As a ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran took effect this week, prominent evangelical Christian leaders expressed strong support for the joint military operation that targeted Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure and weakened the regime’s military capacity.
Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem and a longtime evangelical ally of President Donald Trump, traveled to Israel in late February as tensions escalated before the operation began. During his visit, Evans toured areas hit by Iranian missile strikes, met with wounded civilians and Holocaust survivors, and provided $50,000 in financial assistance to a family affected by the conflict.
Evans arrived at the scene of a March 1 Iranian missile strike in Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem, that killed nine people. He later visited Hadassah Hospital, where he met with injured survivors, including one woman who lost both her husband and mother-in-law in the attack.
Military Operation Targets Iranian Capabilities
The joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign began on February 28 with the stated objective of destroying Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and production capacity, degrading its military infrastructure, and preventing the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, according to White House officials. The operation’s first day saw the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Israel’s Ministry of Health, 7,183 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the beginning of the conflict, with 118 still hospitalized as of this week.
By the Numbers
The evangelical Christian community in the United States numbers approximately 52 million people. Evans said his organization’s social media efforts have generated 127 million views over the past eight weeks, aimed at countering misinformation and antisemitism online.
Evans estimated that roughly 22% to 23% of younger evangelicals have shifted away from traditional support for Israel, influenced by university environments and online voices. He said his organization is working to engage that demographic.
Theological and Political Support
Evans described evangelical backing for Israel as rooted in religious conviction, noting that evangelicals view the Bible as a Jewish text and Israel as the biblical land promised by God. He called the U.S.-Israel partnership against Iran unprecedented and historic.
Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, told reporters that the evangelical community supports the president’s decision to confront what he described as Iran’s threatening and violent conduct.
Evans said evangelical support for Trump’s presidency was contingent on his backing of Israel. Beyond political endorsements, he emphasized that evangelical organizations provide financial assistance to families who lost homes and possessions in the conflict.
What’s Next
With the ceasefire now in place, evangelical leaders are continuing outreach efforts to maintain support for Israel among younger members of their community. Evans said his organization is expanding its social media presence and direct assistance programs in Israel.