Welcome to the Promised Land. You have arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, located between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. 

• When you arrive in Israel, you may hear the passengers around you applaud the pilot for bringing them safely to the homeland.

• When you exit the aircraft, you will eventually come to a long series of moving walkways. At the end of those moving walkways, you will see scanning machines on the left and right side of the hallway.

• Step in line, insert your passport, look into the camera, and a little blue and white ticket will be spit out from the machine. keep this little piece of paper very secure. It is your entry pass into Israel. You will need it throughout your trip.

• It’s always a good idea to snap a picture of it on your phone to keep it handy.

• From there, follow the crowds through a series of walkways. Eventually, you will come into a grand entryway with beautiful Jerusalem stone surrounding you.

• At the bottom of the walkway turn right to proceed through immigration.

• Once you have collected your bags and exited customs, a Philip’s House representative will be standing ready to welcome you to Israel.

• Keep an eye out for someone with a Philip’s House shirt holding a sign that says Philip’s House.

You will spend the night at David's Harp Netanya overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Explore Caesarea Maritima, the home of Cornelius, the house of Philip, and the prison of Paul.

Ascend Mount Carmel, where Elijah called down fire from heaven, with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and Armageddon.

Experience Nazareth Village, an open-air museum that reconstructs and reenacts village life in the Galilee in the time of Jesus.

Reflect over the Sea of Galilee across the road from the Hometown of Jesus at David's Harp Hotel, Capernaum.

Walk through Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus. See the synagogue where he worshipped and the ruins of the house of Peter's mother-in-law where the disabled man was lowered through the roof.

Explore the Sea of Galilee with a boat cruise on the water where Jesus walked.

Visit the church overlooking the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus drew from the local scenery to illustrate the Sermon on the Mount.

Hike down the slope of the Mount of Beatitudes and step into Grotto a cave at the base of where tradition suggests Jesus may have often prayed and perhaps pondered the words of the Sermon on the Mount.

Take quality time to read out loud portions of the Sermon on the Mount and let Jesus' words speak anew.

Step into the gardens of the Primacy of Peter, where Peter first encountered Jesus.

Step into the Jordan River to experience baptism at the Yardenit Baptismal site.

Return to the Beautiful David's Harp Hotel for evening reflection and dinner.

Journey to Caesarea Philippi and touch the red bedrock where Peter stood, see the literal Gates of Hell, and the spiritual significance of announcing on this spot the church--the "called out ones."

Hike the rapids of Banias Falls, which inspired King David to write Psalm 42, and later, Jesus would walk on his way up to Mount Hermon, the place of the Transfiguration.

Visit a kibbutz community on Israel's north border and build relationships with local Israelis. Hear from a local tour guide about life in Israel's north.

Return to David's Harp Hotel to rest and restore.

Climb up Mount Arbel where Jesus often climbed and prayed. For those less adventurous, take the bus and welcome the group at the top.

In 2009, during a hotel construction, workers discovered the remains of a first-century synagogue and the ancient city of Magdala, home of Mary Magdelene. The retreat site features a church with a massive picture window overlooking the lake and an unforgettable painting of the woman touching the fringe (tzitzit) of Jesus' prayer shawl (tallit). Father Eamon Kelly will be your tour guide.

Stop at a local restaurant and try St. Peter's Fish, the same specie of fish familiar to the disciples.

Hike up to the ancient Decapolis city of Susita (Hippos), perched high above the Sea of Galilee with stunning views over the region of Jesus' ministry, and enjoy the panoramic ruins at the top.

Return to David's Harp Hotel to rest and restore.

Today drive south to Jerusalem.

Stop along the route at Tel Shiloh or Ancient Shiloh, Israel’s religious heart before Jerusalem. The Tabernacle stood here for 369 years. With engaging technology, you can almost see Samuel and David walking by and smell the incense burning on the altar.

Visit the biblical site of Bethel, the "House of God" where Abraham built an altar, Jacob dreamed of the heavenly ladder with ascending and descending angels, and God renewed His covenant promises, and explore the ancient ruins and panoramic hill country views.

Stand atop the sacred hill of Nebi Samwil, the traditional Tomb of the Prophet Samuel—where this faithful servant of God was laid to rest, having anointed Israel's first kings and proclaimed the word of the Lord—and behold one of the most awe-inspiring panoramic views of Jerusalem and the rolling Judean Hills.

