Christian HolyLand Foundation — Organization Profile
Christian HolyLand Foundation (CHLF) is a Christian mission organization that partners with local believers and ministries in the Holy Land. Its work focuses on supporting local Christian communities through evangelism, church planting, discipleship, reconciliation, relief, development, education, and advocacy. CHLF describes its role as standing with Christian communities in the Holy Land and helping the living church remain rooted in the region.
CHLF is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and its ministry serves Israel, Palestine, Jordan, the Galilee region of northern Israel, and surrounding Holy Land communities. In the United States, the organization also provides education and advocacy for churches, small groups, and ministry partners who want to better understand the complex realities facing Christians in Israel and Palestine.
The organization traces its story to ministry relationships that began in the 1970s with George Awwad, an Arab Christian minister in Jerusalem. CHLF was formally established in 1985 and later deepened its partnership with churches and leaders in Galilee after Awwad’s death in 2003. Today, CHLF emphasizes that the future of the church in the Holy Land belongs to local Christians, and its role is to support that work with humility, resources, and long-term presence.
A central part of CHLF’s ministry is the Galilee Team, a partnership with six pastoring couples native to the Galilee region of northern Israel. These leaders serve established congregations and home churches, while also leading church planting, women’s ministry, youth ministry, reconciliation events, discipleship, benevolence, and local outreach. CHLF states that the Galilee Team has grown from work in six ministries across five communities to ministry with about two dozen groups in nearly 30 villages and towns.
CHLF also supports specific ministries such as the annual Women’s Ministry gathering in Eilabun, the Holiday Youth Conference, and a Benevolence Ministry that provides food and basic supplies to families in need. Its Church Services information helps visitors connect with local evangelical congregations in Beine, Eilabun, and Cana of Galilee. These ministries reflect CHLF’s emphasis on serving both spiritual and practical needs through local pastors and congregations.
People can engage with Christian HolyLand Foundation by giving financially, praying for local Christian communities, inviting CHLF to speak at a church or small group, joining ministry news updates, participating in a pilgrimage, learning about issues affecting Christians in the Holy Land, or supporting the Galilee Team and related ministries. Donations may be made online through CHLF’s giving platform or by mail to its Indianapolis post office box.
Key Links
- Website: https://www.chlf.org/
- About: https://www.chlf.org/about
- The CHLF Story: https://www.chlf.org/story
- Leadership: https://www.chlf.org/leadership
- Galilee Team: https://www.chlf.org/galilee-team
- Women, Youth, and Benevolence: https://www.chlf.org/women-youth-benevolence
- Church Services: https://www.chlf.org/events-1
- Pilgrimages: https://www.chlf.org/israeltrip
- Invite CHLF: https://www.chlf.org/invite
- Donate: https://chlf.networkforgood.com/projects/131539-general-giving
Contact Information
- Email: ma**@**lf.org
- Email: mj******@**lf.org
- Email: op********@**lf.org
- Phone: 317-645-1345
- Mailing address: PO Box 19064, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Socials
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHLF.org/
Leadership
- Matt Nance — Executive Director
- Matt Johnson — Development
- Delaney Pryor — Operations
- Dr. Katy Lines — Board Chair
- Gary Bolenbaugh — Board Treasurer
- Dr. Heather Gorman — Board Member
- Andy Johnson — Board Member
- Matt Shears — Board Member
- Sharon Wilson — Board Member
- Dr. Aaron Woods — Board Member
