Roger van Oordt Appointed Honorary Consul in the Netherlands
On 4 November 2021, Mr Roger F.G. van Oordt was appointed honorary consul in the Netherlands for the State of Israel.
Van Oordt was executive director of Christians for Israel Netherlands until 2020. He is the son of the founder of Christians for Israel, Karel van Oordt, and has been involved in the organisation and the Israel Products Center since its establishment in 1980.
Van Oordt: “I consider this a special recognition of the deep bond that we as Christians for Israel have with Israel. Thousands of volunteers, staff and supporters worldwide have been committed to Israel for over forty years. By supporting all kinds of humanitarian projects for both Jews and Arabs, by organising trips to Israel with tourists, journalists, pastors and politicians, and by providing Biblical teaching in churches about God’s faithfulness to Israel.”
Hila Stern, deputy Israeli ambassador in the Netherlands, described Roger during the ceremony as a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people, and someone who always stands up for the truth about Israel. The title honorary consul is a voluntary position in which trade and international relations between the Netherlands and Israel are promoted. The honorary consul also devotes himself to representing Israel in the Netherlands in all kinds of ways. The Netherlands now has four honorary consuls of Israel, whereas worldwide there are two hundred. Each honorary consul fulfils his role in his own way.
The position fits in well with the current role of Van Oordt, who has handed over the role of Director of Christians for Israel to his younger brother Frank. Now, Roger van Oordt is the leader of the Business Club of Christians for Israel Netherlands, a growing group of hands-on entrepreneurs who support all kinds of humanitarian projects in Israel.
Van Oordt: “For forty years, we have supported Israel in words and deeds, and at the same time, we are committed to combating antisemitism in the Netherlands. In this new role as honorary consul, I see it as my mission to continue to speak up for Israel with enthusiasm.
My motivation comes from Isaiah 62:1:
‘For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.’
This is such a beautiful verse. This is my mission, and this is what we want to do. Not just me, but everyone who is a Christian for Israel. As watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, until the glory of Jerusalem shall be complete.”
The honorary consulate will be located in the Israel Centre in Nijkerk, Netherlands.
Following the swearing-in of Roger van Oordt as honorary consul, the Israel Centre (HQ of C4I) now also functions as the consulate of Israel.
Photos: Willem Jan de Bruin Photography
