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Executive Director, Int’l Christian Embassy Jerusalem
Former Chaplain, Int’l Christian Embassy
Founder, “The Olive Tree” Assemblies of God
Church, Durban, South Africa (accredited with London University)
Graduate, Bible Institute of Southern Africa
Graduate, Int’l Bible Institute and Seminary
Malcolm Hedding has been involved with the work of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) since 1981 and has been executive director since 2000. Over the years more and more evangelicals have continued to come to Israel, even during times of violence. This has had a profound impact on the Jewish people. Malcolm says the Embassy has been a forerunner in gaining a presence in Israel.
Malcolm says one of the most significant developments in Israel has been the formation of the Christian Allies Caucus in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, which has provided a way for Christians to relate to the Parliament and the Jewish nation at the highest level. Having lived in Israel for so long, Malcolm says the ICEJ has been given a view of events from the grassroots level. "Being in the land and on the spot has given us a view that is special," he says. "We have been here."
Christians continue to come from all over the world, and that has made a significant impact as well. "The impact is incredible," he says. When others weren’t coming, the Church came, and that causes the Jews to ask, "Why?" Malcolm says they are constantly approached by Hebrew academics and politicians and asked why they stay and why Christians come. This gives Malcolm and others the opportunity to explain that the restoration of Israel is not just a political event, but evidence of God’s Word fulfilled. It is evidence of the truthfulness of God’s Word. This is a catalyst for them to look at their own Scriptures and search for the truth.
CELEBRATION IN THE HOLY CITY
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the ICJE, and 5,000 Christians are expected to attend their Feast of Tabernacles celebration. The Feast of Tabernacles (September 27 – October 5) is the biggest tourist event in Israel and is famous for attracting large numbers of Christian evangelicals. Pat Robertson is one of the featured speakers for this year's event.
COMFORTING ZION
The ICEJ was founded in 1980 as an evangelical Christian response to the need to comfort Zion according to the scriptural mandate in Isaiah 40:1-2: “Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
The ICEJ was established to comfort the Jewish people and to declare the purpose of God to the Jewish people. The Embassy supports the nation of Israel because the Embassy loves her, is indebted to her, and seeks to obey God’s Word. The Embassy proclaims a message to Zion that her modern-day restoration is not a historical accident, but the fulfillment of God’s Word (Ezekiel 36:24-26, Luke 21:24). A time of great glory awaits Israel, even though dark times may precede the break of day. Vision will not fail, and from a Jewish Jerusalem, the Lord’s law will go out and the "nations shall not learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:1-4).
Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22) and Paul affirms that everything we hold dear as Christians has come from the Jewish people (Romans 3:1, 9:1-5, and 15:27). We are indeed their debtors, and now more than ever Israel needs our support, prayers, and ministry of comfort.
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