Report: Israel’s Influence Campaign Targeting U.S. Churches via FARA-Disclosed Operations
Executive Summary
Recent Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice in September 2025 have revealed a multi-million-dollar influence campaign by the Israeli government aimed at shaping public opinion among American Christians, particularly in the western United States. The campaign, executed through newly formed U.S.-based firms, focuses on evangelical churches and Christian communities using digital geofencing, grassroots outreach, and targeted messaging that is explicitly pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian. This effort is part of a broader $150 million public relations push by Israel’s Foreign Ministry to counter criticism of its actions in the Gaza conflict and bolster support amid shifting U.S. sentiments, especially among younger demographics and Democrats. The church-specific initiative, valued at up to $4.1 million, represents a significant escalation in foreign influence operations targeting religious institutions. timesofisrael.com +2
Background
The disclosures come amid heightened scrutiny of Israel’s U.S. influence activities following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the ensuing Gaza war. Previous efforts, such as a $600,000 contract with the Democratic PR firm SKDK for a “bot army” on social media, were canceled in September 2025 after public exposure. In response, Israel, through the German PR firm Havas, engaged three new U.S. firms to register under FARA between September 18 and 27, 2025, for contracts totaling at least $10 million. These operations target diverse audiences, including Gen Z on TikTok, AI systems like ChatGPT, and Christian churchgoers, with the goal of combating perceived antisemitism and reframing narratives around the Israel-Palestine conflict.
readsludge.com The church-targeting component is handled by Show Faith by Works, LLC, a San Diego-based firm led by Chad Schnitger, a conservative Christian activist. Registered under FARA on September 27, 2025, the firm represents Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and received an initial payment of $325,881 on September 18, 2025. This campaign is described in filings as the “largest Christian Church Geofencing Campaign in US history,” emphasizing outreach to evangelical and mega-churches in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. coloradotimesrecorder.com +2
Details of the Campaign
Budget and Scope
The church campaign has a base estimated cost of $1.549 million, with requests for additional funding up to a total of $4.1 million, disbursed in installments through Havas Media Germany GmbH. Breakdown includes:
- Grassroots Staffing and Equipment: $415,000 for staff (e.g., project managers, regional leaders, on-campus hires) and $96,000 for operational costs like office space and legal fees.
- Targeted Media: $685,000 for geofencing and programmatic ads, plus $450,000 for social media and $75,000–$100,000 for website development.
- Specialist Purchases: Up to $424,961 for a mobile trailer ($175,000–$350,000), vehicles, VR displays, printing for pastoral packages, and event sponsorships. Expansion options, if funded, could extend to states like Utah, Wyoming, and Texas, adding $550,000–$1.4 million for broader digital and physical outreach. efile.fara.gov
The target audience encompasses approximately 3.9 million Christians in the western U.S., focusing on high-density areas like Southern California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, and Denver. This includes 33,299 evangelical non-mega churches (average 75 attendees each), 303 mega-churches (e.g., Dream City Church in Arizona with 20,000 attendees, Lakewood Church in Texas for expansions), and 39 Christian colleges (e.g., over 100,000 students in California alone). Denominations prioritized are Independent/Nondenominational, Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, and Calvary Churches.
efile.fara.govMethods and TacticsThe campaign employs a mix of digital and grassroots strategies:
- Geofencing and Digital Ads: Boundaries around churches and colleges are geofenced to deliver ads during services and weekdays, tracking attendees for follow-up programmatic advertising (47 million impressions planned, including display, audio, and connected TV). Ads are multilingual (English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian) and tailored by church type (e.g., youth, Black, Catholic/Hispanic).
- Grassroots Outreach: Teams contact pastors and churches directly, distributing “Pastoral Resource Packages” (e.g., maps, videos, Bibles, olive oil from Israel) to over 5,000 churches. On-campus activities include tabling, student hires for pledge drives, and SWAG distribution.
- Mobile “October 7th Experience”: A traveling exhibit deployed via truck and trailer to church parking lots, colleges, and events like the Harvest Festival in Anaheim or the Southern Baptist Convention. It features VR simulations, footage from the Nova Festival attacks, and IDF operational challenges to immerse visitors in pro-Israel narratives.
- Influencer and Event Engagement: Recruitment of Christian social media influencers, podcasts, and celebrities (e.g., Chris Pratt, Stephen Curry, Tim Tebow, Pastor Greg Laurie). Attendance at major events like the G3 Conference or Air1 Worship Now tour for tabling and sponsorships.
- Website and SEO: Development of showfaithbyworks.com for pro-Israel resources, with SEO optimization to prioritize favorable content in search results. Weekly podcasts provide pastors with pro-Israel updates. responsiblestatecraft.org +5
Messaging and Strategies
Messaging is designed to foster positive associations with Israel while undermining Palestinian narratives:
- Pro-Israel Themes: Biblical significance of Israel and Jews; historical legitimacy pre-1948; protection of Christian minorities and holy sites (e.g., Christmas ads emphasizing Bethlehem as Jesus’ birthplace under Israeli safeguard); U.S.-Israel alliances; encouragement of church trips to the Holy Land.
- Anti-Palestinian/Hamas Narratives: Portrayal of Hamas as a terrorist group elected by Palestinians, with ties to Iran and genocidal aims; claims of no historical Palestinian state; accusations of sheltering terrorists in civilian areas, wasting Gaza aid, and celebrating October 7 atrocities; links to threats against U.S. interests and Christian aid workers. Strategies include educational content (3-5 minute pastor videos), countering pro-Palestinian messaging, and pledge drives to build supporter lists. The overall aim is to educate on Israel’s “moral superiority” and combat declining Evangelical support. timesofisrael.com +2
Broader Context and Related Campaigns
This church initiative complements other FARA-registered efforts:
- Clock Tower X LLC (led by Brad Parscale): A $6 million contract (plus matching funds) for TikTok/Instagram/YouTube content targeting Gen Z, with 100 monthly creative assets, 50 million impressions, and AI “framing” for systems like ChatGPT.
- Additional firms handle influencer networks (e.g., the Esther Project) and other digital operations, all routed through Havas. readsludge.com +1
Implications
These operations raise questions about foreign influence in U.S. religious and political spheres, particularly as they target churches with partisan messaging. Critics argue it could exacerbate divisions, while supporters view it as legitimate advocacy. The transparency afforded by FARA filings highlights the scale of Israel’s PR investments, but the campaigns’ effectiveness amid ongoing Gaza tensions remains uncertain. readsludge.com +2
Conclusion
Based on publicly available FARA disclosures and related reporting as of October 8, 2025, Israel’s church-targeting campaign represents a sophisticated blend of technology and outreach to reinforce support among U.S. Christians. While framed as educational, its explicit anti-Palestinian stance and geofencing tactics underscore the geopolitical stakes involved. Further developments may emerge as these operations unfold.
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