Dr. Jim Showers’ passion for Israel is clearly gleaned from his doctoral thesis titled, “May They Prosper Who Love You: A Case For Christian Zionism.” His devotion to the Lord and sincere love for Israel and the Jewish people are qualities that everyone at his group, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, values. Dr. Showers speaks at conferences, churches, and schools nationwide; is a frequent participant in events supporting Israel; and is a strong advocate of the country’s growing Jewish-Christian alliance. He also has helped lead two joint Jewish-Christian missions to Israel and is the leader of the semi-annual Friends of Israel’s Up to Jerusalem tours bringing hundreds of Christians to the Promised Land. Friends of Israel headquarters are located in Deptford, NJ.
Joseph Puder (JP): Would you please tell our readers about the work of your organization?
Dr. Jim Showers (JS): The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry began in the city of Philadelphia in 1938 as a group of Evangelical Christians came together to help Jewish people who were under the tyranny of Nazi Germany. Our founding name, The Friends of Israel Refugee Relief Committee, revealed the pressing need in 1938 to help Jewish refugees flee the Holocaust.
Joseph Steele, a respected Philadelphia businessman and the first president of the newly formed Friends of Israel ministry was asked in 1956 why The Friends of Israel was founded. He replied, “Some years ago when the Jewish people were so mercilessly persecuted by Hitler, like so many other Christians, I felt keenly about their tragedy. I knew from the beginning that Hitler had sealed his own doom the moment he started his wicked mistreatment of the Jews, because God said to Abraham, ‘I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee.’
So when in 1938 I was asked to become the President of The Friends of Israel, in order to show practical Christian love to the Jewish people, and to be a witness for the Messiah, I gladly consented. For the past 18 years the Lord has in a marvelous way used The Friends of Israel to bring physical help, and above all, spiritual comfort to the Jewish people in every part of the world.” 85 years later, we continue the legacy of our founders to bring physical and spiritual comfort to the Jewish people while proclaiming biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah. What does that look like? In 2022, we granted over $1,000,000 in aid to humanitarian organizations in Israel and $850,000 to help Jewish refugees caught up in the tragic Ukrainian war. We also took two tour groups to Israel and a volunteer group of young adults to Israel to work at Leket, Israel’s national food bank.
We have staff across North America and around the world connecting with Jewish people and helping them as needs arise. We operate a medical clinic in Buenos Aires, Argentina that offers free medical care to the Jewish community. We hold conferences to teach the Church about Israel and the Messiah. Our weekend radio program, The Friends of Israel Today, reaches millions on 500+ stations in North American and is available to thousands as a podcast.
JP: Why is Israel important to believing Christians?
JS: In short, the blessings we experience as a Christian come through Israel; past, present, and future. By God’s grace, we benefit from the covenant promises God made to Israel. In Genesis 12, God promised to bless the families of the world through Abraham’s seed, the Jewish people. We are indebted to Israel for the understanding of the one-true God, the written record of God’s word to man, and our Savior, who is Jewish. God also promised in Genesis 12 that He would bless those who bless Israel and curse him who curses Israel.
Our founders understood this, and it moved them to get involved in helping the Jewish people. It wasn’t sufficient just to pray for the Jewish people, action was absolutely needed. Even our magazine name, Israel My Glory, which was first published in 1942, was taken from Isaiah 46:13 to remind us that our blessings in the future go through Israel. We believe the Jewish prophets who said God would return the Jewish people to the land of promise and rebirth the Jewish nation. Today, we are witnessing the miracle of modern Israel before our eyes, a fulfillment of God’s prophetic word.
JP: What differentiates your Ministry from the mainline Protestant churches?
