Bishop Robert Stearns in Jerusalem, October 2026. Photo: Dudu Koren Bishop Robert Stearns, founder and president of the Eagles' Wings organization and one of the senior leaders of the evangelical community in the United States, warns of the weakening of support for Israel among the younger generation of evangelical Christians in the United States.
Following the midterm elections in the US and shifts in political and demographic trends, Stearns calls on Israel to develop a long-term strategy to preserve ties with the community.
He says that the attitudes of young evangelicals toward Israel are increasingly influenced by changes in the political, cultural, and media arenas. He believes the support that has been central to the relationship between Israel and the evangelical community for years is no longer taken for granted, and that investment is needed to strengthen ties with the next generation.
Stearns calls on Israeli leadership to build connections with young Christian leaders, encourage visits to Israel, and strengthen personal familiarity with the country. He believes that the younger generation must be introduced to the shared values and the historical and spiritual basis for relations between the communities.
The bishop also spoke about the historical and spiritual connection between the evangelical community in the United States and the State of Israel, which he described as deep, rooted, and based on true love and shared values.
However, he believes the election results in Washington and generational shifts show reality changing before our eyes. Israel is not only losing America, but also the evangelicals, who are the beating heart of its support, Stearns adds.
The bishop also says that while the founding generation saw the alliance with Israel as a given, the younger generation is being shaped within a completely different cultural and media reality.
Not knowing how to plant deep spiritual and ethical roots in it means risking losing it and seeing this strategic partnership gradually weaken.
Stearns also calls on the next government in Israel to make relations with the evangelical community a national strategic goal and to formulate a plan focused on strengthening ties with younger generations.
Bishop Robert Stearns: "The discourse of the past and relying on existing achievements are no longer enough. The new government that will be established in Israel must formulate a long-term national strategic plan to strengthen ties with the Christian-evangelical world, and in particular with the younger generation. We must expose them to the true face of Israel, bring them on meaningful visits to the country, and build bridges of trust and mutual understanding that will last for decades."
Stearns also addressed the values basis of relations between the communities, emphasizing that, in his view, the partnership is not based only on security interests but also on shared values.
"The bond between our two peoples is not based solely on security interests, but also on a moral commitment to freedom, human dignity, and justice. Jerusalem, the beating heart of the Jewish people, is a global beacon of prayer, peace, and interfaith tolerance. When the younger generation sees Israel leading from these values, this partnership will not only be preserved, but will also grow and prosper."
He added that the period following the US midterm elections will provide a valuable window of opportunity.
"Out of responsibility for the future, it is time to join forces, renew our shared commitment, and ensure that the brotherhood between Israel and believers in the United States continues to shine for generations to come."