“Whenever Jesus says, ‘I will be with you in Israel,’ you can expect to experience His Kingdom in unforeseen ways. His presence and power will meet you in places that could not have been predicted.”

— Rev. Jerry Keller

Israel is the Land of the Bible. It is the place where patriarchs lived and died, epic wars were fought, prophets revealed the mind of God, and miracles informed us about the heart of our Father. Covenant was first established in Israel. It is that place where Yeshua stepped from Heaven and entered this world in the fullness of time- fully man yet fully God. When you make a pilgrimage to Israel, these things and much more come alive. Your time in the Word of God is forever changed as well.

All that has taken place as recorded in Scripture would be enough incentive to travel to the Holy Land, but there is much more. You are likely to experience personal life-changing encounters. Many do. Whenever Jesus says, “I will be with you in Israel,” you can expect to experience His Kingdom in unforeseen ways. His presence and power will meet you in places that could not have been predicted. I have experienced it more times than I can recall. You can take this pilgrimage expecting a very personal encounter with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Biblical history and personal encounter are surely enough reason to go, yet there is more. The most important reason to make a pilgrimage to Israel is that God is calling His people to join with Him in what has been at the heart of His plan of redemption all along. He is preparing to restore His people. They need us to pray, to stand with them in this hour, and to love them. Israel will remain at the very epicenter of these last days. When you go, you are sharing in His suffering and in His promise.

Pastor Thomas Young and I share a common heritage. The Holy Spirit directed our spiritual father, Rev. Loran Helm, to go to Israel and then return many times. It was not for site seeing, fundraising, or ministry building. Each pilgrimage was part of an eternal destiny wrapped in arms of love. God is still sending. That is why we go. Come and go with us.

Rev. Jerry D. Keller
Senior Pastor
Plainfield Christ Fellowship

A Breathtaking Adventure

From the moment you step off the airplane in Tel Aviv, you will be struck with the wonder of Israel. As you take in the panoramic views from Mt. Carmel, Mt. Bental, or Mt. Tabor you will be moved to silence by the beauty of the Land of Promises. You will find peace and rest as the waters of the Sea of Galilee lap at your feet. In Jerusalem, the very center of the spiritual world, you will be surrounded by sights and sounds very similar to what was heard during the reign of David and Solomon, the ministry of Jesus, and the lives of the Apostles. Even still, Israel is more than the sights, sounds, and sensation. It is a place of profound spiritual significance and personal adventure.

A Daily Schedule and Pace Submitted to the Holy Spirit

You can expect some day to day changes to the set itinerary as our leaders remain sensitive to what the Holy Spirit might be saying in the moment. Our long standing relationship with the Yarkon Tour company allows for flexibility and even last minute adjustments that are simply not possible with many tours. The purpose of these adjustments allows our groups to stay longer in places where God may be working or visit places off the beaten path where others may not be able to go.

Our pace is purposeful and yet not hectic or exhausting. We do not want travelers fatigued at the end of the day or dragging themselves out of bed in the morning.

Nightly Gatherings of Praise, Teaching, and Prayer

Most evenings, the group will gather in the hotel for a time of waiting on God - much like a church service at home. Time and time again, these services become highlights of the trip. You will hear Holy Spirit led teaching from Pastor Thomas and Pastor Jerry and others, engage in worship, partake in intercessory prayer, and experience the delight of people obeying Jesus together.

Deepening Relationships and New, Life-Long Friendships

Not only will you be traveling with people you know, but you will meet people from various congregations and backgrounds that share a love for God, His word, and Israel. Nothing fosters and cements Kingdom relationships like experiencing Israel together. Your moments shared on the streets of Jerusalem, on the Golan Heights, or even around the dinner table will become treasured life-long memories.

Luxurious Accommodations and Transportation

In Tiberius we will be staying in the beautiful Leonardo Plaza Hotel - right on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In Jerusalem, we will be staying at the new renovated Dan Panorama Hotel within walking distance of the Jaffa Gate of the Old City. Every day you will ride in comfort and safety in a brand new (or nearly new) Mercedes bus equipped with Wi-Fi. The dining experience is world class as well. For breakfast and dinner each day, you will be treated to the finest Israeli cuisine in elegant banquet rooms.

A Moderate Amount of Walking

You can expect a fair amount of walking, especially in Jerusalem (up to a couple miles per day). As we move through the Old City, the group will be required to walk uphill and downhill on sometimes uneven surfaces. Special arrangements can often be made if this presents a problem for you. Often, there will be optional excursions at night with longer, more rigorous walking (from the hotel to the Western Wall for example).

Safety

You can expect to be safe. Both our guide and driver will be former Israeli military (or reserve). They know what areas to avoid and are up-to-date on any ongoing situations. Also, our co-leaders have traveled to Israel over 50 times combined; they are laser-focused on safety, caution, and security. In addition to our tour professionals, the government of Israel is committed to protecting tourists and pilgrims to Israel - tourism being one of their top three national industries.

Featured

Thomas Young

Senior Pastor - Travelers Rest Christ Fellowship - South Carolina

Jerry Keller

Lead Pastor - Plainfield Christ Fellowship - Indiana

Experience

Your host pastors, Thomas Young and Jerry Keller, have been traveling to Israel for over thirty years and have been leading tours since 2000. In addition to group travel, they have each spent significant amounts of time in Israel researching and preparing to better serve those who choose to travel with them and to help pilgrims experience Israel in ways that are just not possible on typical site-seeing tours. In fact, Pastors Thomas and Jerry were just in Israel together in June of 2016 - meeting with travel professionals, exploring new venues, and deepening relationships with key leaders.

PROMISELAND 2017 will be a richer experience because of what they have learned throughout the years and their continuing work to remain current in a land layered with history and destined for significance.

Flexibility

The groundwork of this pilgrimage is being laid with much planning and preparation. That being said, we believe that one of our most important and unique offerings to travelers is the level of flexibility we have once on the ground. This is possible because of our long relationship with Yarkon Tours, one of Israel’s premier travel companies. Our trips are not only custom, Yarkon is committed to assisting us in our desire to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we experience the beauty and depth of Israel.

Quality

You will enjoy the very best in travel accommodations including luxury transportation, deluxe lodging, and fine dining. Whether we are in Jerusalem, overlooking the Dead Sea, on the Sea of Galilee, or enjoying the shores of the Mediterranean, you will experience a balance of learning, relationship building, relaxing, and much more.

During the day our time is invested in worship, prayer, laughter, friendship, silence, and wholesome fun. You will be excited to see each new day begin and will be filled with wonder at its conclusion.

The true quality of the trip is revealed in the very heart of our pilgrimage. We are blessed to experience the Life of God through His Word and presence among us. That is why we go. We place our greatest effort in the spiritual and personal aspects of the trip. The eternal impact of this pilgrimage will be what remains within you.

Purpose

PROMISELAND 2017 is directly connected to what God promised to Abraham. He said,

“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3 ESV

Israel is that place where the past, present, and eternity meet. When you go, you will be participating in what God is doing in these days. There is great blessing to be found in this pilgrimage. Come go with us!