Christian Friends of Israel - UK

Not to be confused with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (UK)

---

Christian Friends of Israel, based in the UK, describes itself as a group of 'Christians who love Israel and its peoples and believe that God has a special place for them in His Kingdom purposes before the return of Messiah' It is an affiliate of the Zionist Federation and thus a formal part of the Zionist movement.

The group's support for Israel is founded on an interpretation of the Bible which includes the belief that 'the restoration of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is in accordance with promises contained in the Old and New Testaments, and that God's time to 'favour Zion' has begun.'

As well as maintaining a UK office, it says it has offices or representatives 'in many nations of the world'. These include Israel, the USA and Germany.

Origins

CFI's website describes how it 'began with a meeting of a few Christian leaders in Jerusalem in December 1985, from the UK, USA, France and Israel, who were aware of an urgent need to set up a framework in which they could serve the Lord and bless Israel as true friends'. Christian preachers Lance Lambert and David Bivin are named as key early organisers.

People

• Derek White – Founder
• Roy Thurley - Director 2000-2007, Area Representative 2007-present
• Geoffrey Smith – Director, June 2009-April 2010
• Jacob Vince - Chief Executive / Director, June 2012 - present
• John Caladine - Company secretary
• David Soakell – Church liaison officer

Trustees

Jennifer Forbes | John Gilmore | David Greer | Robert Hobbs (Chairman) | Rev. Clive Jones | David Linnell

Activities

CFI publishes a range of publications outlining why and how it believes Christians should support Israel. It produces a quarterly magazine called ‘In Touch’ available online since June 2009. It also sells a range of products including books, CDs and DVDs by authors including Martin Gilbert, Nonie Darwish, Robin Shepherd and Daniel Pipes.

It offers a ten week course called Kesher which examines the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and fundraises for various projects in Israel. CFI also states that it engages in '[c]ountering misinformation and propaganda with truthful reporting from Christians on the spot'.

It organises trips to Israel every year, and also teams up with the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland for its annual lobby of parliament.

Funding

In 2011 CFI’s income was £537,418. Its expenditure was also above half a million at £561,670.

Affiliations

• Love Never Fails – part of this 'umbrella organisation' which connects 'over twenty ministries in the UK who understand God's purposes for Israel’
• Isrelate – CFI’s sister site for young people
• Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland – joint annual lobby of parliament

Branches

Christian Friends of Israel Nederland | CFI Jerusalem | CFI - All Amigos Cristianos de Israel | CFI - America | CFI - Australia | CFI - Belgium | CFI - Brazil | CFI - Bulgaria | CFI - Canada | CFI - Cuba | CFI - France | CFI - Germany | CFI - Honduras | CFI - Hong Kong | CFI - India | CFI - Kenya | CFI - Mexico | CFI - Poland | CFI - Singapore | CFI - Slovakia | CFI - South Africa | CFI - Spain | CFI - Sri Lanka | CFI - Switzerland | CFI - Uganda | CFI - USA

Contact

Registered charity number: 1101899

Company number: 04984515

Website: cfi.org.uk

Email: info@cfi.org.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1323 410810

Address:

PO BOX 2687

Eastbourne

East Sussex

BN22 7LZ