“The young people had an openness to Israel like that we have never seen before”
CUFI would like to thank everyone who visited our stand at the Big Church Festival. Over 35,000 people attended Britain’s largest Christian festival over the Bank Holiday weekend at the Wiston Estate, West Sussex, and CUFI was there to fly the flag of Christian support for Israel and share our love for the Jewish people.
We were overwhelmed by the number of Christians who visited the stand to express their support for Israel and their encouragement at seeing CUFI at the festival. It was a blessing to connect with many existing supporters and to introduce CUFI to many others for the first time.
One of our goals was to reach as many Christians as possible with the truth about Israel and the Jewish people. It cannot be overstated how much replacement theology and anti-Israel propaganda have severely impacted parts of the UK church. In some robust conversations with those holding opposing views, it became very clear how closely these two issues are linked. Yet we were there to offer a different perspective. Our booklet, Why Christians Should Stand with Israel, was distributed to hundreds, providing visitors with a Biblical foundation for standing with Israel and the Jewish people.
Our biggest encouragement came from the number of young people who visited the stand. We were awestruck by their openness to the message of CUFI. Many listened intently as we explained what the Bible says about Israel and the Jewish people, and it was received with an ease and softness that we have rarely seen before. Even those who expressed misunderstandings about Israel demonstrated a willingness to listen to the truth; some as if hearing it for the first time. There were also many young people who were already articulate in their support of Israel, and were keen to tell us that their pastor and church stand with Israel.
Something is stirring in the UK. The next generation is demonstrating an openness to the Word of God and a spiritual hunger for the unadulterated truth. CUFI is praying that this will also lead to a deeper revelation of God’s love for Israel and the Jewish people. At the same time, there is a battle for the hearts and minds of our young people. Their world is inundated with anti-Israel propaganda and, in many cases, a lack of Biblical teaching on Israel.
It seems that we are at a crossroads in our nation. Yet many young people are beginning to see through the pro-Palestinian lies. Many are searching to know the truth about Israel, and all of us must be ready to respond.
For the sake of the next generation, Britain must return to standing with Israel. Perhaps it will even be this next generation that leads the way.
