Page 13 - Bridges For Peace Continuing Ed Module 1

hand-in-hand with BFP’s growing understanding of the needs of immigrants.
Many families came to the Outreach Center to receive food assistance. The
newest immigrants received a welcome basket containing badly needed kitchen
utensils, pots and pans, blankets, and other necessities. Often during their initial
interview, however, on-going critical needs, such as serious health issues or lack
of a provider for the family, were revealed. From this awareness grew the
Adoption Program, through which Christians could support an immigrant family
for a year. Food and other necessities, such as bus passes, were provided while
the Hebrew language was learned, employment secured, and the family became
ready to function on its own. The Home Repair Program brought Christian
volunteers into the homes of the needy and elderly to paint, repair plumbing and
wiring, put up handrails, or whatever else was needed.

With the advent of the Second Intifada in 2000, the needs of the less fortunate in
Israel sky-rocketed. Tourism, one of Israel’s primary sources of revenue,
dwindled to a mere trickle, nearly devastating the economy. Hotels, restaurants,
and other venues that depended on income from tourism were forced to close,
and parking lots once teeming with tour buses stood empty. BFP was again in a
position to be a vehicle of support to the Jewish people. In addition to increasing
food distribution and adoption, special gifts were delivered to victims of terror and
sheva baskets to the families of those who were killed in terror attacks. At the
same time, BFP tours and special events drew the attention of Israelis as well as
the worldwide Jewish community as evangelical Christians were brought to the
Land when no one else would come. This sent a resounding message to Israel
that her new-found Christian friends were willing to stand with her no matter
what.

As poverty rose throughout the country, the Adopt an Israeli Town Program
allowed Christians to supply food to needy families, not just in Jerusalem, but in
greater Israel as well. The Feed a Child Program came in direct response to a
tremendous need among poor Israeli school children for school supplies, hot
lunches, tutoring, and summer programs that would afford them the same
educational foundation as other children.

Christian Efforts Noticed

The efforts of BFP and other Christian organizations on behalf of Israel began to
get the attention of Israeli leadership, as well as Jewish leaders around the world.
The concept of Christians as good friends was understandably a new and difficult
one for many Jewish people, but the evidence continued to mount that there
were Christians with no hidden agenda or ulterior motive, Christians who were
extending a hand of unconditional friendship to the Jewish people who had too
long suffered the pain and destruction of Christian anti-Semitism. These were
Christians who knew they could not change the past, but were committed to a
future of respectful, legitimate relationships with Jewish people around the world
and a future that demanded Christian support for the nation of Israel.