John T. Somerville, a former colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, well understands how Jews might be suspicious and mistrustful of Christians who say they love and support the state of Israel.
Indeed, in his capacity as central regional coordinator for the national organization Christians United For Israel, he demonstrated that understanding on Dec. 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn Park Place on Milwaukee’s far northwest side.
He presented to some 80 people a detailed history of Christian anti-Semitism, from the second century C.E. church fathers all the way to the German Nazi Holocaust. “I wouldn’t trust that,” he said.
But that subject was not the primary reason he came from California to Milwaukee, nor was it the primary message of his speech. Rather, Somerville was the featured speaker at the first event of what organizers hope will be a Milwaukee chapter of CUFI.
And he emphasized that he and the members of his organization – who now, he said, number some 500,000 people nationally – exist to proclaim that “Israel is the center of God’s plans for the entire world” and that “it is our job as Christians to do what God’s word tells us,” namely support the modern state of Israel.
Indeed, his organization seeks, among other things, to get Christians of all denominations to sign onto a set of statements that CUFI calls “The Israel Pledge.” Somerville said that “at least” 350,000 people have signed this pledge. It states:
“We believe that the Jewish people has a right to live in their ancient land of Israel, and that the modern State of Israel is the fulfillment of this historic right.”
“We maintain that there is no excuse for acts of terrorism against Israel and that Israel has the same right as every other nation to defend her citizens from such violent attacks.”
“We pledge to stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel and to speak out on their behalf whenever and wherever necessary until the attacks stop and they are finally living in peace and security with their neighbors.”
And CUFI’s support for Israel is intended to be “unwavering, unconditional, permanent” and “based on biblical principles,” he said.
The audience clearly seemed to be on his side, stopping him with applause several times.
Local church
Somerville said he grew up near Cleveland, Ohio, in a Christian family and in a church that did not teach him much about Judaism and history.
“I made no connection” between the Bible and the modern Jews and the modern state of Israel, he said. But that changed when, as part of his duties as a Marine officer, the U.S. sent him to Israel in 1972.
After that eye-opening trip, “I looked for every way I could to get back” to Israel. He has visited the country some 60 times and has often led touring Christian groups there, he said.
In fact, he said it was an Israeli family that asked him, “Don’t you know Hagee?” — Pastor John Hagee of San Antonio, Texas, the founder and national chair of CUFI, which has existed since 2006. Hagee is also the founder of John Hagee Ministries, which Somerville said has raised some $70 million for Israel.
Somerville joined CUFI about three years ago, and speaks throughout the 21-state middle region of the U.S.
His appearance in Milwaukee was organized by Pastor Ervin (Skip) Henderson. Henderson, with his wife Melva, in 2006 founded and is the senior pastor of the World Outreach & Bible Training Center, which he described as a “non-denominational” church in Glendale.
In a brief conversation after Somerville’s talk, Henderson said he is convinced of the Bible’s message of support for the Jewish people and Israel. He has been interested in CUFI’s work for several years.
He attended Nights to Honor Israel in Minneapolis and Madison in 2007 (see Chronicle, May 4, 2007). He also participated in CUFI’s Washington Summit this past July, meeting with most members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation or their staffs.
But he was disappointed in that last experience because only 12 people from Wisconsin participated among the some 3,000 from all over the country, he said. That made him want to organize a CUFI chapter in Milwaukee and the state.
After this first event, “we need to get the word spread,” Henderson said. Moreover, his assistant pastor, Tim McMurtry, added that he and Henderson, among their other plans, want to make contact with other local pro-Israel groups and organize a larger Wisconsin delegation to participate in the next CUFI Washington summit this coming July.
Finally, Melva Henderson is working as the local director of Daughter For Zion, a CUFI affiliated “women’s prayer ministry,” according to literature available at the meeting.
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