{"id":136994,"date":"2026-05-29T23:09:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T23:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/136994\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T23:09:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T23:09:23","slug":"eyes-on-the-holy-land-israel-middle-east-wars-spark-divergent-reactions-emotions-from-christians-billings-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/136994\/","title":{"rendered":"Eyes on the Holy Land: Israel, Middle East wars spark divergent reactions, emotions from Christians | Billings News"},"content":{"rendered":"

What energizes churches and churchgoers?<\/p>\n

Many Christians and local denominations seek grassroots impacts, making a mark in their communities.<\/p>\n

There are also significant, disparate energies and emotions across America\u2019s Christian tapestry when it comes to Israel, U.S. support for the Jewish state and the plight of Palestinians, Israelis and Christians living in the war-torn Holy Land.<\/p>\n

Here are two stories, from two Christians with different perspectives on the turbulent landscapes involving Israel and the Middle East.<\/p>\n

\"Israel<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Christians walk with palm branches during Palm Sunday in Jerusalem’s Old City, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Mahmoud Illean)<\/p>\n

Mahmoud Illean<\/p>\n

\u2018NOT ALONE\u2019<\/p>\n

Aaron Evans grew up in southwest Virginia near the border with North Carolina.<\/p>\n

His Christian faith has always been important, including an admiration for the Old Testament accounts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David..<\/p>\n

\u201cDavid was always my hero growing up,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDavid saved his nation from slavery,\u201d he said, referring to the biblical accounts of David\u2019s life from shepherd boy and his famous fight with Goliath to his battlefield exploits and tenure as King of Israel.<\/p>\n

His Old Testament and Evangelical faith have\u00a0also led Evans to be a stalwart supporter of the modern state of Israel.<\/p>\n

Evans wants to engage more Evangelical Christians in support of Israel.<\/p>\n

The Virginia native is an Evangelical Christian member of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF).<\/p>\n

The group, which is an affiliated arm of the IDF, supports the Israeli military with fundraising and events.<\/p>\n

Evans said current efforts highlight the need for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) services and other needs such as ambulances in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and successive wars in Gaza, Lebanon and with Iran.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is not one family that hasn\u2019t been impacted by a death. There\u2019s not a family that hasn\u2019t been impacted by some form of PTSD,\u201d said Evans, who serves as vice president of the Young Leaders arm of FIDF in the Washington D.C. area.<\/p>\n

\u201cPTSD is a huge problem,\u201d said Evans.<\/p>\n

He notes\u00a0that Israel (with a population of 10.2 million people) has a small geographic footprint that connects its people and events, including wars and conflicts.<\/p>\n

“We’re talking about a nation that is similar to that of New Jersey geographically,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

Evans hopes to connect more Evangelical Christians with the FIDF group.<\/p>\n

\"FIDF\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Friends of the IDF supports the Israeli military. Aaron Evans hopes to engage more fellow Christians in support of Israel.<\/p>\n

Provided photo<\/p>\n

Evangelicals are strong supporters of Israel, U.S. military support for Israel and President Donald Trump\u2019s wartime alliance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n

Trump has touted his own popularity in Israel.<\/p>\n

“Right now I\u2019m at 99 percent in Israel, I could run for prime minister,\u201d Trump said recently, referring to his popularity in Israel. \u201cSo maybe after I do this I\u2019ll go to Israel and run for prime minister.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many conservative Evangelicals subscribe to a Christian form of Zionism, backing the state of Israel in the Holy Land.<\/p>\n

Evans said part of his faith-based call to action stems from the rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and ensuing war in Gaza.<\/p>\n

Evans said Hamas\u2019 Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and visits to Israel as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California \u2014 where he toured an exhibit on the Holocaust during World War II \u2014 inspired him to get more involved.<\/p>\n

He said the Reagan Library exhibit focused on the Auschwitz death camp in Poland.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still have the book I bought there,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

He worries about the new rise of antisemitism.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported there have been 24,500 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since 2023.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s up close to 192% from the previous three-year period, combined, according to ADL.<\/p>\n

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described post-Oct. 7 wars as fights between civilization and barbarism. He has also said that Christianity is protected in Israel.<\/p>\n

Evans is also concerned about contemporary threats to Israel and Jews worldwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s only a small number of Jews in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The global Jewish population totals 15.8 million, according to Israel\u2019s Central Bureau of Statistics. Approximately, 7.2 million of the world\u2019s Jews live in Israel (46% of the global total) and another 5.3 million live in the U.S. (40% of the global total), according to the Israeli agency.<\/p>\n

Jews make up approximately 2% of the U.S. population but were 70% of religious-based hate crimes and 16% of all reported hate crimes incidents in 2024, according to ADL and FBI data.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important for Jewish Americans and it\u2019s important for Israelis to know they are not alone,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

\"Israel<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

U.S. Christian pastors and influencers visit the graves of Israeli soldiers and civilians killed during the Israel Hamas war, at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg)<\/p>\n

Ohad Zwigenberg<\/p>\n

CRITICISMS<\/p>\n

Israel has faced international criticism since the start of the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n

More than 73,000 Palestinians and 2,000 Israelis have died in the war with Hamas, though casualty estimates have varied.<\/p>\n

There are currently an estimated 9,600 Palestinians under arrest and held in Israeli jails, according to the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, a Palestinian nonprofit group.<\/p>\n

The United Nations, European leaders and increasing numbers of Democrats in the U.S. have criticized Israel\u2019s sieges and strikes against Hamas in Gaza and more recently attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon, citing their civilian impacts.<\/p>\n

The Gaza War has been in a Trump-brokered ceasefire though Israel has continued to target Hamas commanders. On Thursday, Netanyahu said he was ordering the IDF to expand its footprint in Gaza to 70% of the Palestinian territory\u2019s land.<\/p>\n

There are pushes from some prominent Democrats (especially progressives) to curtail U.S. military support for Israel.<\/p>\n

According to Brown University, the U.S. has provided $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel during the Gaza War.<\/p>\n

The Trump administration is asking Congress for $200 billion for the U.S.\/Israel war with Iran.<\/p>\n

While public opinion polls show Evangelicals and Trump\u2019s Republican base mostly supporting Israel, they also show Democrats are increasingly favoring the Palestinians in the longstanding Middle East conflict.<\/p>\n

Pope Leo XIV has called for an end to the bloodshed in the Middle East, including the U.S.\/Israel war with Iran.<\/p>\n

That has sparked criticism of the pope from Trump, who contends the Iran war is needed to stop the Islamic regime from developing and potentially using nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n

There has also been scrutiny and criticism of Palestinian authorities, including in Hamas-ruled Gaza, over corruption and the diversion of international aid into militants\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n

Israeli officials contend international economic and humanitarian aid into Gaza has been used to build tunnels and weaponry for Hamas.<\/p>\n

\"Israel<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A member of the Abu Rish family stands in front of the entrance to her collapsed house, which was destroyed by Israeli military strikes during the Israel-Hamas war, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Abdel Kareem Hana)<\/p>\n

Abdel Kareem Hana<\/p>\n

\u2018DRIVING FACTORS\u2019<\/p>\n

For some more progressive Christians, issues in the Middle East center around calls for peace and addressing humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.<\/p>\n

Brenda Handel-Johnson is a deacon and minister at the First Lutheran Church in St. Peter, Minnesota (a little under 70 miles south of Minneapolis).<\/p>\n

The situation in Gaza and the war-torn conditions faced by Holy Land Christians are close to the Minnesota church\u2019s heart, she said.<\/p>\n

Handel-Johnson said her Minnesota church will host an art exhibit in October featuring works of artists from Gaza via collaboration with Bright Stars of Bethlehem.<\/p>\n

The Chicago-based group supports Dar al-Kalima University in the West Bank.<\/p>\n

Handel-Johnson said the goal of the \u201cLilies of Gaza\u201d exhibit and silent auction of prints of the featured artwork is to bring awareness to war\u2019s impacts on Israel and the Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n

\"Israel<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Children watch Palestinian clown Mohammed Salem, 18, perform on a street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Gaza City, Thursday, May 28, 2026. Gaza’s population is mostly Muslim but has a small Christian community. (AP Photo\/Abdel Kareem Hana)<\/p>\n

Abdel Kareem Hana<\/p>\n

Handel-Johnson said her church believes the key is to keep highlighting the humanitarian challenges faced by Gazans, even as it has garnered less attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one of the driving factors,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Minnesota deacon also wants to highlight the impacts of war and conflict on Holy Land Christians.<\/p>\n

\u201cPalestine is the Holy Land of the faith. Bethlehem is where Jesus was born,\u201d Handel-Johnson said.<\/p>\n

There are approximately 1,000 Christians in Gaza, including Catholic and Orthodox parishes that have been in the midst of the post-Oct. 7 war. They make up less than 1% of Gaza\u2019s population.<\/p>\n

Jesus, Mary and Joseph stopped in Gaza during their flight to Egypt.<\/p>\n

\"Israel<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

An Orthodox Christian pilgrim immerses in the Jordan River during a baptism ceremony as part of the Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany at Qasr el Yahud, near the Palestinians West Bank town of Jericho, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg)<\/p>\n

Ohad Zwigenberg<\/p>\n

There are approximately 50,000 Christians in the West Bank, including Jesus\u2019 birthplace in Bethlehem. They make up 2% of the territory\u2019s population.<\/p>\n

There have been skirmishes, sometimes violent, involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians in West Bank areas.<\/p>\n

Handel-Johnson said a goal of her church\u2019s efforts, including the upcoming art exhibit, is to highlight the trauma of the wars and conflicts. The Lutheran congregation also wants to support the Palestinian university and artists impacted by the Middle East wars.<\/p>\n

She also said her church also wants to have meaningful impacts locally, \u201coutside our walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

That includes supporting a local food pantry to help neighbors in need, care for seniors, advocating for rural healthcare services and against the Trump administration\u2019s U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in the state.<\/p>\n

Handel-Johnson said her Lutheran Church is also seeking “small town connections with other churches\u201d to engage the local community on issues of need and importance whether close to home or national and global stages.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople have shared values,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Israel<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Christian worshipers arrive for Good Friday services at the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, Friday, April, 3,2026.(AP Photo\/Abdel Kareem Hana)<\/p>\n

Abdel Kareem Hana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What energizes churches and churchgoers? Many Christians and local denominations seek grassroots impacts, making a mark in their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":136995,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[33],"tags":[1660,41,1655,2254,5656,1665,1658,1411,37,1653,10796,1659,1650,498,2253,1654,9572,10801,1657,2911,45311,6905],"class_list":["post-136994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-israel","tag-arab-israeli-conflict","tag-benjamin-netanyahu","tag-foreign-relations-of-israel","tag-gaza-strip","tag-gaza-war","tag-gaza-israel-conflict","tag-government-of-israel","tag-hamas","tag-israel","tag-israel-related-controversies","tag-israel-palestine-relations","tag-israeli-palestinian-conflict","tag-judaism-and-warfare","tag-palestine","tag-palestinians","tag-politics-of-israel","tag-politics-of-palestine","tag-politics-of-palestine-region","tag-politics-of-the-middle-east","tag-tncen","tag-united-states-support-for-israel-in-the-gaza-war","tag-west-bank"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136994"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136994\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}