ENHANCE - 3rd Quarter 2024

3 rd Quarter 2024 • No 220
Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
“The Sovereign Lord...
makes my feet like
the feet of a deer.
He enables me to
go on the heights”
Habakkuk 3:19
INSIDE: EDITORIAL – Teach me your ways O Lord • Aftermath of 7 th October • Derek White Tribute • Spring Harvest & BCF Report
Challeging Replacement Thinking • Lydia Prayer Conference • HEBREW WORD FOCUS – Go’el - Redeemer • Rescued • RESOURCES

Editorial
Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
Teach me your
ways O Lord
About us
CFI UK seeks to bless Israel through
practical and moral support, and serve
the Church in teaching about God’s
purposes for Israel and the Hebrew
heritage of our faith.
CFI UK also produce a monthly prayer
letter and a weekly audio Middle East
report.
Please contact us for full details of
projects in Israel and the teaching
resources available.
As an educational charity, we carry a
variety of resources relevant to our
purpose. We do not necessarily endorse
every view expressed by our guest
writers or authors.
Encouraging understanding in the
Church of Israel in context of the
Bible, history and today.
Challenging prejudice against Israel
and antisemitism alongside the Jewish
community in the UK.
Assisting cross-culturally in Israel
with charitable projects - medical,
educational and social.
What’s in a name?
ENHANCE means to increase, or further
improve the quality, value, or extent
of, in our instance, Christian friendship
of Israel. It also emphasises that when
God’s faithfulness to Israel is included and
understood by the wider Church, it truly is
‘faith enhancing.’
ENHANCE Magazine
Published by:
CFI Charitable Trust, PO Box 2687
Eastbourne BN22 7LZ
Tel: 01323 410 810
Email: info@cfi.org.uk
www.cfi.org.uk
Registered Charity, No. 1101899
Registered Office c/o
Caladine, Chantry House, 22 Upperton Road
Eastbourne, BN21 1BF
Company No: 04984515
VAT Registration No: GB678780275
Front cover photo:
National Park Timna, Eilat, Israel
By svarshik (Adobe)
2 ENHANCE • 3 rd Quarter 2024
Jacob Vince
Reading through the
oracle prophets, first
the three referred
to as major, followed by
the twelve, referred to as
minor, we are struck by their
parallel connection with
the chronological historical
prophets, and particularly the
book of Kings.
A shorthand way to remember this
is to link Isaiah with king Hezekiah
and Jeremiah with king Josiah, both
kings emulate king David who
comes to prominence in the earlier
historical prophets’ book of Samuel.
There are also many links between
the twelve minor prophets and the
first two of the three major prophets.
Hosea runs parallel with Isaiah and
king Hezekiah (see Hosea 1:1), Joel
refers to the valley named after king
Jehoshaphat (see Joel 3:2), a king who
for the most part also emulated king
David, Amos commences just prior
to king Uzziah (see Amos 1:1) hence
overlapping the prophet Isaiah.
Obadiah’s first paragraphs are
found in the writings of Jeremiah
(see Obadiah 1:16; Jeremiah 49:9-
10, 14-16), Jonah, son of Amittai,
is referred to in the historical
prophets’ book of Kings (see 2 Kings
14:21-25). Micah runs parallel with
Hezekiah and contains words found
in the prophet Isaiah’s writings (see
Micah 4:1-3; Isaiah 2:1-4). Nahum
speaks concerning Nineveh like
Jonah (see Nahum 1:1), whilst the
prophet Habakkuk’s prayer is
written for, ‘the director of music, on
my stringed instruments’ (Habakkuk
3:19), referring to the first temple
before its destruction. The prophet
Zephaniah runs parallel with king
Josiah (see Zephaniah 1:1).
After the nine minor prophets
which are all pre-exile, come the
final three minor prophets of
the twelve, all post exile. These
connect with the historical books
found at the end of the third
section of the Bible named after
its predominant book Psalms.
Haggai and Zechariah refer to
the second year of Darius (see
Ezra 4:24); whilst Malachi is twice
mentioned as a contemporary of
Zechariah, (see Ezra 5:1, 6:14) when
Zerubbabel of David’s line was
governor.
Focusing on the duplicated words
of Isaiah and Micah, we find they
replicate those contained in a Psalm
headed ‘prayer of David’ (Psalm 86:i).
Within this prayer-psalm are the
words,
“For you are great and do marvellous
deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your
way, O Lord, and I will walk in your
truth; give me an undivided heart that
I may fear your Name. I will praise you
O Lord my God with all my heart; I
will glorify your Name forever” (Psalm
86:11-12; see also Psalm 25:4-5).
