Who Should You Support?
A note on being aware of Jewish ministries, and staying focused on what matters most.
Our mission is simple: help the Church and Jewish community connect with the Jewish Jesus. I want to encourage you to think carefully and prayerfully about the impact of your giving, especially when it comes to ministries connected to Jewish life and Israel.
We often receive questions about different ministries, organizations, teachers, and podcasts. This newsletter is meant to provide some perspective, helping you stay informed about the complex and challenging landscape of Jewish and Israel-related work.
There are many faithful individuals and organizations who serve with integrity — supporting Israel, caring for the Jewish community, and keeping Jesus at the center. We are grateful to partner with many of them. At the same time, not every organization that uses terms like “Jewish” or “Israel” shares the same faith convictions we hold about Jesus as Messiah. Unfortunately, not all who claim to be “on our team” truly are.
Some use terms like “Jewish,” “Israel,” or even “Holocaust” as fundraising jargon. They appeal to emotions, stir up political or prophetic fervor, and raise funds, yet avoid the heart of Jesus and his mission. Some focus more on humanitarian aid or political advocacy, while others may use emotional appeals that do not ultimately point people toward faith.
Selling the Gospel vs. Preaching the Gospel
The Great Commission is about making disciples, not about creating excitement or raising funds. When evaluating a ministry, it’s worth asking: is their focus on sharing the good news of Jesus, or on building emotional momentum to drive donations?
Some are selling “Israel,” “Jewish roots,” and “Messianic teaching” rather than sharing Jesus. Their fundraising strategy is to create an emotional connection to Israel, often through dramatic stories or urgent prophetic warnings, without any real evangelistic concern. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) is not about marketing. It’s about making disciples. If a ministry is more focused on donor excitement than disciple-making, something is off course.
Jewish Roots v. Jewish Outreach
Understanding the Hebrew Scriptures and our Jewish heritage is vital to Christian faith. Every mention of “Scripture” in the New Testament refers back to the Old Testament. I personally came to faith because I saw Jesus as the fulfillment of what my prophets had promised for millennia. That’s why I value our Jewish roots so deeply.
But sometimes “Jewish roots” teaching is presented mainly as a way to sell books or stir curiosity, rather than to point people toward Jesus. Learning our faith’s Jewish foundations is a gift — but it should always lead us back to Him.
Doing Good Things v. Sharing Good News
Feeding the hungry, helping widows and orphans, caring for Holocaust survivors, standing against antisemitism, and supporting Israel are all deeply important. Our ministry is committed to these things. Yet we also believe they are most meaningful when joined with the hope of the gospel.
They are all good things but not the best thing. Here’s a quote from my book, Devoted to Israel, “devotion to the land and people of Israel without proclaiming the message of Jesus to Israel is not devotion at all.” Acts of service are good and necessary, but they cannot replace sharing the good news of Jesus as Messiah.
Some well-known organizations do large-scale humanitarian work among Jewish people but intentionally avoid any mention of Jesus because it would jeopardize their relationships or fundraising. True love risks offense for the sake of truth.
We do not recommend supporting these two organizations:
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ)
The IFCJ is one of the largest fundraising organizations focused on Jewish causes. They are known for high-profile, emotionally charged TV ads and infomercials featuring Holocaust survivors and struggling Jewish families, appealing directly to Christians for donations. They buy evangelical Christian mailing lists. Here are a few concerns...
Many Christians think that the IFCJ is a Christian organization. That is not the case. They are NOT a Christian organization. They are run by Jewish people who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and oppose his message. Many Christians give generously, thinking they are helping advance God’s Kingdom — yet not a single dollar goes toward Gospel ministry. Feeding the hungry and caring for the vulnerable is a command, but preying upon Christian generosity to fund work that deliberately avoids Jesus’ name is not advancing the mission Jesus gave to us.
Christians United for Israel (CUFI)
CUFI is primarily a political advocacy organization. Their mission is to mobilize Christian support for the State of Israel. Here are a few concerns...
CUFI’s focus is lobbying, policy influence, and rallying political backing, not evangelism. Their events have featured speakers and teaching that promote the idea that Jewish people do not need to believe in Jesus to be saved. Donor dollars given with the thought of “helping Israel” are going toward political action, not proclaiming the Gospel. Supporting Israel politically is not inherently wrong — but believers must be careful not to confuse political alignment with Kingdom work.
Please be wary of Christian fundraising built on any emotional manipulation — especially using Holocaust survivors, military conflict, or urgent prophetic claims to provoke giving. Use caution when prophecy-centered organizations stir excitement about end-times events but never call people to a relationship with Jesus. Be wary of books that claim knowledge of “mysteries” or “secrets” that only the author understands. Please be careful!
A Simple Checklist
Here are a few questions you can ask when considering support for any ministry:
Mission Clarity — Is the gospel central?
Doctrinal Beliefs — Do they clearly teach the need for salvation through Jesus for all?
Statement of Faith — Is it biblical and public?
Financial Transparency — Are annual reports available? Are funds used as promised?
Evangelistic Evidence — Are lives being impacted?
Accessibility — Can you connect directly with their staff or field workers?
Local Involvement — Do they equip others to share in their own communities?
If an organization resists answering these questions, this should raise concerns.
A Call to Biblical Discernment
We live in a confused and distracted age. Many Christians are captivated by causes that feel righteous but are disconnected from the gospel of our Messiah. Paul’s words in Romans 10:1 are clear: “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” That must remain our central desire as well.
Supporting Israel is good. Understanding Jewish roots is valuable. Doing good works is commendable. But none of these can replace the call to “preach Messiah crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23).
As you consider year-end giving, we invite you to:
Give generously.
Give strategically
Give to ministries that keep Jesus at the center.
We are all indebted to the Jewish people for the gospel we have received through them. They need our love, support, encouragement, and help now more than ever.