Bishop Paul Lanier reflects on his visit to Israel with Yael Eckstein and the recently attacked Druze community near the Syrian border in an op-ed with Townhall.com:
On Saturday, July 26—my 65th birthday—we met leaders and elders of the Druze community near the Syrian border. The next day, The Fellowship traveled with the IDF across the border into Syria.
Once we arrived, I was overwhelmed by the resilience and hospitality of people who had suffered so much. I’m convinced they gave us more than we gave to them. It seemed like every room we entered had a simple table of fruit or bread they wanted to share. Children rushed to hug us, and grown men with tears in their eyes spoke a language I didn’t understand—but I knew what they were saying.
We walked through the rooms of a clinic that desperately needs equipment to save lives traumatized by the ongoing massacre. We could’ve stayed there all day, but we knew we needed to return to Israel. There, I was honored to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to stand beside Yael as she was presented with an award for her redeeming, compassionate presence. I’m so proud of her.
