Background

Christian Friends of Israel (CFI) was founded in Jerusalem in December 1985 at a meeting spanning three days, attended by Derek White (UK), Rev Barry Perez (USA), François Celier (France) and Ray Sanders (USA).  The three former gentlemen signed a joint agreement establishing the new ministry and pledging the commitment of the supporters in their constituent nations.  The latter, Ray Sanders, was appointed by them as the Director of the ministry operations and outreach projects in Jerusalem.  Over the decades that followed, Ray and his wife Sharon went on to develop and grow the ministry both in Israel and worldwide.  

CFI remains headquartered in Jerusalem today, where it continues to be in good-standing with both the people of Israel and the State of Israel.  CFI is a registered non-profit (‘amuta’) in Israel.  From the beginning, this was destined to be an international ministry, involving volunteers from many nations.  Over the years, many, many hands, feet, smiles and warm embraces have helped to fulfil CFI’s calling to be a conduit through which Christians in the nations can be a blessing to Israel, in accordance with Genesis 12:3.

CFI is a Christion pioneer work rooted in Israel alongside the Jewish people.  CFI supports the people of Israel and stands with them in their right to their own borders, security and homeland.  CFI stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jewish people and represents some of Israel’s strongest supporters and friends worldwide.  CFI has representatives in 25+ countries and numerous distributors around the world (see the International page for more details).  CFI operates the Lighthouse Distribution Centre located in the heart of Jerusalem’s city centre, where many hundreds of thousands of new immigrants (known as ‘olim’) and those experiencing financial hardship have been provided with household items, clothing and financial assistance since the centre opened in 1990.  

Ministry Statement

As Christians, we have received from God a love for Israel and the Jewish people. We want to bless them in the name of the Lord. We believe the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) is both the Messiah of Israel and the Saviour of the world; however, our stand alongside Israel is not conditional upon her acceptance of our belief. We exist to comfort and to support the people of Israel, and to inform Christians around the world of God’s plans for Israel. CFI teaches the Church’s responsibility toward the Jewish people, and brings awareness to the Jewish people of our solidarity with them. We take His love back to the people who first brought it to us. 

Primary Goals

CFI has a twofold goal both within Israel and within the nations:

1. To be a blessing, not a curse to the Jewish people by serving their needs through practical outreach projects, and
2. To bring the heart of the Church back to her Hebraic roots and to make her aware of her Biblical and prophetic responsibility toward the Jewish people through sound theological teaching and Christian education.

Vision

1. Restored, healthy and vibrant relationships between Christian and Jewish communities (Ephesians 2:14-18).
2. Softened Jewish hearts, warmed by practical expressions of Christian love and t’shuvah (repentance), in a place of forgiveness for the wrongs of many generations of Christian unkindness, hatred and antisemitism (Isaiah 60:5).
3. Grafted-in believers relating to the natural olive tree of the Jewish people in love and gratitude rather than haughtiness and spiritual pride (Romans 11).
4. Right standing of believers, churches and nations toward God and toward Israel; readily understanding their place within the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12-13).
5. Sharing of the wealth and resources of the nations to support, bolster and edify the people and land of Israel (Isaiah 60).
6. A deep and pervading awareness amongst the Body of believers that the time to favour Zion is at hand (Psalm 102:13-22).
7. The preparation of Jerusalem and the Body of Messiah worldwide for the return of Yeshua (Jesus), the King of Kings (Revelation 19:7-8).

Objectives

1. Expressing unconditional love, friendship and solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people throughout the world through relationship-building.
2. Tearing down the longstanding walls of mistrust and misunderstanding between Jews and Christians through true friendship in the spirit of Ruth.
3. Undoing damage done to the Jewish people by historical Christendom.
4. Repentance for 2,000 years of Christian antisemitism and combatting all forms of antisemitism worldwide.
5. Being a ‘prophetic plough’ and breaking up hard and neglected soil from centuries of hatred and pride by Christians towards the Jewish people.
6. Eradication of Replacement Theology.
7. Encouraging Christians worldwide to pray for Israel.
8. Exhorting Christians worldwide to support Israel with financial assistance (Romans 15:25 – 27).
9. Providing practical support in many areas of need within Israel (James 1:27; Job 29:12 – 13).
10. Assisting Jewish people returning to Israel as olim (immigrants) from the nations and supporting them practically and in prayer during their early years in Israel.
11. Being ‘doers of the Word’ and not just preachers.
12. Being a genuine representation of Yeshua (Jesus) to Israel in His love, in a way they have seldom seen before. 

Structure & Oversight

Christian Friends of Israel is a registered amuta (non-profit charity / association) in Israel (registration number 58 013 905 3).  It is regulated by the Registry of Amutot, a part of the Ministry of Justice in Israel.

The ministry of CFI is overseen by a Board of Directors, as well as by over 20 international representatives, who are invited each year to attend the Annual General Meeting.

Dr Jennifer Kaplan is the serving Chair of the Board.

Rev Rick Ridings is the ministry’s Honorary Chairman.

Tristan Hall serves as the International Executive Director.

CFI vastly depends on the service of volunteers to staff the ministry.  The benefit of this is at least twofold.  Firstly, it provides a precious opportunity to Christians from all over the world to fulfil God’s calling upon their lives to come and be a blessing to the people of Israel for a season in their lives.  Secondly, it enables the ministry to give away most of the funds that it raises to Israelis in need, such as those in financial hardship, terror victims, widows, orphans and struggling new immigrants.  CFI is abundantly blessed by the Lord to have a significant team of volunteers serving in Israel at any given time, presently representing around 15 different nations.  The international nature of the ministry reminds us of the destiny of Jerusalem itself:  

“For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Isaiah 56:7b