THE TORCH FALL 2017 Christians United for Israel Magazine “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.” Isaiah 62:1 CUFI Washington Summit 2017 by Pastor John Hagee CUFI Summit: What Leaders Are Saying Our Students Speak: Why Israel Matters to Young Christians CUFI’s Time Has Arrived Israel: High School Eyes Have it by Pastor Lyndon Allen God Wants to Use You to Be Part of Israel’s Story Roman City That Was Home to Jesus’s Apostles Found in Israel, Archaeologists Say What Happens When Jews and Christians Throw an Israel Celebration Party by Melissa Langsam Braunstein Denouncing Anti-Semitism by Gary Bauer Abbas: Shut Up or I Will Arrest You! by Khaled Abu Toameh At Hamas Summer Camp, Kids ‘Liberate’ Temple Mount ‘Kill’ Israeli Troops Make the Taylor Force Act Law by Katie Pavlich Idaho Senators Declare Their Rock Solid Support for Israel at CUFI Town Hall CUFI Comes to Washington by Leonard RobinsonG od has used Christians United for Israel to do amazing things this year. Thank you for being part of this historic journey with us. Thanks to millions of people like you, who love and support Israel, this year CUFI has: • Grown from 3.1 million to over 3.5 million members • Shared the truth about Israel’s news, history, and significance several times a day with over 1.7 million people on social media • Transformed hundreds of pastors, millennial influencers, and student leaders into passionate Christian Zionists through CUFI’s Israel tours • Educated thousands of viewers and equipped them to be more effective advocates for Israel through our CUFI U seminar on the first Thursday of every month • Broadcasted our popular television program The Watchman (Fridays at 10:30pm ET on TBN) during prime time to over 100 million households • Commenced The Mizrahi Project to tell the unknown stories of nearly one million Jewish refugees from the Middle East and North Africa • Launched a new website packed with powerful educational tools and resources • Mobilized tens of thousands of CUFI members to contact their senators and played a key role in helping Ambassador David Friedman receive Senate confirmation • Helped CUFI members successfully pass anti-BDS legislation at the campus and state level, including in Texas, which boasts strongest anti-BDS law the country • Enabled 34 elite student activists to join the Bonhoeffer Fellowship for a year of intensive training and pro-Israel activism • Brought over 450 student activists representing 200 campuses to our Washington Summit • Over 5,000 CUFI members attended the Washington DC Summit and met with 97% of Congress on behalf of the US-Israel relationship • Received Vice President Mike Pence as the keynote speaker at the Washington DC Summit • Led the fight to advance the Taylor Force Act, a bill which once signed into law will finally ensure the Palestinian Authority pays a heavy price for continuing to encourage terrorism • Built a strong relationship with the President of the United States 2017 has been a marvelous year as God has blessed us with success and increased influence. Doors that have been shut for a long time are now open, and we are seizing the moment. Though threats against Israel are growing both at home and abroad, we are confident that with your help we will be able to do even more in 2018 to bless and defend Israel. Now you have the opportunity to double your impact and thus refill CUFI’s war chest for next year twice as fast. A generous donor has agreed to match every gift - dollar-for–dollar - up to $500,000 between now and New Year’s Eve. We hope you will prayerfully consider making your best gift to CUFI and take advantage of this opportunity to bless Israel twice as much. May God richly bless you in the rest of 2017 as you bless His people. Blessings to you and those you love, Letter from the Editor… Pastor John Hagee Founder and National Chairman Christians United For Israel David Brog Director Christians United For Israel Celebrate the with a commemorative Christmas Ornament! RECEIVE YOUR CUSTOM, ISRAELI MADE CUFI CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT! For your gift of $20 or more, we will send you a beautiful custom, made in Israel, CUFI Christmas ornament commemorating Jerusalem’s 50th Anniversary of Reunification. For a generous gift of $36 or more, we will also send you our Jerusalem Jubilee keychain. (While supplies last) Celebrate God’s faithfulness to His promises with these limited edition Jerusalem Jubilee keepsakes. 