eXperience Israel
July 7-21, 2017
DATES
July 7-21, 2017
eXperience Israel is a spiritual pilgrimage designed for young adults (ages 18-35) who want to engage with God by walking (and hiking!) through the pages of biblical history and serving the people who live there
More than just a study and sightseeing tour, eXperience Israel seeks to bless the people of Israel while partnering with several vibrant Israeli ministries and humanitarian aid organizations. In addition to seeing the Scriptures come to life on location through insightful Messianic teaching and passionate worship experiences, you will have numerous opportunities to be the hands and feet of Yeshua (Jesus) in the land where it all began.
We are very confident that this two-week experience in the homeland of Yeshua will help solidify the foundations of your faith and provide life-changing encounters with God, His Land, and His People that will benefit you for years to come.
After this trip you will walk away with a…
- Stronger connection to the Jewish heritage and biblical foundation of their faith.
- Stronger connection to the “living stones” (Jewish and Arab believers) serving among the ancient stones
- Better understanding of the history of Christian antisemitism and the Holocaust.
- Better understanding of the establishment of the modern State of Israel, the background to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the challenges and opportunities for peace.
- Clearer vision for how to live out God’s mission of redemption and restoration in the Middle East and the world.
COST
$3950 before March 1st
$4100 after March 1st
Participants may raise support
CONTACT
For more information, please contact us or call 1-888-2-YESHUA.
Vivian
“The eXperience Israel tour was the most monumental, life changing experience ever. I’ve been purged, humbled, moved and deeply challenged.”
Adrienne
“The trip helped me to feel in my spirit what I already knew in my head – that the Jewish people are very dear to the Lord. The country is completely spiritually charged, and it was amazing to stand back and listen to the Lord there.”
Jill
“I am so grateful for my experience in Israel and how it has deepened my walk. I regularly utilize what I learned in my sharing, in my family, and in my walk.”
Kayla
“The trip to Israel was unlike any other trip I have been on before. The Bible became more alive to me as I would listen to the events being read as we were standing or sitting in the actual site that it took place. It was amazing to actually be in a place where Jesus walked, talked, cried, prayed, etc. I will never read the Bible the same way again. It really opened my eyes to the culture of the people during the time of Jesus and why certain things took place or were said. I now understand so much better.”
Amanda
“I had an amazing time in Israel! God really worked in my life during those two weeks and He has been using this experience to continue to work in me. It was so amazing to see some of the places where Jesus actually walked and ministered. God really has blessed me by allowing me to have experienced Israel. God really changed me a lot and I don’t want to go back into my ‘old life’ where God was just someone I worshipped on Sundays and where Jesus was just some guy I read about for five minutes before I went to bed. God really spoke to me during those two weeks and the Holy Spirit has never been so real to me. God is so alive and I need to live everyday like he is alive in me.”
Michele (written 1 year after her trip to Israel)
“I’ve actually been meaning to write to you for some time now. Only to let you know how jealous I am for your new team of folks this year. Clearly this is not just a tour or a mission experience that people go on (I’ve done my fair share of both); because I have never felt as attached to an experience as I have to our trip to Israel. I find myself in worship at church OFTEN revisiting the many places we went to in the homeland of Yeshua-my Savior! I can’t really put words to it except to say that what you offer people here is so much more than just a trip-it’s a two week experience that will stay with them forever. Just to have been in Israel was life changing for me in a way I can’t quite express. I suppose that’s why you have to ‘experience’ it. Thanks for making this happen for me and know that I’ll be saying prayers for you and the team this year (and secretly wishing I was there too).”
Jim
“I really enjoyed the outreach opportunities. They helped me understand how simple sharing my faith with Jewish and Arab people can be. It doesn’t take a lot of head knowledge…just love, and the gifts that God has given me. But most of all I learned the importance that love plays when reaching out to others. Joy is a key element that opens the door to sharing my faith. I knew this before the trip, but this time it was really apparent in our outreach efforts, and it was an area that I camped out on in my thoughts during our entire stay in Israel.”
Heather
“Israel was an amazing experience, and God really put it on my heart that I need to get out of my comfort zone, and talk to people who need to hear the good news of Jesus. I would love to go back, and I realize now how amazing it is to be able to talk to people who live in a completely different world, and who are so interested in hearing the gospel. That trip also made me start to seriously think about missions. I have always had it in the back of my mind, but now it has pushed its way in front of everything.”
