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✡ Partnerships Helping Jews return 49

When the Lord scattered the people of
Israel into ‘all the nations’ (Luke 21:24)
it was truly extensive. Even in far-flung
Malaysia, for example, there is an old
Jewish cemetery, with gravestones
bearing witness to a former Jewish
community there.
The Lord God of Israel, who was
faithful in carrying out his threatened
promise of judgment and dispersal
to the Jewish people because of their
consistent disobedience, is now, by
his grace, being equally faithful and
thorough in carrying out his promise to
gather them from every nation (Psalm
102:13; Isaiah 54:7-8).
Nearer to home, the attacks against
Jewish people in Paris not only shocked or over 26 years, Christians Care International (formerly known
France but the whole of Europe. In the as 49:22TRUST) has been bringing together Christians from around
past two years we helped more than 500
make ALIYAH from France. Fthe world to raise up impoverished Jews to God by giving their lives
We have seen an increase from restored hope and meaning.
Germany, where we have established The ministry was started in 1991 back to their Homeland of Israel: “This
a joint office with the Jewish Agency, after Phil and Norma Hunter, found- is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘See,
and the first ALIYAH flight from Italy ers of a Christian coach company, both I will beckon to the nations, I will lift
in July 2015. Meanwhile, our teams in heard God’s call to use their fleet of up my banner to the peoples, they will
Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and buses to help Jewish people from the bring your sons in their arms and carry
Switzerland also assist Jewish families Soviet Union. Over the next 17 years your daughters on their shoulders,’”
to go to Israel in co-operation with the the ministry, at that time called ‘Exobus (Isaiah 49:22).
Jewish Agency. Project’, helped thousands of Jewish In 2008, as he was renaming the
As global events are unfolding people living in isolated regions. The ministry as ‘49:22 TRUST’ in recognition
quickly so is the urgency to build aware- ministry provided safe bus transporta- of this Scripture, Phil Hunter suddenly
ness in the Church. We proclaim God’s tion to major airports so that they could passed away. The family then invited
kingdom purposes regarding ALIYAH, fly to Israel to make ALIYAH at a time Don Horwitz, a Jewish film-maker who
the restoration of Israel and the Lord’s when local infrastructure and vehicles was producing documentaries for the
return, as well as exposing replacement were not up to the task. ministry, to take over the leadership. Be-
theology, anti-Semitism and arrogance Phil and Norma’s infectious faith, fore his untimely death, Phil had become
in the Church towards Israel. enthusiasm and love for the Jewish a father figure in Don’s life, teaching him
The Church needs to be in line with people inspired many to play vital roles more about Judaism than he had learned
God’s heart. It is he, the God of Israel, in this God-given mission. The ministry from his own family.
who is calling the Jewish people back also assembled volunteer groups called Don does not believe it was a co-
to their own land: “And the nations ‘fishers’ who would go out and meet incidence that brought him to Phil; he
shall know that I am the LORD,” says with lost Jews who had been stripped of believes that it was God who led him
the LORD GOD, “when I am hallowed their heritage following years of Soviet to lead the ministry. Don epitomises
in you before their eyes,” (Ezekiel domination. The ‘fishers’ spoke about the necessity for Christians and Jews
36:23). God’s unconditional love for the Jewish to work together in order to fulfil the
This is not for Israel’s sake but for people, his promises in the TANAKH 3 calling of Isaiah 49:22.
the glory of God’s name as he manifests and the right that they had as Jews to Today, Christians Care Internation-
his holiness through them in the sight move to Israel. al defines ALIYAH in two ways – rising
of the nations. From the beginning of the ministry up to Israel; and rising up as a person.
up to the present day, Christians Care To ensure a successful ALIYAH for the
International’s mission has always been repressed Jews of the former Soviet Un-
1. ALIYAH ( ) is the Hebrew word used for defined by a promise which God gave to ion, CCI provides an array of services,
immigration to the Land of Israel. It literally the Jewish people in the book of Isaiah: including its own children’s home, spe-
means ‘going up’, and is also applied to going up that he would call upon the Gentile na- cial education centres, vocational train-
to Jerusalem and being called up to read from
the TORAH scroll in a synagogue. It is the last tions to raise them up and bring them ing programmes and senior centres.
word in the TANAKH (‘Old Testament’) in the As a result, the ministry’s innovative
Hebrew Bible (2 Chronicles 36:23) programmes have helped over 87,000
2. OLIM ( ) is the Hebrew word for immi- Adam Raffell is Director of Jews to make ALIYAH, rehabilitated
grants. The singular is OLEH (m) or OLAH (f) Ministry Development at
Christians Care International, and treated over 1,700 Jewish orphans
3. Eg Isaiah 11:11-12; 43:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11-14; formerly 49:22TRUST, which and saved the lives of thousands of suf-
31:7-10; Ezekiel 11:16-17; ch36-37; Amos 9:14-15
and many others he joined in 2008. fering Jewish people.