Friends Of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
40th Anniversary
Faithfully Proclaiming The Word of God
The year was 1938. Hitler’s armies were marching through Europe. His plan to annihilate the world’s fifteen million Jews had begun. Most were blind to the conspicuous handwriting on the wall. After all, they were influential in almost every area of German life. Persecution was not new to Jews, but how far could it go in the most technologically advanced nation the world had ever known? And after all, Germany was neither barbaric nor atheistic – but “Christian”.
As the persecution grew steadily worse, the nations of the world voiced little or no objection; the papacy was deafening by its silence. Few cared or pitied the Jewish plight. Even the United States and England enforced stringent immigration quotas, making it more difficult for the increasing number of fleeing Jews to find a place of refuge.
But in the City of Philadelphia, a few true Christians became concerned; concerned that the world hear the cry of these hounded and persecuted Jews; concerned that they have clothing on their backs, a little food for their stomachs and shelter for their ravaged bodies; concerned that they have a chance to hear the story of eternal redemption as secured through their very own Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of that context, The Friends of Israel, a Mission with a mission, was born.
During the years of the Second World War, The Friends of Israel ministered to persecuted world Jewry wherever and whenever it could, providing clothing, funds for food, and most important of all the Gospel was given. Following the war, Dr. Victor Buksbazen, who for thirty years would direct The Friends of Israel, was one of the very first to enter and give compassionate aid to the refugee camps established in America for survivors of the Holocaust. Today, forty years after its founding, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. stands as a triumphant testimony to the care, compassion, provision and faithfulness of the God in whom it trusted and on whose word it stands. Sixty-three full-time workers in six countries man front line stations in the battle for the eternal souls of men.
Never before have the fields been so white unto harvest – but for how long, God alone knows. If this country stops sending forth missionaries to the remote corners of the earth – if latent anti-Semitism raises its ugly head, as well it might – then, like a rotting basket of summer fruit, we will experience divine judgment as has every nation which has persecuted the Jewish people.
During this year, The Friends of Israel celebrates its fortieth birthday and the modern state of Israel, its thirtieth birthday. With faith in the prophetic Word of God, we called ourselves The Friends of Israel ten years before the nation came into existence.
As long as God permits, as long as He enables, as long as He gives light for the way, and as long as our weaknesses are made perfect in his strength, we shall proclaim to Israel and the world a living, loving, soon-returning Saviour.