Jayleen
“The eXperience Israel Tour has had a very positive influence on my life. I look at Scripture in a whole new way. With every portion read, it takes on a new meaning. Now when there is a sermon on Jericho, Gethsemane, or Mount Carmel – to just name a few – I can say I was there and experienced this story.”
Penny
“There are so many ways that eXperience Israel has impacted me. Before I went I did not know what to expect because I wasn’t really familiar with Chosen People Ministries, Israel, or about sharing my faith with Jewish people. For each of these aspects I have gained knowledge and a deep love. Although I have always known that my Savior, Jesus, was the Messiah and that He was Jewish, I do not believe I ever fully comprehended that my faith is rooted in Jewish soil. I have now seen through the tour and teaching sessions that I worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As part of this, I have gained a love for Jewish people that I never had before. I was also challenged through our outreach encounters that sharing my faith with Jewish people is not only my obligation, but also my privilege. These chosen people of God should be a priority to me as they are with God. I have now seen the importance of Israel as the birth of my faith and its importance in history, the present, and the future. I hate to admit, but I was rather ignorant of life in Israel today. I not only am aware of the struggle for peace, but I have been burdened to pray for the peace of Israel with more passion. I have great hope that there will be peace when Jesus returns to this precious land. In the meantime, I know that there are those who are working and ministering in Israel. I realize that this is tough work with obstacles, but I have seen the Lord working in great ways. This tour has also changed my whole perspective on God’s Word. Being able to see places written about in the Word and go to places where Jesus walked has made it a greater reality in my life.”
Colleen
“It has been more than a week since my return home and I am still having difficulty articulating how my life has been impacted by the 2 weeks in Israel. To say that my ‘life has been changed’ or my ‘eyes have opened’ seem to be inadequate descriptions of all that God has taught me. He has catapulted me out of my comfort zone and taken me to a level that I had yet to experience. My first impression of Israel when I got off the plane and onto the bus was the degree to which it was a land of physical contrasts: brown dry land with sudden bursts of greenery and beautiful flowers. As I was leaving Israel this same notion of contrasts struck me with respect to the people who live in Israel, especially with respect to their reaction to the message of the Messiah. At one extreme you have those who are completely closed-minded to any talk of Yeshua (i.e., the ultra-orthodox), contrasted with those who have no idea of who Yeshua is but who are curious to know more. This was evident during our time at the beach with a conversation I had with my new friend, Shifra – who, despite living in Jerusalem, had no idea what the ‘Garden Tomb’ was about. God taught me so much through interactions with the messianic congregations, teammates on the bus, and the daily chapel times. As I read Scripture now that I’m back at home, I have a tangible memory to refer to. Words that had become routine are now alive and vibrant.”
Serene
“Being in Israel was awe-inspiring! What struck me was the fact that God is at this time working in Israel, putting flesh upon the dry bones and sinews that have come together. The fact that we could walk around in the Land goes to show how the God we serve is the ultimate Promise Keeper. Not only is the existence of the State of Israel a miracle, but that God has raised up a Remnant there is also a sign of His faithfulness. What I saw there in terms of the believers and their passion to bring the Message to their nation was so exciting and encouraging. While many who come to Israel marvel at where Jesus walked and the rich biblical history of the Land, unfortunately these same people are ignorant or even apathetic of God’s working and moving among His chosen people today. I love history (especially Jewish history!) and definitely appreciate the great significance of visiting the sites. However, I think that there needs to be a balance among Christians today: yes, this is where Jesus walked…but that’s not the whole story. He still walks there today and is actively involved in bringing His promises to Israel to fruition.”
Nicole
“I still have to let everything sink in…it was almost unbelievable that I was actually there in Israel. Israel has been on my heart more and more since I’ve gotten back. I now read my Bible and I think to myself, ‘I was there in Galilee. I know what it was like to smell what Jesus smelled and see what he saw!’ I want to tell others around me about this experience, but words cannot even express what I want to tell them. The only thing I have to say is…’You have to go there for yourself and see what it’s like.’ It’s really deepened my relationship with God and it makes me want to go back.”
