I didn’t want to believe him. I honestly thought I had ordered way too many, and that the hostages would be home long before we sold them all — leaving me with a closet full of yellow ribbon pins with the Israel flag in the middle (I may have a closet full of Shalom t-shirts and For Such a Time as This totes).
But here we are, nearly two years later… twenty precious souls still in captivity, starving to death, suffering endlessly at the hands of Hamas.
I’ll be honest — I felt bad even asking whether we should reorder. On one hand, I prayed we’d never need another pin because every hostage would be home. On the other hand, the thought of not having them felt like letting the hostages fade from view. That’s the tug-of-war in my heart.
Why the Pin Exists
From the start, this wasn’t about fundraising. We’ve always offered the pins close to cost for our community, because the real value is in what happens when someone sees that yellow ribbon with the Israel flag in the middle and asks, What does that mean?
That simple question opens the door to tell the truth about the hostages, the war, and why standing with Israel matters.
I co-founded Christian Women for Israel, a U.S.-based movement of what we call Modern-Day Esthers — women of faith who pray without ceasing, speak truth without compromise, and refuse to let Israel’s suffering be forgotten. The pin is just one visible way we say, We remember your sons and daughters. We will not look away.
I Asked Our Community — And They Answered Loudly
This week, I reached out to our supporters and asked, from the heart, whether we should reorder the pins. I wasn’t looking for marketing feedback. I wanted to know what this community truly felt.
The answers were overwhelming:
“I wear my pin every day — never forget.” — Rebecca
“Please reorder to give hope to the families of the hostages & for the morale of the people of Israel that we will not forget even one hostage… I’d buy more & give them to friends!” — Debra
“As long as there are hostages, there should be the yellow pin.” — Laura
“There is too much publicity about the ‘famine’ in Gaza — the HOSTAGES are starving and need to be kept front and center… Please continue doing all you can to raise awareness. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate the support of Christian Women for Israel. THANK YOU and please keep doing what you are doing!” — Joshua
“The yellow ribbon is a sign… It says we care, we remember, we pray, and stand with you Israel! I am proud to be an Esther.” — Cynthia
Only one person said no — trusting HaShem to bring them home without a reorder. The rest made it clear: this visible sign of solidarity still matters.
The World’s Attention Is Shifting — Ours Can’t
Recent headlines show how quickly the world’s focus is moving elsewhere. Hamas is starving Israeli hostages, just as Nazis starved Jews — yet political leaders debate recognition of a Palestinian state, undermining negotiations for their release.
We know the media has blatantly and repeatedly lied about Israel. One glaring example was the widely circulated photo of a malnourished Gaza boy used to blame Israel for “starving children.” In truth, the boy had a genetic disorder — a fact buried in a later correction. By then, the false image had already done its damage, fueling even more anti-Israel hate around the world.
This is why a yellow ribbon on a lapel or tote bag still matters. It’s a reminder, in the grocery store or on the subway, that the war is not over, that lives hang in the balance, and that people around the world have not forgotten.
We Will Reorder
So yes, we will reorder. Not because we want the pin to exist forever, but because until every hostage is home — alive and free — we will keep their plight visible, keep praying, and keep speaking out.
As Cynthia said, it’s a sign “to those in Israel and those not in Israel… We care, we remember, we pray, and we stand with you.” And as Joshua reminded us, the Jewish people need to know Christian Women for Israel is steadfast at their side.
That is why we are building up an army of Modern-Day Esthers — women who understand the times and act with courage for such a time as this.
To my sisters and brothers in this cause: thank you. Every time I reorder, my heart breaks. But it also swells with gratitude knowing you are out there — wearing your pins, telling their stories, and keeping their names alive.
Until they are home. ✡
