Beersheba (/bɪərˈʃiːbə/; officially Be'er Sheva; Hebrew: בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע‎‎ [bəʔe̞rˈʃe̞va]; Greek: Βηρσαβεε; Latin: Bersabee; Arabic: بئر السبع‎, Bi'r as-Sab` (info); Turkish: Birüssebi) is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300.

Beersheba grew in importance in the 19th century, when the Ottoman Turks built a regional police station there. The Battle of Beersheba was part of a wider British offensive in World War I aimed at breaking the Turkish defensive line from Gaza to Beersheba. In 1947, Bir Seb'a (Arabic: بيئر شيبع‎), as it was known, was envisioned as part of the Arab state in the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Following the declaration of Israel's independence, the Egyptian army amassed its forces in Beersheba as a strategic and logistical base. In October 1948, the city was conquered by the Israel Defense Forces.

Beersheba has grown considerably since then. A large portion of the population is made up of Jews who immigrated from Arab countries after 1948, and has been significantly boosted since 1990 by immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union. With the influx of Russian immigrants, chess became a major sport in Beersheba. The city is now Israel's national chess center, home to more chess grandmasters than any city in the world.

Col Stringer is the Australian President of the International Convention of Faith Ministries International. He is the author of Christian books and is a noted speaker and humourist who grew up in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Col Stringer was raised in the rugged desert backcountry of Australia's Northern Territory. His father is a professional hunter.

Stringer was awarded the Mariner Fishing Writer of the Year award (Australia) (1979). He also won a Swedish Gold Medal for a world record shark capture and was featured in an outdoor documentary film for Australian and American television. Col hosted his own outdoor and fishing TV program and has written 10 books on fishing, hunting and wildlife.

Col Stringer Ministries is an Australian based organization. As Christian evangelists, Col and his wife Jan travel to many parts of the globe preaching the gospel. Col's background of wildlife and his sense of humour have earned him the title of "Pastor Crocodile Dundee". He is also the author of 20 Christian books. Two of his books 800 Horsemen and Fighting McKenzie were voted number 12 and 29 in the Australian Broadcasting Commissions ‘100 All-time favourite books’.