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In November of 2010, we hosted a 10 day trip to the Holy Land through
Educational Opportunities Tours. It was a fantastic opportunity to see the land where Jesus walked, and the Patriarchs
of the Bible lived. The past came alive as we walked in the places from the Bible of both the Old and New Testaments.
Our guide, David Aarons, was absolutely wonderful. His knowledge and expertise of the land and its history in relationship
to the Bible was outstanding. If you have been thinking of making a pilgimage to the Holy Land, I would like to
invite you to come along with us. We will be making another trip, beginning on October 10th and going through October
21st of 2012. This trip will be an expansion of last year's Holy Land Tour. We will be doing the 12 day expanded "Journey Through the Bible" pilgrimage.
This is an incredibly comprehensive tour of Israel, with several new sites that have been made recently available. This
is a journey that every Christian should make. Don't miss out on this incredible pilgrimage. During this
pilgrimage, we will journey the length and breadth of Israel from the Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the south and
from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Jordanian border in the east. This will truly be the Spiritual Journey
of a Lifetime. Be sure to bring your Bible, as well as your camera, and prepare to receive the memories that you will
cherish forever!! The price for this trip, including round-trip airfare between Nashville, Tn, and Tel Aviv,
Israel, first class hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, deluxe motorcoaches, profesional guides, and entrance
fees to sites visited is only around $3,500.00. This is an incredible value!! DON"T BE FOOLED
by many of the so-called discount Holy Land Tours. You don't want to invest your money to travel over 7,000
miles away only to find yourself in 2nd class accomodations and tiny tour buses, seeing only a smattering of the sites
that you could be enjoying. Educational Opportunities is a first class Chistian Travel agency with nearly 40 years of
experience in Christian Holy Land travel. I have personally been taking or leading trips with Educational Opportunities
for over 10 years, and have found them to be the very best value in the industry. If you would like to
request a complete information packet, you may contact us through e-mail at ronadams@cafes.net, or you may write to us at
Concepts In The Word, C/O Pastor Ron Adams, 228 Woodland Drive, Shelbyville, TN 37160. Please join us on this incredible
spiritual journey.
DAY 1 & DAY 2 - USA to the HOLY LAND:
Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight. You will be welcomed to Tel Aviv, Israel by
our airport representative and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy dinner before you rest overnight
in your hotel.
DAY 3 - Herodion, Bethlehem, and the Shepherds' Fields: After a wonderful breakfast in your hotel, get abord our group's own personal travel coach
and travel to Herodion, the fortified palace and final resting place of Herod the Great.
In Bethlehem, visit the cave where Jesus was born as well as the church which was construsted on the site
(Matt. 1: 18-25; Luke 2: 1-7). It is the oldest church in Christendom, built by Helena, mother of Constantine, in 326
A.C.E. Nearby, visit the Shepherds' Fields where the Good News was first heard. DAY
4 - Jacob's Well, Samaria, Nazareth, and Cana: Today
visit modern day Nablus (ancient Shechem) and see Jacob's Well where Jesus encountered the
Samaritan woman (John 4). See Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim where the Israelites recited
the blessings and cursings of the Law. Continue to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, and
home to Ahab and Jezebel. Continue past Tel Dothan, thought to be the place where Joseph found his
brothers with their flocks (Genesis 37). Visit Nazareth, Jesus' boyhood home (Matt. 2: 23), and get
a spectacular view of the Jezreel valley from the Mt. of Precipice, just outside of Nazareth. Complete
your day with a visit to Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle (John 2). DAY 5 - Kibbutz
Nof Ginnosar, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tadgha, Chorazim, Yardenit Baptismal Site: If you choose, you may enjoy an early devotion before breakfast and watch the sunrise over the Sea
of Galilee. Take in this awe-inspiring sight as you watch fishermen work the waters with their
nets much as in the time of Jesus. At Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar, you will learn about the "Ancient
Boat", a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed. Visit the peaceful Mount
of Beatitudes which overlooks the Sea of Galilee. On this hill, Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.
Ride across the waters to explore Capernaum, the center of Jesus' ministry. Visit the synagogue which
stands on the site where Jesus taught. Recall His teaching and preaching concerning the gospel of the kingdom (Matt.
