The Friends of Israel in Action Nov/Dec 2025
Dispelling the Fog of Muslim Antisemitism
Europe’s Muslim population has risen steadily for years, and some researchers estimate that the population of more than 40 million could reach 75 million by 2050. This trend creates particular tension in Western European countries like France and Germany. However, Israel’s war with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran has pushed the tension between European Muslims and Christians who support Israel to new levels.
about Israel at a conference in Germany.
There are fewer Israel-loving believers in Europe than in America. Even in countries like France and Switzerland, it is rare for Christians to advocate for Jewish people and claim that God still loves and has plans for them. Such public support proves increasingly challenging in the face of growing Muslim antisemitism. Nevertheless, our Friends of Israel (FOI) staff and volunteers in Europe boldly proclaim God’s love for Israel.
Recently, one of our Polish workers shared how some Christians sought his help. While teaching at a conference in western Germany, he encouraged believers facing hostility from Muslims for supporting Jewish people. Seeking practical ways to demonstrate Christian love for Israel, one believer asked,
How should we behave at work, where 80% of our coworkers are Muslims? They praise Palestine loudly and aggressively and curse Israel and the Jewish people. We work with Muslims on the shop floor, eat meals together, and share break times. Constant contact is inevitable. And because of the difficult job market, changing jobs is out of the question. How can we stand up for Israel and what we believe about the Bible?
Similarly, many European pastors ask our representatives how to address the difficult situation of Muslim extremism in their communities, a testament to FOI’s stand against Islamic antisemitism. Our workers lovingly offer practical instruction to help embolden those who come to them.
One pastor in the Netherlands shared with our staff that his church is helping a young man who recently came to Christ after growing up in a Muslim family. “This young man wants to tell his family about his new Messiah Jesus, but first he must secretly move,” the pastor said. “Because his family members are radical Islamists, they feel obligated to kill all apostates who convert to Christianity—even their own son! We must help him!”
Our FOI workers in Europe boldly proclaim the truth that God loves Jewish people and that they have a right to exist, an increasingly difficult task in today’s culture. Muslim persecution of Christians—especially Christians who support Israel—and the failure of many believers to understand the biblical basis for this support make our mission all the more vital. Please pray with us as our staff in Europe stands for God’s values and shows love to His people, inviting the church into this task.
You can support our Eastern European teams and other FOI ministries around the world today. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
When Missiles Fall, Faith Rises
Shortly after our FOI ORIGINS mission team landed in Israel in June, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a preemptive strike against Iranian military targets. Within 24 hours, Iran responded by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Israel, igniting a monumental conflict.
You might think this chaos would ruin a ministry trip. But our team of 10 young adults courageously turned the trial into an opportunity to live out their faith.
The ORIGINS program gives Christian young adults hands-on experience ministering to Jewish people in Israel. On these trips, participants build relationships, serve in practical ways, and communicate the hope of the gospel in word and deed. But no one could have anticipated the environment our team stepped into this time.
Despite air-raid sirens, missile warnings, and regional instability, our team members pressed forward in faith. Their commitment to ministry didn’t waver. In fact, it deepened. As tensions grew, so did their desire to serve, pray, and tangibly express Jesus’ love in the land where He walked.
Micah Husk, one of our ORIGINS participants, shared that, in the middle of the chaos, as rockets rained down, he experienced a deep peace that only God could give. “I kept holding on to Psalm 61:1–2: ‘Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I,’” he said. For Micah and the rest of the team, Scripture became a refuge and reminder that God was with them—even in the storm.
One of the group’s most significant ministry opportunities came through Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, which welcomed our team’s service. It was the perfect place for them to be—safe; structured; and filled with opportunities to encourage patients, support medical staff, and reflect Christ’s compassion.
The impact was immediate. Hospital administrators, including the CEO and his assistant, expressed astonishment that Christians from the United States would choose to serve Israelis during such a perilous time. “We definitely feel the love of The Friends of Israel,” one leader said through tears.
Eventually, the ORIGINS members safely evacuated Israel through Amman, Jordan. But before they returned to the United States, they visited Mount Nebo and Petra, locations that played significant roles in the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land, adding a layer of biblical reflection and historical wonder to their unforgettable journey.
God doesn’t wait for things to be calm to carry out His plans. Sometimes, He places His people in the darkness so that His light can shine even brighter. The ORIGINS team exhibited a testimony of faith under pressure, and its presence in Israel during this extraordinary time planted seeds that will only be revealed fully in eternity.
You can support ORIGINS and programs like it in North American Ministries today. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
