Israel
Israel Geographical
Study Tour
As part of our emphasis on teaching and study, Marion Bible Fellowship regularly arranges study tours of Israel. Below are presented some highlights from a recent trip.
Tour Preparation: Order an Introductory Study Package from Biblical Backgrounds, and download the Regional Study Guide to lead you in using and marking the maps.
The MBF study tour was an experience of a lifetime for our family. Everything about the trip was first-class, from the accommodations to the food, to the exceedingly rich teaching and wonderful variety of sites and experiences. Our Bible reading will never be the same, and we can't wait to go back!
~Tour participant
What You Can Expect
Feel the Bible. Come experience the sights, sounds, and fragrances of the Bible. Feel the heat of the Negev desert and know why the Israelites grumbled in the Exodus. Experience the bustle of Jerusalem and know what it must have looked like as Jesus carried the cross through her streets. See ruins of the walled cities of King David and Solomon and sit beside the gentle shores of the Sea of Galilee on the Sabbath just as Jesus and his disciples would have done. Float on the salty waters of the Dead Sea and swim in the crystal waters of the Mediterranean Sea as Jonah did. Cruise the Sea of Galilee while remembering how Jesus walked upon that very water. Come back home revived and energized in your faith after the trip of a lifetime.
More Than Just An Experience
Despite the transforming nature of a trip to the Land of Israel, we don't simply invite you to an "experience." Our trips to Israel are intended to help believers understand the message of the Bible better. Because of our priority on teaching, we may forego stopping at certain popular tourist sites; we may instead focus on the archaeology or history and geography of the Land to illustrate where biblical events actually occurred. This approach differs from most other available tours. Most of our time in the Land is spent learning, experiencing and recreating biblical events. (See the itinerary which contains many more biblical destinations compared with other available trips.) Optional evening lectures will be provided each day to orient you to the next day's activities.
Leadership
Trip leader is Pastor Steven Lancaster, a professional Christian educator in biblical geography, six-year resident of Israel, seasoned tour guide and expert in both ancient languages and in the Hebrew and Apostolic Scriptures. Pastor Lancaster will take you back to the time of the patriarchs and walk you forward through the time of Jesus, the Messiah, in a comprehensive tour of the Holy Land. Pastor Lancaster brings with him a host of experiences to make each turn of your trip engaging and deepening to your faith. The Land and the Bible will truly come alive!
Walk As Jesus Walked
As we visit the Land of Israel, we will attempt to walk the Land as the earliest followers of Jesus did. Despite the fact we host a mix of denominational backgrounds on our trips, the group will walk for two weeks as closely as possible to the way the Master and His followers walked. Sabbath will be Saturday, all meals will be biblically kosher (see Mark 7), and modest clothing will be expected (sleeveless shirts and shorts higher than just above the knees are not appropriate for men or women. Women might consider longer skirts or conservative pants as a possibility. It is best to avoid t-shirts with slogans to permit us to visit several sites without hindrance. Travelers will be expected to remain with the group at all times. Free time will be available in Jerusalem, in the Galilee and each night after the bus returns from the day's excursion.
Meet the People of Israel & Israeli & Palestinian Missionaries
While in the Land, we will meet with Jewish-Christian missionaries who live in Tel Aviv and Palestinian missionaries based in Jerusalem as they report their experiences witnessing about Messiah to the various peoples of the Land. We will visit merchants in the streets of Jerusalem, visit
desert-dwelling Bedouins and encounter both orthodox Jews and modern Israelis. You will take home an appreciation of the colorful cross-section of people currently living in the Land of Israel.
Preparation
Pre-trip personal study is highly recommended. Once registered, order an Introductory Study Package from Biblical Backgrounds, and download the Regional Study Guide to familiarize you with the Land of Israel prior to your departure. Using these materials, our Mapping the Bible page contains videos that will prepare travelers for the trip,
Important note
A minimum number of participants is required for Marion Bible Fellowship to host this tour. If the minimum number is not reached, we reserve the right to cancel and refund your money. Marion Bible Fellowship makes no profit by hosting this trip. We pass along all savings to you to encourage your attendance. Lodging for the 13 nights in Israel will be in four and five star, first class hotels and kibbutz hotels that are based on sharing
twin-bed or queen-bed rooms with private baths. Single rooms (limited number) are available at an additional cost (please ask for specific pricing).
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Every effort will be made to match single travelers with a suitable roommate, but if none is available, a triple-occupancy may be formed or the single supplement must be paid. Air transportation includes round-trip group fare on regularly scheduled commercial flights from New York to Tel Aviv on El Al Israeli Airlines. After tickets are issued, they are non-refundable. With regard to luggage, one suitcase will be handled for you upon arrival in Israel, transferred between hotels, and back to the airport. One carry-on which fits under the plane seat or in the overhead bin is permitted as well as a purse or other personal small bag. Israeli buffet breakfast and dinner are served daily. A small, on-site lunch snack is provided daily. Tips, fees and transfer taxes are covered for you.
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What is NOT Provided?
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Travel insurance is recommended but not included. One option: www.travelguard.com.
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Transportation to New York JFK Airport.
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Beverages at meals.
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Excess baggage.
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Passport costs.
What Else is Required?
We require all travelers to have health insurance confirmed as active in Israel during their trip. All travelers must have a valid passport valid 3 months beyond re-entry date to the USA. More specific details of what to pack and other helpful hints will be provided to registered travelers once a
deposit is received.
Our Disclaimer
Neither Marion Bible Fellowship, Steven Lancaster nor Jerusalem Cornerstone Foundation or their agents shall be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned, whether by reasons of defect in any vehicle or through acts of default of any company or persons engaged in conveying the passenger or in connection therewith or of any hotel proprietor or servant. Such conveying, etc. is subject to the laws of the country where the conveyance, etc. is provided. The aforesaid entities can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in transportation company service, sickness, weather, strikes, war, quarantines or other causes. All such losses or expense will have to be borne by the passenger. The tour host reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour whose mental or physical condition or general deportment impedes the operation of the tour or affects the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other tour passengers. The right is also reserved to cancel or alter the tour if circumstances require it. All arrangements for air transportation are made by the airlines concerned, which are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the airlines concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchasers of this tour and/or passengers. No responsibility of any kind attaches to the tour hosts, Marion Bible Fellowship, their representatives, or Jerusalem Cornerstone Foundation or to any of the persons or companies mentioned above, or any agent, associate, or employee thereof.
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MARION BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
590 Forest Lawn Drive
Marion, OH 43302
740.883.3839