The reciprocal words of Isaiah and
Micah show the Lord confirming he
will answer David’s prayer, ‘Teach
me your way, O Lord, and I will walk
in your truth’ (Psalm 86:11), in their
echo, ‘He will teach us his ways, so
that we walk in his paths’ (Isaiah 2:3;
Micah 4:2).
These words are introduced in
the context of what Isaiah saw
concerning Judah and Jerusalem,
‘In the last days the mountain of the
Lord’s temple will be established as chief
among the mountains; it will be raised
above the hills and all the nations will
stream to it. Many peoples will come
and say, “Come let is go to the mountain
of the Lord, to the house of the God of
Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that
we may walk in his paths.” The law of
the Lord will go out from Jerusalem.
He will judge between nations and will
settle disputes for many peoples. They
will beat their swords into plough shares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against
nation, nor will they train for war any
more. Come, O house of Jacob, let us

Israel Report
Aftermath of 7 th October
A visit to the Gaza envelope
Having attended the CFI Jerusalem Amuta (charity) AGM, the following day Jacob and Kate Vince
were able to join a small group with Tristan Hall, Director, and Nicolene Swartz, International
Representatives’ Liaison from CFI Jerusalem, to visit some of the locations where the Hamas attacks,
atrocities and kidnappings took place inside Israel, in the Gaza envelope...
Our first stop was Kibbutz
Be’eri where we were met
by a volunteer from Zaka
paramedics and introduced to
a kibbutz member who with his
family had survived the attacks.
After visiting some of the burnt-out
houses where several members had
lost their lives and other members
were kidnapped, we came to the
house of the survivor who was
showing us around. Despite the
house being torched with the
intention of burning them alive,
they survived in their safe room due
to its location next to a bathroom,
hence only minimal combustible
material close by. Seeing the
charred remains of everyday
household items was sorely
distressing but the description
of their family’s escape and the
resilience of this survivor, was truly
inspirational.
We moved on to the Nova festival
site where the photos of victims
were on display. Having exhibited
at Christian festivals, there was
something eerily familiar about such
a site, despite awareness that this
was a secular festival. Across the
site we saw photos of the victims,
then those taken hostage,
and finally of someone
who had rescued several
festival goers, taking them
by car to the
nearby town
of Beersheva,
before he
was captured
and killed
enroute. As
we heard
the story, his
father arrived
beside the photo and described the
honour of knowing that his son died
as a hero rescuing others when he
could have saved himself.
We then travelled to a nearby
compound where 1,400 mostly
burned-out cars caught up in the
conflict were impounded. Seeing
them piled up like a scrap yard,
rust coloured with only one blue
coloured car along the line, was
a reminder of the pile of shoes at
Auschwitz with one red pair among
them. The car that had been used
by the rescuer who
lost his life was there
too. We also saw a car
recognised from the raw
footage screening that
some present had viewed, with the
lampost dent where it ended its
journey as the driver was shot and
killed.
Later we visited a humanitarian
aid project where CFI Jerusalem
delivered items for the many
relocated families who were not
yet able to return to their homes
and learned of the trauma they had
undergone and continue to carry.
This was a most poignant visit and
we left with the distinct sense that
having witnessed the aftermath
and heard from a survivor and a
close relative of one the victims, we
now have a responsibility to share
the reality of this atrocity and its
ongoing effect more widely.
walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah
2:1-5; Micah 4:1-3).
Micah continues by saying, ‘Every
man will sit under their own fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
for the Lord Almighty has spoken’
(Micah 4:4, see also Zechariah 3:10).
May that time come speedily given
the atrocities on 7 th October, .
Micah’s prophecy is followed in his
next chapter by the promised birth
of a future ruler,
‘But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though
you are small among the clans of
Judah, out of you will come a ruler over
Israel, whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times’ (Micah 5:2).
This is repeated in Matthew’s
record (see Matthew 2:6) confirming
the birthplace of Jesus, Israel’s
Messiah and Saviour of the
world. It is Jesus who taught and
encouraged those who follow him
to, “learn from me” (Matthew 11:29).
In these troubled times may we
pray, along with king David and
the answer promised through
Isaiah and Micah, ‘Teach me your
ways O Lord, and I will walk in your
truth’ (Psalm 86:11).
3 rd Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 3

Thanksgiving & Tributes
Derek Chester White
15 th February 1928 – 22 nd May 2024
After being the UK director of the International
Christian Embassy Jerusalem from 1981 to 1985
Derek went on to help found Christian Friends
of Israel in December 1985, and he served as the
Director of CFI UK until the end of May 2001.
Derek’s Thanksgiving
It was a privilege to attend
Derek White’s thanksgiving
service along with many CFI
supporters.
I first met Derek and Grace
some forty years ago upon
being asked by my father to
collect them from Heathrow
airport, having recently passed
my driving test. I duly parked
in the carpark before realising
I had no money for the charge,
consequently, rather embarrassingly, having to ask
them to pay!