Aimee
“Where do I start? I anticipated that eXperience Israel would be life-changing…and it was. Through the trip I gained an appreciation for the Jewish people and how they fit into God’s plan. Now that I’ve been home 2 weeks, I read my Bible and pray in different ways. When I go to church and sing about the Lord’s death and sacrifice for me, I’m amazed by it again because I can picture exactly where those things happened! This trip will stay with me the rest of my life.”
Kayla
“Since I went on eXperience Israel almost 4 years ago, I cannot get Israel out of my mind or thoughts. It’s always there. I’m teaching our teen Sunday school class at church and everything we have been going through in class, I can always find something to relate to them about being in the country that opened my eyes to what we’re studying. I’m praying that God allows us the opportunity in the near future to travel over there another time. Thank you for the ministry you and the others have provided for the rest of us who would otherwise have never had the chance to see the place Jesus walked and lived.”
Michele (written 2 years after her trip to Israel)
“Just about every Sunday that I am worshipping in church, I think about Israel and the time I had there. I think it will forever live in my heart and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to go and see where my Yeshua walked. What an amazing ministry you have in introducing others to such a wonderful place. Know that your work is NOT in vain.”
Andrew (written 1 year after his trip to Israel)
“I’d like to share with you about one area of my life that I feel my trip to Israel has helped me with. I have had the opportunity to serve in a youth ministry at the church I attend and this summer we were able to take the students to a summer camp in Oklahoma. While we were there the youth pastor felt called to teach the students about ‘Missional Living-the idea that we are all missionaries and that we need to live out the love and good news of Jesus all the time, regardless of whether you are overseas or at home. To me this idea resonated so well with the lessons I learned during my experience in Israel. In the midst of my experience serving others in Israel I truly learned and appreciated the value of simply serving others and showing God’s love no matter where I am. Consequently, I was able to help share this vision with the youth I spent time with this summer.”
What makes eXperience Israel unique from other trips?
First and foremost…this trip is not just a tour, it’s an opportunity to extend a helping hand to some of the “living stones” who are faithfully ministering to the people of Israel today. If you want to experience Israel, then it’s only natural that you experience the people of Israel. You will have numerous opportunities to do this as we partner with several exciting ministries based in Israel who will guide us as we minister in the footsteps of the Messiah.
eXperience Israel will also help you see Israel and your faith through Jewish eyes. As a result, we hope that you will become more appreciative of the roots and heritage of your faith…more passionate about digesting God’s Word into the stomach of your soul…and more sensitive to the redemptive promises and desires that God has for your life and for the people of Israel.
Last, but certainly not least, it is very important to the leadership of eXperience Israel that you come away from this experience more passionately in love with God and the plans and purposes He has for your life.
Will I have to stand on a street corner and hand out tracts?
No. The purpose of our trip is not to hand out as many gospel tracts as possible. The goal is to experience Israel, which includes meeting some of the people who live there and hopefully having some meaningful conversations with them about life and faith. If talking to complete strangers freaks you out, we promise not to throw you into a situation where you will have to do that by yourself. Be assured that the people of Israel are very open to practicing their English and finding out why you’ve decided to make a spiritual pilgrimage to their country.
Why is the trip only for 18- to 35-year-olds?
The format of eXperience Israel is designed to give young adults and emerging leaders a unique opportunity to encounter the people and places of Israel in an atmosphere that is sensitive to their age-specific needs and abilities. eXperience Israel participants engage in activities that are more physically challenging than what you would find on a typical tour-like hiking into a ravine in the Golan Heights or climbing Masada before dawn. Our teaching, worship, and ministry times are also designed to resonate with the issues and interests of this age group, just like the college or young adult ministry that may exist at your congregation.
What if I’m outside of the age parameter?
If you’re 17 and you’re graduating from high school the spring before our trip, you are more than welcome to come as long as your parent or legal guardian signs a waiver form. If you’re slightly over 35, but you are actively involved in ministering to young adults in your church or ministry, then we will seriously consider making an exception.
We also recommend looking into our “See Israel Through Jewish Eyes” tours with Dr. Rich Freeman.
What does the cost include?
