OUR MISSION
We are a worldwide evangelical ministry proclaiming biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah, while bringing physical and spiritual comfort to the Jewish people.
Our vision is to see everyone believe in God’s Son and understand God’s plan for the ages.
We were established in 1938 to help Jewish people escape the atrocities of genocide during World War II. Today, our mission remains the same: building bridges and bringing hope in more than 18 countries around the world.
FROM OUR DIRECTOR
Dear Beloved Friends,
In this moment of reflection on the past year, I remember the Lord’s challenge to the prophet Jeremiah: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Over the past year, we have faced trials that tested our resolve and the very foundation of our mission at The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry—to bring physical and spiritual comfort to the Jewish people wherever they are.
Israel’s devastating massacre on October 7 shattered the fragile peace the Jewish state strives to maintain, thrusting Israel into a war it did not want or start. All of this brought great human suffering and tragedy to the Jewish people; their physical and spiritual needs are great. But even amid devastation, there is hope for physical and spiritual restoration found only by calling on the Lord, according to the promise of Jeremiah 33:3.
God has been doing great and mighty things to bring comfort to the Apple of His eye.
I hope you will be encouraged by the stories we share of lives that were touched and impacted in the last year. These are just a sampling of the great and mighty things God is doing through you.
Partnering with you, we look ahead with a renewed sense of gratitude, purpose, and resolve, confident that God will continue to show us great and mighty things we do not know as we faithfully serve Him in the days to come.
With deepest gratitude and appreciation,
Jim Showers, DMin Executive Director / President The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
UKRAINE
20 cities served
+29,000 meals served
50,000 miles driven to aid in God’s work
21 people made aliyah from Ukraine
25 people had medication purchased for them
COUNTRIES SERVED
United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Israel, South Korea, Holland, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Lithuania, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand
30 International Field Workers
46.5 tons of food & aid delivered
Andrzej: Field Representative - Poland
I went to Ukraine together with Timothy and Emanuel. As usual, we bought products for Jews in need that we were asked to bring. Our trip was planned in advance, and took place after the Hamas attack on Israel. Going to Ukraine, I was troubled by the thought that Ukraine is at war with Russia, antisemitism is on the rise, and this was evident on this trip. There was a police patrol at every Jewish building. In Ternopil, near the entrance to Hesed, we came across a swastika painted on the wall. In Khmelnytskyi, when we visited the Hesed and the synagogue, we saw police watching these places. In the face of such great problems that are present in the lives of Ukrainian Jews, we support them in a practical way through the products they need. But far more important is that we can pray for them, and we tell them about it. When it is dark all around, Jesus has called us to shine like stars in the night. The Jews see our Christian love. Even though it is difficult, this is a special time when we should especially support them with deeds and words.
Giving Thanks in Wartime
More than two years have passed since the war in Ukraine began, and Russia has only increased its bombardments on western Ukrainian cities. Our Eastern European teams are facing immense challenges as they minister to those suffering in the war.
Throughout the entire conflict, our workers have consistently put themselves in harm’s way to show the love of Christ to Ukrainian communities, refugees, and those hit hardest by this conflict, both Jew and Gentile. Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported the work of each of our field representatives in Eastern Europe, especially Tetiana, our worker from Kyiv, Ukraine. Recently, she sent this note for our American supporters and ministry partners:
For me, one year has felt like 10. Approximately seven million Ukrainians now live abroad, most of them in Poland. We also have a huge-scale migration of people within Ukraine from the east to the west. Electricity and other utilities are subject to frequent outages and shutdowns. When items we need are available in stores, they are often so expensive that people cannot afford them.
When I asked a leader in the Jewish community in a small town near me what her people needed, she asked for carrots, onions, and beets. She hesitantly wondered about the possibility of getting the luxury of chocolate. It’s hard to believe. Ukraine has been the breadbasket of Europe forever, and now we can’t afford what little food we produce. I’m so grateful that through FOI, we are able to meet some of these basic needs.
However, today I would like to share my gratitude for you and my FOI family, everyone who prayed and continues to pray. Ukrainians here don’t know all of you who donated and have helped us, but we are extremely grateful.
War breaks down walls …
What
would have been completely impossible in ministry is now becoming possible. We are united by God’s love for people and the desire to serve them.
Tetiana (left) helps a Ukrainian family make aliyah.