My next recollection was meeting Derek when I lived
in Jerusalem. It was during a Christian celebration at
the Feast of Tabernacles, where Derek held the UK flag
on the march around the Old City. Having grown up
at Halford House Christian Fellowship in Richmond,
this was where he and Grace later worshiped, as did I
on my return to the UK
After my moving to administer a Christian Conference
Centre in North Wales, Derek White and Colonel Orde
Dobbie visited to share about founding Christian
Friends of Israel in December 1985.
Later, having moved back south and working as a
chartered surveyor, I was approached by Derek about
an office property, located in the village where I lived,
to which CFI UK were considering relocating; Derek
and Grace having moved to Battle around the time
Tributes for Derek and Grace
Derek was my great friend, spiritual mentor
and fellow elder in Christ.
He was great help and strength to me as a ‘green’ new
pastor in New Malden back in 1974-2000.
He stood by me, encouraged me when I was down,
and was instrumental in helping me receive a real
revelation from the Lord about the place of Israel
and God’s people in the purposes of God. He and I
were elders together in the New Malden Evangelical
Church along with Roy Thurley too. It was good to
work alongside him while he was the director of CFI
UK and before that in the setting up of the ICEJ, UK
branch. He invited me to become a board member of
both organisations which I’m thrilled to say I was able
to participate in for 35 years, until needing to step back
myself due to ill health.
4 ENHANCE • 3 rd Quarter 2024
Derek and Grace White in
Israel. Courtesy: David Greer
of the Millenium. In the event they chose an office
property in Eastbourne.
Upon my taking responsibility as director of CFI UK
in 2010, later renamed chief executive, it was special to
be on the 25th anniversary CFI UK Tour of Israel with
Derek White and, on a free day, accompany him as we
visited by bus from Jerusalem a ministry in Beit Jala,
Bethlehem, that he and I have supported. He attended
several CFI UK annual conferences over the ensuing
years, and I visited him just before his move from
Hailsham, to collect some surplus-to-requirement
Israel-related books for CFI UK’s reference library.
I phoned him a while ago now, when at his new
residence, to discuss a matter and it was a delight to
hear his voice and sense of humour in referring to me,
as we discussed our respective ages, tongue in cheek,
as a young whippersnapper!
As the thanksgiving service concluded, having not
obtained the sound earlier for a video piece, it was
most fitting, finally with sound working, to see and
hear Derek reading so beautifully and poetically from
1 Corinthians 13. His faith and hope are now realised,
so no longer required, but love remains as he unites
with all the saints including his beloved Grace and
their Lord and Saviour Jesus the Messiah, at one with
his and our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit.
Jacob Vince
I owe Derek a great deal and am so thankful to him for
the way he imparted the life of Christ to me in various
ways, through many years. I am grateful to have
known him and served the Lord alongside him. We
were great friends and compatriots serving the Lord
and seeing his kingdom sown in the hearts of many
people. I am sad he is gone from among us but so
thrilled that he is reunited with Michael and Stephen’s
dear mother, Grace, his special wife and supporter and
co-partner in so many aspects of their lives together.
I pray the Lord will comfort us all in this time of grief,
granting a real sense of peace, knowing he is safe in
the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ whom he avidly
and devotedly served throughout his life.
Clive Jones

So thankful for the work and life of Derek White -
a special servant of the Lord in our times.
It is thrilling to remember how Derek revealed God’s eternal plans &
purposes for the people and land of Israel to Christians in the United
Kingdom and around the world. What a legacy he left us today.
On a Saturday, many years back, Derek led a Saturday Bible study
‘Israel day’ in North Cheam Baptist Church, opening up Romans 9,
10 & 11. Understating Israel from the Bible was rare those days. It
was so inspiring, particularly since the birth of Israel in 1948, as there
had been little unpacking of what God had declared of his ongoing
purposes for Israel. Derek with his wife Grace started Christian
Friends of Israel in their front room and then rented an office in Elm
Road New Malden with several volunteers. As nearby to where I
lived, I joined the volunteers after a career in the City of London,
upon taking early retirement, fleshing out an early call on life to help
the people and land of Israel. The CFI UK office walls had hessian
collage created by Meg, a great friend of the late Arthur Wallis, with
life-size figures of the spies entering the Promised Land bearing the
emblem of grapes.
Derek wanted to recruit academic help with writing which John C P
Smith later ably supplied. I could only offer office skills learned from
the old lady of Threadneedle Street, ready-for-anything. Encouraged
by Grace White, I joined the Christian Friends of Israel tour group
for the Shavuot Conference with my companion Mary Pinkess.
