Celebrating 50 Years

January 20, 2015

Bridges CEO Rebecca Brimmer and Board Chair Jess Gibson present Magen David Adom with the keys to a new ambulance.
Photo by Abigail Wood/bridgesforpeace.com This year Bridges for Peace has been celebrating 50 years since our founder, Dr. G. Douglas Young, moved to Israel and established a foundation of blessing Israel! We received our ministry DNA from this great man—educator of Christians and friend of Israel. In November we honored him by hosting a Solidarity Mission, giving an ambulance to the city of Jerusalem, donating bomb shelters to kindergartens in Kiryat Ekron and inviting our Israeli and Christian friends to a Gala evening in Dr. Young’s honor.

Bridges for Peace, following in the giant footsteps of our founder, has worked tirelessly to improve relations between the Christian and Jewish worlds. Recently, one of our dear friends and former volunteers told me that when she was praying for us, she had two words come to mind: “straight arrow.” After reflection, she told me that we are direct, honest and forthright, morally upright and committed to the vision that God has entrusted to us. “Make straight in the desert a highway for our God…the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth” (Isa. 40:3–4). After 1,700 years of negative interaction between Christians and Jews, a lot of rough relations need to be smoothed; many crooked places need to be straightened. I believe that today is the time when God is healing ancient wounds and He is allowing Bridges for Peace to be part of the healing process.

Commander of the Southern Brigade
Photo by Debra Williams/bridgesforpeace.com At our Solidarity Mission, 100 Christian participants traveled to meet with soldiers on the border with Gaza to show our love and support to those who willingly risked their lives to protect the people of Israel during the recent war. We traveled to the spot where three teenage boys were kidnapped and murdered, the same spot that a young woman was murdered in the exact week we were there. We learned from Israeli experts about the conflict, about advocacy for Israel, about the threats Israel faces both internally and from world pressure. We learned about the rising threat of anti-Semitism, the plight of Christians throughout the Islamic world and theological positions which seek to marginalize Israel in God’s eternal economy. I am convinced that our founder would have been proud of the program that we provided for Christians from a dozen countries, to equip them to stand firm with the God of Israel and the Israel of God.

At the Gala dinner, two hundred and fifty Jews and Christians honored the legacy of Dr. G. Douglas Young.
Photo by Debra Williams/bridgesforpeace.com The highlight of the week was the Gala dinner. Of the 250 guests, half were Jewish. We invited religious and secular Jews; military leaders, political leaders, heads of NGOs, Christian leaders and our Bridges for Peace team, including national directors, volunteers and staff. A former surgeon general spoke about working with Bridges for Peace to meet the needs in Haiti following their devastating earthquake, and in Japan after their 2012 tsunami. He was moved to realize all the other things we do, 365 days a year, to be a blessing to Israel. MK [Knesset Member] Gila Gamliel, co-Chair of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, spoke about the importance of Christians and Jews working together in the difficult days we both face in the current world. She marveled at the fact that Christian politicians in 30 countries are encouraging legislatures in their own governments to support Israel. She thanked Bridges for Peace for our steadfast friendship. The Fountainheads, a youthful Jewish music group, provided upbeat music. They had never met us before, and were amazed at the diversity of the Jewish people who came to honor a Christian man they had never met, because of the legacy of Bridges for Peace.

At the end of the evening I finished with these words, “Tonight we start the next 50 years.” It is my prayer and heart’s desire that more Christians will rise up and stand with Israel. Join us as we continue to make the path straight, stand straight as an arrow with God and His chosen people Israel. Please join us in prayer, advocacy and financial support as we enter the second half of the first 100 years of blessing. God will bless you as you bless His people Israel (Gen. 12:3).

Blessings from Israel, 
   Rebecca J. Brimmer 
   International President and CEO

Source: