Forty-five years ago, God directed me to go to Israel…without telling me why. The only thing that I knew for sure was that I was supposed to meet with Prime Minister Menachem Begin, which was ridiculous. I didn’t know anyone on his staff, and there was no reason to expect the leader of the Jewish state to meet with a completely unknown minister of the Gospel from America.
But the Spirit of God had spoken to me through the wonderful promise of Isaiah 43:19 about the new thing He was going to do in my life. I was at a very low point then, suffering from a serious medical condition that made it very difficult for me to speak and minister to others. I even considered leaving the ministry and finding something else to do. But God was about to replace my desert with springs of water that flowed freely.
In obedience, I made the trip. Through a series of contacts that could only have been the result of divine intervention, I eventually did meet with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in his office on June 30, 1980. That was my birthday. After a few moments of small talk, he asked why I had come to see him. Of course, since God hadn’t told me, I couldn’t tell him! So I changed the subject as best I could.
After that happened a couple of times, he pressed the point. Reluctantly, I told him God sent me, but hadn’t told me why. I was so embarrassed, but I didn’t know what else to say! The Prime Minister laughed and said to his secretary, “Shake hands with him—you’ve finally met an honest man!” After we talked a little while longer, Mr. Begin told me that when I found out the reason I was supposed to meet with him, I should come back and see him again. I promised him that I would and left his office.
July 4th was the anniversary of the death of Yonathan Netanyahu in the daring raid that freed more than 100 Israeli hostages from the airport in Entebbe, Uganda. As I read the story in the newspaper that morning, the Spirit of God led me to go to the family home and express my condolences. It was on that visit that I met Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time, beginning a friendship that has lasted for decades.
That day as I prayed over him, I prophesied that one day he would be the prime minister of Israel. He was still in his twenties and not involved in politics at all—he laughed. But it was the Spirit of God speaking. On July 5th I met with Menachem Begin again. I told him I had met the prime minister the day before. He said, “You’re mistaken, we met on the 30th.” I told him it was the future prime minister, and asked him to give Benjamin Netanyahu his first political position, which he did.
On that second visit, I also told him that God had revealed His purpose for my trip—to build a bridge between Christians and Jews. With a laugh he asked, “Like the Brooklyn Bridge?” “A bridge of love and understanding,” I replied. “Then let’s build it together,” he said. And for the rest of his life, I had the privilege of working with Mr. Begin and being his closest Christian friend. The great worldwide prayer movement of the Jerusalem Prayer Team was born that day in the Holy City in the office of the leader of the Jewish state.
I was unable to protect my mother from the abuse she suffered at my father’s hands. It is no wonder that she thought Christians hated Jews. In addition to my church-going dad getting drunk and beating her on a regular basis, she lost many members of her family to the Holocaust. Her grandfather was burned to death inside his synagogue in what is now Belarus as those outside celebrated while shouting “Christ-killers!”
When I was just four years old, I was watching cartoons on television one morning. When that program ended, they began airing a Billy Graham special. My mother quickly came in and turned off the television. She told me, “Christians hate Jews. Christians kill Jews. Jesus is dead. Don’t dig him up.” So many Jewish people have never seen an act of love and compassion from a Believer, and we are working hard to change that.
Our first major public event was held in Dallas, Texas, with Jerusalem’s mayor at the time (and later prime minister), Ehud Olmert. Christians from around the country gathered and committed their support to the Jewish state. It was a powerful beginning. Over the years God has opened more and more doors for us to work in defense of His Chosen People.
I had no idea what God had in mind when we started out. I certainly was the last person anyone who knew me would have expected to be meeting world leaders and speaking to thousands on behalf of Israel. I was terrified to speak in public because I stuttered so badly. My life was gripped by fears, and I had horrible ulcers. I didn’t have any hope—but when God has a plan for us, He equips us to do the work to which He calls us.
When He makes a new way, no one can oppose His plan. No physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental opposition can overcome His mighty power. “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8).
God has given us unique favor with the state of Israel like no other Christian ministry has ever had. A large part of that is the relationship we have developed with the Netanyahu family—and before we talk about God’s next step for us, the Ambassador Program, it is worth taking the time to look back at the role these remarkable people have played in the creation and survival of the modern Jewish state.