Such wonderful times, under the ministry of the late Derek Prince
and Lance Lambert. Praise the Lord that the people and land of
Israel came on the UK stage, through the obedience of Derek and
Grace White.
Eileen Alvis
The founder and greatest friend of Israel was of course
Jesus the Messiah, but he hand-picked Derek and Grace
White, in their near mid-fifties to represent this friendship.
Initially they started and did everything on a shoestring, working at
their dining room table!
I was appointed to the Board of Trustees in March 1993 and worked
closely with each of them sharing in their love for the Lord and his
people Israel, longing to share this with the wider church. They
were faithful indeed. Let us thank God for their acceptance of God’s
calling, for their persisting against much opposition and for such
growth achieved! Much has and is being gained.
We know that the foundations of Jerusalem need to be strong and
deep! May this be so with Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem and
here in the UK. Indeed, the work has prospered throughout the world
for all to see. Let us give thanks to God for them and allowing us to
become part of this planting of the Lord.
Bob Hobbs
STUDIES IN THE FEASTS
This study series by Derek White helps
individuals or groups explore the biblical feasts
in the light of their fulfilment.
When God led the people of Israel out of Egypt
he gave them three major feasts to celebrate:
Passover, Pentecost (Shavuot or Feast of Weeks) and
Tabernacles - to remind them of various stages in their
redemption from slavery.
Available now as a special offer bundle or separately.
SPECIAL OFFER PRICE
3 Volumes £10.00 INCL. UK P&P
call to purchase on 01323 410 810
Studies on the
Feasts Volume I
PASSOVER
BT25 // 32 pages
£5.50 INCL. UK P&P
Studies on the
Feasts Volume II
SHAVUOT
BT27 // 32 pages
£4.50 INCL. UK P&P
Studies on the
Feasts Volume III
TABERNACLES
BT33 // 41 pages
£4.50 INCL. UK P&P
Replacement
Theology
Its origin, history and
theology
BT12 // 32 pages
£4.50 INCL. UK P&P
This booklet addresses replacement thinking
which is still deeply entrenched in the Church,
with disastrous consequences for its relationship
to the Jewish people.
Arabs and God’s
Redemptive
Strategy
BT60 // 28 pages
£4.00 INCL. UK P&P
There is still a general ignorance about believing
Arab communities in Israel and the Palestinian
Authority. God wants us to co-operate with him
in working out his redemptive purposes for both
Jew and Arab at this crucial time in history.
3 rd Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 5

Event Reports
“…we’re so glad to see your
stall here standing with Israel
“…we just need to learn how to answer anti-
Israel push-back from other students
Despite the mud and
changeable weather,
festival goers still came
out in their thousands.
Big Church festival 2024 was in
full swing with music, a multitude
of eateries offering food from all
around the world, and for those
seeking excitement there were
a number of fairground rides to
sample!
The CFI UK resources stall was set
and ready to go. Throughout both
days there was a steady stream
of supporters as well as serious
enquirers. There was a noticeably
high concentration of students
– either already at university or
preparing to go – that intentionally
visited the stall, positively engaging,
some even coming back more than
once. Their main question was
how to counter the antisemitism
in ‘our’ generation. Someone even
said that they were ashamed of
their generation and the position
many have taken against Israel,
even amongst fellow Christians.
Needless to say these courageous
students purchased material to
inform their curiosity and desire
to learn how to be effective in the
current climate. They were hungry
for truth and many times asked for
prayer as they prepared their hearts
for what they may encounter in the
future!
Equally noticeable was the number
of Christians who commented
on their disappointment with
the Church in general and the
fact that many choose not to be
friends of Israel. Instead, they opt
for ‘replacement thinking’. Jacob
was able to share his thoughts on
replacement thinking with many,
who were grateful for the insight.
Beverley serving on the CFI UK stall in the EXPO tent
6 ENHANCE • 3 rd Quarter 2024

Spring Harvest 2024
Week 2 - Report
“…such a good
range of material”
We had visits from a catholic priest
and the Israeli ministry of tourism
also stopped at the stall to have a
lengthy conversation with Jacob,
very pleased with the support
they do receive from Christians.
There was certainly a variety of
individuals that visited the stall
ranging in age and interests.
Perhaps the most impacting was
the fact that there was not one
person who came to the stall with
a negative comment. Considering
the growing antisemitic sentiment
and that such a festival might
attract individuals with wide
ranging opinions and beliefs about
Israel, it was truly a pleasant
surprise! The hand of God was
evident and we are thankful for the
many who faithfully pray for CFI
UK and events such as this.
Overall Big Church Festival 2024
was fruitful on many levels.
There were a good number of
new sign-ups, and a substantial
amount of the resource material
was purchased. All this inspired
positive motivation to continue
to ‘encourage understanding’
among our fellow Christians and
‘challenge prejudice’ wherever and
whenever there is the opportunity.
