Jews and Gentiles—United in Hope!

C4I International… Ninety delegates representing Christians for Israel in over 25 countries gathered in Israel for the biennial Christians for Israel (C4I) Forum from 30 October—3 November 2025. For almost thirty years, Christians for Israel has been growing around the world— planting and nourishing groups of Christians who carry the C4I mission to inform the church, pray for the peace of Jerusalem and comfort the Jewish people. Every two years, the leaders of our national and regional affiliates around the world gather in Jerusalem for a time of learning, renewing old friendships, connecting with the Jewish people, and planning for the future. Here are some impressions from the tenth Christians for Israel International Forum.

Part of the Christians for Israel family from around the world | Photo: Ian Worby, C4I Australia

Our Common Messianic Hope
Our friend David Nekrutman (Isaiah Projects) encourages Christians to see Jesus’ words in Luke 4 as an invitation to celebrate Shabbat: “God doesn’t want robotic faith. He wants us to freely choose His will. That is what we celebrate on Shabbat—we rest in God, in expectation of the Messiah.”

In a deeply moving speech, Benjamin Philip (Hineni) encouraged us to remain focused on our task to bring Christians and Jews together in these messianic times. “The Christians for Israel mission is right in the heart of what God is doing in this world, preparing Jews and Gentiles for the coming of Messiah”.

New C4I International Chairman
The newly appointed Chairman of C4I International is Willem Griffioen. Willem is no stranger to Christians for Israel; as a young man, he and his father helped establish C4I in the United States nearly thirty years ago. He has since served as long-time Chairman of the Israel Allies Foundation and has founded and led numerous businesses and ministries. Willem now lives in Washington DC with his wife Kathy and children. “I sense that C4I is entering a new season—God wants to do new things, and I am excited to be part of it.”

Kfar Aza
On our journey to the sites of the 7 October massacre, we visited Kfar Aza, a kibbutz whose fields stretch to the border of the Gaza strip. The kibbutz was attacked early in the morning by around 250 Palestinian terrorists. They took 19 hostages. 62 residents were murdered in the most gruesome ways. Later that day the looters came. We saw the total devastation, the burnt and damaged houses. We spoke with survivors, people who in the past were dedicated to peace and coexistence with their neighbours. On 7 October they saw the very people whom they had always worked with standing in their kitchens, looting and killing.

Visit to the car graveyard, a silent memorial to the victims of Hamas | Photo: Ian Worby, C4I Australia

The New Antisemitism
According to Michal Cotler-Wunsch, until recently Israel’s Special Envoy Combatting Antisemitism, the hijacking, inversion and weaponisation of the international legal system has fuelled antisemitism. It laid the foundations for the 7 October massacre, and enabled the genocidal terror of Hamas to be exonerated while Israel is demonised and delegitimised. Our shared morality has collapsed. Together, we must urgently reclaim Zionism and reject all forms of antisemitism.

Celebration of Hope
The closing event of the Forum was a reception with our Israeli friends and partners in the Train Theatre in Jerusalem, a picturesque location near the old railway station from the time of the Mandate. We celebrated the 45th anniversary of Christians for Israel’s establishment in 1980. The keynote speaker was Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who spoke from her heart about 7 October, 2023. Having visited kibbutz Habbakuk on that day, she read from Habakkuk chapter 1 and explained how this sounds to modern Hebrew ears as speaking of the catastrophe of that day. The word ‘hamas’ (meaning in Hebrew: violence) appears there prominently.

Danielle Mor of the Jewish Agency thanked Christians for Israel for decades of supporting and enabling aliyah of Jewish people to be made to Israel. She and her colleagues spoke emotionally about the special work of Koen Carlier and his team in Ukraine, helping Israel and the Jewish people in untold ways, especially during the difficult years of the war in Ukraine.

Anemone Rüger with Holocaust survivor and community coordinator Gita Koifman | Photo: Ian Worby, C4I Australia

Monique Rijkers—YouTube FaktaIsrael (Indonesia)
“It was because of C4I that, as an Indonesian Christian, I learned about Israel for the first time in 2012. After receiving a vision from God in November 2012, three weeks later C4I held a seminar on Israel in Jakarta. At that time, Rev Willem Glashouwer seemed to speak directly to me. Today, our organisation shares the truth about Israel and has millions of followers in Indonesia. Our visit to the C4I Forum 2025 was to express gratitude for the seeds sown by C4I. Servants of God everywhere—you may never know the impact of the word you sow. But believe me, God’s word is never in vain!”

Edda Fogorollo—C4I Italy
“Ever since 2008, C4I International has helped me to realise my calling as a teacher of Holocaust studies. The Forum participants visit ZAKA, search and rescue organisation. With your help, over the years we have built an amazing team of talented young Christians in Italy who are now organising many events—all around the country and online—to educate Christians and comfort and strengthen the Jewish people. Praise be to God!”

Marie-Louise Weissenböck (C4I Austria), packs a rescue kit at ZAKA. | Photo: Ian Worby, C4I Australia

Ian and Mandy Worby—C4I Australia
“It was wonderful to be with our C4I international family—it felt like a true reunion! We appreciated the fellowship, teaching, and encouragement, and visiting projects to see how our support brings comfort and solidarity to our Jewish and Israeli brothers and sisters was meaningful. The geopolitical and lawfare briefings and resources to defend our beliefs were invaluable. Thank you to everyone who made the Forum a success.”