2017 ORNAMENT BACK This beautiful custom Christmas ornament made in Israel commemorates the miracle of Jerusalem’s restoration to the Jewish people. Jerusalem Jubilee keychain BACK You can donate online at: www.cufi.org/doubleimpact You may donate by phone at: ( 210) 477-4714 3 CUFI FALL 2017 Features Fall 2017 06 CUFI’s Time Has Arrived 08 CUFI Washington Summit 2017 by Pastor John Hagee 14 CUFI DC Summit 2017 What Leaders Are Saying 16 Our Students Speak: Why Israel Matters to Young Christians 18 Israel: High School Eyes Have it by Pastor Lyndon Allen 20 God Wants to Use You to Be Part of Israel’s Story 21 Roman City That Was Home to Jesus’s Apostles Found in Israel, Archaeologists Say 22 What Happens When Jews and Christians Throw an Israel Celebration Party by Melissa Langsam Braunstein 24 Denouncing Anti-Semitism by Gary Bauer 26 Abbas: Shut Up or I Will Arrest You! by Khaled Abu Toameh 27 At Hamas Summer Camp, Kids ‘Liberate’ Temple Mount ‘Kill’ Israeli Troops 28 Make the Taylor Force Act Law by Katie Pavlich 29 Idaho Senators Declare Their Rock Solid Support for Israel at CUFI Town Hall 30 CUFI Comes to Washington by Leonard Robinson VOL.11, NO.4 Publications Mail Agreement #40032588 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5 • www.cufi.org Cover Image: US Vice President, Mike Pence speaking at the Night to Honor Israel, CUFI Washington Summit. CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL All rights reserved. CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL EXECUTIVE BOARD David Brog - CUFI’s founding executive director, serves on CUFI’s board of directors. Before CUFI, Brog worked in the United States Senate for seven years, rising to be chief of staff to Senator Arlen Specter and staff director of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has also worked as an executive at America Online and practiced corporate law in Tel Aviv, Israel and Philadelphia, PA. Pastor John C. Hagee - Founder and Senior Pastor, Cornerstone Church, President and CEO, John Hagee Ministries, Founder and National Chairman, Christians United for Israel. Michael D. Little - As Principal Representative to Israel, Michael D. Little serves The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. (CBN) as an ambassador, building ties between pro-Israel organizations and businesses globally. Pastor Mac Hammond - Senior Pastor of Living Word Christian Center, in Brooklyn Park (a suburb of Minneapolis), Minnesota. He is the host of the Winner’s Way broadcast and author of several internationally distributed books. Pastor Happy Caldwell - Founder and Pastor of Agape Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is also the founder and president of VTN (Victory Television Network). Pastor Caldwell travels worldwide preaching the Word of God. He is also a successful author, and together with his wife, Jeanne, has recorded several Gospel music albums. Bishop Keith A. Butler - Founder and Pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI. His television outreach, “The Word of Faith,” is seen each week on stations around the world. Rev. Jonathan Falwell - Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC) in Lynchburg, Virginia. He served at TRBC under the leadership of his father and Founding Pastor, Dr. Jerry Falwell, from 1995 until his father’s death in May 2007. He also serves as the Executive Vice President of Spiritual Affairs at Liberty University. Pastor George Morrison - George Morrison serves as Senior Pastor Emeritus of Faith Bible Chapel, a non-denominational church in Arvada, a city located northwest of Denver, where he served as senior pastor for over 33 years. Publishers: Pastor John and Diana Hagee Staff Writers: Pastor John Hagee / Diana Hagee / Ari Morgenstern / Josh Ahrens / Kathy Rudkin / David Brog / Shari Dollinger Editors: Kathy Rudkin / Shari Dollinger / David Brog / Velvet Ridings / Ari Morgenstern / Jordan Farhart Design: Alan Belcher / Kathy Rudkin / Irene Maag-Hernandéz / Olga Garcés / Garrett Rodenbeck Photography: www.israelimages.com / Wharton Photography / David Michaels / Leroy Tademy / Dan Ostrem CUFI Summit Photography: Kelly Jackson / Robert Smith / Wharton Photography /Katie Cooke Photography Produced by: Rudkin Productions, Boerne, Texas - www.rudkinproductions.com Circulation: Additional copies $6.25 each Correspondence: P.O. Box 1307 • San Antonio, Texas 78295-13074 CUFI FALL 2017 CHAI CLUB $18 Annually ($1.50 Monthly) • Personalized CUFI Membership Card • CUFI Membership Pin • Personalized CUFI Membership Certificate • Israel For Critical Thinkers: Primer TORCH CLUB $36 Annually ($3.00 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • Subscription to The Torch–CUFI’s Quarterly Magazine • 10% Discount on Registration for All CUFI Events WATCHMAN CLUB $75 Annually ($6.25 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • Israel For Critical Thinkers • Quarterly conference calls with US & Israeli elected officials & experts SHIELD OF DAVID CLUB $150 Annually ($12.50 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • An invitation to monthly Middle East Briefing Conference Calls with CUFI’s Director David Brog LION OF JUDAH CLUB $365 Annually ($30.41 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • Signed copies of In Defense of Israel by Pastor John Hagee and Standing with Israel by David Brog • Bi-annual conference calls with Pastor John Hagee CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE $1000 Annually ($83.33 Monthly) • All Club Level benefits listed above as well as... • Summit Only Benefits: $25 Summit registration rate, Exclusive briefing from an Israeli Embassy official, an invitation (for you and a guest) to the Donor Appreciation Dinner, VIP check-in and reserved seating • Access to a special CUFI Circle