4: 13, 23). Walk the streets of Chorazim, listed as a "city of woe" by Jesus (Matthew
11). You'll also visit the Chapel of the Primacy where three times Peter professed his devotion
to the risen Christ {John 21). Travel around to the shore of the Sea of Galilee and visit the Yardenit
Baptismal site, situated just downstream from where the Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee
on its way to the Dead Sea, enjoy the peace and tranquility of the natural surroundings and participate in a baptismal service
in the river in which Christ was baptized by John the Baptist (Mark 1: 9-11). Day 6 - Beit Shean, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel,
and Caesarea Maritime: Travel to the ruins of Beit Shean
where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were displayed on the walls after they were killed in battle
(1 Sam. 21: 10-12). Beit Shean is also noted for having the best preserved ancient Roman theatre in Israel. Travel
the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo where 20 cities lie superimposed upon each other, and see the remains
of King Soloman's stables there as well as the underground tunnel built in the time of King Ahab to insure access to their
water source which was outside of the city walls. Ascend Mt. Carmel where Elijah defeated the
prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea
Maritime by the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It was here that Cornelius became the first Gentile convert
to Christianity (Acts 10) and also where the Apostle Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial.
Day 7 - Jericho,
Qumran, En Gedi, Masada, and Dead Sea: Jericho is the oldest known
inhabited city in the world. Visit the ruins of the ancient city, which was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 6: 1-20) and
see parts of the ancient city walls which have been uncovered. From Jericho you can see the the traditional Site
of the Temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4: 1-11) and the Judean Wilderness. Travel to Qumran, site
of the Dead Sea Scrool discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of the Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead
Sea. At En Gedi see the oasis, the waterfalls, and the caves where David hid from King Saul.
Visit Masada, Herod's mountaintop fortress which became the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against
the Romans. Ride the cable car to the top to explore. Peer down on the remains of the Roman camps and seige ramp
below. Time permitting, you'll stop briefly at the shores of the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the salt
and mineral laden waters. Day 8 - Jerusalem: Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the "Golden
City" of Jereusalem, including the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. Walk to the Garden of Gethsemane
and pray there as Jesus prayed. Enter the Church of Many Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane and take
a moment to reflect on the momentous events which transpired there. Stroll down the Kidron Valley to the Gihon
Spring, the ancient water souce to the city of Jerusalem and see the entrance to Hezekiah's Tunnel.
On Mt. Zion you will view the site of King David's Tomb. Stand in the Upper Room,
revered as the site of the Last Supper (Mark 14: 12-20).
Day 9 - Old City of Jerusalem, Southern
Wall Excavations, Teaching Steps, Western Wall, Pool of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, and the Garden Tomb: This
morning, enjoy a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem, and walk the Cardo, the ancient
main street of the Old City once lined with shops and now partailly restored. Visit the Davidson Center and
the Southern Wall Excavations including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall.
View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1-31) where Jesus performed the miracle of the man with palsy. Visit
Herod's Antonia Fortress where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23: 1-11). Walk the Via
Dolorosa, the "Way of the Cross", and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit
the Garden Tomb, the possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea, and experience the reality of the
Resurrection of Christ. Day 10 - Free
Day: Today you can relax and relect upon the site that we have seen, or if you
wish, we will try to set up an intinerary which will include some, if not all of the following: The City of David,
Pool of Siloam, and the Rabbi's Tunnel's. Time permitting, we may try and schedule a trip to Yad
Vashem, the Holocaust museum. Day 11 - Nebi Samuel, Emmaus, and the Valley of Elah: Enjoy a morning
of relaxation in Jerusalem. This afternoon, visit Nebi Samuel, thought to be the burial place of the
prophet Samuel and for a final view of Jerusalem. We will drive by the Valley of Elah, where David
defeated Goliath. Travel to Emmaus where Jesus, after His resurecction, was invited to visit with two
of His disciples who did nor recognize Him until He blessed and broke bread with them (Luke24: 13-17, 28-31). After
dinner, continue to the airport for your return flight to the USA. Day
12 - Return to the USA
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