RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed a delegation of American Evangelical Christian leaders in the capital city today, November 1, 2018. The visit, arranged by Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, has been months in the making.

The American delegation, which is visiting leaders throughout the region, included author Joel Rosenberg; pastor Skip Heitzig; Johnnie Moore, Founder and CEO of Kairos; former U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, and Jerry Johnson, President of the National Religious Broadcasters.

Saudi co-hosts for the first-ever meeting of its kind included Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States; Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Dr. Mohammed Al-Isa, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League.

Saudi news reported that the meetings were intended to affirm “the importance of exerting joint efforts in promoting co-existence, tolerance, and combating extremism and terrorism.”

While the group received some criticism for traveling to Saudi Arabia, Joel Rosenberg responded that,

Given the fact that we care about the people of Saudi Arabia, Christianity in the Arabian Penninsula, the desire to see more freedom of worship, even Christian churches being allowed to be built, this all seemed important to us to do.

Although former Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann was in the delegation, the group had no political agenda. A devout Christian and graduate of Oral Roberts University, Ms. Bachmann made it clear that “We’re here to build long-term relations and to benefit our brothers and sisters that are here in this region.”

Skip Heitzig reminded reporters that people like Daniel, Joseph, Esther, and Paul were used by God to speak with authority to people in authority, setting examples for Christian leaders today.

Following their two-hour meeting today, the evangelical leaders issued a joint statement that read:

We were pleased by the invitation extended to us more than two months ago by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was an historic moment for the Saudi Crown Prince to openly welcome Evangelical Christian leaders to the Palace.

We were encouraged by the candor of the two-hour conversation with him today. We discussed his ‘Vision 2030′ plan, the region, Islam and Christianity.

Without question, this is a season of tremendous change in the Middle East, and therefore we have been grateful for the opportunity to meet in-person with key Arab leaders to understand their goals and to ask direct questions. We look forward to building upon these relationships and continuing the dialogue.

How should Christians respond? Rosenberg has asked us to pray for the Arab leaders, the people of Saudi Arabia, and the opportunity to make life better for those in the region whose lives are conducted under daily threats of terrorists and fanatics.

Prior to meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince, the group met with the leaders of several other Sunni Arab nations.

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