Concierge EZEKIEL CIRCLE $3,000 Annually ($250 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • Exclusive invite to the Annual Leadership Summit in San Antonio, TX in January. • Summit Only Benefits: All Summit Only Benefits listed above plus Two complimentary registrations, Donor and Leadership Luncheon. • Access to a special CUFI Circle Concierge SOLOMON’S CIRCLE $5,000 Annually ($416.67 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • A personalized plaque on the Solomon Circle wall displayed at CUFI’s national office. • Summit Only Benefits: All Summit Only Benefits listed above plus an invitation to an exclusive Night to Honor Israel Pre-Dinner. • Access to a special CUFI Circle Concierge NEHEMIAH CIRCLE $10,000 Annually ($833.33 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • A personalized plaque on the Nehemiah Circle wall displayed at CUFI’s national office. • Summit Only Benefits: All Summit Only Benefits listed above plus an invitation to a private Meet and Greet Breakfast with CUFI’s Executive Board. (Photo opportunity available) • Access to a special CUFI Circle Concierge AMBASSADOR CIRCLE $25,000 Annually ($2,083.33 Monthly) • All benefits listed above as well as... • A personalized plaque on the Ambassador Circle wall displayed at CUFI’s national office • Summit Only Benefits: All Summit Only Benefits listed above plus an invitation to the Ambassador’s Reception prior to the Donor Appreciation Banquet • Access to a special CUFI Circle Concierge BECOME PART OF ISRAEL’S STORY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL5 CUFI FALL 2017 @ChristiansUnitedforIsrael @CUFI ChristiansUnitedforIsrael OfficialCUFI Chai Club $1.50 Monthly $18.00 Annually Torch Club $3.00 Monthly $36.00 Annually Watchman Club $6.25 Monthly $75.00 Annually Shield Of David Club $12.50 Monthly $150.00 Annually Lion of Judah Club $30.41 Monthly $365.00 Annually Chairman Circle $83.33 Monthly $1,000 Annually Ezekiel Circle $250 Monthly $3,000 Annually *Solomon’s Circle $416.67 Monthly $5,000 Annually *Nehemiah Circle $833.33 Monthly $10,000 Annually *Ambassador Circle $2,083.33 Monthly $25,000 Annually CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL PLEASE SUPPORT CUFI TODAY! You may return by mail to: Christians United For Israel P.O. Box 1307 San Antonio, TX 78295 You may donate online at: www.cufi.org/donate You may donate by phone at: 210) 477-4714 CUFI ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP Enclosed is my ONE TIME GIFT of $__________ to Christians United for Israel. I would like to make a monthly offering. I PLEDGE to send $________ each month. Payment enclosed for THE TORCH magazine subscription. $25 for 4 issues. ALL AMOUNTS ARE IN US FUNDS (USD). KINDLY CONTACT US FOR NON-US TRANSACTIONS. Mr. Mrs. Ms. Pastor Name________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________________State _________Zip ____________ Daytime Phone (___________ ) __________________________________________________ Cell Phone (___________ ) ______________________________________________________ E-mail _______________________________________________________________________ Enclosed is my gift of $__________ for ________________________ level of membership. *For your Solomon, Nehemiah or Ambassador Circle gift, please indicate name to appear on plaque: _______________________________________________________________________ (limit 40 characters) Check or money order enclosed. Please make checks payable to CUFI. Please place a gift of $____________ on my credit card. Automatically deduct $_____________amount from my credit card. Monthly One time Card#___________________________________ ______/______ ____________________ (print all digits) Exp. Date Security # Print Name __________________________________________________________________ Signature ____________________________________________________________________ THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH ISRAEL!6 CUFI FALL 2017 At the opening plenary of the CUFI Washington DC Summit in July, we heard a veteran of the Six Day War, Yaki Hetz, describe his harrowing battle for the liberation of Jerusalem in 1967. Yaki’s story was powerful, not just because of the bravery he showed during tremendous danger, but because of his hope and belief that one day Israel will live in peace with its neighbors. We share Yaki’s hope, but as the recent outburst of deadly terror and violence in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas illustrates, the battle for Jerusalem and Israel’s survival is far from over. Surrounded by enemies whose single-minded goal is the utter annihilation of the Jewish State, Israel and her people refuse to be broken by the relentless and heartbreaking attacks. Despite the international apathy toward murdered Jewish families and cowardly reluctance of world leaders to recognize the truth, Israel bravely defends life, freedom and the hope for peace. The enemies that clamor for Jewish blood are just as eager to destroy Christians here in America. As Congressman Trent Franks said at CUFI’s Summit, Israel is the eastern border of Western Civilization. TIME