The Israel Initiative — One Year Later
Seldom has a project or an initiative captured the attention and touched the heart of an entire denomination quite like the Israel Initiative. I believe Church of God World Missions was directed of the Holy Spirit to adopt the Israel Initiative as its first emphasis of the Finish Challenge.
By Tim Hill, Church of God World Missions
I will be returning to Israel in a few days to meet again with religious, civic, and community leaders of various cultures and ethnicities. In these meetings, Dr. Childers and I will be focusing on, and fine-tuning, 19 different projects that we have identified and you have given support … including the Aboud School, the Mount of Olives Ministry Training Center and Church, and also various projects designated to demonstrate Christ’s love to Jewish men and women, boys and girls.
For many years, the Church of God has had a glowing presence in Israel—since Margaret Gaines answered the call of God to take the Gospel to the Arab harvest in this great nation.
In the late 80s, God providentially directed Dr. Michael Utterback to begin Ministry to Israel (MTI), a ministry of care and compassion to the Jews. While it is a stand-alone ministry operating through the Division of Care, World Missions is always happy to give missions credit to those giving designated gifts for Ministry to Israel. We immediately make those funds available to them. I encourage you to make regular contributions to this major endeavor.
I read just this morning in the Jerusalem Post that the population of Israel now exceeds 8 million people. Seventy-five percent of that number represents Jewish citizens; 20 percent represents the Arab population. But, 100 percent of that number represents the harvest that Jesus loves and to which God has called us to open our hearts.
People of all ethnicities, races, and backgrounds need Jesus … THAT is what the Israel Initiative is focused on.
Thank you for helping us do it. More reports will be coming as we travel through Israel. Now, let us capture some great moments of impact from this past year.
(Source: Church of God World Missions)
