In Touch Quarter 1 - 2017
CFI UK's regular quarterly magazine
CFI UK's regular quarterly magazine
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a Palestinian theatre company.<br />
Session Two of the training day<br />
was led by Julia Soakell and looked<br />
at equipping. We considered how we<br />
can move forward and equip ourselves<br />
best, and how we can influence<br />
churches and recruit new Area Reps.<br />
How do we simplify the role to make<br />
it easier to communicate? How do we<br />
build on successes? Is the Lord leading<br />
us to think outside of the box? Do Area<br />
Reps need a greater prayer covering?<br />
Forming a team of like-minded,<br />
biblically sound praying friends to<br />
assist and support the Area Reps<br />
in their role was encouraged, as we<br />
know it can be isolating and difficult<br />
without this. Were there opportunities<br />
to recruit Church Links in the Area<br />
Reps’ regions? These Church Links<br />
could then be part of an Area Rep’s<br />
team. How can praying for Israel and<br />
CFI be encouraged in their region?<br />
Could the Area Reps themselves set up<br />
a group if there isn’t one locally. Can<br />
we encourage a ‘Timothy’ – someone<br />
we could mentor for the future?<br />
Other ideas were discussed such<br />
as to think about film nights, which<br />
are great if you are not confident to<br />
teach/speak for whole sessions. With<br />
permission, ‘It is No Dream: The Life<br />
of Theodor Herzl’, ‘Jacob’s Tears -<br />
Blessing, Curse or Co-incidence?’<br />
could be used. ‘Nicky’s Family’ and<br />
‘Forgotten Refugees’ are also great<br />
tools for dates around HMD.<br />
Session Three was a message from<br />
Jacob Vince – CFI UK Chief Executive,<br />
with a short Bible study illustrating<br />
our remit to bless Israel and serve<br />
the Church. Jacob stated, “I’d like to<br />
start with an observation. The wider<br />
Church has little time for Israel, whilst<br />
those who do, have little time for the<br />
wider Church. I think neither of<br />
these positions is correct. I take as my<br />
reference point the apostle Paul, who<br />
was designated as the apostle to the<br />
Gentiles. Notwithstanding this, Paul<br />
had great passion for Israel, expressing<br />
his unceasing anguish for his own ethnic<br />
people (Romans 9:2). But he was also<br />
passionate about the Church - Paul<br />
described facing the daily pressure<br />
of his concern for all the churches<br />
(2 Corinthians 11:28). So both are<br />
important and when we consider all<br />
that Paul gave, as he was used by God<br />
to bring the gospel message to both<br />
Jew and Gentile, surely this places on<br />
us an equal obligation to reach both<br />
Israel and the Church, one which<br />
should be reflected by us at CFI.”<br />
Jacob provided some practical ways<br />
in which we can do this and the need<br />
to make good use of our sign-up<br />
sheets (accurately too). He gave a brief<br />
overview of how CFI UK finances have<br />
been used across the three strands of<br />
education, advocacy and aid; and the<br />
benefits of Gift Aid and those who<br />
have chosen to leave legacies to CFI UK<br />
in their wills. Some items of concern<br />
were raised by the Area Reps as well as<br />
opportunities to enhance their service<br />
through improved resourcing.<br />
Area Reps were encouraged to press<br />
in and persevere. The day concluded<br />
with a time of prayer for the work and<br />
for one another.<br />
CHURCHLINK Update<br />
Julia Soakell reports back on the new way supporters got involved in 2016<br />
Julia Soakell<br />
L<br />
ast<br />
year saw the launch of Church Links within<br />
CFI UK for our supporters to be involved in a<br />
new way!<br />
Church Links are a ‘grass roots’ way of endorsing the CFI<br />
mandate of blessing Israel and serving the Church. Each<br />
quarter a Church Link will receive literature about the work<br />
of CFI in the UK through this publication, ‘<strong>In</strong> <strong>Touch</strong>’, and<br />
through ‘For Zions Sake’ from our Jerusalem office, and<br />
will help to make them available for their own fellowship<br />
or church. This way Christians will see the solid base of<br />
Scripture and teaching about God’s purposes for Israel and<br />
the Hebraic heritage of our faith. Hopefully they will be<br />
encouraged to sign up for our regular quarterly mailings<br />
through the post or by email, by filling in a simple form.<br />
We now have at least twenty Church Links on board –<br />
thanks to all who have responded. Some loyal supporters<br />
have been doing this vital work for us without the recognition<br />
of the title, and we are so grateful for their perseverance<br />
and service. These Church Links are a vital part of our<br />
Team – hopefully believers will be encouraged to pray more<br />
confidently and be better equipped to answer questions, and<br />
the teaching included in our publications will bring a great<br />
harvest to us individually and corporately to the Church at<br />
large. Church Links can then make connections with CFI<br />
Area Reps and help advertise local and national CFI events<br />
like our National Conference each September. Many others<br />
have received a Church Links Pack – please pray that the<br />
Lord will lead more to get involved and return their forms<br />
too. The requirements you will need are to have a heart for<br />
the ministry, be on our mailing list and have the support of<br />
your pastor; and preferably be able to communicate through<br />
email.<br />
Could you take on this simple role and help your Church<br />
understand its Hebraic roots and how they can also support<br />
Israel? Help to bless your Church … For more information<br />
email: julia.soakell@cfi.org.uk<br />
CFI PRAYER SUPPORT<br />
Do you have a heart for prayer? Why not use the<br />
prayer pages on our CFI website, where we have<br />
helpful suggestions on prayer and regular updates<br />
of areas which need your specific support. If you<br />
lead a group that prays for Israel and would like to<br />
be on our CFI Prayer Contacts listings, let us know<br />
– we hope to be able to send out direct requests for<br />
strategic prayer in the days and months to come, as<br />
the needs arise.<br />
Contact: julia.soakell@cfi.org.uk<br />
facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 1 st <strong>Quarter</strong> <strong>2017</strong> • IN TOUCH 9