Untitled - Friends of Israel

“Some years ago when
the Jewish people were
so mercilessly persecuted
by Hitler, like so many
other Christians, I felt
keenly about their
tragedy. I knew from the
beginning that Hitler had
sealed his own doom the
moment he started his wicked
mistreatment of the Jews, because
God said to Abraham, ’I will bless
them that bless thee and curse him
that curseth thee.’ So when in1938
I was asked to become the President
of The Friends of Israel, in order to
show practical Christian love to the
Jewish people, and to be a witness
for the Messiah, I gladly consented.
For the past 18 years the Lord has in
a marvelous way used The Friends
of Israel to bring physical help, and
above all, spiritual comfort, to the
Jewish people in every part
of the world.”
– Joseph Steele,
First President,
The Friends of Israel, 1956
Dr. Victor Buksbazen,
First Executive Director, The Friends of Israel, 1943
•
T H E F R I E N D S O F I S R A E L G O S P E L M I N I S T R Y, I N C .
•
75TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER, MAY 30, 2013
Board ofTrustees and Staff
• BOARD OF TRUSTEES •
Daniel L. Anderson
W. Sherrill Babb
Raymond Bayne
David R. Benner
Scott C. Daley
James P. MacLean, Chair
Laurence H. Murray, Vice Chair
Philip G. Brodsky, Secretary
Elwood McQuaid
Kenneth W. Murray
Charles Scheide
James Showers
William E. Sutter
• ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF •
Administration
Headquarters Staff
James Showers
Joan Adams
Katie Annise
David Berry
Denise Broomall
Melissa DiLiberto
Kimberly Ellis
Thomas Gallione
Sharon Goodrow
Jeanne Green
Lisa Grosso
Lindsay Harrison
Timothy Harrison
Alice Herzig
Walter Homan
Aaron Ingala
Elizabeth Johnson
Israel "Jake" Massincaud
Cathy Miles
Jamie Parks
Anna Pearson
Heidi Petzitillo
Heather Rameriz
Robert Rayburn
Elizabeth Rayburn
Martha Repetti
Sonja Rentschler
Renald Showers
Executive Director/President
Steve Conover
Director of Media Ministries
Thomas Geoghan
Vice President of Ministry
Advancement
Steve Herzig
Director of North American
Ministries
Clarence Johnson
Director of Institute of Jewish Studies
David Levy
Director of International
Ministries
Charles McCracken
Canadian Director
Daniel Pearson
Director of Information Technology
Lorna Simcox
Editor-in-Chief
Lisa Small
Director of Publications
John Wilcox
Chief Financial Officer
Clarence Stubbs
Diana Veasey
William Ward
Thomas Williams
North American Ministries
Laura Coleman
Peter Colon
Jonathan Craft
Andrew Ferrier
Charles Furrow
Robert Johnessee
Christopher Katulka
Chad Mills
Nathan Montgomery
Timothy Munger
Lee Nall
Patrick Neff
Bonnie Pearson
Jesse Pincus
Irvin Rifkin
Fred Schweig
Bruce Scott
Thomas Simcox
Mitchel Triestman
Martin Wolf
International Ministries
Anna Bialecka-Pluta
Waldemar Bolkowski
Hanya Cieslar
Alfredo Espinoza
Asunta Espinoza
Juan Carlos Espinoza
Susan Ferguson
Meno Kalisher
Zvi Kalisher
Rosemarie King
Jack Kurtz
Beverly Levy
Lech Macieszcazk
Jean Massincaud
Karen McDowell
John McKim
Larry Mitchell
Halina Ostik
Timothy Rabinek
Catherine Seeley
Olga Smilovici
Kevin Vigus
Deane Woods
Ministry Advancement
Robert Duarte
H. LeRoy Gardner
Deborah Helbig
Harold Summers
•
We Were Born inResponse
to the Horrors of the Holocaust.
6
Auschwitz Concentration and Extermination Camp
THE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL (FOI)
Timeline of Major Events: 1938–2013
1938
In the Beginning,
God...
It was 1938, and
a godly group of
pastors and businessmen meet in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, burdened
by God to form a Christian ministry
dedicated to becoming a voice of hope
and comfort to Jewish people fleeing
the horrors of the Holocaust. These
men heed the words of Isaiah 40:1–2,
In a coordinated attack on
November 9, 1938, German citizens and Nazi Storm Troopers
burned down synagogues,
destroyed businesses, and
targeted Jewish homes and
Jewish people in the Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass).
The attacks would unveil the
Nazi policy of stripping all rights
from Jewish people who, unless
they escaped, soon would
become victims of the Holocaust.
“‘Comfort, yes, comfort My people!’
says your God. ‘Speak comfort to
Jerusalem.’” With the Lord’s guidance,
they form The Friends of Israel Refugee
Relief Committee to provide tangible
assistance to Jewish families escaping
from Europe to the United States.
