Dear Friend,
Welcome to Israel, where you will have the opportunity to step into the very pages of Scripture. I’m so glad you’ve chosen to join us for this trip to the Holy Land—the place where the stories of the Bible were lived out. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, Paul, and so many others walked the very ground that you’ll be treading during this trip with us. I can’t wait to introduce you to many special places in Israel—the city of Jerusalem, the Mount of the Beatitudes, the Sea of Galilee, Jericho, the Mount of Olives, the Upper Room, the Garden of Gethsemane, and so many more. Maybe most inspiring of all, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Garden Tomb from which Jesus rose from death to purchase our salvation. I’ll invite you to pause there for a prayer of gratitude for what God did for you and me. What a privilege it is to walk in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior in the place He lived out His earthly life.
You are embarking on an adventure that will give you memories to last a lifetime. Over the several days of this tour, we’ll be visiting key places where the biblical stories unfolded. After you see these spots, you’ll understand as never before that the stories the Bible tells are not fiction—they really happened in a particular time and place. You’ll no longer have to try to imagine what the settings of famous Bible stories might have looked like, as now you’ll know for yourself.
Many people have testified that their visit to the Holy Land forever changed the way they read the Bible. As they ponder the pages of God’s Word, the stories of Scripture come alive to them like never before, as they remember the sights, the sounds, and the smells of this incredible land.
Of course, there will be comfortable accommodations and great food, including some unforgettable traditional Hebrew dishes. I’ll be offering teaching and insights at each of the sacred sites along the way, taking you deeper into the significance of what happened in each of these places and what it means for your life. And we will worship together, lifting voices in prayer and praise, in the locations where Jesus once preached and prayed.
I’m so pleased you are joining us. I’m praying that this very special trip will open your eyes anew to God’s Word and that it will deepen your relationship with God. I’m praying that you’ll make new friends among your fellow travelers—friends for life. And I’m praying that your heart will be filled and your spirit uplifted by this tour experience. May you sense Christ’s presence with you as you walk in His footsteps.
As we embark on this journey of tracing the pathway of our Savior throughout the land of Israel, I want to encourage you to spend regular time with Him—whether meditating on a drive to a specific location, or honoring Him with the focus of your heart, ongoing prayer, journaling, or reading Scripture.
I encourage you to take the time to read the passages of Scripture that are related to the places you are going to be visiting. Soak up the Word of God as you reflect on what took place on these very sites.
May our journeys in this Holy Land leave us all more inspired, encouraged, refreshed, and empowered to know God deeply and personally. This is His desire (Jeremiah 9:23-24). May it be our aim.
Welcome, again, to the place where Jesus walked. As we walk the Holy Land together, may it make us more holy.
