Karel van Oordt, founder of Christians for Israel. Photo: Christians for Israel.

Karel van Oordt, founder of Christians for Israel, died in his home last week in Amersfoort, Netherlands at the age of 84, a press release from the organization said.

Christians for Israel is an international non-denominational Christian organization based in the Netherlands whose mission is to “bring biblical understanding in the church and among the nations concerning God’s purposes for Israel and to promote comfort of Israel through prayer and action,” according to its website.

Van Oordt, who visited Israel more than 500 times, according to the press release, founded Christians for Israel and the Israel Products Centre (IPC) in 1979. Under van Oordt’s leadership, Christians for Israel grew to several dozen chapters across the world, primarily in Europe, North America and sub-Saharan Africa.

The press release said Oordt, a devout Christian, was well known for saying, “The promises that were given to Israel are being fulfilled for Israel. The promises that were given to the church will be fulfilled for the church.”

As a charitable organization, Christians for Israel works with the Jewish Agency for Israel to assist Jews from countries like the Ukraine and Ethiopia and immigrate to Israel. The organization also works with Israeli youth groups as well as groups that assist Israeli victims of terror attacks, according to its website.

Van Oordt is survived by his eight children and 47 grandchildren, including many who are involved with Christians for Israel.