JS: First of all, we are not a church. We are a Christian ministry representing tens of thousands of Evangelical Christians in North America and world over, all who consider themselves a friend of Israel. What separates us from many mainline Protestant churches is our view of Israel. Many mainline churches believe in supersessionism, otherwise known as replacement theology, a belief that because the Jewish people rejected Jesus, God has replaced Israel with the church. Consequently, they don’t support the existence of modern Israel and some of them embrace the anti-Zionism movement. We reject replacement theology because nowhere in Scripture does God say He has rejected Israel or superseded Israel with the Church. The truth is, God says just the opposite, that He loves Israel and has plans to bless and prosper Israel. As Christian Zionists, The Friends of Israel reaches out a hand of friendship to Israel and stands with Israel against her enemies while mainliners are inclined to embrace BDS and protests against Israel.
JP: The political-left, academia, and the media have become increasingly anti-Israel. How do you envision changing that?
JS: Our role is to expand the Churches’ understanding of Israel and what the Scriptures teach, which is a pro-Israel message. Unfortunately, surveys tell us the Church is losing its understanding of Israel, particularly among the younger generations. It’s not that they are anti-Israel as much as they don’t know what to believe about Israel because no one is teaching them about Israel. We are working to expand our digital footprint to reach more people with the biblical teaching about Israel. We are building a new studio to expand our video programming library. In the past couple of years, we have developed an online educational program, FOI Equip, and other online programs to enable Christians to reach out to Jewish people and help them. Our mission is to work through the Church to change the anti- Israel sentiment and the Internet gives us new channels through digital media to reach people directly.
JP: How, in your personal vision do you see Israel 50 years from now?
JS: Wouldn’t it be great if Messiah came before then and established God’s Kingdom through Israel? Then, 50 years from now, Israel would know the full benefits of the Lord calling Israel My Glory and all the world would be valuing Israel. Until the Messiah comes, the opposition to Israel will remain. Those who hate God will always see in Israel the representation of God and hate Israel. It’s also been true that some who hold to replacement theology become anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist. However, the Lord in Jeremiah promised that as long as the sun, moon and stars exist, there will always be an Israel. Seeing how God is prospering Israel today, and the progress Israel has made over the past 75 years, it’s reasonable to expect Israel in 50 years will be even greater.
While it’s good that Israel has friends, and Christians must ‘Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.’ (Isaiah 40:1); it must be remembered that Israel faces The Time of Jacob’s Trouble. All sincere Jews must prepare themselves – repenting of their sins, and purifying themselves. Only a Holy Remnant will remain out of that people, and these, the remnant of natural Israel, will be, under the direction of the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16), the Heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22) (made up of Spiritual Israelites – Christians), be used to bless the nations of the world.
This particular ministry has some problems – a key problem being the belief in the false doctrine of the Trinity.
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3)
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And He shall be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government, there shall be no end ” Isaiah 9. Both the Old Testament and The New teach the Trinity and that Jesus is the Son of God. It is those who deny Christ’s deity who sadly are in the wrong and do not please God.
Yes, and John 1: 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. “We have seen the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
could you explain that Peter
Dear Diedrich,
I can try.
Firstly, John 1:1 – we’d need to determine what ‘beginning’ is being referred to.
However, putting that aside, it is evident that the Scriptures refer to Jesus a Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) (we’d need to talk about Christ’s pre-human existence).
Also, I suggest you read John 10:30 – 36. Here Jesus point out the Psalms refers to certain others as being ‘gods’ (Psa. 82:6). Yet, he was stating (John 10:36) that he was ‘God’s Son’ – and accused of blasphemy (he made no claim of being the Almighty God, the Father, Jehovah).
Another point regarding John 1:1 (which is really indisputable when examined fairly) is that it can be rendered ‘the Word was *a* god [divine]’ – there is no definite article present in the Greek at this point.
The fact is that Jesus Christ, the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), purchased Adam’s race with his blood (1 Cor. 7:23; 1 Pet. 1:19). Thus, Adam is no longer the father of the race. Jesus Christ is now the eternal father of all – as foretold in Isa. 9.
Read the Statement of Faith for The Friends of Israel, and see if you can work out why this is an antichrist doctrine (see St. John’s letters – part referenced above)/
This is a very basic explanation, in this limited comments section.
