More Than 550 Christian Leaders Visit Israel for Eagles’ Wings Delegation

More than 550 Christian leaders from 51 nations are in Israel for a ten-day Eagles’ Wings delegation during Sukkot and near the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks. The visit includes briefings, meetings with Israeli officials and families affected by the war, and a Jerusalem worship gathering meant to deepen global Christian ties to Israel.

Why it matters: - The delegation brings a large international group of Christian leaders to Israel at a sensitive moment, with the visit tied to Sukkot and the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks. - Eagles’ Wings says the goal is to give influential religious leaders firsthand exposure to Israel, its security challenges and the human impact of the war. - The trip is designed to shape how participants speak to churches and communities after they return home.

What happened: - More than 550 Christian leaders from 51 nations gathered in Israel for a ten-day delegation organized by Eagles’ Wings and Bishop Robert Stearns in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. - The delegation includes senior Christian leaders, dignitaries and other influential figures from Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and the United States. - Participants include the king and queen of the Warri Kingdom, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III and Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III. - Other named participants include Bishop Dr. David A. Sobrepeña of the Philippines, Rev. Ricardo Castillo Medina of Costa Rica, Rev. Dr. Reinaldo dos Santos of Brazil, Bishop Dr. Gibson Anduvate of Kenya and Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure of Nigeria. - Bishop Robert Stearns of the United States is leading the delegation.

The details: - The program includes meetings, briefings, worship and direct encounters with Israel and its people. - Delegates are scheduled to take part in strategic briefings on Israel’s security environment and regional position. - The itinerary includes meetings with Israeli political and security officials, representatives of the Israel Defense Forces and Foreign Ministry, faith leaders, returned hostages and bereaved families. - The visit also included Awake Jerusalem, Eagles’ Wings’ annual international Christian worship gathering at Jerusalem’s Tower of David, held on October 3. - Daystar Television Network served as a media partner for Awake Jerusalem and broadcast the event. - Eagles’ Wings has spent more than three decades bringing Christians from around the world to Israel to explore the biblical roots of their faith and build relationships with the country and its people. - The organization’s Watchmen on the Wall program combines educational programming with pilgrimages for participants who then return to their home communities.

Between the lines: - The delegation is part diplomacy, part faith-based outreach, and part narrative-building. - By pairing visits with officials, hostages and bereaved families, Eagles’ Wings is trying to move participants beyond abstract news coverage and toward personal testimony. - The broad mix of participants suggests the group is targeting church networks across multiple continents, not just one region. - The timing around Sukkot and October 7 adds emotional weight and reinforces the event’s symbolic importance.

What's next: - Participants are expected to return to their churches and networks with firsthand accounts of what they saw and heard in Israel. - Eagles’ Wings says the leaders will share a deeper understanding of Israel, the Jewish people and the continuing impact of the October 7 attacks. - The organization is likely to continue using its pilgrimage-and-training model to build support among global Christian communities.

The bottom line: - The delegation is a high-profile effort to deepen Christian engagement with Israel through direct exposure, worship and state-level briefings.