- Mark Alan Williams
- May 26, 2019
- 4 min read
Here’s 5 great reasons you should go.
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In February 2020 Carolyn and I will be hosting a tour of the Holy Land and we’d love to
have you go with us!
The first time I visited the Holy Land, almost 28 years ago, it was overwhelming. In the
Upper Room, I tried to sing a beloved song, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked.” I
could barely finish—it was such a deeply moving experience. To hear that song along
with some pictures click HERE.
In over 60 years of being a Christian, visiting Israel is right at the top of the most
impactful times I have spent with the Lord growing in my faith. I believe it would be one
of the best spiritual activities you’ll ever do also.
We’ love to have you go with us! The dates are February 3 to 13, 2020. The cost is
$3,990 flying out of Los Angeles International Airport. (If you need to travel from
elsewhere, that is doable also.)
Here is a LINK for more details of the trip.
In this article I want to share…
5 great reasons I think Christians should, if at all possible, travel to the Holy Land:
1. Your walk with Jesus will deepen.
I believe you’ll truly grow through this pilgrimage. We’ll share devotional times on the
bus and at the biblical sites. We’ll pray at the Wailing Wall. We’ll celebrate the Sabbath
at a Jerusalem church. We’ll take communion in the “Upper Room.” We’ll sail on the
Sea of Galilee and sing praises to the Savior.
This is a Pilgrimage, not just a vacation. Far more than sightseeing, we’ll be Savior-
seeing! We’ll see His birthplace, His home town, His ministry locations, and the places
of His trial, condemnation, crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension.
My favorite place is the Garden of Gethsemane where I remember how Jesus sweat great
drops of blood in anticipation of dying on the cross for our sins. The Garden Tomb is a
favorite for many. In addition, being baptized in the Jordan River is wonderful.
2. You'll understand the Bible much better.
There’s something very special about visiting places you’ve learned about but never seen
before. You can look at pictures, you can try to visualize them, but nothing is the same as
being there in person and seeing them yourself.
I first visited Israel in 1992 and my understanding of the Holy Land grew dramatically as
a result. For me, it was almost astounding to be at the biblical sites. From that time on,
the Bible has had a 3-dimensional texture as I’ve read it. Instead of a faraway place, it
came alive in my mind and memory.
By law, tours in Israel have to be accompanied by a trained Israeli guide. After 3 guided
tours in Israel, I’m convinced that many or most of them know the Bible, including the
New Testament, better than many or most Christians. Whether they are Christian or not,
they are highly trained experts in both the land of the Bible and the Bible itself.
Our tour will have “whisper” headsets so by radio waves we can hear the guide without
straining (and we can adjust the volume).
When we engage all 5 senses, we learn much better. That’s what will happen as we travel
together to the land of the Bible.
3. You'll spend your travel budget in a productive way.
Hopefully you take vacations and have a budget for travel. Carolyn and certainly do—our
vacations are highlights of our year.
I’d like to suggest that a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a vacation with a purpose, and
one of the best ways you can ever spend a vacation.
I know that sometimes people like to just sit on a beach, read, sightsee and so on. These
are great, but not what this trip to Israel is all about. We’ll spend each day seeing biblical
sites: We’ll visit Bethlehem, Jericho, Cana, the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead
Sea, Magdala, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, the Mount of Olives, many places in Jerusalem, and
other locations. The schedule is on the bottom of this LINK.
Because sites are close together in Israel you can see a lot in a short amount of time.
4. You'll likely feel like you've gone home.
2020 will be my fifth time in Israel. Each time I’ve gone, I’ve felt like I’ve gone back
home. Why? I think it is because as a member of the family of God, Israel is our family
stomping grounds.
Some wonder if it is safe to visit Israel. The answer is yes. The economy of Israel
depends on tourism; thus, protecting it is of highest priority. The track record of safety
for Holy Land visitors is quite good. Visiting there is probably safer than going to many
cities in the USA. We will avoid questionable places and if a problem arises, we will take
appropriate precautions.
5. You'll travel and fellowship with friends.
One of the best parts of the trip will be sharing it together. Frankly, I’ve been to Israel
enough that I’ve seen most things. I don’t need to go again. But I’m going again to take
others with me and have the joy of sharing God’s Holy Land. It will be an awesome time
So, I hope you can go with us!
Again, click this LINK to learn more about the trip and to register online.
If you have questions, you can contact me through the Contact Page on this site.
In closing, Psalm 84:5 in the New Living Translation says “What joy for those whose
strength comes from the LORD, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.”
A FINAL NOTE:
If you are not sure that you have received God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, learn
about how to be positive HERE.
To help you in the new life in Christ, we have created a series of lessons called
“Discipleship Journeys with Jesus.” They’re available online without cost at
djjministry.org.
Help Spread the Word!
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