5 Israeli Evangelicals are largely Messianic Jews, and Arabs who are Israeli citizens

a) Boldness in witness despite difficulties

b) Full legal rights of immigration and social acceptance in the face of national, social and family pressures

c) Clarity of teaching and understanding about their Jewishness

d) Effective leadership

e) Unity

f) Arab Evangelicals

6 Major outreach challenges:

a) The ultra-Orthodox Haredi are only 10% of the population, yet have more political leverage than the 83% who are secular Jews

b) The Russian and Ukrainian Jews are now the largest component of the population

c) The Ethiopian Jews (Falasha) have become a disillusioned, largely impoverished underclass since their immigration to Israel a decade ago

d) The Arabs – 97% are Muslim

e) The Druze community (99,000) in Israel as well as the West Bank and the Golan Heights

f) Guest workers

7 The Protestant missionary force is estimated at around 1,000, but many Christians have entered as individuals to serve the Lord

8 The Jews of the dispersion (those outside Israel) are declining in numbers through a lower birth rate, mixed marriages, secularism, emigration to Israel and conversions to other religions

9 Supportive ministries:

a) Literature is of great importance for the spread of the gospel due to the multiplicity of languages and paucity of Christians who witness

b) Student work is in its infancy

c) The JESUS film has been shown on prime-time TV in both Israel and the Palestine Authority in Arabic or Hebrew, and video tapes have been distributed to over 100,000 homes

d) Radio

Politics

The founding of Israel in 1948 ended 1,900 years of exile for the Jews.

Religion

All religions are free to minister within their own communities.

Churches in Israel

Missionaries from Israel

30 in 7 agencies to 5 countries

Missionaries to Israel

338 in 64 agencies from 23 countries

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Geography

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Area 20,700 sq.km. A further 7,540 sq.km. of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights have been controlled by Israel since 1967.

Population (2000) 5,121,683 +2.55%AGR

Capital Jerusalem 670,000; but not recognized internationally.

Peoples

Jews 80.7%; Arabs 15.6%; Other 3.7%.

Literacy 98%. Official languages Hebrew, Arabic. Numerous immigrant languages from all over the world are spoken. Languages with Scriptures 7Bi 2por 1w.i.p.

Economy

Modern, sophisticated industrial state. Unemployment 8.6%. HDI 0.883, 23^rd/174. Public debt 27% of GNP. Income/person $16,180 (51% of USA).

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