In Touch Quarter 1 - 2018

Report
David Soakell
Are you the
missing link?
As you will be aware,
in December 2017 US
President Donald Trump
made an announcement that
rocked the world. ‘Trump was
moving the US Embassy from
Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital city –
Jerusalem.’
However the world appeared
to disapprove; the Western Media
reported the issue with very negative
tones, and both Hamas and the PLO
called for a ‘greater intifada’ against
Israel over the Jerusalem status. For
those of us who ‘represent’ Christians
who are called to be ‘friends of Israel‘
and the Jewish people, the challenge
seems to have gone up another level.
This is not an easy calling.
Many throughout the world - and
specifically within the Islamic Middle
East - have declared that Jerusalem and
the Temple Mount is only historically
‘Islamic’ and that this city has little,
if anything, to do with Israel. Even
the United Nations and UNESCO
have agreed with this in their voting
and constant condemnation of Israel.
But what of the Church? Surely
the Christian Church should stand
with Israel and know of the biblical
and historic connections of Israel to
Jerusalem? After all, Jerusalem has
always been the focus of longing for
Diaspora Jews who were forced from
their land.
Psalm 137 is the well-known lament
of the Babylonian Jews who wept “by
the rivers of Babylon” and declared, “If
I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right
hand forget its skill” (Psalm 137:5).
Jews of all backgrounds are familiar
with the phrase “le-shanah ha-ba’ah
bi-Yerushalayim,” “Next year in
Jerusalem.” It makes two appearances
annually in Jewish liturgy: at the
conclusion of the Passover Seder and
at the conclusion of the Ne’ilah service
of Yom Kippur. And of course the
Bible is full of promises regarding
Jerusalem. Jerusalem (or Zion) is first
referred to as “the place which the Lord
your God chooses” (20 times) until the
designation changes to Jerusalem,
which itself occurs 811 times, plus
161 times as Zion, a total of 972 times.
[However it is not mentioned once in
the Koran!]
It is abundantly clear that God chose
Jerusalem. “... Jerusalem, the city the
Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of
Israel to put his Name” (1 Kings 14:21).
“This is what the Lord Almighty says, ‘My
towns will again overflow with prosperity,
and the Lord will again comfort Zion and
choose Jerusalem’” (Zechariah 1:17). So
how is it that 80% of the church knows
little about this? This is one reason
why CFI need Church Links and
Regional Links. We need to get the
message out to our brothers and sisters
in the Lord.
Currently we have thirty-five Church
Links around the UK, many are very
active. We also have Regional Links
(replacing the Area Representatives)
of whom there are fourteen. Our
Regional Links are listed below.
Philip Aitchison: Scottish Borders
Paul Hayes: Edinburgh
Audrey Lee: Glasgow
Donald MacDougall: Perthshire
Elspeth Masson: Scotland North
Julie Archer: Durham & Tees Valley
Sharn Asbridge: North Wales
Are you being called by God to
stand in the gap and be a Church Link
or a Regional Link for CFI? I once read
that God gives his vision to those who
are good stewards. God is looking for
stewards who will manage his plans
well, even in the face of opposition,
frustration, impatience, or even
spiritual attack. As we follow God’s
timeline, we may experience anxious
moments and frustration while we
wait for God’s plan to unfold. Satan
will tempt us to bypass God’s timeline
and question God’s direction. Yet God
entrusts his vision to those he knows
will persevere through criticism,
seasons of waiting, and spiritual
warfare.
God also gives his vision to those
who are faithful in small things. He
will give greater vision to those who
are being faithful with what is already
in their charge. The Bible teaches
us that this is how God rewards his
faithful servants. “You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge
of many things” (Matthew 25:21-23).
Is God calling you? The good news
is that it is never too late to start
seeking God’s vision. We are always
at the right point in our lives to decide
to honour God and to delight in him.
Do pray for all our Regional Links
and Church Links throughout 2018.
And if you believe God is calling you,
then please contact me as the CFI UK
Liaison Officer: david@cfi.org.uk
REGIONALINK Who’s where...?
Moira Dare-Edwards: Essex
Matt & Immy Elwick: Wiltshire
Caroline Geuter: South West Midlands
David Walker: West Midlands
Judy Johnson: Dorset area
Martin & Julia West: South West
Glynis Brookes: York & area
6 IN TOUCH • 1 st Quarter 2018
www.cfi.org.uk