'High hopes': Evangelical leaders react to Israel's new prime minister

Christian Zionists call for prayer, support of new gov't

By Emily Hawley, Op-ed contributor Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Skip Heitzig is the senior pastor of the 15,000-member Calvary Church in Albuquerque, N.M. | Facebook/Calvary Church

Skip Heitzig, pastor of Calvary Church in Albuquerque and board member of Samaritan Purse, sent All Israel News an exclusive statement Monday morning affirming his continued prayers for the nation's leader.

"I have traveled to Israel since 1978 and have witnessed no less than ten Prime Ministers ply their hand at governance," he wrote. "I have prayed for them all. I will now pray for the newest prime minister, Naftali Bennett."

"As a Christian leader, I am grateful for the strong and effective leadership that Benjamin Netanyahu has provided for many years, especially for the security he has successfully provided the Jewish state," he continued. "I have had an opportunity to sit with the former prime minister in his office in Jerusalem and enjoy warm conversation, talking over a range of subjects including the life of Jesus."

Heitzig assured that his support for Israel is "not because of its politics, not its politicians."

"I support Israel because of the covenant God established with this people millennia before any of us were born," he explained. "As the only nation on the face of the earth to have been created by a sovereign act of God, Israel has given us the Bible, the prophets, and most importantly the Messiah."