I’m from the tribe of Levi, and its sickening to constantly hear about your victim hood.
Amen! Good bless you all!
So it’s another missionary group with more deceptive.branding.
I want to make a group called friends of America where we proclaim the truth that man-idols are not the messiah and he’s just a dude.
We will show up to all the pro-America conferences. Interested in joining?
We have a perfectly good Creator of the universe to be our real friend, and win all our wars, no thanks, idols are gay.
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry teaches Truth, and Biblical History. We need to know Truth NOW, especially with all the deception in the world.
Peter said in Acts 4:10-12 “Let it be known to you all, that the name of Jesus Christ….is salvation and found in no one else, for there is (no other name under heaven given to mankind) ( and by which we must be saved.”)
JESUS IS FULLY JEWISH. THE UNBROKEN LINE. Son of David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and his brothers. Judah begot Perez, Zerah, Hezron, Ram, Amminadah, Nashshon, and Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the King. Matthew 1: 1-6. The King, the True Messiah is fully Jewish and no matter how many lies are told….THE FACT REMAINS and will never be changed! Jesus is the True Creator, Savior, and Redeemer, (GOD IN THE FLESH.). JOHN 1: 1-14.
And interesting, if somewhat mistaken, comment.
Jesus most certainly was not ‘GOD IN THE FLESH’ – this is an Antichrist teaching.
Certainly the Word became flesh. Jesus took the form of a man – previously he was an Archangel (Phil. 2:10; Heb. 2:14, 16).
He was sinless, perfect, and came as a propitiation (1 Jno. 2:2; 4:10) – learn what ‘propitiation’ means.
Like father Adam, who was made in the image of God, Jesus Christ, the last Adam, was the express image of the Father (Col. 1:15).
As Adam was *not* God in the flesh, nor was Christ Jesus – he was and is the Son of God.
Satan didn’t write the Bible…God did. Satan is the Falsifier, not the Angel of Light he pretends to be.
2 Timothy 16. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Adam and Eve were God’s first humans on earth.
Genesis 1:27. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Philippians 2:6
Everyone should see the movie. Left Behind, The Rise of the Antichrist, by Kevin Sorbo. It is scripturally correct. Matthew 24:36-51. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the Days of Noah were, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man be.
For as the days before the flood, they were eating, and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage….Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, one shall be separated from the other, there will be no time for parting words. This is the Rapture of the Church and when it happens, the earth will be in the same as it was in the Days of Noah, and The Great Flood, corrupt, violent, and immoral. True believers will be caught up in glory, honor, and eternal life, unbelievers will be left behind to shame and chaos for they refused to believe the truth.
This is a mistaken understanding of the rapture.
Also, the Antichrist was revealed many years ago. The system is called PAPACY – the false Kingdom of God on earth.
We were warned about False Prophets and False Teachers…..Thank God, God’s word prepared us.
2 Peter 2:1. False Teachers. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.
They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Sovereign Lord who bought them bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.
Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
2 Timothy 4:2. For the Time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires and will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (They will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to myths.)
The Antichrist doesn’t enter the picture until God’s church is taken from the earth, because the restrainer that holds him back is the Church and the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven , with a loud command with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
There’s already an explanation planned to say that Alien beings took millions of people., and thats why they disappeared. All this mystery about UFOs and sightings is there for a reason.
Thank God indeed!
I will leave you to it.
2Th 2:11 KJV And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
True. 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in
wickedness.
The lawless ones will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders to deceive and draw a following. God allows evil, but thus controls it. He did not create evil, and offers help to those who wish to OVERCOME it. God uses both Good and Evil for his good purposes. Those who are committed to evil, however, may be used by God to sin even more to hasten their destruction.
Well, much less ,hostile than BDS crowd but still a miss in regard to respecting the Jewish people AND their faith in the context of only the Jewish faith.
Certainly this “mission” is welcome to visit and love Israel, as the Jewish nation.
But plain old humanity as a reason would suffice.