On Might 16, 2025, the White Home formally introduced the appointment of two controversial figures to President Donald Trump Names Advisory Board Members to the Non secular Liberty Fee: Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, co-founder of Zaytuna School.
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Ismail Royer, at present serving because the Director of the Islam and Non secular Freedom Motion Crew on the Non secular Freedom Institute, has a fancy historical past. In 2003, he pleaded responsible to weapons fees associated to aiding the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba and served over a decade in jail. Since his launch, Royer has labored with varied nonprofit organizations to advertise interfaith dialogue and non secular freedom.
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is a distinguished American Islamic scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna School, the primary accredited Muslim liberal arts school in america. He has been acknowledged for his efforts in selling classical Islamic studying and interfaith understanding. Yusuf has additionally served as an advisor to the Heart for Islamic Research at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union and was a member of the State Division’s Fee on Unalienable Rights in the course of the first Trump administration.
These appointments have stirred concern throughout a number of sectors. In keeping with an official launch by the White Home on Might 16, 2025, Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf have been formally named as members of the brand new Advisory Board of Lay Leaders (Supply: whitehouse.gov). In the meantime, protection by the Instances of India highlighted Royer’s previous involvement with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) coaching camps in Pakistan, citing his 2003 conviction and later advocacy work as a part of the context surrounding his choice (Supply: Instances of India).
You will need to mirror that what’s being referred to as the ‘Non secular Liberty Fee’ might, in observe, turn into a car for non secular compromise — a platform that ushers in not liberty, however bondage. If not guarded fastidiously, it dangers enabling the very destruction of the Judeo-Christian values upon which America was based. Within the identify of inclusion, we could also be witnessing the erosion of reality.
I bear in mind clearly our darkish non secular drought in Europe in the course of the Nineteen Nineties, particularly in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the place I lived for 33 years. I used to be solely 30 years previous. Throughout that point, ecumenism swept throughout Europe. The one nourishment we had got here from American preachers by way of TBN. However then got here the unfold of mosques, the dilution of doctrine, and the persecution of those that dared to evangelise the gospel to Muslims.
I used to be amongst them. As a theology graduate, I taught courses at Albeda School in world religions—till the topic was renamed ‘levensbeschouwing’ (view on life), and I used to be compelled to show all religions equally. It was not about reality, however about appeasement. The fear of radical Islam started to develop from inside, wearing polished fits, well-funded, and socially accepted. The mayor grew to become a Muslim. Society shifted.
We evangelicals fought for an evangelical college and finally gained — however by then, the church was weakened. We have been shedding youth to Islam, drawn not by religion however by the cash, glamour, and affect of Gulf oil oligarchs and UAE propaganda. We noticed Dutch, German, and Scandinavian younger women and men — lovely, vibrant, and stuffed with promise — changing to Islam, seduced by its construction, self-discipline, and false guarantees of belonging and objective.
We European leaders and the Church fell into the entice — not being watchful, and pondering it was an excellent and superb factor to succeed in the Muslims for Christ. However in our zeal, we compromised, and we failed. We underestimated the non secular battle and overestimated our affect. Might America not fail the identical manner.
And among the many distinguished names on this fee is Pastor Jentezen Franklin — a person whose voice as soon as echoed throughout Europe, bringing hope and readability by way of the TBN broadcasts throughout a few of our darkest non secular years. Many people have been strengthened by his boldness and love for the Phrase.
We, as European leaders, as soon as believed that we might affect from inside — that our presence would convey gentle. However as an alternative, many have been slowly drawn into compromise.
I converse to my fellow pastors in Europe from that technology — they perceive. However in America, they aren’t listening.
We’re witnessing a convergence: a compromised America elevating controversial voices, whilst Israel fights for its prophetic survival.
I’ve seen this unfold in Europe and the UK — the rise of so-called ‘ecumenism,’ which frequently dilutes the gospel beneath the guise of unity. It’s now one of many strongest ideological pillars influencing the White Home. This isn’t true non secular reconciliation; it’s a counterfeit unity that weakens the Church’s prophetic voice.
Nonetheless, we should not neglect the values upon which America was based — values that defend biblical reality and uphold the Judeo-Christian ideas that formed the very cloth of this nation. These are values that honor God, uphold reality, and acknowledge the covenant God made with Israel. The erosion of those foundations locations not simply America, however the world, at non secular threat.
“Gideon’s Chariots” Has Begun
Concurrently, Israeli forces have launched a serious offensive operation in Gaza and northern sectors—often called Operation Gideon’s Chariots. This operation has mobilized tens of 1000’s of reservists throughout the nation. These usually are not simply troopers—they’re sons, fathers, and daughters being summoned for a time similar to this.
The identify is not any accident. Gideon, in Scripture, led a small remnant in opposition to overwhelming odds—not with human power, however by the command of the Lord. These fashionable chariots usually are not merely tanks and plane—they’re prophetic devices of divine objective.
The conflict on the bottom is intensifying. The conflict within the spirit is way deeper.
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This text was initially printed at Koenig World Watch Day by day. Picture Credit score: Official White Home Picture by Joyce N. Boghosian.
