The Christian HolyLand
Foundation, Inc. (CHLF)
operates in the
United States as a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization
as determined by the
Internal Revenue Service. Documentation is available.
CHLF Operates in Israel
as a legally recognized
Amuta
(nonprofit organization)
officially known as
Christians Holy Land Association
Reg. #58-046-845-2.
CHLF's Mission Statement
The purpose of
Christian HolyLand
Foundation, Inc.
is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Holy Land and its
surrounding areas, and to establish and maintain a base of operations from
which churches patterned after the New Testament order may be started.
To aid in the accomplishment of this purpose, every practical and scriptural
means may be employed, including educational centers, benevolent ministries,
care facilities, and
training centers.
The American Committee of the
Christian HolyLand Foundation:
Alan
Dunbar • Edmonds, WA
Brian Hodson • Rushville, IN
Carl Paschal • Moore Haven, FL
Don Brookshire • Duquesne, PA
Dottie Tanksley • DeSoto, TX
Gary Ruff • Chamois, MO
James Landrum • Bloomington, IN
Jeff Starkey • Garden City, KS
John Diamond • Warthen, GA
Kent Patterson • Greenwood,
IN
Ruth Bradford • Knoxville, TN
Shain Shaheen • St.Louis, MO
Bryce Alexander • Glendale,
AZ
Member Emeritus:
Dr. Eugene Ketchen •
Kingston, TN
Executive Committee
Chairman:
Steve Hammer • Glendale, AZ
Vice Chairman:
John C. Samples • Fishers, IN
Secretary:
Marina Jenkins • Aurora, IN
Treasurer:
David Mullins • Noblesville, IN
Members At Large:
Safaa Fahmi • Cairo, Egypt
Joe Caraway • Baldwyn, MS
Dr. Joe Grana • Corona, CA
Leland Houser •
Blountville, TN
Michael Booher • LaGrange, IN
Harold Slabaugh • Kingston,
TN
Members Emeritus:
Dr. Harold Noe • Council
Bluffs, IA
Don Forrester • Eden, NC
HolyLand or Holy Land?
Technically,
it is 2words.
CHLF has used the single word form for years and capitalizes the "L" in
Land to help create a unique identity among similarly
named organizations
(such as the unaffiliated and much publicized
Holy Land Foundation).
Just in case you were wondering.
Our reason for this ministry is found in Matthew 28:16-20, and
Acts 1-8. For more information about the background of CHLF, please see the
Who We Are section of this web
site.
2. What is the nationality of the
Galilee Team?
They are
all Arabs by birth, heritage, and ethnicity. And because they
were born
in Israel, they are Israeli citizens.
3. Are they also Palestinians?
In 1948, the new Israeli
government gave many Palestinians living in the Palestine
territories the option of becoming Israelis. Those choosing to
remain Palestinian were generally relocated to the areas now
known as The West Bank, the Gaza Strip, or surrounding countries
sympathetic with the Palestinian situation. Because of decisions
made by their families many years ago, they are no longer considered
to be Palestinians, although many of their relatives who remain in
those territories are.
As you may imagine, there continues to be
tension within the Arab community between those who continue to
fight for a Palestinian homeland, and those who are living in
diverse communities as Israeli citizens.
4. When
did they become Christians?
They all come from generations
of “Christians.” Some have been in relationship with The
Christ most of their lives, and some were transformed into
“Believers” through spiritual awakenings when they were young
adults.
5.
Aren’t all Christians “Believers?”
No,
not in the Middle East. The term Christian is used in that
culture more to indicate
tradition and even political status. They use the term "Believers"
to indicate those who have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord,
including Messianic Jews and Muslim Background Believers who have turned to Christ
and are living for Him.
6. What
is their greatest challenge in doing Ministry in Israel?
In terms of persecution and
personal difficulties, they seem to have many troubles from other
Christians that do not understand their ministry. These often
include Greek Orthodox, Catholic,
Latin, and other denominational leaders. Although the Team has made progress
in demonstrating that they just want to teach Jesus, and relations
have improved in some areas, these groups tend to create more
difficulties for them than do Jewish or Muslim communities.
In addition, the stereotypes
created by the actions of some Christians outside of Israel
provide 'ammunition' for some of these religious leaders to make
accusations against them that are not true, and that discourages
many people who would otherwise be interested in learning more
about the Bible and the teachings of the Christ.
7. How
do American Christians cause problems for Believers in Israel?
Here is a simple example, and possibly the one faced most
often:
It is well-known in the Arab community that there are very
visible Evangelical leaders in the US who:
Promote Zionism
(which
excludes the Arab Believers);
Embrace without question
actions of the Israeli government
(which sometimes includes persecuting Arab Believers);
and/or
Send money to help
Orthodox Jews relocate in Arab homelands
(while these
people frequently engage in spitting, throwing rocks,
and other debasing
acts aimed at the Arab people).
Our concern with these things is not
political. The difficultly caused by such actions of Christians
from the US--or from other parts of the world--is against the
witness within Holy Land. When The Team has an opportunity to
speak with strangers, friends, or neighbors about Jesus, too often the response is something
like, "Why would we want to be part of something that is
repeatedly hurting our families and our freedoms." And they
are often asked whether they are affiliated with so-and-so's American
ministry, which almost always has a promotional agenda involving politics or
eschatology.
