American Christian Attitudes Towards Israel and the Epicenter

In light of this historic anniversary, Joel C. Rosenberg, New York Times best-selling author of Epicenter: Why The Current Rumblings In The Middle East Will Change Your Future and founder of The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), commissioned a national survey of American Christians. The purpose was to examine the attitudes of American Protestants and Catholics towards Israel, the future of Jerusalem, the Iranian nuclear threat, and other Middle East issues.

On May 14, 2008, Jews and Christians the world over will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the dramatic and prophetic rebirth of the Jewish State. In light of this historic anniversary, Joel C. Rosenberg, New York Times best-selling author of Epicenter: Why The Current Rumblings In The Middle East Will Change Your Future and founder of The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), commissioned a national survey of American Christians. The purpose was to examine the attitudes of American Protestants and Catholics towards Israel, the future of Jerusalem, the Iranian nuclear threat, and other Middle East issues. The survey was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, a nationally-respected U.S. research firm. On April 10, 2008, The Joshua Fund released these results at its inaugural Epicenter Conference, held at the international convention center in Jerusalem. Some 2,000 Christian and Jewish leaders from all over the world gathered together that day to celebrate Israel’s birthday; study the prophecies related to Israel’s past, present, and future; examine the geopolitical threats facing the people of the epicenter; and offer unconditional love and unwavering support for Israel and her neighbors at this critical hour in human history. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Among the major findings of this survey: • The overwhelming majority of American Christians love the people and State of Israel — 82% believe they have “a moral and Biblical obligation to support Israel and pray for peace in Jerusalem.” • American Christians overwhelmingly desire to demonstrate their unconditional love and compassion for the people of Israel and the epicenter in real and practical ways. Fully 75% of all Christians in the U.S. – and 81% of evangelical Protestants – believe that “in addition to caring for the poor and needy in our own country, Christians have a moral and Biblical obligation to provide humanitarian relief to the poor and needy and to victims of war and terrorism in Israel and the Middle East.” • Half of all American Christians – and 57% of evangelical Protestants – desire to one day take a tour of Israel, walk where Jesus walked, and visit the Christian and Jewish holy sites. • That said, American Christians are worried about the threat posed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government – fully 65% are convinced that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, Iran’s leaders will eventually try to use them to attack Israel and “wipe her off the map,” as Ahmadinejad has threatened. • Though recent U.S. presidents have pushed hard diplomatically for a final status peace deal between Israel and her neighbors, American Christians are deeply conflicted about the goal of creating a sovereign Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza. They share the desire for peace in the Middle East, but significantly, more Christians fear that a Palestinian state could become a base camp for terrorism, than believe it would be the home of a peaceful new democracy. • American Christians feel strongly about the Holy City of Jerusalem – they want Jerusalem to remain the undivided capital of the Jewish State of Israel, and overwhelmingly oppose dividing the Holy City to become the capital of a Palestinian Muslim state. • Finally, the survey found that how U.S. presidential candidates handle “epicenter” issues could be a key factor in how American Christians decide for whom they will vote. For a copy of the fully survey summary, contact Beverly Rykerd at [email protected] or (719) 481-0537.

To schedule an interview with Joel Rosenberg or to obtain a copy of the complete poll, please contact Todd Starowitz at (630) 784-5397 or by email.