JERUSALEM — The board of directors of The Joshua Fund today announced the appointment of Dr. Carl A. Moeller as the organization’s new executive director, effective June 1, 2020.
Dr. Moeller was unanimously elected by the board in March to lead The Joshua Fund, an organization founded in 2006 by New York Times bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg and his wife Lynn. The mission of The Joshua Fund is to “bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus,” according to Genesis 12:1-3, and to strengthen the Church to help fulfill the Great Commission.
To that end, The Joshua Fund educates and mobilizes Christians around the world to pray for and invest in God’s work — including relief — in the “Epicenter” of the Middle East where potential conflicts prophesized in the Old Testament are expected to take place.
“I have known Carl for many years and have been deeply impressed with his passion to strengthen followers of Jesus Christ to fulfill the Great Commission wherever they are, even when they face hardship and outright persecution,” said Rosenberg, the organization’s co-founder and chairman. “I believe that Carl is the right man at the right time to help The Joshua Fund continue to be a trusted resource for any Christian who wants to help advance the Kingdom of Christ in the very birthplace of the Church.”
Dr. Moeller is a well-known and trusted leader in the global evangelical ministry world. His experience includes staff responsibilities with Cru (previously Campus Crusade for Christ) and Saddleback Church. He previously served as president and CEO of Biblica (formerly International Bible Society) from 2014 to 2017 and in the same role at Open Doors, USA from 2003 to 2012. Most recently, he held the position of executive pastor at Northland Church just outside Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Moeller earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago and his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Utah.
As executive director, Dr. Moeller will utilize his skills in motivational speaking, strategic planning, administration and fundraising to advance the cause of the Gospel in Israel and surrounding countries.
“Israel and the Middle East are perhaps the most important area to the future of the world,” Dr. Moeller said. “I believe that to fulfill the Great Commission and Great Commandment in region, we must walk in full obedience to Christ and seek peace, justice and healing by being the hands and feet of Jesus, regardless of the risk or the cost to us. The Joshua Fund is selflessly modeling and leading the way, which is why I am thrilled to join this amazing team.”
The Joshua Fund has invested more than $50 million in congregations and ministries in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and five neighboring Arab countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, and has assisted in the establishment of 17 food and relief distribution centers in Israel.
Additionally, The Joshua Fund leads “Prayer & Vision Tours” to Israel; has hosted “Epicenter Conferences” in the U.S., Israel, Germany and the Philippines; and taken delegations of American evangelical leaders to meet with senior Arab leaders throughout the region.
“Carl Moeller’s global experience, speaking ability, and positive, creative forward-looking worldview are ideally suited for the current season of The Joshua Fund,” said Wayne Pederson, senior vice chairman of the organization’s board and chair of the search team. “Wonderful opportunities for the Gospel are opening up in the Epicenter following disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Joshua Fund is poised to move forward positively with strong passion and leadership that Carl will provide. I look forward to working with him in his new role.”
The Joshua Fund board enlisted the expertise of the Slingshot Group during its search process before unanimously approving Dr. Moeller. As he assumes his responsibilities as president on June 1, Dr. Moeller succeeds Tim Lugbill who has faithfully and humbly served in various roles with The Joshua Fund since its inception in 2006, first as board chair and subsequently as executive director, beginning in 2014.
For more information about The Joshua Fund, visit JoshuaFund.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: To schedule a print or broadcast interview with Dr. Carl Moeller or Mr. Joel C. Rosenberg, contact Wayne Pederson at wpederson@me.com.
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The post The Joshua Fund’s board appoints Dr. Carl A. Moeller as new executive director. Veteran CEO will lead effort to strengthen the church in Israel and the Arab world. appeared first on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog.
(Jerusalem, Israel) — It is not every day that a Saudi newspaper publishes an interview with an Israeli Jewish citizen from an Evangelical faith, especially one discussing some of the most important and controversial matters in the Kingdom and region.
Yet to their credit, Al-Riyadh, a newspaper located in the capital of Saudi Arabia, published just such an interview with me yesterday. Indeed, it was their reporter who initiated the conversation.
