Christian Friends of Magen David Adom (CFMDA)
”Faith without works is dead” (James 2 v26 )
Kiryat Shmona MDA Station, Northern Israel
What is CFMDA ?
Christian Friends of Magen David Adom (CFMDA) is an organisation which was founded by Born Again Christians whose faith and theology leads them to stand with Israel in obedience to the Lord.
After a chance meeting with Norman Feingold, who worked enthusiastically for the regional side of Magen David Adom, a small group of Christians were asked to form a Christian Friends group.
Their initial aim was to provide an ambulance to be deployed in Israel with the words “Christian Friends of Magen David Adom UK” written on the side. This has now been done and two such ambulances and a bloodmobile are now in service. This has served as a witness to the people of Israel that a group of Christians are standing with them during what is a most difficult time in their history. Through their ‘good work’, the CFMDA group wants to alter the perceptions of Christians and the Christian faith and demonstrate that everyone can work together.
What is Magen David Adom ?
Magen David Adom is Israel’s only Medical Emergency Service & Blood Bank. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which depends on donors from across the world. As a member of the International Red Cross, it is the Israeli Red Cross Organisation.
For 60 years, Magen David Adom UK has been supporting the livesaving work of the thousands of volunteers and paramedics in Israel. Through funds raised in the UK, we have built stations, purchased medical supplies and so much more.
CFMDA’s First two Ambulances
The first ambulance was dedicated at MDA Tiberias on Monday, 2nd July 2008 at a ceremony which was attended by 80 people, many of whom had travelled especially from the UK. The dedication took place in temperatures around 100’ and the hospitality shown by MDA Tiberias was much appreciated by those who attended. The first ambulance is stationed at MDA Kfar Saba.
The second ambulance followed fairly quickly and was dedicated in Bolton on Thursday, 10th September 2009 to coincide with a visit to the UK by MDA paramedic Sarah Cascella who addressed those present and who thanked the Christian Friends for their generous donation. The second ambulance is stationed at MDA Nazareth.
CFMDA Bloodmobile
Having now donated two ambulances, the CFMDA Executive decided to donate a Bloodmobile to MDA Israel. These vehicles tour Israel collecting badly needed blood from offices, schools, kibbutzim etc and help collect the 300,000 units of blood required by Israel every year.
The dedication took place on the 14th April 2011 at Kingsway Christian Fellowship in Liverpool. It was well supported by 140 members of both the Jewish & Christian community in Liverpool and the North West of the UK.
Between 1/11/2010 and 10/11/2011 some 8,116 units of blood were collected by the CFMDA bloodmobile, that is 2.5% of the total blood units collected that year in Israel.
Who is involved with CFMDA in the UK
Norman Feingold is the person responsible for CFMDA. It was his brainchild way back in 2007. He has a 60 year history of fundraising in the UK and is now living in Israel where he volunteers for Christian Friends around the world.
Reverend Mark Madeleyis the President of CFMDA and formerly lived and work in the Halifax area of West Yorkshire but now lives and works in Weston super Mare. He is also a patron of Anglicans for Israel and runs a travel company taking people to Israel. He can be contacted on: Tel: 01934 620156 Email: mark@mibtravel.co.uk
Peter McGowanis a Bolton businessman who is the Chairman of CFMDA. He believes, in a practical way that CFMDA will show the Lord’s love to Israel. He can be contacted on: Mobile: 07543 101445 E-mail: petermcgowan235@btinternet.com
Barrie Robinsonis the CFMDA Events organiser and works alongside Peter McGowan. He can be contacted at 1 Fairfield Road, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9QD. Mobile: 079885 607256 Email: barrie.robinson2@ntlworld.com
Alan Chesteris very much involved with Kingsway Christian Fellowship in Liverpool where many fund-raising activities take place for CFMDA. He can be contacted at Kingsway Christian Centre, Church Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 5NA Tel: 0151 920 5111 Email: ajchester@f2s.com
Janet Hume is our Executive member in the North East. Tel: 0191 534 3334
Jean Brannigan is our Executive member in the Scotland.
Celestine Kingis our Executive member in London & the South East. She can be contacted on: Email: celestineking@btinternet.com Mobile: 07719 598300
Annette Bettridge is our Executive member in Birmingham & the West Midlands
Gwen Thompson is our Executive member in Northern Ireland.
Richard Simon is the UK Regional Director for Magen David Adom UK and works together with the CFMDA Executive to further its objectives.
Our Current CFMDA Project – MDA Kiryat Shmona
Having previously donated two ambulances and a blood mobile to MDA Israel, the CFMDA Executive decided to go up a notch in their fundraising activities and agreed to the half-funding of the refurbishment and reconstruction of the MDA Station at Kiryat Shmona.
Kiryat Shmona is Israel’s most northern largest city with a population of 22,000. It nestles in the Hula Valley one of the most popular tourist regions in Israel at the foot of Mount Hermon. It is located 5km south and 2km east of the border between Israel and Lebanon so the city is a rich target for rocket fire and cross-border attacks.
MDA Kiryat Shmona is the main dispatching station of the Jordan region and provides services 24/7, 365 days a year to more than 100,000 residences between Mount Hermon in the North and Hazor Haglilit in the south, covering both Jewish & Arab sectors. In 1981, missiles hit Kiryat Shmona station and four ambulances were destroyed.
The station now requires major modifications and extensive infrastructure changes including the ambulance parking area and underground facilities.
CFMDA are now committed to raising £375k which is half of the cost of the refurbishment and reconstruction
This work is critical for the safety of our people in the region. Just click here to donate to this project.
Current update on our Fundraising
As at the 7th February 2013, around £49k has been raised for the Kiryat Shmona project which represents approximately 13% of the total amount needed.
In total, since CFMDA started, over £239k has been donated. Thank you for your support.
The future of CFMDA
“As a friend of CFMDA, I believe, like Caleb, we should be looking to the future and overcoming all obstacles and events that can frighten and intimidate us, which can stop us reaching our goals. It is important that people will come on board and help us grow our ministry. We pray for guidance, so that we can bless the people of Israel and continue to provide ambulances, bloodmobiles and ambulance stations for the people of Israel”.
Barry Robinson, Events Organiser, CFMDA
How do I join CFMDA and make a donation ?
You can call the Manchester Regional Office on 0161 928 9990 and make a donation by Credit Card over the telephone.
You can download our current Kiryat Shmona brochure which allows you to donate with gift aid and also to complete a Banker’s Order if you wish to donate that way.
The cost is £25 per person/per family per year
You can go to the MDA UK website on www.mdauk.org , go ‘Make a Donation’ and select ‘CFMDA’ as the area you wish your donation to go to.
Finally, you can send a donation to:
CFMDA, Charter House, 2 Woodlands Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1HF
Tel: 0161 928 9990. E-mail: cfmda@mdauk.org
Website: www.mdauk.org/committees/cfmda
To order a CFMDA Charity (“tzedaka”) Box, please contact the Regional Office who will be delighted to send one to you.
For further information visit www.creonline.co.uk
