kibbutzim near Gaza, the memorial at Nova, Yad Vashem, and they cross into Bethlehem. “Supporting Israel doesn’t mean opposing Arabs. God loves all peoples and desires peace and prosperity for everyone. The path to peace isn’t through terrorism.”
He laments the silence of the international media. “In just the past two weeks, Hamas executed 25 Palestinians accused of collaboration [with Israel]. Where is the global outrage? Where are headlines like ‘Hamas murders Palestinians’? It’s not there.” This frustration pushes him further.
ON SUNDAY, October 5, Stearns joined US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at Jerusalem’s Tower of David for a worldwide prayer event expected to reach more than 100 nations.
“We expect up to 200 million viewers,” Stearns states. “Our aim is to show the world that a generation stands saying, as Ruth the gentile told Naomi, ‘Where you go, I will go. Your people are my people. Your God is my God.’”
Stearns advocates for the Evangelical Birthright project as the way forward. “We’ve brought 900 leaders so far. Over 10 years, I aim to reach 90,000. Seventy percent of these leaders return within 18 months with a group from their church. That’s real impact. Today at Ben-Gurion Airport, a pastor from England told me, ‘Until I came with Eagles’ Wings, I was anti-Zionist.’ Now he’s back for his ninth visit, leading his own group.”
In light of this positive impact, Stearns adds, “I’m so grateful for the visionary support Gideon Sa’ar and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are giving in funding toward this project. I also sincerely hope that the funding can be sustained and increased because the need is urgent.”
But for Stearns, winning hearts and minds isn’t only about shifting perspectives on Israel’s place in the world; it’s also about embodying compassion in daily life. Alongside his other project, he points to humanitarian projects that ground his mission in simple acts of service. “We sponsor two feeding centers through Abraham’s Bread, providing about 700 meals weekly. Jesus’s example reminds us that caring went beyond theology; sometimes, people just needed food.”
His team partners with Eli Beer’s United Hatzalah to support emergency responders across Israel. “We aim to help practically wherever possible. From the greatest to the least, our goal is to support and strengthen.”
Despite these initiatives, Stearns believes the core battle is cultural and generational. “We are at a critical moment to reverse the decline of the next generation. We should have focused on this 10 years ago. Now it’s existential and urgent. The plan is clear: Select influential leaders – pastors, musicians, social media figures – bring them here [to Israel], give them a transformative experience, and connect them back home to Jewish communities and like-minded groups. This is our only chance.”
For Stearns, this is a declaration, a promise, and a strategic move to unite the next generation of Christians with the Jewish people, not from afar but in the very heart of Israel.
This article was written in cooperation with Bishop Robert Stearns