ISRAEL
לארשי
Israel Field Staff: 5
Israel Church Plants: 3
+500 Congregants
“The war has positively affected the unity of the body of Christ, not just in Israel but worldwide. Churches and organizations who are praying for the peace of Jerusalem are materially and spiritually involved with helping the families of soldiers, the soldiers themselves, evacuees from the south and the north, and needy families. Many churches in Israel are sharing means (money, tools, and manpower) to provide all needs. While writing these lines, the delivery guy brought another pack of food cards we will share with other churches. The grace of God humbles us and is poured on us through the love of the vast body of Christ, meaning You! Thank you. The grave situation causes many to seek God, opening many opportunities to share the gospel. As many lost their lives, many more, God willing, will find eternal life due to this war.”
FOI Field Representative - Israel
“A friend of mine from 40 years ago is a certified tour guide. She leads special enrichment lessons for other tour guides who want to understand the Evangelical Christian tourists better. Last week, we hosted the group in our church. I shared our faith and church ministry. The group asked any question they desired. I must confess that I felt like I was walking on clouds. God willing, we may have more meetings like this, including on Zoom. Please pray that our Lord will be glorified.”
FOI Field Representative - Israel
MEDIA MINISTRIES
This year, your incredible support made it possible to complete our new video studio and produce 70 videos. Your support makes it possible to research, produce, and broadcast The Friends of Israel Today radio program and podcasts, Israel My Glory magazine, online conferences, and top-quality news and teaching video content. Thank you.
“I am a retired pastor and law enforcement chaplain in northern Wisconsin. I have had an intense interest in Israel for decades. I have appreciated the various resources that are available from FOI. I recently completed a three-week series of Sunday messages at two churches that invited me to ‘fill in’ when their pastor was away. I focused on recent hostilities in Israel/Gaza, with Hamas having launched an attack in Israel on Oct. 7.
I hoped to reveal truths about Scripture and God’s Chosen People. Much of my content was derived from the very insightful articles found in Israel My Glory magazine and from a recent book I purchased from FOI titled Israel: Whose Land is it Anyway?
After these messages, people told me: ‘I finally understand the significance of Israel,’ and others said, ‘Can you come back and bring us information like this? We don’t hear this on the evening news.’
I simply presented information, content, and materials I received from The Friends of Israel. Many wanted to know about FOI, so, obviously I shared my great connection to this fabulous Gospel Ministry. And, so I must thank all the many authors, publishers, editors, and creative individuals who have the vision to tell the wonderful story of redemption through Jesus Christ.” - Pastor in Wisconsin
VIDEOS PRODUCED
Content: 70
RADIO LISTENERS
Approx. 2 million listeners
RADIO STATIONS
Approximately 550 stations PROGRAMS PRODUCED
The Friends of Israel Today Episodes: 52
Apples of Gold Shows: 25
PODCAST DOWNLOADS
Over 509,000 all-time downloads
TOP COUNTRIES REACHED IN 2023
United States | North America
Canada | North America
Australia | Oceania
United Kingdom | Europe
Netherlands | Europe
Germany | Europe
New Zealand | Oceania
Singapore | Asia
Guatemala | Central America
South Africa | Africa
NORTH AMERICAN MINISTRIES
Speaking/Church Engagements: 714
Jewish Events Attended: 136
Campus Ministry Hours: 754
College Ministry Events: 35
IMG Sign-Ups: 1,264
Ministry Mobilizer Events at Christian Colleges: 27
Christian College Students
Signed Up to Find Out More at Mobilizer Events: 246
Hanukkah Baskets
Delivered: 570
FOI Equip Registers: 6,679
Enrollment: Tikvah Team
Volunteers: 48
Volunteer Hours: 1,300
FOI Bridges Graduates: 97
Staff: 40
One of our Equip interns, Anthony, is a Jewish believer from Oregon. He feels called by the Lord to share his faith in Jesus with anyone who will listen, as he is “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
Shortly after starting his internship, Anthony organized a Canadian ministry trip for himself. He set out to partner with our Canadian FOI staff in cities throughout the Land of the Maple Leaf. Like the apostle Paul, he journeyed from city to city, beginning in Vancouver. He traveled from the West Coast to the East Coast, with stops in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City.
After arriving in Vancouver, Anthony met up with FOI Canadian representative Ralph. The two ministered together in the city, holding a sign that read “Free Prayer.” Several individuals approached them with prayer requests, which opened the door to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Anthony also connected with a local Chabad on Rosh Hashanah and spent time speaking with a Holocaust survivor in Vancouver.