Beverley Dwyer
As the time drew
nearer to go to Spring
Harvest, I felt anxious,
not knowing what people’s
response would be towards us.
Praise God, he always works things
out for our good. We had such a
great response, lots of people came
to support us regardless of what is
happening at present. Some came to
ask how they could pray for us and
others encouraged us to keep doing
what we are doing.
Despite the rain and windstorms,
the enthusiasm did not stop people
from coming out. We had good
conversations, and many signed up
for our ENHANCE Magazine and
monthly prayer letter. This year
there was an increase of interest
and understanding of Israel in the
Bible and today Jacob was kept busy
answering all the difficult questions,
with others keen to listen in to what
he had to say.
In the end it was better than I
expected. Even though there were
fewer exhibitors this year, everyone
was encouraged by all the attendees
that visited their stalls.
Overall, we thank God that he
blessed us with a great outcome of
people interested in what we had to
share about Israel.
Chantal Paskins
Jacob and Kate Vince ready for the crowds
Early morning conversations about Israel
Reaching out to those with questions
x.com/cfi_uk
facebook.com/cfiuk
youtube.com/cfiuk
3 rd Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 7

Special Event
Pillar of cloud church leaders’ meeting
Challenging replacement thinking
On Tuesday 23 rd April 2024, in light of the atrocities of 7 th October and their aftermath and rising
antisemitism in the UK, a recent invitation-only gathering took place of national Christian leaders.
Sponsored by Lady Susie Sainsbury, it was jointly hosted with Lord Simon Reading and chaired by
Tim Vince. CFI UK’s chief executive Jacob Vince was invited to join a panel of three speakers, each
allocated seven minutes to introduce their respective subjects, with the remaining time allocated
for questions and answers. The following is his presentation.
For most of two thousand years of church
history, Israel as a nation has not been a
visible reality. It was inevitable that as the
gospel went to the world the proportion of Jews
in the church would diminish.
Yet, in terms of the canon of Scripture that the church has
been left with, all was written or overseen by Jews and has a
distinct connection with Israel.
The apostle Paul in his letter to the largely gentile church
at Rome saw the danger of the church losing its connection
with the Jews and wrote two things, don’t be arrogant and
don’t be ignorant. History shows that the church has failed
twice over. Rather than responding with gratitude for Israel’s
role in bringing salvation, by returning the blessing or in
Paul’s word’s ‘provoking Israel to jealousy’, instead, doing the
opposite.
Kendall Soulen in his seminal book The God of Israel and
Christian Theology tracks some of church history leading to
this disconnection, then outlines three kinds of replacement
thinking: punitive, structural and economic.
Punitive
Few today would subscribe to punitive, saying the Jews
are being punished for failure to recognise their Messiah –
noting many did recognise Jesus and responded positively
to the apostles’ teaching. In fact, if God punishes Israel
for any failure, how much more the church through our
history? Indeed, in bringing the world the written text of the
Scriptures, at least in this aspect of their calling, Israel has
clearly succeeded.
Structural
We do however still see structural replacement thinking in
the way the Bible is summarised, starting with Genesis 1 -
creation, Genesis 3 - the fall and then on to Matthew 1 - the
redemption, effectively airbrushing Israel from most of the
Bible. One antidote is to view the Bible in four parts not just
two, the first three used by Jesus (the Hebrew Aramaic bible
of today), recorded in Luke’s biography as Law, Prophets and
Psalms, then adding the final part, the Apostles’ teaching to
which the early church devoted themselves. This shows the
Bible in four seasons running from creation, then corruption,
with God’s response of correction through a whole series of
covenants toward the consummation still to come.
Economic
The third form of replacement thinking, economic, is
also common, which includes such terms as fulfilment or
transference. Essentially Jesus fulfils all the promises made to
Israel and becomes the new Israel, which makes the church as
his body on earth the new Israel, just once removed.
Rather we can note that Jesus physically and specifically
fulfilled all that the Jewish Messiah was to fulfill at that time,
not that which was for others and other events to fulfill,
including his own prediction of the physical destruction of
Jerusalem, or his own physical return which is still awaited.
Jesus does of course ratify all the promises with his ‘yes and
amen’ but does not fulfill them in the way this term is used.
Israel is mentioned over 70 times in the Apostle’s teaching.
An exercise worth trying is to replace Israel with Jesus then
make sense of what is written. It doesn’t work.
The Gospel
So, what about the gospel? Surely this replaces Israel?
Not so.
At the start of his letter to the church at Rome, Paul links
Jesus and the gospel to his, and its, specifically Jewish
heritage,
The gospel of God – the gospel promised beforehand
through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, regarding his
son, who as to his human nature was a descendant from
David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared
with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from
the dead. (Romans 1:2-3).