On December 1, 1938, the first gift
from a Christian friend arrives at the
office of The Friends of Israel Refugee
Relief Committee, located in the Witherspoon Building in Philadelphia. Born at
a time of great distress, when death
hung ominously over all of European
Jewry, The Friends of Israel, under
God’s guidance, becomes an instrument of blessing and Christian service
December 1, 1938:
The Friends of Israel Refugee
Relief Committee founded
1938
1938: FOI Headquarters
established in Witherspoon
Building on Walnut Street
in Philadelphia
1938: Joseph Steele,
one of the founders,
appointed first FOI
president
that would literally reach to the uttermost parts of the earth.
1940
7
“If I may be permitted a
As Jewish People Are inNeed Around theWorld,
The Friends of Israel Mobilizes toOffer Help!
personal note, I would
like to add that the Jewish
tragedy in Europe has
been particularly heartrending....
“Gloomy as this Jewish
reality may be, we are not
without hope, and that
because of the precious
promises of God concerning
His Chosen People.
No Hitler will ever
prevail against them.”
My beloved mother,
most of my friends and
relatives, died there a
cruel death. Of the vast
Jewish population,
amounting to about seven
million that lived in Europe
8
before the war, there are
only about two or three
million left alive, and they
are broken physically and
spiritually.”
– Victor Buksbazen, 1943
1942: Name changes
to “The Friends of
Israel Missionary and
Relief Society, Inc.”
1942
1942: First issue of
Israel My Glory
(IMG) magazine
published
1943: Victor
Buksbazen
joins FOI as first
executive director
1943
1947: First FOI
field representatives,
Mr. and Mrs. Roger
Allison
1947
1948: Rebirth
of the nation
of Israel and
FOI celebrates
10th anniversary
1948
1949: They Looked
for a City first
appears in IMG
1949
1951: First FOI
radio broadcast,
station HCJB, Ecuador,
South America
1951
VICTOR BUKSBAZEN TELLS JEWISH REFUGEES DURING A TRIP TO POLAND IN 1947:
“Every one of you is a living miracle.”
9
ONE REFUGEE REPLIED:
“No, sir, you are mistaken.
We are each of us a collection of miracles.
One miracle was not enough to survive.
We needed hundreds of them.”
In the early years, FOI provided
much needed practical support of
food and clothing for displaced Jewish
families fleeing oppression in Europe.
1953: FOI
takes on field
representative
in India
1953
1955: FOI
begins
ministry in
Argentina
1955
1958: They
Looked for a City
starts filming in
Europe
1958
1959: “Joel
of Jerusalem”
first appears
in IMG
1959
25
YEARS
1960: A growing
FOI moves to
Chestnut Street in
Philadelphia
1960
1962: FOI ministry
in Melbourne,
Australia, begins
with a prayer
meeting
1962
1963: FOI
marks 25 years
of ministry
1963
1965: IMG
runs its first
color cover
1965
1969: They
Looked for a
City published
in Spanish and
Hebrew
1969
Building for More Effective Ministry
Growing Literally All Around the Globe.
10
Artist’s rendition
of proposed International
Heaquarters building.
1971: Field representative Julio A.
Espinoza joins
FOI in Argentina
1971
1972: Victor
Buksbazen retires
after 30 years
with FOI
1972
1973: Rev. Marvin
Rosenthal named
second executive
director in FOI history
1973
1973: FOI Headquarters
relocates to White Horse
Pike in Collingswood,
New Jersey
1973: First use
of artwork on
cover of IMG
1974: FOI name
changes to “The
Friends of Israel
Gospel Ministry, Inc.”
1974
1977: First FOI
Up to Jerusalem
tour to Israel
1977
“You said, ‘Please
come in.’ And I did
just that, not knowing
exactly why. I couldn’t
understand what was
happening to me.
Then I got the impression that you really
cared about me – that
I was not just another
case but a human
being with a physical
burden and that I
could be relieved
of once and for all.
She sobbed.”
11
– from a letter written by a
patient of Drs. Alfredo and
Asunta Espinoza at The
Friends of Israel Medical
Clinic, Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
50
Dr. Elwood McQuaid
planting a tree in Israel
YEARS
1982: FOI
Medical Clinic
opens in
Argentina
1982
1986: FOI
launches Institute
of Biblical Studies
(IBS)
1986
1987: Dedication of new International Headquarters building
on FOI’s 138-acre campus in
Deptford Township, New Jersey
1987
1988: FOI
celebrates
50 years of
ministry
1988
1989: Marv Rosenthal
completes his ministry
as executive director
1989
1989: Dr. Elwood
McQuaid named
FOI’s third executive
director
1989: Thank
God for Israel
programs
expand
Now MoreThan Ever Before,
theWorld NeedsVoices Speaking Truth
About Israel and the Messiah.