HAS ARRIVED7 CUFI FALL 2017 Our Jewish brothers and sisters live on the front lines, and they are fighting for us just as much as for their own survival. We must not let them fight alone. It was amazing to see 5,000 Christians gather in Washington DC last month to speak up for Zion’s sake on Capitol Hill. It is even more amazing to realize CUFI represents more than 3.5 million Christians who understand we have a biblical mandate to use every available tool to bless and defend Israel and the Jewish people. As part of Christians United for Israel, you are a vital partner in God’s plan to shield His people from their enemies. One of the most valuable resources we have in this fight is CUFI on Campus. We currently have trained student activists on 400 campuses nationwide. From these students, we chose over 450 of our top leaders from over 200 different universities and brought them to the Summit for advanced pro-Israel advocacy training. With your help, we gave them the tools and the confidence to go back to campus this fall and stand up to the anti-Semitic and anti- Israel bullies trying to silence Christian and Jewish voices. Our CUFI on Campus program has been such a success that we are now expanding our outreach and training to include high school students. Immediately after the Summit concluded, CUFI led the first ever high school student trip to Israel. With further funding, there are no limits to the growth of CUFI on Campus. Our young people are hungry for biblical truth and a spiritual purpose bigger than themselves. We are giving them that truth and purpose, and they are running with it. It is impossible to tell you everything CUFI is doing and all that happened during the Summit. We hope you will join us in DC next year and experience it for yourself. This year our speakers were better than ever. We were privileged to have five current members of the House and Senate stand on our stage and declare their personal commitment to strengthening the US-Israel relationship. When we went to Capitol Hill, our members met with 97% of Congress. That level of access is almost unheard of in Washington, especially during such a busy season. But they made time for us, which shows the miraculous growth of CUFI’s influence in the last 11 years. We made a strong case to Congress in support of the Taylor Force Act and the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. Before the Summit, CUFI had already sent Congress over 750,000 emails asking them to pass the Taylor Force Act and stop the flow of American tax dollars to Palestinian terrorists. With your help, we hope to see these important pieces of legislation passed and signed into law by the President. Appearing by satellite, Prime Minister Netanyahu offered his sincere thanks to all the members of CUFI. “I want you to know that I believe that America has no greater friend than Israel, and Israel has no greater friend than the United States. And in the United States, we have no greater friend than you,” the Prime Minister said at the end of his speech. During the Night to Honor Israel, in addition to the 5,000 people in the room, we were joined by over 1.6 million viewers on the Facebook and YouTube livestreams. Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, expressed his deep appreciation for the bond of friendship between Christians and Jews that CUFI represents. He also thanked the new US administration for its strong support of Israel. Vice President Mike Pence concluded the evening by assuring everyone listening that President Donald Trump hears us and stands with us in our unwavering commitment to Israel’s safety and security. The Vice President ended his speech by saying, “I have faith that with God’s help and with the men and women gathered here, with all those who cherish Israel, and with President Donald Trump in the White House, the best days for Israel and for America together are yet to come.” With great excitement, we look forward to building on the success of this year’s Summit and expanding CUFI’s influence in the coming decades. We could not have reached this point without you, and we will need your support going forward. There is no time to rest or be complacent. We have a short window of opportunity, while we know we have allies in the White House, during which we must press forcefully for legislation that will make Israel stronger and her people safer. In the process, we will make America safer and stronger as well. We have more students to train, more millennial leaders to reach and more pastors to send to Israel. We are fighting for this generation, and all the generations to come. Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for giving us the resources to win this fight. Please do all you can to help us refill CUFI’s war chest as we work to defeat every form of anti-Semitism. With your help, we will continue to stand up for Israel as bold and relentless defenders of the Jewish state. We have God on our side, and Israel’s enemies will never be able to outmaneuver the Almighty. “Karen and I have always treasured our relationship with Christians United for Israel.” – Vice President Mike Pence ur DC Summit last July provided us with some of the most exciting moments in CUFIís 11 year history. We packed the Washington, DC convention center with over 5,000 passionate supporters of Israel and flooded Capitol Hill with Christians from all 50 states. Our members met with 97% of Congress and urged them to support the Taylor Force Act and the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. Vice President Mike Pence was the keynote speaker at our Night to Honor Israel. The fact that he took the time to join us -- and his powerful words from the podium -- were extremely encouraging to those of us who care about the U.S.-Israel relationship. We were all excited when the Vice President of the United States said “Today, through Christians United for Israel, more than 3.3 million believers have raised their voices, have not been silent in support of Israel, and you can be heard in every city and town across America and in every office on Capitol Hill. And rest assured, the man down the street at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue hears you, too.î Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed us live via satellite. We were humbled by his statement ìWhen I said that we have no greater friends than the many, many millions of Christian supporters of Israel, in the United States and also in other parts of the world, I mean it. I know youíve always, always stood with us.î With more than 200 media mentions, including CNN, The Federalist and The Times of Israel, the 2017 CUFI Washington Summit received more publicity than any event in our history. Without question, Vice President Pence’s statement pledging to move our embassy to Jerusalem was the single most quoted line from the summit. “I promise you that the day will come when President Donald Trump moves the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” Pence declared. “It is not a question of if, it is only when.” The speakers, the crowd and the press coverage made one thing clear: CUFIís time has arrived. We hope that you join us next year in DC! You can register at www.cufi.org/summit. “Men and women of Christians United for Israel: this President hears you. This President stands with you.” – Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence 8 CUFI FALL 2017 ODaughters For Zion hosts evening of Praise, Worship and Prayer Praise and Worship with teachings by Cheryl Morrison and Dr. Billye Brim. Hosted by Lynne Hammond and Diana Hagee. PRE-SUMMIT EVENTS SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2017 CUFI Conversations Guest speakers underneath the Speakers Tent Daughters for Zion Prayer Conference CUFI WASHINGTON SUMMIT 2017 9 CUFI FALL 2017 “I attended my first Summit in 2016 and, though nervous since I had never been to Capitol Hill let alone lobbied there, I went home with a new resolve to educate myself as much as possible so that I could take a better stand for Israel. Since then I traveled to Israel for the first time thanks to CUFI, held a regional CUFI event, and came back for my second Summit prepared both to be inspired as well as to speak boldly in my representatives offices on behalf of Israel. I am thankful to say that I accomplished both and will be back next year to continue carrying the torch.” – Randy Lebaron – Albion, New York “My wife and I have attended all twelve summits to date. We just cannot stay away. We both have a passion and love for Israel and the Jewish people that God has placed in our hearts. What a joy and privilege it is to attend the summit and show our support for Israel. We feel we are really doing something that God has called us to.” – John Burns – Marietta, Georgia “The Summit showed me how many people of the Christian and Jewish faiths support Israel, and that we have to keep the pressure up to ensure the United States always supports Israel and the Jewish people, God’s people, in as strong a way as possible.” – Maria Marcey – Falls Church, Virginia “If you really love and support Israel, there is no other organization to join that is as effective and inspiring as Christians United for Israel. The D.C. Summit not only prepares you educationally to confront the negative bias against Israel it also unites you with ‘Israel family’ to stand as an unwavering and impressive front in our Holy Cause to support Israel. Israel is our responsibility and this is the way to walk out your love for God and His people.” – Rebecca Chavez – Roswell, New Mexico “You can feel the Lord’s presence and His approval in your soul from the moment you arrive. That feeling stays with you and electrifies you to do more to support Israel!” – Shirley Young – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania “I thought of CUFI as ‘just’ a good organization to join. After the summit, I see this will be a vehicle to get things done in Washington on the things I hold valuable as a Christian.” – Lena Boyd – Charlotte, North Carolina Pastor Peter DeJesus – CUFI Hispanic Outreach Coordinator Billye Brim, CUFI Region 5 Director Lynne Hammond, DFZ National Prayer Director, CUFI Executive Board, CUFI Region 8 DirectorNext >