Largest-ever delegation of African-American Christians heads to Israel for Bishop Sheard tour
The tour group will trace the footsteps of King David, meet with lawmakers and visit Israel’s holy sites
The largest-ever delegation of African-American Christians from one of the largest Evangelical churches in the world, Church of God in Christ, will arrive in Israel next week.
The COGIC congregation is 115 years old and predominantly Black. It operates in 113 countries.
Bishop John Drew Sheard, COGIC’s presiding bishop and chief apostle, will lead the group – a contingent of almost 150 delegates, as well as 30 representatives of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women.
Bishop C. H. Mason, the son of former slaves, founded the COGIC denomination in Memphis in 1907. Today, it is considered the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States, with more than 6.5 million members, who are known for their support of the State of Israel.
The delegation’s visit is aimed at strengthening ties with Israel. The tour will trace the life of King David – from his childhood, through his coronation and to his death – visiting some of Israel’s most prominent sites, including the Western Wall, the City of David and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
The delegation will have an opportunity to meet top public servants in Israel, including Knesset members Gila Gamliel and Ruth Wasserman Lande, former Yesh Atid party lawmaker Ofer Shelah, former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren and others.
Bishop Glenn Plummer, who began serving as the COGIC’s “Bishop of Israel” in 2020 – and who serves along with his wife Dr. Ruth Pauline Plummer on the ALL ISRAEL NEWS Advisory Board – welcomed the delegation. “We are excited ahead of the church’s first delegation led by Bishop Sheard, which marks his first visit to Israel. The bishop and his wife have a warm place in their hearts for Israel as a blessed state.”
Plummer added that the COGIC church will continue to cooperate with and show its support for the Jewish state.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
