JEWISH WORLD

grateful to CUFI for is my trip to Israel with the Bonhoeffer fellow- ship of 2019. Being able to see the security fence in person, interact with the people I advocate for, and walk where Jesus walked all strengthened my relationship with God and gave me a deeper love and drive for what we do,” she said. C UFI also draws strength from its support across the country by individual churches and pas- tors. This is evidenced each year (in pre-COVID times) when it brings thousands of supporters to Washington, D.C., for its annual conference, where they lobby members of Congress on issues important for Israel. Pastor Jay Bailey, the lead pas- tor of Solid Rock Church in Columbus, Ga., and Georgia State Director for CUFI, affirmed to JNS that the organization draws its power from its people. “With every passing year, the CUFI Leadership and their highly skilled team launch new initia- tives, undertake bold and innova- tive projects, produce new resources, inspire people young and old alike, and challenge thought leaders and political influ- encers to take up the mantle and join the cause,” he said. Bailey, who originally hails from Jamaica and Canada, and has served at Solid Rock Church for 18 years, said he has been involved with CUFI since 2010. “Support for Israel is both a head and heart exercise for me. It is morally right to stand with Israel and her people. For me, there is no equivocation to this conviction. The Bible mandates that we love and honor Israel, and in doing so, we are honoring God and His eter- nal Word,” he said. In particular, Bailey noted that his close work with the Jewish community in Georgia has been most the fruitful part of his experi- ence with CUFI. “The relationships that have been forged, especially with the Jewish community, have been deeply meaningful and fulfilling. What has been particularly special to experience has been the recep- tivity of the Jewish people,” he said, adding that he himself has Jewish ancestry with his seventh great-grandfather on his father’s side serving as the first chief rabbi of England. Bailey said with rising anti- Semitism in the United States, cou- pled with the challenges Jewish and pro-Israel students face on campus, the work CUFI does is more critical than ever. “We are also seeing ever-increas- ing threats against the nation of Israel from sovereign states who desire to wipe Israel from the face of the earth,” he stressed. “These threats are real and pose an existen- tial threat to Israel and the United States.” “The challenge is clear: It is noble, it is right, and it summons us to embrace it. CUFI will do what CUFI always does when faced with a challenge. We accept it, and then we rise above it,” said Bailey. “This is why there are over 10 million members who are a part of this fam- ily, and as for me and my house- hold, we will support CUFI.” Y et the group’s success has not come without its challenges. In particular, Christian support for Israel has not always been a given, and that very support has not always been warmly received by the Jewish community. Versions of Christian Zionism in America can be traced back to colo- nial times with Puritans like with Roger Williams, the founder of the colony of Rhode Island, or President John Adams. However, the modern movement of Christian support for Israel in the United States and the United Kingdom emerged in the late 19th century when leaders such as Lord Shaftesbury and William Eugene Blackstone helped shape the move- ment’s policies in their respective countries. Hagee explained that “Christian Zionism today is more organized and is now a far more Biblically lit- erate community than ever before. The movement today is stronger than ever, but we are working aggressively to make it even stronger.” But it wasn’t always easy to gar- ner Christian support for Israel. For most of Christian history, the teach- ing of replacement theology, which argues that the Christian church has replaced Israel and the Jewish peo- ple regarding the plan, purpose and promises of God, has been the dom- inant teaching. Hagee, now 80, initially faced pushback from other Christians regarding his ministry’s support for Israel — his Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, in addition to his fam- ily, was threatened by violence that included bomb threats and smashed windows during his early days prior to founding CUFI. “CUFI’s primary focus is educa- tion, and we’ve seen a real increase in Christians’ understanding our Biblical mandate to stand with Israel and the Jewish people,” he said. “Likewise, though it remains a potent threat, we’re making strides in beating back Replacement Theology and teaching the American Christian community about the dangers of this anti- Semitic school of thought.” “I won’t use the word ‘proud’ because the glory for CUFI’s success is only for God, who sees our obedience.” Zionism continued from page 5 Christians United for Israel founder and chairman Pastor John Hagee delivering the benediction at the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. Pastor John Hagee (left) speaks next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a mission of approximately 800 members of Christians United for Israel in Jerusalem, March 18, 2012. “Israel has a long history of standing with and protecting Africa, as do the Jews with African Americans.” 18 JEWISH WORLD • MARCH 19-25, 2021 Wishing All Our Friends and Customers A Happy, Safe & Healthy Passover