The Black Christian Leadership Council visited Israel for its 59th Annual MLK Holy Land Pilgrimage, “Unfinished Business,” from November 4 to 11. This year’s trip brought 500 representatives to Israel to deepen their connection to the Jewish people, the Holy Land, and the roots of their Christian faith while honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The pilgrimage also commemorated the 59th anniversary of Dr. King’s planned visit to Israel, which he was never able to make. The council was co-founded by The Fellowship’s Senior Director of Outreach, Pastor Roger Cheeks.
On Monday, the council hosted a dinner gala in Jerusalem, where Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein received a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the organization. She was recognized for her work in advancing the shared mission of The Fellowship and the Black Christian Leadership Council—building a legacy of standing with Israel and the Jewish people by learning about and experiencing the history of the Holy Land firsthand.
Yael said in her acceptance speech, “How good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell in peace. You are here living biblical prophecy, even luckier than Moses. And I just pray that we’ll continue on this path of light. Because wherever there is darkness, it’s God calling us to act and calling us to love. So, thank you for being a part of this historic movement that’s going to go down in history.”
She also said in a presentation video shown afterwards, “This is the journey of a gift –this is the journey of YOUR gift. Your gift become nourishment for the hungry, a lifeline for Holocaust survivors in Israel and the former Soviet Union. Through your gift, lives are sustained and hope is restored. Your gift becomes a shield protecting those who defend Israel, a refuge for those seeking safety. Because of your acts of faith, lives are protected and families are shielded from harm.”
“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:10).