Eagles’ Wings Spearheads Israel Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill
Eagles’ Wings and its advocacy arm, the Israel Christian Nexus, led by Bishop Robert Stearns, launched Israel Advocacy Day this week in the nation’s capital. Held in partnership with the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) and led by Dr. Susan Michael, Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA, the summit continues a growing movement of strategic interfaith gatherings on behalf of the Jewish people and the state of Israel.
From May 5–7, over 300 rabbis, pastors, and civic leaders convened to demonstrate their unified support for Israel and to forge deeper relationships among their communities as they advocate for robust U.S. policy in support of the Jewish state.
Dr. Susan Michael spoke to the roots and urgency of this coalition:
“American Christian Leaders for Israel was born out of an urgent need to stop the 2015 deal that President Barack Obama struck with Iran over their uranium enrichment program. We are just as committed today as we were 10 years ago to talk about the existential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran. President Donald Trump’s call for a ‘total dismantlement’ of Iran’s nuclear program earlier this week is one we welcome and support. Now is the time to leverage Iran’s weakened economy and stop its unchecked aggression against the U.S. and Israel.”
Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and former vice president of the World Jewish Congress, highlighted the leadership driving the movement:
“My dear friend Bishop Robert Stearns is one of the most capable and forward-thinking faith leaders of our generation. His commitment to Jewish-Christian friendship, and to respect and peace for the whole human family, is inspiring and unparalleled.”
These leaders, representing diverse political and religious perspectives, are united by a singular purpose: to strengthen support for Israel and the Jewish people in this critical hour.
On Tuesday, May 6, the summit continued with high-level meetings on Capitol Hill, including private sessions with Representative Scott Peters of California and Representatives Ritchie Torres of New York.
This growing coalition through the Israel Christian Nexus has rapidly become the largest known partnership of Jewish, Christian, and secular pro-Israel leaders convening in Washington to promote bipartisan, faith-based support for Israel. New leaders are joining these efforts daily.
With the goal of encouraging pro-Israel policies, the organizers launched the Israel Christian Nexus pastors network to facilitate and strengthen support for Israel throughout the year, among the denominations and organizations represented. The launch event was attended by influential leaders from religious and governmental sectors to underscore the importance of a united stand on behalf of Israel. Participating organizations included the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, the Israel Allies Foundation, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition, and many others.
At the livestreamed launch event on May 5, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson praised the initiative, stating:
“Bishop Stearns and all of you—I just applaud what you’re doing. Standing without apology right now, we have to speak with moral clarity, with conviction, and with consistency like never before, because the times call for that.”
Later in the evening, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey—who was in Israel during the October 7 attacks—offered deeply personal and stirring remarks:
“The relationship between Israel and America is not a political one—it is a spiritual one. And I believe in the power of God Almighty, and we, His children, must make His love real on earth.”
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, echoed this sense of shared purpose:
“The NHCLC and our tens of thousands of churches across the United States and Latin America are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my dear friend Bishop Robert Stearns, the Israel Christian Nexus, and our other coalition partners. Together, we are building an unshakable firewall against the rising tide of antisemitism and standing boldly on behalf of the Jewish people and the state of Israel. This is more than alliance—it is a shared covenant rooted in our biblical mandate to bless Israel and seek justice.”
The Israel Christian Nexus is founded on three pillars: education, relationship, and advocacy. These values will guide ongoing collaboration, outreach, and training for the growing network of faith leaders.
Bishop Robert Stearns, founder and executive director of Eagles’ Wings and president of the Israel Christian Nexus, concluded:
“This unprecedented interfaith, bipartisan, and multi-denominational gathering of pastors and rabbis marks a historic moment in American history—a moment in which we unite across our differences for the higher calling of human dignity and the common good. Together, we stand resolute against the existential threat of a nuclear Iran and the rising tide of antisemitism. Setting aside our important distinctions, we walk a shared path of peace and solidarity—against hate and toward hope. This coalition stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when people of faith and conscience unite with clarity of purpose and unwavering resolve.”
The newly launched Nexus pastors network also includes the opportunity for Christian leaders to participate in curated tours of Israel. Past participants frequently report that these visits dramatically deepened their understanding and galvanized their commitment to supporting Israel. Many return with congregants, multiplying the long-term impact.
To learn more about these efforts in Washington, D.C., and around the nation—as well as the many additional initiatives of Eagles’ Wings—visit eagleswings.org and israelchristiannexus.org.
(SOURCE: Eagles’ Wings)
