Meet the FIRM Team
Michael & Vanessa Mistretta
Michael Mistretta is the CEO of FIRM: Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries. Born in Toronto, Canada, Michael received a call to Israel where he met Pastor Wayne Hilsden and co-founded FIRM in 2015. Drawing on early entrepreneurial experience and more than 15 years of ministry leadership, Michael has a proven track record of innovation and pioneering new initiatives that advance the Gospel in Israel. He is passionate about seeing ministries in Israel thrive and people coming to know Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah.
Vanessa Mistretta is the Chief People Officer with FIRM. She was raised as a Jewish Believer in Tampa, Florida and grew in her faith in the Messianic Jewish Community and at Southeastern University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Ministry Leadership and master’s degree in Human Services. She has a heart for connecting people, and has applied her passion for unifying believers worldwide by working with influential organizations in the United States and Israel.
Michael and Vanessa are the co-leaders of FIRM, located in the heart of Jerusalem. They are both Jewish followers of Jesus. Their passion for Israel takes them around the world as they strive to build unique connections between the church and the body of believers in Israel and share about how God is moving in Israel today. Michael and Vanessa both immigrated to Israel and live in the Judean Hills with their two boys, Azariah and Hananiah.
Wayne & Ann Hilsden
Dr. Wayne Hilsden is President of FIRM. He and his wife Ann co-founded King of Kings Community Jerusalem in 1983. They are co-founders of FIRM. Wayne regularly speaks at Christian conferences around the world, focusing on Israel and God’s heart for the Jewish people. Wayne and Ann have four sons and several grandkids, and they continue to serve in Jerusalem today.
The Greater FIRM Team
The majority of our team’s identities and roles need to remain private, but we have about 25 staff members. Many are located in Israel, at our Jerusalem offices, and the rest span the world—from East to West! From programming to partnerships to prayer, they do it all while sharing a love for Israel and commitment to the Great Commission.
The Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM) is on a mission to empower local ministries to transform lives in Israel through the love of Jesus. There are many unreached places out there, so why is Israel the mission on FIRM’s heart? What does God say about Israel? What is your part in the story of God’s promises and people?