Christian Friends of Israel celebrates 40 years of prayer, service and ministry – looking ahead with hope

As Christian Friends of Israel (CFI) marks 40 years of ministry, Executive Director Tristan Hall reflected on the organization’s origins, growth, and spiritual calling during an interview with Christian journalist Paul Calvert.

CFI was founded in Jerusalem in December 1985 by an international group of believers who felt God was initiating a new season in Israel during an especially productive spiritual period. Hall explained that CFI’s roots were shaped by both prayer and action.

“For CFI, the overriding impetus was to do something. To pray. Yes, to pray, because nothing here happens without prayer.” Alongside intercession, CFI's founders are dedicated to real-world expressions of love and to supporting Israel and Israelis via practical aid – a central tenet of the mission that continues today.

For more than four decades, Hall has witnessed a notable transformation in relationships between Jews and Christians. Mistrust in the early years eventually softened and gave way to reconciling friendships.

“The difference between then and now is stark,” Hall noted, pointing to what he describes as Naomi–Ruth–type relationships – bonds marked by loyalty, humility, and faithfulness, built through consistent service rather than power.

Since leading CFI through war times, Hall told Calvert about the challenges facing the primarily volunteer-based team, saying, “They leaned into the Lord, they leaned into their faith, and He gave them the strength that they needed.”

Despite shaky footing, the wartime conflict tends to draw believers from nations who feel called to stand with Israel in practical ways, he explained.

Recent CFI 40th anniversary celebrations brought together international representatives in Jerusalem for events focused on thanksgiving, fellowship, and firsthand encounters with communities impacted by the war.

Hall emphasized that the organization's long success marks “a time to thank God for what He has done and what He will do.”

In the interview, Hall emphasized the importance of volunteerism, noting a significant rise in the number of people willing to serve through the ministry. He explained that volunteers arrive from around the world, bringing practical skills and a shared desire to support Israel in tangible ways.

According to Hall, this volunteer-based model is central to CFI’s work, as it not only allows individuals to participate personally in what God is doing but also enables the organization to direct the majority of its donated resources toward aid projects.

Looking ahead, Hall expressed a hopeful vision for the next 40 years and stressed the importance of being attentive to God’s leading.

“We really want to be looking up and to seek the Lord for His counsel,” he said, likening this moment in Israel’s history to the time when Joshua led the nation across the Jordan into a new season.

For Hall, the comparison underscores CFI's call to move forward with courage rooted in faith. His prayer, he said, is that Christian Friends of Israel will remain bold, obedient, and faithful as its mission continues to unfold, serving Israel with humility, prayer and steadfast commitment in the years ahead.

Click below to listen to Paul Calvert's full interview with Tristan Hall, executive director of Christian Friends of Israel.