Paul reiterates this in his final letter to Timothy,
‘Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended
from David. This is my gospel’ (2 Timothy 2:8).
Quite a definition. The gospel includes both. Because of
where we sit in the timeline of God’s revelation, we naturally
see the resurrected universal Jesus as God’s son, but very
often forget to see his Jewish humanity, yes as the son of
Adam, but more specifically, as the son of David. Jesus is with
distinctive Jewish heritage, yet for everyone.
One helpful way is to see Israel as the shadow and the Church
as a reflection. If you take away the shadow or fail to reflect
accurately, then Jesus simply becomes a one dimensional
Sunday school cardboard cutout that we can manipulate how
we want to. We need to see Jesus in all his fulness and show
ongoing appreciation and support for Israel, if nothing more,
as Paul writes, ‘on account of the Patriarchs’.
8 ENHANCE • 3 rd Quarter 2024

Prayer support
Julia Soakell
CFI UK have the huge
privilege of updating
many women who pray
strategically for the nations,
the UK and the Church
under the umbrella of Lydia
International.
One of their mandates is to support
Israel in prayer. Connections
between Lydia and CFI UK go back
many decades with their ties now
stronger than ever, because of those
that have gone before.
Lydia National
Prayer Conference
There has never been a more
important time to support Israel
and her people since the atrocities
by Hamas on 7 th October. Even
though Julia had prepared her
session, being led by the Holy
Spirit, she felt she needed to change
the start, after receiving further
updates on more bodies of hostages
found that weekend. The whole
hall of some one hundred and fifty
attendees, stood and corporately
prayed for the families and friends
of those who had died at the hands
Swanwick Christian Conference Centre Derbyshire
suffered hate and barbarity yet
again, and for them to see the
joy and appreciation on the faces
of those experiencing love from
Christians who are friends of Israel.
The Lydia family are a great
blessing to Israel and to CFI, but
as Julia commented later, ‘Never
have I known such revelation
to come upon a session and the
subsequent prayer times and
conversation afterwards. I sensed
the Holy Spirit had really spoken to
individual hearts of these wise and
At the Lydia National Conference
held at Swanwick Christian
Conference Centre, Derbyshire, in
May 2024, Julia Soakell continued
this tradition in updating those
attending on matters of prayer for
Israel, the Jewish community and
the ministry of Christian Friends of
Israel UK and Jerusalem.
The Lydia Leadership Team set
time aside to hear from the Lord
on their conference themes. This
time they focused on the poetic
verse, ‘The earth is the Lord’s and
everything in it’ (Psalm 24:1). This
fitted perfectly for Julia’s session,
which she developed into, ‘the
land of Israel is the Lord’s and
everything in it.’
of Hamas terrorists and for those
involved in repatriating them to
their loved ones.
The session then focused on the
need for healing of the grief and
trauma experienced since the
massacre and war that ensued,
including those displaced, some
who have approached the CFI
Jerusalem team, and the many
opportunities the Lord is giving
to minister to the citizens of Israel
at this terrible time. We offered
prayer for the children in Israel and
the children in Gaza too.
It was such an insight for many to
see the individual members of the
CFI Jerusalem team befriending
displaced families, helping comfort
Holocaust survivors who had
committed women of prayer. The
urgency of prayer for Israel at this
time of war was amazing. It was
encouraging to see the response
afterwards, with many seeking
more involvement and wanting to
know where to receive strategic
prayer updates. What a time to
have the role of CFI UK Prayer
Encouragement across the UK!’
Julia has since received several
requests within Lydia to encourage
prayer and support for Israel at this
crucial time. We give thanks for
the Lord’s enabling and equipping
of the saints to stand and keep
standing through these dark days
when undoubtably, there is much
still to come and many glimmers of
light still to shine through.
3 rd Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 9

HEBREW WORD FOCUS
Melissa Briggs MA
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Melissa is an experienced Hebrew
teacher with a desire to make the
rich language of the Scriptures
accessible to Christians.
Visit: www.explorehebrew.co.uk
Free to be family
Redeemer
ּ ‏ֵאֵ‏ ל
Go’el
“But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for
I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine!’” (Isaiah 43:1)
It’s more difficult for those who do not see
themselves as a slave to value an offer of
freedom. All of us, apart from the Lord, are
under the power of sin and death and in need of
rescue.
If you grew up in Sunday school, sometimes words
like “Redeemer” sound so familiar. Yet, we can
struggle to know what they actually mean for our real
walk with God.
