Christians Pledge $1 Million to JNF

A Christian Pentacostal-type church in Vancouver, which formed an organization called “Christian Bridges to Israel” two years ago and pledged $1 million to the Jewish National Fund towards the funding of the Infrastructure of a new kibbutz in the Galilee, has already transferred $300,000 to Israel.

In addition, the Glad Tidings Church under the leadership of its pastor, the Rev. Maureen Gaglardi, had arranged four tours to Israel during the past two years. The kibbutz it is helping is Kibbutz David in the JNF’s Galil Canada project.

The Christian Bridges to Israel organization was begun in the spring of 1979 when the Rev. Jacoba Hurst, an Episcopal (Anglican) priest from Georgia met Gaglardi in Vancouver and they discovered their mutual love for and interest in Israel. In 1980 Hurst took a leave of absence from his parish to work full time with Gaglardi on the Israel program.

A FOUR-POINT PROGRAM

Hurst developed a four-point program to:

Communicate encouragement and support for Israel. Two concert tours were organized for the fall of 1980 to Israel in which seven concerts were given in cities, kibbutzim and military bases. Two additional tours were made in August and September 1981 which were joined by other Christian churches in Western Canada.

Demonstrate Christian support of Israel in a material way by pledging $1 million. Various other churches in Western and Eastern Canada, as well as churches in Kentucky, California and Washington, have contributed to the $1 million fund. Most of the churches are Pentecostal and fundamentalist.

Express repentance for the silence of Christian churches during the Holocaust. All the Israel tours have included visits to Yad Vashem.

Influence other churches through educational materials and programs.