This Trip Includes:
- Round trip airfare to Tel Aviv from the U.S. (request itinerary for the departure city)
- Quality accommodations in 2-3 star hotels (double or triple occupancy)
- Breakfast/dinner (subject to flight schedules)
- Entrance fees to sites listed in itinerary
- International health insurance
- Airport transfers/portage
- A/C coach bus and driver
- Licensed tour guide
- Tips to hotel staff
- Support-raising assistance
Price does not include:
- Tips for driver and guide ($100-125)
- Lunches and beverages (approx. $10/day)
- Double occupancy upon request ($100pp)
Why does the eXperience Israel cost more than the Outreach Israel if it’s 2 weeks shorter?
The majority of the cost in both programs is the flight, but what increases the land cost of the eXperience Israel program is that participants stay in moderate-level hotels during high-season and eat buffet-style meals prepared by the hotel dining staff, whereas the OI program provides dorm-style housing in our Jerusalem Messianic Center and serves family-style meals prepared by the program staff and participants. The XI program also travels in a motor-coach bus with a licensed driver and tour guide, and the OI program utilizes private and public transportation. The XI program also incorporates tips to the hotel staff and the expenses for the special guest worship leader.
How much spending money will I need?
The cost is $2750. You will then be responsible for rendezvousing with our team at our hotel in Tel Aviv. A taxi from the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to our hotel will cost you approximately $30. We strongly recommend scheduling your arrival and departure flight as close to the group flight as possible.
What do I need to do to apply? When is the application deadline?
Applications are available online. After your application has been approved you will then need to send in a $150 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot on the trip. Keep in mind that the trip is limited to 25 participants, so the sooner you get your application in, the better.
As long as space is available, the final deadline for applications is 60 days prior to our trip. However, if it’s less than 60 days prior to our departure and there is still space available, we will work with you and do what we can to get you on our trip.
Can I travel to Israel separate from the group?
Yes – especially if you don’t live in the U.S. or Canada.
Do I have to return with the group or can I stay in Israel longer than two weeks?
If you want to extend your stay on either the front or back end of the trip you will have to purchase your own airfare and pay the land only package cost.
Are there any scholarships?
At present, there are $200 scholarships available to full-time ministry leaders. To qualify as a full-time ministry leader your sole income must come from a certified non-profit (403b) organization, and you must be leading at least thirty people within that organization on a consistent basis (e.g. pastor, youth-pastor, church/para-church staff, campus ministry staff, staff director).
I’m not a ministry leader. What do you recommend that I do to help fund my trip?
We strongly encourage you to prayerfully consider raising support. Several participants in the past have done it, and if it’s His will for you to go at this time we’re confident that He can provide the needed funds for you. Believe us…it’s not as difficult as you may think. Most people will be thrilled to support your desire to walk in the footsteps of the Messiah and to minister to the people of His homeland.
As soon as your application as been received and approved, we will supply you with some tips and guidelines on how to successfully raise support.
What if I don’t raise enough support?
If you attempt to raise support and you fall short of your needed goal, we will attempt to work out a post-trip payment plan depending upon the size of your shortage. There is also the possibility that grant money for non-ministry leaders may be available to help cover your shortfall, but don’t bank on it.
What if I raise support, but then decide not to go?
All monies received will be held by Chosen People Ministries and can be used for next year’s eXperience Israel trip or another CPM program. After next year’s trip, the monies will be used at the discretion of CPM.
Is it safe to travel in Israel?
Traveling in Israel is safer than driving your car in the United States. Statistically, you are more likely to be killed in a car accident in the U.S. than you are to be killed by a terrorist in Israel. Really! Even so, there is no way to guarantee 100% safety when you travel (or when you stay at home). The only guarantee is that we are in God’s hands and that we will do everything within our ability to stay in them. Be assured, the leadership of eXperience Israel, and the Israeli guide and bus driver that will be with us, take every precaution to stay clear of high risk areas (West Bank, Gaza, city buses and bazaars). Since eXperience Israel began in 1999, we have had only one brush with danger (2006 Israel-Lebanon War), but you can read for yourself the thoughts of former team members about how they felt about being in Israel during that time.
Bottom line—we hope you will share the sentiments of the Apostle Paul, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:22-24).
Drive safely!
What will we be doing? Where will we be going? Where will we be staying?
If you would like an itinerary of our trip, please request one by e-mailing Justin Kron.