Following the Steps of the Great Physician

PURPOSE
This trip will serve to provide team members with a spiritual and educational experience to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and learn from His ministry on earth. For years, we have served with the mutual goal of seeking healing for both body and soul just as He did. Now we can learn together in the place where it all happened. Your trip will include visits to places where Jesus touched bodies, answered questions, and challenged beliefs, all with the goal of pointing hurting people to the Great Physician. 

Please be advised that this trip involves a great deal of walking, especially in the Old Jerusalem area, and those with mobility issues may find it challenging.

Israel is a small country located in the Middle East, about the same size as New Jersey in both area and population. Following World War II and the Holocaust, many Jews were determined to regain their land and came together to form the modern State of Israel in 1948. As the world’s only Jewish nation, its capital is Jerusalem, though only a handful of nations recognize this, with most others choosing to recognize Tel Aviv instead. Considering its size, Israel has a very diverse landscape consisting of Mediterranean beaches, the Negev Desert, and green mountainous regions, with the northern portion of the Great Rift Valley cutting through the center of the country. In addition, Israel contains the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, which has a high salt concentration that allows visitors to easily float on top of the water. Over the years, Israel has been ruled by many different nations, each leaving a piece of their history behind. Throughout the country, ruins can be found from the Roman Empire, Byzantines, and Ottomans, as well as from both New and Old Testament times. Today, Israel is home to some of the most advanced technologies in the world, especially when it comes to military equipment, farming practices, and advances in the medical field. There are many religions present in Israel, with Judaism accounting for 74% of the population, and approximately 41% of the global Jewish population residing in the country. Islam is the second largest religion with around 18% of the population claiming to be Muslim. Christians, mostly Catholics, make up about 2%, while Druze and a variety of other religions make up the rest of the population. Religion is very important in Israel and affects every part of its culture, and much of the country shuts down on Friday nights to celebrate Shabbat, or the Sabbath. The Old City of Jerusalem itself is divided into four quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian, each bringing their own unique cultures with differing foods, traditions, and celebrations. A visit to Israel is an eye-opening experience for Christians as visiting actual biblical sites while reading passages about what occurred there helps the Bible come to life for believers. Some of the more popular biblical sites include Golgotha, the Garden Tomb, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Temple Mount, and the Sea of Galilee. Through visiting many of these sites, Bible stories take on a new meaning and help readers visualize what they are reading.

For more information visit the World Factbook.

This is a Tribe Only trip. For more information, visit here.

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Please note that because the primary purpose of this trip is not humanitarian, but rather educational, trip costs are not tax-deductible, and team members will not be able to fundraise as they can for our other trips.