Anthony then flew to the province of Alberta, where he partnered with another FOI Canadian representative, Larry. Larry and Anthony ventured to downtown Edmonton to hand out gospel tracts. As they were sharing the gospel, a group of Iranians began protesting the treatment of women in Iran. By God’s grace, the Iranians willingly accepted Larry and Anthony’s Christian literature. The two were surprised to find out they distributed triple the number of tracts Larry expected.
In Montreal, Anthony ministered to Paul, a young man who had no interest in the Bible. However, after spending some time together, Paul went home and found a local church and young-adult group he could join to grow spiritually.
Anthony and the rest of our Equip interns wasted no time in the three months they served with FOI. Through the work of these four interns, the gospel was proclaimed throughout North America; churches were encouraged to see that God has a plan for Israel and the Jewish people; and our Jewish friends were comforted to know that Christians like Anthony love them.
Reaching the Next Generation
We often hear the same questions asked at our Friends of Israel (FOI) prophecy conferences: “Where are all the young adults? Do students care about prophecy or Israel and the Jewish people?” We understand your concern, and reaching the next generation is a big priority for us. We want to see more students studying God’s prophetic Word and developing a passion for Israel and the Jewish people.
Recently, Paul, an FOI Church Ministries representative from Washington state, shared Scripture
about Israel and the Jewish people with 15 college students and came away encouraged.
Keegan, a student at Washington State University, invited Paul to speak at a Bible study. Keegan participated in our Bridges online internship and our Encounter program, where he visited the Jewish community with us. He is a young advocate for Israel and the Jewish people on his college campus.
Attending the study were students from Washington State University and the University of Idaho. They came from various spiritual and cultural backgrounds—some unsaved and others mature believers in Jesus Christ.
Paul and the students enjoyed a deep conversation that evening. The students asked many questions about Jesus’ Second Coming, the role of Israel in prophecy, God’s promise to Abraham, the Rapture of the church, and Jewish culture and customs. Most importantly, Paul communicated that the God of Israel loves each of the students so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for them.
The students loved Paul’s message. Throughout the following week, Keegan’s friends thought of more questions about the end-times and Israel.
As he reflected on the evening’s discussion while driving home from the Bible study, Paul was encouraged to see young men and women seeking after God and desiring to know His Word.
We often are led to believe this generation is self-oriented, rejects the church, and embraces unbiblical ideologies. While that may be the case with some young people, Paul found the opposite to be true.
Let us pray God will continue to use The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry to impact the next generation with biblical truth about Israel and to advance the cause of the gospel.
Paul (second from left) teaching
RELIEF FUNDS
“ A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
. 17:17 Proverbs 17:17
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been in a fight for its very existence. The Friends of Israel was created for such a time as this. As Christians who love God’s uniquely Chosen People, we love at all times and were born to help in Israel’s adversity.
The response from Christians all over the world has been tremendous. The lives you have saved in Israel because of medical supplies, food, bomb shelters, financial aid, and ambulances you have provided are more than can be counted.
But more than that, you have shown Israelis that they are not alone, that millions of Christians stand with them in truth and God’s love. Thank you.
One aid recipient wrote to you:
Dear Jim and all friends and members at Friends of Israel,
You have left me with no words. And I’m still trying to find them. It is not easy to thank someone for such outstanding help. Truly, thank you.
My family and I are honored to be in your thoughts and prayers, and we thank you all for your most generous donation [that will allow us to return home]. It means so much to us, as Jews, to have such sincere friends among Christians. It teaches us about the strong bond we have with Christians and what unconditional love and caring are all about.
You are doing critical work for the many thousands of victims in Israel. And so also thank you, that while you support many, you specifically chose to support my family.
Thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart.
Your Jewish friend here in Israel, Lee
With Israel at war, we have had to do something we knew was possible but never dreamed of doing: moving bomb shelters. A significant portion of Israel’s population previously protected by FOI bomb shelters in southern Israel has been murdered, kidnapped, or displaced. With our partners at Operation Lifeshield, we have been working to relocate shelters to populated areas to protect first responders, security forces, and civilians. Since Israel’s October 7th war with Hamas, we have installed more than fifteen new bomb shelters and moved many more. Additionally, we continue to provide emergency medical equipment to first responders and frontline medics. From bomb shelters to ambulances, from food to clothing, The FOI Israel Relief Fund is bringing comfort to our Israeli friends in times of war.