We do not necessarily take exception to the political or even
end-time views of some of these people, but the way these
well-intentioned Christians too
often demonstrate their beliefs with these hurtful actions and
words makes our mission to reach all people for Christ very
difficult in Israel.
8. How
do Arab Believers view American Christians?
We do not presume to speak
for all Arab Believers on such a difficult issue. However, it is
clear that many Arabs are confused in their perceptions of
Americans—and particularly American Christians—who support
without question the secular nation of Israel and those
policies that persecute and subjugate Believing Christians of
Arab descent.
9. What
is your position on prophesy and end-times teachings?
We are well aware of the
various views regarding Christ’s return. We choose not to
advocate one position over another because we have witnessed too
many times when an over-emphasis on such things causes division
and seems to blind Christians to the task at hand as well as to
the plight of Arab Believers living in Israel. Additionally,
when one's views of such theories result in the persecution of
our Brothers and Sisters in Christ--whether in the Holy Land or
anywhere--it causes many questions about the true desires behind
such actions.
In short, it is
our belief that Christ is coming to gather his Children and we
need to be about the work of reaching hearts for Him.
10. What
is the current nature of your ministry?
While members of the Team are individually
involved in five 'located' churches in the Galilee region, their
ministry through CHLF reaches into more than a dozen additional
villages where they have started many home churches. Much of
their
time is spent providing leadership to those groups, including
counseling, follow-up with new Believers, ministering to the
sick, and more. Within our Team are particular gifts of
Discipleship, Teaching, Administration, Hospitality, Evangelism,
and seemingly whatever else is needed for whatever the Lord lays in
their path. God has been active and faithful in placing the right
people with the right gifts in the right situations.
11. What
is the vision of your ministry?
We have hopes and dreams
of continuing the
planting of more churches, evangelizing more communities, and providing
leadership and training for Believers throughout Israel. The
Team is also
involved in reconciliation ministries between denominations, as
well as between Arabs and Jews. We need facilities and more
ministry resources but are trusting God’s timing and
provision for those things, and continually seeking His will so
that this work will always be the result of His desires working
through us.
12. Isn't "HolyLand" supposed to be two words?
Yes, it is.
The Christian
HolyLand Foundation simply eliminated the space between the two
words, and maintained the capital 'L' as a way to differentiate between this organization and
others that may sound similar.
13. Are
you a tax-deductible organization in the US?
Yes. The Christian HolyLand
Foundation, Inc. (CHLF) operates in the United States as a
501(c)3Charitable Organization [#58-1761917] as determined by
the Internal Revenue Service. Documentation is available on
request. CHLF Operates in Israel as a legally recognized
Amuta (nonprofit organization) officially known as The
Christians Holy Land Association, Reg. #58-046-845-2
14. How
many employees do you have in the United States?
Just one. Prior to November
of 2007, CHLF had no paid staff. From time to time we had
contracted with professionals to do certain tasks, such as
newsletters, mailings, display preparation, travel arrangements,
etc. Because of the greatly expanded scope of the ministry
(going from one full-time employee in Israel to six, for
example) we re-evaluated the need for professional management in
the US in order to provide the support for the Israeli Team that
they need to carry out their mission.
John W Samples was hired
as the first Executive Director at the Annual Meeting of the
American Committee on November 16, 2007. Prior to that, support
work had been done by the American Committee, with the Executive
Committee serving in the managerial role, and other volunteers
recruited for specific purposes. With the implementation of the
Executive Director's position, it is expected that those groups
will become even more involved through improved
communications and coordination.
15. Why
has the CHLF mailing address changed again?
Since it's beginnings in the
1980s, the Christian HolyLand Foundation has been promoted and
operated by a group of volunteers from Christian Churches all
over the country. After more than 20 years of having one man
serve as treasurer (Don Forrester)
and one mailing address (Eden, North Carolina), the Foundation
began making a number of changes about the same time as the new
ministry in Galilee began to develop.
Part of those changes was the election of a new Treasurer,
Michael D. Booher, the Senior Minister of the South Milford (IN)
Church of Christ. All of the addresses and bank accounts were
then relocated to South Milford where they were expected to stay
for several years.
In the spring of 2007, Michael's wife Marcia was diagnosed with
a very serious form of cancer. Michael made it known that he was
going to be spending a lot of time with his wife and that he
would need some help with his CHLF duties. The CHLF Executive
Committee immediately decided that the best way they could help
Michael would be to relieve him of all daily responsibilities for as
long as was necessary.
The Post Office Box in South Milford was placed in a 'forward'
status to the new Post Office Box in Noblesville, Indiana, and
the main bank accounts were also moved to Noblesville, where two
members of the Executive Committee live, as well as the American
Team Leader.
There has been a lot of recent discussion about establishing a
permanent location for the official offices of the Christian
HolyLand Foundation and the time to make that decision may be
coming soon, but our emphasis remains on meeting our commitments
with our Team in the Holy Land, and spending money on an actual
site in the United States would have to be consistent with that
commitment.
We thank you for your patience, and ask that you make the change
in your list of addresses to:
The Christian HolyLand Foundation
PO Box 736
Noblesville, IN 46061