The Hebrew word for “Redeemer” is ‏ֵאֵ‏ ל [Go’el]. ‏ֹּגּ‏ It is a
form of the Hebrew verb Ga’al – ‏ָּגּ‏ ‏ַאַ‏ ל to redeem – which
means to “buy back.” Other words in this same family
of Hebrew words, with shared root letters, include
“redemption” – ‏ְּגּ‏ ‏ֻא ‏ָּלּ‏ ה ֻ ge’ulah and the verb meaning “to
be redeemed/bought back/rescued” – ‏ְגְ‏ ‏ַאַ‏ ל ‏.‏nig’al‏ִנִ‏
The necessity of redemption is a hugely significant
theme woven throughout the breadth of the Bible.
We encounter the concept of “Go’el” in the book of
Leviticus, that a person can be “bought back” out of
slavery. It reads,
“If a foreigner residing among you becomes
rich and any of your fellow Israelites
become poor and sell[s] themselves to the
foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s
clan, they retain the right of redemption
after they have sold themselves. One of
their relatives may redeem them: An uncle or a cousin or
any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they
prosper, they may redeem themselves.” (Leviticus 25:47–
49)
This is wonderful news! Even if you found yourself
destitute and sold into slavery, there is the possibility
for a family member to “buy back your freedom” –
you are not left hopeless or helpless.
We see this concept of a Go’el, “Kinsman Redeemer,”
beautifully played out in the book of Ruth. Ruth
and her mother-in-law Naomi are widowed and
poverty-stricken, but all hope is not lost. A relative
of Naomi, Boaz, takes compassion on Ruth, and in
accordance with the laws of Leviticus, he redeems her
and marries her. This is actually the lineage of Jesus
the Messiah, because Ruth became King David’s great
grandmother!
In the book of Ruth we read, ‘The women said to Naomi:
“Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you
without a Go’el. May he become famous throughout Israel!
He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For
your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to
10 ENHANCE • 3 rd Quarter 2024
I have called
you by name
you than seven sons, has given him birth.”’ (Ruth 4:14–15)
Sometimes, based on our modern, western worldview,
we can mistakenly view “freedom” as independence
from anyone else. However, Boaz did not just redeem
Ruth and then abandon her or send her off on her own.
Rather, the redemption was the beginning of their
intimate union and family life. Biblically, a Kinsman
Redeemer, like Boaz, “buys back” their destitute,
estranged relative to “belong” to the family again and
to be under their care. This is a beautiful picture of
what Jesus has done to bring us into right relationship
with our Heavenly Father!
We also see this concept of Go’el in Exodus, where
God chooses to save and redeem the Hebrew people
from their slavery in Egypt, “Say, therefore, to the sons of
Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under
the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from
their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched
arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for my
people, and I will be your God.’” (Exodus 6:6–7)
Again and again, throughout Jewish
history, the Lord acted as their Go’el,
buying Israel back out of slavery.
“So he became their Saviour. In all their
affliction he was afflicted, and the Angel of
his presence saved them. In his love and in
his mercy he redeemed them and he lifted
them and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:8–9)
From the pages of the Old Testament we are promised
that the coming Messiah would be a special kind of
Go’el. Both fully God and fully man, Jesus was sinless
in every way. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice to be able
to accomplish our full redemption once and for all,
and to even conquer death, the consequence of sin, in
the process (see 1 Peter 1:18-20).
Do we realise our own inability to “redeem” ourselves
through effort or good works? It is impossible to be
“righteous enough” by our own merit. Our freedom
is directly linked to the redemption by Jesus as our
“Go’el”. Now, if we have accepted his free gift of
salvation, we belong to him – for we were bought at a
price.
Jesus paid the full price for our redemption – now we
are free indeed in the Messiah!
“As for me, I know that my Go’el lives, and at the last he
will take his stand on the earth!” (Job 19:25).
MELISSA’S NEW LEVEL 2 VIDEO COURSE IS NOW AVAILABLE! If
you are interested in learning Biblical or Modern Hebrew, please
contact Melissa for more details at: www.explorehebrew.co.uk

Special report
Rescued!
On Saturday 8 th June, the
Israel Defence Forces
rescued four Israeli
hostages from two separate
buildings in the crowded
Nuseirat refugee camp in the
Gaza Strip.
Their spokesman, Daniel Hagari,
described it as a high-risk,
complex mission, based on precise
intelligence, and conducted in
daylight. It was carried out by
members of Yamam, a counterterrorism
unit in the Israel Border
Police, and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal
security intelligence agency.
The four rescued hostages are Noa
Argamani (26), Almog Meir Jan (21),
Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi
Ziv (40). Noa is the best known of
the four because of video footage
showing her abduction from the
Nova music festival. She was held
in the home of the Abu Nars family,
Noa Argamani reunited with father Yakov (IDF)
which had links to Hamas, while
the other three were held about 200
metres away in the family home
of Dr Ahmad Aljamal, a general
practitioner and imam. This made
the rescue more challenging as both
locations had to be raided at the
same time, to avoid the sound of
gunfire alerting the terrorists in the
other building.
