Follow Me!

Aharai! "!אחרי" Follow Me!

 “Aharai! is a social educational organization that develops young leadership and promotes social involvement among youths from the projects, development towns, absorption centers, boarding schools and shelters. By connecting the youths to milestones in Israeli society; preparation for a significant military service in the IDF, preparation for the matriculation exams, immigrant integration programs, youth challenge programs, one year of community service, pre-military academy and alumni organization; the organization provides its youths a sense of achievement and capability and encourages them to fit in as contributing citizens in the State of Israel.”

Once again this year, Project David’s Shield (supporting the soldiers of the IDF) and Christian Friends of Israel, were invited to participate in an annual endurance race of the Aharai! organization. While current and veteran soldiers ran side by side the youth, they encouraged them to endure, succeed and to “finish the race”. CFI sponsored the race and participated by preparing cups of water for the participants of the race.

“And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Jim and another CFI volunteer filling cups of water.

Early morning as everyone arrives.

Soldiers getting ready for the race.

Almost time to start.

Get ready!


Get set....GO!!!

The finish line!

Two municipality council members.

There were a few very young participants.
The Aharai! members in the grey shirts are there to encourage everyone that they can do it! Finish the race!!

After the race getting ready to hear from leaders and special guests.

No one is ever too old for popsicles on a hot day after running a race!  What a treat!

Head councilman in charge of the event.

After the race, the head municipality leader asked CFI to speak to the participants and parents who have lost children during their IDF service and previous wars. We were able to share the following:

“Thank you for the honor of having us here today. Christian Friends of Israel is an organization that has been in Jerusalem for 30 years serving the needs of the Jewish people. We have projects that help the soldiers – as we are today – holocaust survivors, those making aliyah from the nations, victims of terrorism, communities under attack and other needs of the people of Israel. 

The scripture we choose for our organization is Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times”. The most important word in the scripture is ALL – not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard. That is why when times are difficult for Israel, we choose to stay and support you, and not to leave. 

As with the race and the organization Aharai!, when the Jewish people say Aharai! – Follow Me! – as Christians - and believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – we say yes, we will follow.

Zechariah 8:23 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” 

Kol Hakavod (Hebrew: כֹּל הַכָּבוֹד meaning "all of the honour" and used to congratulate someone for a job well done) & todah rabah (thank you very much).” 

Speaking to the group after the race.

After the event, Linda had women (and a few men) come up to her to thank her for what she shared. They said it meant a lot to them, and they could tell it was from the heart. As a woman speaking to them, it was very meaningful. Jim had several men come up to him as well. They wanted to know more – saying they had never met anyone who believed like us, and wanted to know why we believe this way.

While what we spoke was not “so astonishing” to us, it was new for many of those who heard it. Many Christians in the world sadly believe that they have “replaced” the Jews in God’s plan - and the Jewish people know this. So to hear Christians standing before them saying that as believers in their God (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), we will do as this scripture says (from THEIR/OUR Bible), and we will follow you – this was quite a surprise for them.

The Jews are the chosen people of God. What are they chosen for? To be a light to the world, and to show the world how God wants mankind to live – by the commandments that He spoke to the Jewish people. They are to live by His commands, teach them to their children from generation to generation, and be an example to the world. It is God’s plan and design as He chose this people – the Jewish people – for the world to be redeemed to Himself. They have protected and kept His WORD ever since it was entrusted to them. And for that we say a BIG thank you!! It has never been easy being “the chosen people” as they have been persecuted throughout their entire existence. And yet….GOD has kept them.

Isaiah 49:5-7

5 “And now the Lord says,
Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
To bring Jacob back to Him,
So that Israel is gathered to Him
(For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,
And My God shall be My strength),

 6 Indeed He says,
‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will ALSO give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

7 Thus says the Lord,
The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,
To Him whom man despises,
To Him whom the nation abhors,
To the Servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and arise,
Princes also shall worship,
Because of the Lord who is faithful,
The Holy One of Israel;And He has chosen You.”

And so what do we do when maybe some aren’t being the light they should be? Or they are weary and discouraged at the constant onslaught of attacks from around the world (including from “the Church” at times)? We do just as we saw the Aharai! organization do at the race. We come along by their side and say, “You can do it!” “Come on, it’s not that much farther!” “Hazak! Hazak! (Be strong! Be strong!)” And we encourage them to be all God called them to be.

Yeshua (Jesus) - GOD the Son - continually says, "Follow Me."  Matthew 4:19, 16:24,19:28, Mark 1:7, 10:21, Luke 5:27, 18:22, John 1:38, 1:43, 8:12, 21:19.

And just as Yeshua said to Kefa (Peter) "Bo" (come) - and Kefa walked on the water (Matthew 14:29) He encourages all of us to trust Him for more than we could ever imagine we could accomplish - all the while encouraging us to be all we are called to be.

A song was played at a recent staff meeting we had at CFI and it is a beautiful expression of the trust we all need to have.  We really pray you will take a few moments to play the video - all the way to the end, or you won't know what you're missing.  If it won't play on your phone, take the time to play it on your computer.  It's not about the video, so close your eyes, and let the words of this song wash over you....encourage you to keep running the race, as Yeshua says to us, “You can do it!” “Come on, it’s not that much farther!” “Hazak! Hazak!"

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Hillsong United

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
[x6]

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

In the Hebrew Bible there is a phrase at the end of each of the five books of Moshe (Moses) - and for all who are running this race we say this phrase....

חזק חזק ונתחזק

Hazak, hazak, v’nit’chazek!

Be strong, be strong, 

and let us be strengthened!