Check into the your Jerusalem Hotel overlooking the city

Visit the Garden Tomb and its realistic depiction of a first-century grave and experience communion as never before.

Take in Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives Rehavam Overlook, then follow the triumphal route of Jesus down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Step into the olive groves of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed before his arrest and surrendered to the Father's will.

Spend quality prayer time in the Private garden near the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer.

Enter Jerusalem through the Lion's Gate, the spot where tradition teaches that Stephen was stoned.

St. Anne’s Church in Jerusalem is a stunning 12th-century Crusader church famed for its acoustics, located beside the biblical Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic (John 5:1-9).

Step onto the Lithostrotos—the fateful stone pavement in the heart of Jerusalem, Gabbatha—where Pilate’s verdict set the Savior on His path to Calvary

Step into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built around the Golgotha Hill where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. Today, seven church denominations oversee the building, showing its significance to believers.

Return to spend the night at your Jerusalem Hotel

Ascend to the Temple Mount, a massive platform constructed by King Herod, where once the Temples of Solomon and Zerubbabel stood. On the Foundation Stone, Abraham offered Isaac, David stopped the plague with his intercession, Solomon prayed at the dedication and fire fell, the Babylonians and Romans demolished, and Jesus taught. One day, he will return through the Eastern Gate.

Walk through the Jewish Quarter and see the Golden Menorah prepared for the Third Temple. See the Cardo Romano, a marketplace Jesus would have used.

Great Stone Tunnel Tour

Step into the Upper Room where Jesus hosted the first communion and visit the Tomb of David on the lower floor.

Experience the history of Jerusalem at the Davidson Center and sit on the Southern Steps where Jesus taught.

Pray at the Western Wall and touch the stones that made the disciples marvel.

Return to rest and restore at your Jerusalem Hotel.

Enter into the Jerusalem that Abraham and David knew in the excavations of The City of David. Take in the sweeping outlook of Jerusalem and a movie that reviews the story of the destruction and rebuilding of Jerusalem over many centuries. Next, walk through the ruins of David’s palace, past walls Abraham saw, the city Solomon and the prophets knew.

For the adventurous, choose Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Bring a flashlight, and shoes and clothes that can get wet. The water will come up to your knees. This is the watercourse chiseled out during the days of Senacharib’s threat to Jerusalem. For those who want to keep dry, take the dry Canaanite-era tunnel.

See the Pool of Siloam where Jesus sent the blind man to wash his eyes to be cleansed.

Join the Beit Halel Congregation Distribution Center in Jerusalem for a hands-on volunteer opportunity—sort and distribute essential aid to support local families, creating lasting connections in the heart of the city.

Return to rest and restore at your Jerusalem Hotel

See the desert monastery of Qumran, located near the Dead Sea. Here, the Dead Sea Scrolls were prepared and later discovered. John the Baptist was familiar with this place.

Ein Gedi, a beautiful desert oasis near the Dead Sea, is where King David hid from Saul, the ibex deer helped him to write Psalm 42, while he hid in the cave under the waterfall.

Take in your first view of the Dead Sea and take a swim and try to sink if you want something fun! 

Drive to the city of Ashdod and check in to your Hotel

Stop at the Valley of Elah where David won a victory over Goliath and pray for the people of Israel.

Visit the Nova Festival site and, to pay our respects to those affected by the October 7, 2023 attack.

Drive to the seaside city of Ashdod to join the Beit Hallel Congregation for their Shabbat Service with Pastor Israel Pochtar. This congregation has started 7 other churches in biblical Judah and does remarkable humanitarian work with refugees coming to Israel on Aliyah.

Cap off your journey with a Celebration Dinner in a local restaurant. Ponder with your traveling team how you will answer your friends at home who will ask, "How was your trip to Israel?" How will you stir their curiosity to ask for more?

After dinner, you will travel by motorcoach to Ben Gurion Airport and home. You need to arrive at the airport 3 hours before your departure time for immigration processing. Expect to leave the hotel about 4 hours before your departure time.

You now have social media friends in Israel. A part of yourself is left in the Holy Land. You want to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and go back one day soon.

Your flight departs just after midnight.

You now have social media friends in Israel. A part of yourself is left in the Holy Land. 

You want to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and go back one day soon.

Leave Friends in Israel and Go home to greater influence. 

Thanks to the time zone, you will arrive home on the same day!