2025 Israel Tour - The Fellowship

We are on a journey. As believers in Yeshua’s death, burial, and resurrection, our ultimate destination is to be with Him forever. Along the way, there are intermediate stops. Sometimes they are planned. At other times, they wreak havoc.

Yesterday, we were in Frankfurt, Germany, en route to Israel. We had not planned on flying through Frankfurt, but the route was filtered through God’s hands. It hasn’t been easy. There have been numerous flight cancellations and rebookings. Following a lengthy delay in Houston, we needed the entire six-hour layover. Now we are unexpectedly forced to overnight in Athens due to another cancellation while we were over the Atlantic.

Now this is crazy. Waiting to leave Frankfurt, we overheard a group of four men discussing spiritual warfare in relation to the nation of Israel. We struck up a conversation and discovered that they are doing exactly what we are: visiting Israel as a small, self-contained group. We spoke with them in Frankfurt and also upon arrival in Athens.

This morning, we spoke again at the airport. We are on the same flight to Tel Aviv. When they entered the boarding gate area, we were doing our morning Bible reading.

Hmmmm? I wonder. Did God plan this long ago for reasons we will never know? This is what the “come and see” lifestyle is all about. It’s not about us. It’s about the One who has both the destination and the itinerary all mapped out.

In a few minutes, we will land in Tel Aviv. We have a plan for our time in Israel. However, what has happened over the last week tells me the Lord of all has something more in mind than we could ever dream or imagine.

Team Report - May 21, 2025

Jenifer Cortés
Today, we saw the Valley of Elah, where David and Goliath had their encounter. While I looked down, God gave me this.

It was not the rock.
It was not the young, brave guy.
It was the Almighty God
Who wanted to use them
To make His name known
To all the Nations.

Caleb Stratemann
From the airport, we went straight to Bet Shemesh, a predominantly Orthodox Jewish city. It was interesting to see the everyday lives of the people. Since this is not a standard tour-in-a-box program, we have a greater opportunity to walk among real people and experience their culture.

Bet Shemesh is very close to Tel Azeka, a nature reserve and archaeological site, famously known as the place where camping is mentioned in 1 Samuel, opposite Saul's army on the mountain across the valley below.

From the very spot we were standing on, Goliath shouted insults at Israel and her God. No matter what the Enemy throws at us, God is always in the midst of the seemingly impossible situation of life.

Rob Townley 
Today, I took my first steps in Israel. If I am honest, it's hard to believe I am here! We haven't even scratched the surface, and my mind is blown by the fact that I will walk on the same land the people of the Bible walked. This is going to add so much to the stories we have been learning to tell.  

Stay tuned.