Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Shalom from the Beloved Promised Land –
Do you know why we can call it the Promised Land? Not because we pass it along from generation to generation. Not because Israel is superior to all the nations of the world. And it certainly has nothing to do with our faithfulness as a nation. The land of Israel is the Promised Land because the Creator God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham 6,000 years ago and reiterated that promise to Abraham’s descendants, Isaac and Jacob. Moreover, the promise was assured to Jacob’s descendants for the generations that would follow (Genesis 28:13). It’s the Promised Land because the God of Israel is not a man, that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). It’s the Promised Land because despite my nation’s perpetual disobedience, He brought us back just as He promised He would do:
Ezekiel 36:24
For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
The faithfulness of God is such a firm foundation and incomparable source of hope. And it’s the scarlet thread that is intertwined throughout the decade-long story of Behold Israel. It was ten years ago this week that the Lord “officially” opened the door for Behold Israel to become a registered non-profit organization. But that’s not where the story begins…
From Tours to Teaching
Following my completion of duty in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), I became a licensed tour guide. Even as a young believer, God had given me a passion for bringing Christians from all over the world to the Promised Land to expose them to the relevance of that same descriptor – His living promises. And as time went on, I became greatly burdened for the need to take the prophetic truths of the word of God from a tour bus to the rest of the world. It wasn’t long before I began periodically traveling to different parts of the world to share the truth about Israel with different churches. I met many pastors as a tour guide, so my contact list grew quickly. The more I traveled to teach, the more I realized how asleep most of the international church is when it comes to God fulfilling His word in this very generation!
The Birth of Behold Israel
Among the contacts I had made in my time as a tour guide were two of the ministry’s founding board members, Gale Frank & H.T. Novak. Both men were instrumental in the early stages of the ministry. God gave me the burden and vision. Gale & H.T. helped bring it to fruition. Of course, there were many logistical mountains that needed to be climbed, and God helped us navigate that process. And while there are so many stories I could share, I think it’s fitting to tell about the miracle God worked that paved the way for us to become a registered non-profit faster than we could have ever imagined. The first barrier God broke down was related to the IRS. After submitting our initial request, the IRS responded in less than 30 days, which is amazing. But it was the even greater miracle that followed that served as a confirmation of God’s calling.
When the board was pursuing final approval for Behold Israel to become a registered non-profit, we were informed that it would likely take a minimum of 18 months for this to materialize, which was the longstanding norm at the time. But just three weeks later – in what was an unheard-of outcome – we received word that Behold Israel was officially approved!
Ephesians 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
During the foundational seasons of Behold Israel, there were some dear friends and churches that were incredibly influential in helping us get up and running as a ministry. You know who you are and I’m forever grateful for your love and support.
2014 – 2024
The last 10 years have been astonishing. There’s really no other word to describe what God has done. While Behold Israel began with tours and eventually morphed into an international teaching ministry, what God has enabled us to do online has birthed far-reaching spiritual fruit!
– Our YouTube channel has now surpassed over 900K subscribers
– We have nearly 2M followers on Facebook
– Our Instagram channel has over 580K followers
– My news channel on Telegram has now surpassed 540K subscribers
– We have an updated website and app that offer a number of resources, as well as information regarding present and future ministry events
Some of the different online events we facilitate on a regular basis include:
– Weekly Prayer Meetings every Friday at 10:00 AM Pacific Time
– Public Reading of Scripture every Thursday at 6:00 PM Pacific Time
– MidEast Updates live from our CONNECT studio
– CONNECT Q & A segments with my dear friend, Pastor Barry Stagner
– Podcast segments with special guests from varying ministries
– On-site Bible teachings throughout the land of Israel
– Coming soon, we will have new installments known as CONNECT Round Tables, Explore the Bible, Author’s Corner, and more!
Furthermore, we’ve also begun to offer cruise conferences in various parts of the world. So far, these destinations have included Alaska, the Mediterranean region, and the Caribbean. And while we’ve added so many different avenues of ministry to our portfolio, we remain intentional and passionate concerning getting the truth about Israel out to the world! It’s an uphill battle against the global “medianites”, but we’ve seen God do some amazing things.
Having said all of what’s mentioned above, it’s imperative that you understand that we’ve faced some very trying seasons as a ministry. From COVID-19 to times of terror in my region of the world to periods of war to day-to-day troubles, there have been weeks and months wherein doubt, hurt, and stress were the norm. But God – in His infinite wisdom, He has sustained us, re-engaged us, and given us creativity to navigate every season. In the process, He brought us growth on a global scale that we never saw coming, which developed a path leading to our latest adventure as a ministry.
Behold Israel CONNECT
For years, I have had in my heart a desire for a teaching location in Galilee. From there, I could make myself available to various tour groups, as well as to local Israeli believers. But with that vision, I also recognize the calling God has given to me and Behold Israel to be a global ministry, reaching out to the world with the truth of the Scriptures as well as insights into the events of the world around us. Our new CONNECT center in Galilee enables us to accomplish all of this. Here, I’m accompanied by a team gifted in graphic design and media production, allowing us to take on so many different projects internally as a ministry. Moreover, we’ll soon be ready to host our own tour groups for a teaching visit, as well as other international groups. CONNECT is one more way that God has shown not only His great faithfulness, but generosity.
Thank You
Many of you have been following and supporting the ministry since its foundational years. And that number has only increased as time has gone on. I can’t tell you how blessed I am to relive God’s abundant faithfulness, which has been shown through your innumerable prayers and selfless financial gifts, as well as the doors He has opened. What began with tours in Israel has transformed into an international teaching ministry that has harvested fruit beyond anything we could ever have imagined. We’re humbled by God’s abundant faithfulness and the unwavering support He’s provided day in and day out through you, our faithful supporters. We rejoice as we reflect on all that the Lord has done in and through Behold Israel, and we are ecstatic about His plans for the future. Thank you, friends, for accompanying us on this journey!
1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
Awaiting His Return,
Amir Tsafati
Amir, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.
Photo credit: Soman, CC BY-SA 2.5, Link
