Spiritual and Educational Travel to the Holy Land

Pastoral and religious leaders are increasingly discovering the value of bringing members of their churches to the Holy Land. Walking along the shores of Galilee, through the ancient streets of Jerusalem, or through archaeological parks in Israel makes Biblical history come to life and provides a vivid and tangible reference point for making sense of Jesus' life, preaching, ministry and Jewish heritage.

Church sponsored events to the Holy Land create multifaceted benefits for congregations such as increased participation in adult education programs, stronger bonds among participants, increased commitment to other programs, increased financial support for the church, and new membership.

As people travel to other lands and gain an appreciation for the perspectives of other peoples and religious traditions, they also become more educated about and invested in the work of social justice, mission, and interfaith dialogue. This inspires them to become compassionate citizens of the world and stewards of world heritage.

Illume invites you to organize a spiritual and educational journey to the Holy Land for your congregation.

Program Highlights

Deepen knowledge about Biblical History
Travel to the Holy Land affords a unique entry into the land and times of the Bible. People begin to put different places together, see the chronology of events more clearly, and better understand the geographical, urban and political context of Biblical stories.

Nurture faith formation and spirituality
As participants walk in the footsteps of Jesus and recount the stories of the Gospels their own faith deepens, matures and strengthens. The journey to historical places becomes an interior journey as the words of Christ become more tangible and invite participants to encounter him in a new way. Many groups organize Bible study at select sites, celebrate Eucharist in historic venues, or arrange for prayer services at spiritually rich places.

Broaden perspectives
The Holy Land is held sacred by Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is a region where the beliefs and practices of many different peoples and traditions are lived daily. Participants will learn more about other faiths and they will have opportunities to reflect on questions about justice and peace as they ponder historical and contemporary conflict and examples of cooperation and mutual respect.

Visit Highlights

On request, we will send group organizers copies of suggested itineraries for Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Messianic and Interfaith groups. We assist organizers in developing customized itineraries as well.

A sample list of sites that are incorporated into various programs include Joppa, Caesarea Maritima, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, the Sea of Galilee, Caparanaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Golan Heights, Tel Dan, Banias, Nazareth, Cana, Mt. Tabor, Akko, Ein Harod, Mt. Gilboa, Beit Shean, Jericho, the Dead Sea, Massada, Qumran, Bethlehem, and sites in and around Jerusalem such as the Mt. of Olives, The Temple Mount, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Garden Tomb, Via Dolorosa, Tomb of King David and Upper Room, Opfel Archaeological Park, and much more.

Create unique experiences for your group
Illume's team of local experts will create activities and visits built around the unique objectives of your group. These may include visits to archaeological sites with local experts, panel presentations and/or dialogue opportunities for interfaith groups, visits to Palestinian communities and Jewish settlements to explore different perspectives on the current state of affairs, and setting up private religious ceremonies for your group and/or participation in religious ceremonies of other faith communities in Israel.

“Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it . . .” (Genesis 13:17)

Email or contact us to learn more about how we can customize this program for your specific interests.

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