The Friends of Israel in Action Jul/Aug 2025
What Are Friends For?
What would make a family move from one country at war to another country at war? Relationships. Over the past four years, our Friends of Israel (FOI) teams in Israel and Ukraine have helped to bless our Jewish friends Mati and Yulia, who are seeking deeper relationships with Messiah and believers.
Mati and Yulia met when Mati lived in Israel and Yulia lived in Ukraine, and they married soon after. Immigration for Israeli spouses proved long and difficult, and the newlyweds were eager to start their life together. Because Mati grew up in the kehila (community of believers in Jesus) with which FOI partners in Rehovot, he already shared a relationship with FOI workers in Eastern Europe; so he sought help from one of our team members in Poland. The young couple reunited in Poland and stayed with FOI staff for six weeks until they finally received their permit to return to Israel together.
Our staff members in Poland were happy to bless this believing Israeli family. But God had more in store for them.
After October 7, 2023, only six months after the couple moved to Israel, Mati was called up for military service, like many other Israelis. Meanwhile, Yulia faced many challenges in her new country. Aside from the war, she struggled to learn Hebrew, trained for a new profession, rarely saw her new husband while he fought in the war, felt isolated from family and other believers, and endured a difficult pregnancy. While believers in their kehila did what they could to alleviate Mati and Yulia’s struggles, the two decided to seek help from their friends serving with FOI in Eastern Europe.
We realized that we both wanted to move to Ukraine. Our family lived there, and Mati had found help with friends from FOI and had long dreamed of living in a European country. The decision to leave the Holy Land was not easy for us. We thought and prayed for a long time. But it was very hard for us to live apart from one another for most of our first four years of marriage. Finally, with God’s help and the support of many, we decided to move together to Ukraine. We are now part of a church and have deep relationships with believers in Yeshua here. Our young daughter is growing well. We are grateful to have strong relationships to help us face the challenges of life and war here in Ukraine. We could not have made this decision without the help and support of many people, including believers from The Friends of Israel. Thank you.
We are committed to seeking opportunities to bless Jewish people around the world in the name of Messiah. Won’t you join us?
You can support our FOI International Ministries around the world. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
A Sacred Sojourn
In a groundbreaking endeavor, FOI recently invited and funded 15 influential ministry leaders—including pastors, parachurch directors, Christian journalists, and missionaries—to experience firsthand the biblical and historical landscape of Israel. This journey was designed not only to deepen each member’s personal faith, but also to forge lasting partnerships and renew everyone’s dedication to building up the body of Christ.
The trip gave ministry leaders a momentous opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and other biblical figures, immersing them in the rich tapestry of history that defines the Holy Land. They stopped at significant landmarks along the Sea of Galilee, swam in the Dead Sea, climbed Masada, and took a pilgrimage through Jerusalem. Each site offered a unique encounter with biblical history and a devotion in God’s Word, enabling everyone to engage with the land where pivotal events of the Bible unfolded and deepening everyone’s understanding of God’s ongoing work in Israel.
One ministry leader candidly shared a moving testimony. Before the trip, he doubted whether God still intended to use the Jewish nation in His prophetic plan, particularly in light of Israel’s current conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. However, after seeing the Bible come to life in the Promised Land while connecting with local Christian leaders and communities, he changed his perspective. “Now I can see clearly through the Scriptures God’s plan for Israel, God’s plan for His people, and how God’s going to use this nation as a conduit of blessing to the world,” he remarked.
The trip underscored the importance of solidarity and support. The ministry leaders visited the borders of Lebanon and Syria along Israel’s northern frontiers and areas near Gaza in the south. They encountered Israelis who have endured tremendous hardship, especially following the October 7, 2023 massacre. The participants’ presence and encouragement offered unity and hope to Israelis. Many of the leaders committed to return with their congregations and introduce them to the vibrant, living reality of God’s promises to Israel and the Jewish people.
Beyond a mere sightseeing tour, this journey was a mission to bridge gaps, dispel doubts, and illuminate the prophetic significance of Israel. We’re excited to see a ripple effect within the leaders’ churches and communities, as they share the insights they gained on this pilgrimage.
FOI’s Ministry Leaders Trip testifies to the enduring power of faith and the importance of connecting believers with the land that profoundly shapes the Bible’s narrative. As these Christian leaders return home, they carry with them the hope and deep conviction that Israel, which God loves “with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3), remains central to His redemptive plan for the world through Messiah Jesus.
You can support FOI’s North American Ministries today. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
Photos: The Friends of Israel Archives