It should be noted that the article never mentions that I am an Israeli, or that I did the interview by phone from my home in Jerusalem. The article also carefully avoids using the word “Israel,” even though I mentioned Israel repeatedly during the interview.
That said, overall, I regard this as a very positive development.
I am deeply grateful to three Arab friends in the region who translated the article from Arabic for me. I have synthesized their translations together — and spent a good deal of time on the phone with one of them — to provide a good and fair English translation. I hope you’ll take a moment to read it below. Then, please feel free to send me your comments via Twitter or my “Epicenter Team” page on Facebook. Thanks.
JOEL ROSENBERG TO AL-RIYADH: DIPLOMACY OF CROWN PRINCE IS LEADING TO PEACE AND MODERATION IN THE REGION
By Hadeel Oueiss, Al-Riyadh newspaper, May 21, 2020
The reforms that Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman are making are historic and having positive and dramatic effects on the Saudi kingdom and the region, says Joel Rosenberg, who is president of an association of Evangelical Christian leaders [that has met with numerous Arab leaders throughout the region, including MBS].
Such reforms show that Saudi Arabia wants to lead on initiatives regarding peace and moderation that will change the path of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East towards a better future, guided by young leadership and a new vision.
Rosenberg told the Al-Riyadh newspaper that the Iranian threat is the main danger that the Middle East must work to confront, and he praised the strategy of the Crown Prince towards Iran.
This strategy is based on strengthening the Kingdom’s stability and diversifying diplomatic relationships with other countries that would join Saudi Arabia in stopping Iran from exporting its evil and terrorism and who are willing to stand on common ground with the Saudis against Iran.
The strategy also involves not compromising towards Iran or removing the pressure on Iran that has led to internal struggle within the mullahs’ regime. Iran is facing collapse due to a serious economic crisis and the rejection of their own people.
Rosenberg also added, “I see that Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Crown Prince, is making important strides in its ability to expand Saudi alliances and partnerships. This will bring about strategic and economic gains for the country, especially since two-thirds of the Saudi people are young, under the age of 30. They are looking to take advantage of the full potential of Saudi Arabia.”
“The aspirations of this generation – and the challenges they face – are different from what the previous generation experienced. The Saudi youth of today did not grow up experiencing the traditional conflicts of the region and have not been personally affected by them. They did not witness the wars of 1948, 1967 and 1973. It is a new generation with different experiences and new needs that the Crown Prince is dealing with as he builds new international relationships and plans that provide for the needs of these young people and a different vision of the future.”
“At its core, this is a thoroughly Saudi vision, more than ever before, and it concerns Saudi youth, their economic future, and how to change policies in order to serve the economy and to improve the quality of lives of individuals in Saudi Arabia.”
Rosenberg said that improving the standard of living and diversifying the economy is what all modern and stable countries seek and countries must draw their foreign policy accordingly, seeking to maintain good relationships with countries on all sides and dealing with other people regardless of their ideologies.
These goals are the focus of the Crown Prince’s vision, which is to create a future with a promising economy and political environment that is in harmony with the aspiration of the youth, rather than certain ideologies that would not be helpful for their future.
Rosenberg also revealed a new opinion poll that he conducted in partnership with a company run by the American pollster, John McLaughlin. It found that more than 50% of the American people will support the Crown Prince and Saudi Arabia if they open to the world and work for peace in the region. [See note below.]
Rosenberg concluded, “My personal experience in meeting the Crown Prince was very positive, and perhaps a small example of the future of Saudi Arabia – a country that is open to welcoming others, that has the goal of deepening Saudi relations with the rest of the world. It is definitely in the national interest of the Saudis to diversify their economy and achieve this by diversifying relations with every country in the world and making Saudi Arabia a country that leads the efforts towards peace and moderation in the Middle East.”
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NOTE: It should be noted that the poll question cited in the article was not specifically about Saudi Crown Prince MBS. It was a question about whether the American people would view more favorably any Arab leader who chooses to sign a peace treaty with Israel in the near future. I will publish the exact question and poll results soon.
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The post Saudi newspaper publishes rare interview with Israeli citizen. Here’s what I said to “Al-Riyadh” about Iran and MBS’s vision for moderation, reform and peace. appeared first on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog.