Texans For Israel Story
Mission Statement
We support the plans and purposes of God in and through Israel and work to empower and mobilize you and your relationships – partnering with and investing in the Heart of God.
Our Vision
A dream and vision of four young men from Amarillo, TX, spoken into their lives as young college students, cultivated through dynamic individuals and leaders that God placed into their lives along the journey, and borne fruit through personal relationships with their Jewish brothers in the Land, meeting practical needs. Known today as Texans for Israel, the group now purposes to praise up people like themselves throughout Texas and around the world, to develop a love for God’s Land and People, putting Truth in Action.
Our StoryThe 70s
Four young Texas men – Mike Isley, Larry Latham, Vance Esler and Robert Bauman – build a bond that will change their lives forever.
Larry, Vance and Robert join a class at the University of Texas, taught by Roy Blizzard, about the infilling of the Holy Spirit and Israel, igniting their passion and heart for Israel.
The 80s
The years that followed included Larry, Robert and Vance’s first trip to Israel where they were joined by their former professor, Roy Blizzard, on an archeological dig.
Mike made multiple trips to Israel with Trinity Fellowship in Amarillo, TX.
Each one returned home to Amarillo, where they once again reunited in heart and passion. They attended church together and met for weekly Bible studies all the time believing that one day they would all do something very significant in their lives for Israel.
2007
In 2007, the common vision of doing something very significant for Israel began to be realized when Mike, just before leaving to visit Israel again, watched a television show called “Zola Levitt.” On that show he saw an interview with a young Jewish IDF soldier and an up-and-coming Rabbi named Jeremy Gimpel.
While in Jerusalem, Mike connected with Jeremy. The two eventually visited with Mike’s ministry partner, Ari Abramowitz, at a hotel in Jerusalem. It was at this meeting that Jeremy and Ari shared their vision of becoming the first and only Jewish television show broadcast from the heart of Jerusalem, to become “A Light Unto the Nations.”
Upon Mike’s return home, he shared this new relationship and dream with Larry. Together, they decide to help Jeremy and Ari accomplish their dream. It is not long after these conversations and meetings that Jeremy and Ari invited Mike to come to Israel and live with them until their dream came true.
“Tuesday Night Live – A Light Unto the Nations,” debuted in the Heart of Jerusalem on January 1, 2008. Mike and Larry, two non-Jews, began to realize how their vision from so many years ago was coming to life right before their eyes, significantly impacting Israel and their Jewish brothers and sisters.
Mike and Larry shared their success story with Vance, and the three agreed to travel together to Israel, along with their wives, which had always been a desire of theirs.
The couples spent three weeks in Israel with Jeremy and Ari and it was then that Texans for Israel made its official debut. Throughout their travels, they meet hundreds of Jews, including a man who gave them a wine tour, a Rabbi on the Temple Mount and one of the leaders from Israel National Radio. They gave each one a Texans for Israel hat, pin and certificate to demonstrate that Texans stand with Israel.
Today
Larry is a successful businessman, Vance is a medical doctor, Robert is a world renowned author and professor and Mike is an entrepreneur. All four plan to return to Israel and continue to faithfully, obediently, and passionately pray for, support and disciple others on the heart of God for His Land and His People, without condition.
ScripturesCall to Stand with Israel“You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come … For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory … Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.”(Psalm 102:13-18)
“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.”(Isaiah 62:1)
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”(Psalm 122:6-7)
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”(Isaiah 40:1)
Prophecy of Israel Becoming a Nation in 1948“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it.’ They will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.’”(Ezekiel 36:33-35)
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.’”(Zechariah 8:7-8)
“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”(Isaiah 58:12)
“‘The days are coming,’” declares the LORD, ‘… new wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills (Judea and Samaria). I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,’ says the LORD, your God.”(Amos 9:13-15)
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says the LORD … ‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil.’”(Jeremiah 30:3, 16)
“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them … ”(Amos 9:14-15)
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says the LORD.”(Jeremiah 30:3)
We support the plans and purposes of God in and through Israel and work to empower and mobilize you and your relationships – partnering with and investing in the Heart of God.