We use Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 to guide our priorities in the following categories:
● Health/Medical Care and Equipment
● Shelter/Protection
● Rescue/Recovery (e.g., substance abuse rehab, domestic violence shelter)
● Social & Family Services
● Nourishment
● Clothing
● Immigration to Israel (Aliyah)
● Human Rights/Legal Advocacy
● Counseling and Trauma Therapy
“Recently, my grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday. As a Holocaust survivor, her journey has been one of resilience, strength, and hope having faced the darkest chapter in history. I have shared with my family the profound dedication of The Friends of Israel, spanning from the Holocaust era to the present day. Your enduring support resonates with us, and we are grateful for the compassion and commitment that continue to make a meaningful impact. Thank you for being a beacon of hope in the world. Your kindness is a shining example of the love and compassion that can bring positive change to our global community. May you be blessed abundantly for your generosity.
-Jewish Israeli woman
Relief efforts since the October 7th Attack on Israel
+200
Army medics outfitted with blood pressure equipment, airway management, IV tools, and portable ultrasound machines
+$2.3 Million in humanitarian aid as of April 2024
+14,000 Holocaust survivors and elderly fed, sheltered, and comforted
7 Magen David Adom first-response vehicles
462 Money cards to at-risk families in the south
+17,000 Meals, food, clothing, and housing for displaced families
11,494 1-pint units of soup for elderly and single-parent families through August 2023 Soup Project
4,800 Meals to southern cities
8,000 Victims of terror received emergency aid
FINANCIALS
United States, Independently Audited Financials
It is our practice at The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry to use gifts as designated for the support of specific workers and projects. However, to ensure gifts are tax deductible, federal law requires us to maintain complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds.
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN: 23-1365331
We value transparency and are firmly committed to good stewardship of funds. To ensure our financial accountability, we are a long-time member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. We display its seal to reflect compliance with its membership standards.
Visit foi.org/vision/financials to view our full, audited financial statements.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BOARD OFFICERS
David Benner
Chairman
Retired Engineer
Urban Engineers
Dr. Jim Vogel
Vice Chair
Network Executive Director
Northeast Fellowship
Dr. Jim Showers
President
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
William (Bill) King
Secretary
President
The Nova Group
BOARD MEMBERS 2024
Dr. Daniel L. Anderson
President
Appalachian Bible College
Jonathan W. Glock
Trust Officer
Legacy Ministry Services, Inc.
Dean E. Good
Pastor
Grace Church of North Olmsted
Dr. J. Randall Price
Founder & President
World of the Bible Ministries
Research Professor
Liberty University
Robert C. Sullivan
President & CEO
Legacy Ministry Services, Inc.
William E. Sutter
Former Executive Director
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
JT Beckman
Retired, Audiologist
Mark Jenkins
U.S. Representative of
Christian Friends of Yad Vashem
EMERITUS TRUSTEES
Dr. W. Sherrill Babb
President Emeritus Cairn University
Philip G. Brodsky
Partner
Scripture Truth Book Co.
Kenneth W. Murray
Retired Vice President
The Quaker Oats Company
Laurence H. Murray
Vice Chairman
Retired President
Heick Die Casting
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Jim Showers, DMin
Executive Director/President
Steve H. Conover
Executive Vice President
Vice President of Media Ministries
John Wilcox, CPA
Vice President of Finance
Chief Financial Officer
Tom Geoghan
Vice President for Ministry Advancement
Steve Herzig
Vice President of North American Ministries
Mike Stallard
Vice President of International Ministries
“
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
”
I Peter 4:10
הדות
THANK YOU
You mean so much to us here at The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. Since 1938, you have made it possible to shine the light of the gospel and share God’s unchanging truths to an uncertain world. Thank you for being our friend and a friend to Israel.
GET INVOLVED PRAY
Your prayers are critical to accomplishing His work through more than 120 field workers around the world.
GIVE
Your gifts make God’s love known! You make ministry possible. Please give today at foi.org/givenow.
SHARE
Your stories inspire and encourage us! If the Lord has reached you through our ministry, we would love to hear from you! Submit your story at foi.org/yourstory.
ATTEND OR VOLUNTEER
Our Program Ministries provide exciting opportunities to serve God by serving Israel and the Jewish people. Join us—online or in person—and bring a friend! Visit foi.org/outreach for free classes and volunteer opportunities.
To find or request an event at your church, visit foi.org/events.
SERVE
Are you called to minister biblical truth? Come build bridges and bring physical and spiritual hope alongside us. Please contact us! Visit foi.org/serve.
MAKE A GIFT TODAY:
By phone: Call Ministry Services at 800-345-8461.
ONLINE:
www.foi.org
