Austrian Evangelical Community 'Adopts' 100 Christian IDF Soldiers

Mara Vigevani : Feb 13, 2018
Breaking Israel News

"The community (in Linz) sends a letter with each package with a message of religious and moral support for volunteering to serve the army." -Amit Barak

[BreakingIsraelNews.com] The initiative, promoted by Pastor Yohanes Kramer of the Rhema Church in Linz and Amit Barak, a consultant on Israel's relations with Christian communities in Israel and abroad, grew out of a meeting last November during one of Barak's trips to evangelical communities in Europe. Barak and Kramer decided to provide Christmas packages; within a few weeks 250 community members had donated money, bought presents and chocolates, wrapped them and sent them to Israel, together with holiday messages of support. (Photo: Christian IDF soldier/courtesy of Karmelin Eshkar/via BIN)

Kramer said the program was the first time Christian-Israeli soldiers received presents from a community abroad, just like Jewish soldiers who often get presents from Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

"We decided that from now on we will send gifts every year for Christmas. Next year we will collect more money and will be able to send more care packages," Kramer told TPS. "We believe we should help Arab Christians...

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