Our Vision
A dream and vision of four young men from Amarillo, TX, spoken into their lives as young college students, cultivated through dynamic individuals and leaders that God placed into their lives along the journey, and borne fruit through personal relationships with their Jewish brothers in the Land, meeting practical needs. Known today as Texans for Israel, the group now purposes to praise up people like themselves throughout Texas and around the world, to develop a love for God’s Land and People, putting Truth in Action.
Our StoryThe 70s
Four young Texas men – Mike Isley, Larry Latham, Vance Esler and Robert Bauman – build a bond that will change their lives forever.
Larry, Vance and Robert join a class at the University of Texas, taught by Roy Blizzard, about the infilling of the Holy Spirit and Israel, igniting their passion and heart for Israel.
The 80s
The years that followed included Larry, Robert and Vance’s first trip to Israel where they were joined by their former professor, Roy Blizzard, on an archeological dig.
Mike made multiple trips to Israel with Trinity Fellowship in Amarillo, TX.
Each one returned home to Amarillo, where they once again reunited in heart and passion. They attended church together and met for weekly Bible studies all the time believing that one day they would all do something very significant in their lives for Israel.
2007
In 2007, the common vision of doing something very significant for Israel began to be realized when Mike, just before leaving to visit Israel again, watched a television show called “Zola Levitt.” On that show he saw an interview with a young Jewish IDF soldier and an up-and-coming Rabbi named Jeremy Gimpel.
While in Jerusalem, Mike connected with Jeremy. The two eventually visited with Mike’s ministry partner, Ari Abramowitz, at a hotel in Jerusalem. It was at this meeting that Jeremy and Ari shared their vision of becoming the first and only Jewish television show broadcast from the heart of Jerusalem, to become “A Light Unto the Nations.”
Upon Mike’s return home, he shared this new relationship and dream with Larry. Together, they decide to help Jeremy and Ari accomplish their dream. It is not long after these conversations and meetings that Jeremy and Ari invited Mike to come to Israel and live with them until their dream came true.
“Tuesday Night Live – A Light Unto the Nations,” debuted in the Heart of Jerusalem on January 1, 2008. Mike and Larry, two non-Jews, began to realize how their vision from so many years ago was coming to life right before their eyes, significantly impacting Israel and their Jewish brothers and sisters.
Mike and Larry shared their success story with Vance, and the three agreed to travel together to Israel, along with their wives, which had always been a desire of theirs.
The couples spent three weeks in Israel with Jeremy and Ari and it was then that Texans for Israel made its official debut. Throughout their travels, they meet hundreds of Jews, including a man who gave them a wine tour, a Rabbi on the Temple Mount and one of the leaders from Israel National Radio. They gave each one a Texans for Israel hat, pin and certificate to demonstrate that Texans stand with Israel.
Today
Larry is a successful businessman, Vance is a medical doctor, Robert is a world renowned author and professor and Mike is an entrepreneur. All four plan to return to Israel and continue to faithfully, obediently, and passionately pray for, support and disciple others on the heart of God for His Land and His People, without condition.
ScripturesCall to Stand with Israel“You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come … For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory … Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.”(Psalm 102:13-18)
“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.”(Isaiah 62:1)
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”(Psalm 122:6-7)
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”(Isaiah 40:1)
Prophecy of Israel Becoming a Nation in 1948“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it.’ They will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.’”(Ezekiel 36:33-35)
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.’”(Zechariah 8:7-8)
“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”(Isaiah 58:12)
“‘The days are coming,’” declares the LORD, ‘… new wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills (Judea and Samaria). I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,’ says the LORD, your God.”(Amos 9:13-15)
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says the LORD … ‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil.’”(Jeremiah 30:3, 16)
“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them … ”(Amos 9:14-15)
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says the LORD.”(Jeremiah 30:3)