In Touch Quarter 3 - 2017

FEATURE
A time for
Social Media
Engagement
By Matthew Soakell
Do you remember when
personal computers were
a new development and
everyone was a bit skeptical?
Then came the Internet; and that was
scary, and it too had its skeptics.
Then you could purchase things on
the Internet: groceries, electronics and
software – some things that didn’t
even exist in a physical form! You
could download things. And that had
its skeptics too.
And then social media came along,
allowing people and businesses to
have an online presence and allowing
them to communicate in this nonexistent
space (cyberspace) that kind of
exists at the same time.
So we find ourselves in this day and
age where more and more methods of
communicating, making transactions
and exchanging information are being
developed using the Internet. In fact,
over 50% of Google searches are now
done on mobile devices. Thus having a
social media presence is no longer just
the next big thing, it is an important
part of communication.
And that’s where we come into
the picture. You’re the CFI Regional
Links, Church Links and prayer
group members. Ours are the voices
speaking in our fellowships and local
areas; or getting information into our
fellowships, presenting a positive
message about Israel and the Church’s
Hebraic heritage to those around us.
And this is important. We’re now at
a time in history when social media
plays a huge part in the spreading of
breaking news and people’s opinions.
To underestimate the influence of
social media would be a big mistake.
‘We have the
opportunity
to promote a
positive message
about Israel’
Matthew Soakell
There are now more than 2.3 billion
active social media users around the
world. In 2016 the number of social
media users grew by 176 million
people. There are 1,000,000 new active
mobile social media users added
every day. That’s 12 new users every
second.
What does this mean then for us in
our role with CFI? Well, more than
ever before it is important that we
encourage those who follow CFI and
who have an interest in Israel to engage
in our social media channels. There is
such a huge wave of anti-Israel opinion
online, especially on social media, that
needs to be counteracted. We have
the opportunity to promote a positive
message about Israel, in a loving,
compassionate way. Not driving up
hatred against those who stand for
BDS or for the Palestinian cause, but
encouraging them to see the truth
whilst following the apostle Paul’s
advice. “If I speak in the tongues of men
or of angels, but do not have love, I am only
a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If
I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom
all mysteries and all knowledge, and if
I have a faith that can move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.”
(1 Corinthians 13:1-2).
So please do encourage those you
interact with who are Christian
friends of Israel to like, follow and
share the content that CFI puts online
via Facebook & Twitter. Encourage
them to stand in the gap for Israel in
the digital age. Soon there will be a
generation who have known little other
than social media, and so it’s important
that we keep up in our methods of
communication about Israel.
REGIONALINK
CHURCHLINK
Update from Julia Soakell
Since January 2016, we have promoted
the new ‘Church Links’ and now have 35
around the country. We have now also
created Regional Links (replacing the
Area Representatives, some of whom have
decided to become Church Links). However,
we still have 17 Regional Links – including
Glynis Brookes who is taking on York and
surrounding area (see page 7).
REGIONALINK We are delighted that
Regional Link Kristie Daniel-Sam (nee
King) and her husband Ivan, now living in
Bolton, announced the birth of a beautiful,
thriving baby girl Taliya Ellen, born mid-
May, weighing 6lbs and all doing well.
Our Regional Links are:
Philip Aitchison – Scottish Borders
Julie Archer – Durham & Tees Valley
Sharn Asbridge – North Wales
Moira Dare-Edwards – Essex
Matt & Immy Elwick – Wiltshire area
Caroline Geuter – South West Midlands
Paul Hayes – Edinburgh
Judy Johnson – Dorset area
Kristie Daniel-Sam – Bolton
Audrey Lee – Glasgow
Donald MacDougall – Perthshire, Scotland
Elspeth Masson – Northern Scotland
David & Julia Soakell – Tyne & Wear plus
David Walker – West Midlands
Martin & Julia West – South West
Glynis Brookes – York & surrounding area
Philip Aitchison hosted a CFI Conference Day
in Hawick, Scottish Borders, in May where
Julie Archer spoke about Israel – Apartheid
State or Political Accident? – a detailed study
of Israel’s history in the land. Julia Soakell
led the prayer session on the ‘Need for Biblical
Truth in the Church and Understanding of
Hebraic heritage.’ The Borders area has a
legacy of strong and faithful supporters and
believers over decades and we pray the Lord
will add more understanding and support for
Israel as a result of this rich prayer coverage.
CHURCHLINK Many who have taken on
the role of Church Link have developed their
positions greatly over recent months, praying
for their pastors and approaching new people
with CFI free literature, making CFI displays
for their churches. Church Link Yolanda
Conniff held a fantastic event based around
the ‘Forsaken Promise’ film and highlighted
the Balfour Declaration and the UK’s position
on Israel over the centuries. The response
to the event was really good. Other Church
Links are serving small ladies fellowships
and Lydia Cells. Please thank God for these
individuals who are making a great difference
in understanding CFI’s core values and the
biblical stance for Israel within the local
church. Pray for each of them to be blessed
and fruitful in their own circle of influence.
We also have had many supporters asking
where they can join groups who pray for Israel
and have added more prayer coordinators to
our data base. For details on subjects covered
here contact julia.soakell@cfi.org.uk
facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 3 rd Quarter 2017 • IN TOUCH 11