On December 1, 1938, The Friends of Israel Refugee Relief Committee, as our ministry was first called, started in an effort to stand with the Jewish people and give them much-needed help and relief as they fled Nazi tyranny. More here ➔

Three years earlier, Victor Buksbazen, who would later become the first director of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (FOI), met his wife, Lydia Sitenhof, a Hebrew Christian woman.

“When we became engaged, she came over to Poland, where I was superintendent of a ministry. I hoped that we would soon be married and continue our work in Poland. Sensing the growing power of Hitler against Jewish people, Lydia convinced me that, if war broke out, Poland would be one of the first victims of his conquests of Europe, and Jews would not be spared. I reluctantly agreed, and in 1937 we left Poland for England.” - Victor Buksbazen

Buksbazen’s ministry to the Jewish people continued, and he was soon appointed the first director of FOI. He had to leave London to take on this role, which left a void in FOI’s presence in the United Kingdom (UK) for 77 years.

For many years, David Levy, our former director of International Ministries, prayed for the Lord to supply FOI representatives in the UK. In 2013, the Lord provided Trevor and Maggie Stewart-Sweet as volunteer workers for FOI in the UK.

Prior to joining the FOI UK team, the Stewart-Sweets were greatly involved in Jewish ministry, teaching adult-education courses in a Jewish area close to Hampstead and taking on church leadership roles to help combat Replacement Theology.

In 2008, they received a copy of Zvi: The Miraculous Story Of Triumph Over the Holocaust. Familiar with Zvi Kalisher’s last name, they reached out to Meno Kalisher, FOI’s Israeli field director and pastor of The Jerusalem Assembly in Israel to learn if there was a connection between him and Zvi (Meno is Zvi’s son). Soon after, Meno flew to England to meet with them and speak with their church. Seeing their zeal for Jewish ministry, he urged them to consider joining FOI.

Trevor and Maggie had always wanted to serve the Lord, but Meno’s proposal came as a complete surprise to them. Through prayer and passages like Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:11–15, both Trevor and Maggie knew the Lord had confirmed their calling.

In 2013, the Stewart-Sweets became volunteer representatives. Over the next 2 years, they used their church contacts to begin building local awareness of the ministry. In January 2016, Trevor and Maggie were appointed as full-time FOI representatives in the UK.

Since joining FOI’s ministry, the Stewart-Sweets have helped establish the UK branch of FOI by attending Jewish organizations’ cultural, historical, and commemorative events; affirming our support and care for Israel and the Jewish people; standing against antisemitism and Replacement Theology; visiting churches and fellowships throughout the UK to introduce the ministry of FOI and teach about Israel in God’s Word; teaching at seminars and conferences in the UK and overseas; and leading Bible studies, Passover celebrations, and historic Jewish heritage walks in London.

Today, FOI UK continues to look to expand ministry opportunities throughout the country; increase outreach to and support for the UK Jewish community; and lead tours to Israel and Poland.