Two teams of rescuers managed
to enter the refugee camp about a
week before, disguised as refugees
and speaking Arabic. A second
Hostage Shlomi Ziv reunited with family
group arrived in trucks filled with
furniture on the morning of the
rescue, also disguised as refugees.
At 11am they started to move
towards the two homes containing
the hostages, and attacked both
about 25 minutes later.
Almog Meir Jan hugs his mum (IDF)
Noa’s rescue went relatively
smoothly, with her guards
completely surprised and quickly
eliminated. But the second attack
met fierce resistance and the leader
of the Israeli team was fatally
wounded almost immediately.
Nevertheless, the guards were
overcome and Almog, Andrey, and
Shlomi were extracted from the
building under fire. It was then
that things went badly wrong, with
the rescue vehicle disabled in the
storm of fire that came from many
terrorists in the area.
So, the contingency plan swung
into operation, with Israeli aircraft
Shlomi Ziv kisses his tearful family (IDF)
Yoav Gallant approving the operation
attacking the surrounding terrorists
in combination with artillery fire to
form a protective shield around the
hostages and their rescuers.
About noon a replacement rescue
vehicle arrived but it too was
damaged in the firefight raging
to prevent the escape. According
to the Daily Mail, it was not until
about 1:15pm that a third vehicle
arrived and enabled the rescuers to
withdraw from the refugee camp
with the three hostages and get
to the rendezvous point with a
helicopter to fly them back to Israel.
Andrey Kozlov disembarking the rescue helicopter
The intensity of that battle to save
hostages and rescuers meant that
the joy in Israel over a successful
rescue mission was in marked
contrast to the reaction around
the world. The Hamas health
ministry reported that as many as
270 Gazans died in the fighting and
almost 700 were injured, making
the rescue very costly. However,
as usual, Hamas gave no indication
of how many terrorists featured
in those numbers. The Israelis
estimated the number of deaths was
around 100 and claimed most of
them were terrorists.
So, despite precise intelligence,
meticulous planning and weeks
of preparations, this daring rescue
operation came very close to
disaster and did little to raise hopes
of further rescue missions. But it
was the first piece of really good
news for Israelis since the rescue of
two other hostages in February.
3 rd Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 11

Resources www.cfi.org.uk/shop.php
For resources call: 01323 410 810
Postal savings on multiple items
DWELL IN THE LAND – 2024/25 – GALILEE CALENDAR COMPANY
16-month Hebraic Heritage Calendar featuring a photo selection of biblical Israel.
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C45 // 14 PHOTOS // £12.00 (INCL. UK P&P)
NOW EVERYTHING CHANGES – STEVE MALTZ
One Man’s Search for Truth in a World Gone Mad.
Part One is a story of our times. Derek Courtney is flummoxed by all that he sees and hears regarding the
reaction to the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. As a fair-minded quiet Englishman, he is curiously
motivated to find out exactly what is going on.
Part Two examines the implications and relevance of Derek’s journey to our current lives and makes some
startling discoveries that will affect the way that the world is viewed.
B546 // 145 PAGES // £12.00 (INCL. UK P&P)
UNDERSTANDING THE JEWISH ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITY – EDITED BY GERALD MCDERMOTT
The question of how Jesus’ followers relate to Judaism has been a matter of debate since Jesus first sparred
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B547 // 271 PAGES // £22.50 (INCL. UK P&P)
WHOSE LAND? – PART TWO – HUGH KITSON; PRESENTED BY COLONEL RICHARD KEMP CBE
Today’s propaganda war is aimed at de-legitimising the existence of the Jewish State and it’s right of
domicile in its historic homeland. At the heart of this war is the rewriting of history and ‘lawfare’ - the
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In this second part of Whose Land? series, entitled ‘The Law of Occupation and the Status of Jerusalem’, a
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D161 // 2 DISC DVD - 3hrs 50mins // £22.00 (INCL. UK P&P)
THE LAND WHERE JESUS LIVED – WHAT WAS IT CALLED? 2ND EDITION – JACOB VINCE
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BT97 // 26 PAGES // £4.50 (INCL. UK P&P)
CFI UK plan to exhibit at the following live events
Mon 22 nd July — Thur 25 th July 2024
Gordon Castle Estate Fochabers Village
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, IV32 7PQ
Grange-de-Lings,
Lincoln, LN2 2NA
1 – 4 August 2024
Royal Cornwall Events Centre, Wadebridge
CRE Milton Keynes
9–10 October 2024
Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
Contact: CFI Communications, PO Box 2687, Eastbourne, BN22 7LZ
Tel: 01323 410810 Email: info@cfi.org.uk Web: www.cfi.org.uk
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