‘Not just sentimental’: Christian leader Johnnie Moore on faith, Zionism, and Jewish-Christian bond

WATCH: JPost’s Corinne Baum sits down with Christian leader Johnnie Moore for a powerful conversation on interfaith ties, Zionism, and global religious diplomacy.

Thursday, July 10, 2025 • 6 pm Israel Time • 11 am EST

In an upcoming episode of the Jerusalem Post and Jewish National Fund-USA’s Zionist Talks, Breaking News Editor Corrine Baum interviews Rev. Johnnie Moore, President of the Congress of Christian Leaders and a globally respected evangelical advocate, about his journey to Zionism, interfaith cooperation, and religion’s role in peace efforts.

The interview is part of an inspiring series of interviews aimed at highlighting powerful voices in the Zionist community and celebrating the planned creation of the World Zionist Village.

>> For more information on the World Zionist Village, visit worldzionistvillage.org.

A recipient of the Jerusalem Post and Jewish National Fund-USA’s Top 25 Vizionaries Award, Moore shares stories of meaningful encounters with rabbis and Jewish mentors who corrected misconceptions and introduced him to Jewish texts, history, and theology. "I believe I experienced a few key moments in my life that deepened my understanding, mostly related to mentors. For example, I met a rabbi, and once I said something that was borderline offensive without realizing it, since I lacked knowledge about the subject, he gently explained the history behind what I had said, which opened my eyes. This experience made me very curious," he smiles. That gift sparked an intellectual and spiritual journey involving Torah study and Zionist ideas, shaping Moore’s role as a Christian Zionist and bridge-builder.

He also reflects on receiving the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Medal of Valor, an event he says changed his life, not because of the honor, but due to the relationships it fostered. “It wasn’t about the medal,” Moore explains. “It was that these rabbis saw a Christian trying to do good and reached out to him. That led to decades of collaboration.” Moore and his rabbinic partners have worked on initiatives spanning from Iraq to Jerusalem, including an early outreach to Bahrain before the Abraham Accords.

Moore sees the future World Zionist Village in Be’er Sheva, set to be completed in 2028, as a powerful opportunity to deepen Christian engagement with Israel and Zionism. As someone whose personal journey has included studying Theodor Herzl’s diaries and exploring lesser-known Christian contributions to early Zionism, Moore views the Village as both symbolic and practical. For Moore, the World Zionist Village represents a chance to bring faith, history, and education together in one transformative location.

During the discussion, Moore counters the notion that religion is the sole source of conflict in the Middle East. “People make peace before politicians do,” he states. He believes religious diplomacy is vital, not peripheral. "The vast majority of religious people around the world see their faith as a foundational part of their lives. There are many shared values, and often, states are failing or struggling to meet them. Religious leaders are among the few with moral authority, and the global religious network is incredibly powerful."

Moore warns against excluding religion from peace negotiations, referencing the Oslo Accords’ omission of faith. “Religion will always influence peace, whether intentionally or not,” he cautions. “And the world is becoming more religious, not less.”

>> For more information on the World Zionist Village, visit worldzionistvillage.org.

This article was written in cooperation with JNF - USA.