Trip Blog Posts

posted on Wednesday January 20 2016 at 7:59 pm UTC

Now that we've returned from our study tour you'll hopefully be able to talk to one of us in person about what we saw, heard, learned, and experienced! Below is a wrap up video that serves as a nice summary of the trip and a reminder of all that we did. Leave us a comment below or head over and...

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posted on Wednesday January 13 2016 at 1:47 am UTC

Scott E. Watson writes: Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations I walked onto the Turkish Airlines plane at O’Hare full of expectations. Like many Jews and Christians, I had dreamed about the Land since I was a child, thinking it to be this magical place where heaven and earth meet in a unique...

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posted on Tuesday January 12 2016 at 1:14 am UTC

Jake Oswald writes: We began the day by visiting the awe-inspiring site of the Herodian, a fortress built by Herod the Great in the first century. He was the King of the Jews who was appointed by Caesar because of his incredible political savvy. His great aspirations for fame, power and prestige were...

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posted on Sunday January 10 2016 at 9:43 pm UTC

Kristy Weberg writes: Our first day in Jerusalem and we experienced a whirlwind of newness. At least I believe this to be true for most on this trip. New sights, sounds, and smells. New glimpses of culture and belief. Today so many things about our world and the people in it became so much more than...

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posted on Sunday January 10 2016 at 12:27 am UTC

David Alcook writes: “It Is Done.” Today marked the fifth day of our journey in the land of Israel and the trip has been an incredible experience. I am learning to read my Bible geographically and am beginning to understand how the climate and topography of the land has helped shape the story...

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posted on Saturday January 09 2016 at 1:50 am UTC

Clarence Stamps II writes: Jesus Rains (Reigns) After a wet and rainy morning at Tel(l) Dan and Caesarea Philippi, the fourth day of our Israel Tour continued in the afternoon with stops to Capernaum and Magdala and a pass by of the site where most people think the Sermon on the Mount, or the Beatitudes,...

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posted on Friday January 08 2016 at 12:59 am UTC

Josh Carpenter writes: Zachariah Jok Char The tour of the third day started at the City of Qumran were the Dead Sea scrolls was found in 1948. Before lecture from Professor Greer, I saw several old bath holes on the ground with signs saying “Ritual Bath.” There were seven of those signs around...

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posted on Wednesday January 06 2016 at 11:27 pm UTC

Matt Hansen writes: The incredible backstory, involving Julius Caesar, Antipater, and Marc Antony, much of which was recorded by Josephus Flavius, to the area of Masada really energizes the realities that were involved there. It was the Hasmoneans who first discovered the advantages of this particular...

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posted on Wednesday January 06 2016 at 12:52 am UTC

Andy Bolkcom writes: On the first day of the GRTS Israel trip, we spent the day in the Shephelah, the longitudinal region between the coastal plain and the hill country. We began by visiting Kiriath Jearim, Gath, and Beth Shemesh in the morning. In the Shephelah are valleys that provide access into...

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posted on Saturday January 02 2016 at 8:43 pm UTC

After many months of anticipation, our study tour is upon us! We'll be departing Sunday evening on our two-leg journey to Israel. If you want to follow along with our flights, check out the links below. Chicago O’Hare to Istanbul Istanbul to Tel Aviv ...

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posted on Thursday November 12 2015 at 10:31 pm UTC

Our trip to Israel will be here before you know it! Once we’re on the ground in Israel, we’ll post periodic updates and photos. Check back often or get update notifications using the subscribe options on this page. We’ll be sharing our travel experiences online with you, our friends and family,...

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