Some incredible news...Pastor John Hagee and Christians United For Israel have done it again:American Evangelist John Hagee on Sunday announced donations of $6 million to a number of Israeli causes and declared that Israel must remain in control of all of Jerusalem.
Hagee, who has been in the news lately for his endorsement of US Presidential candidate John McCain and his criticism of the Catholic Church, brought hundreds of backers on a solidarity trip to Israel.
Hagee's group, Christians United for Israel, held a colorful rally at Jerusalem's convention center. The mostly American audience waved Israeli flags and cheered as Hagee joined keynote speaker Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel's hardline opposition Likud party, to insist Jerusalem remain united and under Jewish control.
''Turning part or all of Jerusalem over to the Palestinians would be tantamount to turning it over to the Taliban,'' Hagee said. Palestinians claim the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as the capital of their future state.
Among the 16 causes Hagee supported with the contributions he announced were divided the Magen David Adom emergency service and a conference center in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel.
As you know, I take issue with the description in this smarmy article of the Likud as `hardline' or the description of the Jewish community of Ariel as a 'settlement'(and this in Yediot!!), but this story illustrates what an amazing group of people Pastor Hagee and his church are. And it's hardly the first time Pastor Hagee and his church have reached deep into their wallets to succor their Jewish brothers and sisters - among other things,this church spent $8.5 million dollars of its own money to rescue Jews from the Soviet Union and help them settle in Israel.
Nor does it end with money.
As regular members of Joshua's Army know, while a number of secular leftist Jews are manning the trenches for Obama and his ilk,it is Pastor Hagee and Christians United For Israel that are knocking on doors in Washington DC and manning the trenches in Congress for Israel and the Jewish people.
And yes, I'm aware of the controversy that's been generated by remarks Pastor Hagee is supposed to have made about the Catholic Church,which he claims were taken out of context. If he said some of what he's supposed to have said,it was not only wrong, but foolish.
However,full disclosure:I'm not the sort of person who's easily impressed, but I've had the honor of meeting Pastor Hagee,I've seen what he's accomplished,and what a powerful leader he is,and I trust in his goodness implicitly.
His endorsement of John McCain, along with Colonel Ollie North's had a great deal to do with my feeling cautiously optimistic about at least one of the three people running for president in this election season.
In short,this great man and his incredible congregation at the Crossroads Church walk the walk as well as talk the talk. And these days, with Israel under attack as a front in the war on Jihad and its very existence in question,that takes great faith and great courage.
G-d bless them for it.
People from churches all across America donate to CUFI. Not only is it not "Pastor Hagee's church," but it's very likely many, and I'm guessing most, donate despite Hagee.
ReplyDeleteIn the Christian community the controversy about the Catholic Church is not even close to being at the top of the list of problems Christians have with Hagee. Better to thank CUFI, but keep cautious distance from Hagee.
Hi Orde,
ReplyDeletePastor Hagee's Crossroads Churchhas been deeply involved in pro-Israel activities for many years; you'll recall I mentioned their activities in rescuing Jews from the Soviet Union.
And FYI,Hagee was the one who started CUFI and made it the force it is today.
Having spent some face time with Pastor Hagee, I regard him as a great man and an inspiring leader, and since he maintains that the remarks he's alleged to have made regarding the Catholic Church were taken out of context, I'm more than prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt in the matter until I find out differently.I think we've both seen enough of the media in action to understand how that happens.
At worst, it's a bad error in judgment that mars an otherwise sterling record.
Even Churchill and Reagan made a few of those!
Regards,
FF
Rev Hagee needs to read 1Peter 2:9-10 & Romans 9:6-8 Believers in Christ are God's chosen people.
ReplyDelete