Israel My Glory magazine’s circulation tops
180,000 as it expands into 137 countries.
The Friends of Israel launches the FOI radio
ministry. The first Friends of Israel website is
created. The Institute of Biblical Studies partners with Philadelphia College of Bible. The
publications ministry of The Friends of Israel is
enhanced and expanded.
12
1990: FOI
enlarges the
ministry in
Australia
1990
1990: FOI
launches weeklong
Bible-prophecy
conference ministry
1991: Name
changes from
“Joel of Jerusalem”
to “Zvi” in IMG
1991
1991: FOI radio
ministry with host
Elwood McQuaid
begins airing
1992: FOI begins establishing relationships with
Jewish national leaders
and Israeli government
officials
1992
1996: IBS relocates to
Philadelphia Biblical
University campus, with
the name Institute of
Jewish Studies (IJS)
1996
1996: Website
www.foi.org
launched
Unprecedented
relationships in
Christian work are
forged with Jewish
leaders in America
and Israel. A new,
6,000-squarefoot Ministry Resource Center is
constructed on the Deptford campus to accommodate the growing
literature ministry. The Institute of
Jewish Studies transitions from an
on-campus program to an online
study program that spans the
globe. A new, expanded website,
www.foi.org, is designed to handle
the growing demands of an everexpanding ministry. Israel My
Glory’s circulation grows to
200,000 in 154 countries, reaching all the way to Antarctica!
1998: National
Bible-prophecy
conference ministry
expands to Winona
Lake, Indiana
1998
1999: FOI
Gospel Ministry,
Inc. established
in Canada
1999
2000: Zvi, The Miraculous
Story of Triumph Over
the Holocaust by Elwood
McQuaid published.
2000
2001: Elwood
McQuaid retires
as executive
director
2001
2001: Rev. Bill
Sutter named as
fourth executive
director
2001: FOI
Medical Clinic’s
new property
dedicated in
Argentina
2002: FOI begins
working with the
Jewish community
on events to support
Israel
2002
13
God Calls Us to Be Faithful.
We Pledge to Answer His Call...Every Day!
14
2003: FOI begins
regional Day in the
Prophetic Word Bibleteaching ministry
2003
2003: Ministry
Resource Center
built and
dedicated
2003: Thank God
for Israel programs
invited into Jewish
venues
2006: Origins
young-adult volunteer service ministry
to Israel launched
2006
2009: FOI honored as
“BEST CHRISTIAN WORKPLACE”
by Christian Leadership
Alliance
2009
2009: IJS transitions
to a worldwide, online
education program
2011: IMG
launches first
digital edition
2011
Celebrating 75Years
of God’s Faithfulness
Today at The Friends of Israel
Victor Buksbazen’s vision and leadership laid the foundation
and set the course for those who would succeed him.
Since Israel’s rebirth, The Friends of Israel has been a
premier voice of support both inside and outside the Jewish
state. In almost all aspects of the ministry, God has
blessed The Friends of Israel with positive, warm relationships with Israeli officials at all levels. And as the situation
in the Middle East and America deteriorates and anti-Semitism and hatred toward Israel grow, the bond between The
Friends of Israel and the Jewish community grows stronger.
Jewish people who once believed most Christians only
thought of them as “Christ killers” have seen, through
The Friends of Israel, that there are Christians who are true,
unshakable friends of Israel and the Jewish people.
Into the New Millennium
W
Our publications and media resources remain
relevant and current, covering prophetic
developments and helping to promote reasoned
dialogue and biblical truth around the globe.
2012: Hesed Project
adult-volunteer service
ministry to Israel
established
2012
2012: Bill Sutter
retires as executive
director
2012: Dr. Jim
Showers named
as fifth executive
director
2012: Redesigned
and enhanced
www.foi.org
website launched
e once said The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry had
workers in seven countries. At the time it was a worthy
accomplishment. But as we lay down the 75th marker on
our years of service, that number has grown exponentially.
Today, through staff, technology, and print resources,
there is virtually no country in the world The Friends of
Israel cannot reach with ministry tools for growth and
education.
The Friends of Israel will continue to stand with Israel and
the Jewish people, providing aid, support, and love to the
apple of God’s eye the world over. Proclaiming the biblical
truth of Israel and the Messiah to each new generation is a
vital calling of The Friends of Israel ministry.
Our greatest joy comes from sharing with all who will
hear the message of the transforming power of life eternal
through faith in the Messiah.
2013: FOI celebrates
75 years of God’s
faithfulness
in ministry
2013
15
Our Mission:
“The Friends of Israel is a worldwide Christian ministry
communicating biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah,
while fostering solidarity with the Jewish people.”
The Friends of Israel
P.O. Box 908, Bellmawr, NJ 08099
800-257-7843 USA
•
www.foi.org