Last month, a major visitors center was inaugurated in the West Bank town of Har Bracha, Samaria, by The Israel Guys, a Christian Zionist organization that has operated for nearly two decades. The nonprofit, originally founded as HaYovel, reports that it has coordinated more than 5,000 volunteers from 35 countries to help develop the land of Israel.
Mission and Programs
Joshua Waller, chief executive officer of The Israel Guys, said the group’s purpose is to let people see “for themselves how the biblical heartland is flourishing,” countering what he describes as media narratives that portray the area as constantly beset by conflict. “We live here, we see the people who live here, and then we tell everyone what is actually happening,” Waller told Fox News Digital.
The organization offers several structured programs:
- Heartland Experience: a ten‑day trip that combines touring, volunteer work, and interaction with local residents.
- Grape Harvest: a two‑week summer/fall program focused on assisting farmers with vineyard harvests.
- Men’s Pruning: a two‑week spring program dedicated to pruning vineyards.
- Zion Ops: a four‑week experience for young adults ages 18‑30.
- Day Visits: two‑hour tours of the Har Bracha center.
Volunteer Impact
Since its founding, The Israel Guys says it has helped develop roughly 120 farms. Volunteers work alongside Israeli farmers planting trees, erecting fences, harvesting crops, and supporting infrastructure projects. Following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, the group launched Operation Ittai, raising $3.85 million for tactical supplies and defensive measures for local communities.
Faith‑Based Outreach
The nonprofit emphasizes that Christians of many denominations—Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Mormons, Amish and Mennonites—participate in its programs. Waller argues that Israel remains the safest country for Christians in the Middle East and the only one where the Christian population is growing.
He also stresses that Israel is a partner for peace and urges nations to align with biblical values, suggesting that such alignment could lead to “some incredible days ahead.”
Background
The organization’s roots trace back to 2004 when Tommy Waller, Joshua’s father, first visited Israel and met Har Bracha winery founder Nir Lavi. Inspired by the biblical prophecy in Jeremiah 31:5 about planting vineyards on the mountains of Samaria, Waller Sr. moved his family from Tennessee to Har Bracha in 2007 and established HaYovel as a U.S. nonprofit. The group later launched a pro‑Israel TV show, The Joshua & Caleb Report, which became a weekly podcast in 2018, and rebranded as The Israel Guys five years ago.
Waller rejects claims that Christians are no longer welcome in Israel, calling such narratives “false.” He notes that Christians living under Palestinian Authority control face significant hardship, while Israel offers a growing, thriving Christian community.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
