Sherrel will be traveling to Israel with a group from Zion Baptist Church in Elizabethton.  If you are interested in going to the Holy Land with this group, please call Sherrel at either of the phone numbers at the top of this page. 

The dates for this trip are May 31st - June 10th. 

Detailed Itinerary…

Day 1   Sat., May 31               Depart USA

We depart for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, and begin our Holy Land experience. 

Day 2   Sun., June 1            The Holy Land  

We arrive at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in the afternoon, where we are met by Zack Shavin, our guide, who will accompany us during our entire stay in Israel.  Drive through Tel Aviv, settled in 1909 as returning Jews resettled the Land, to our hotel on the Mediterranean for dinner and overnight. 

Day 3   Mon., June 2     Caesaria - Armageddon  – Nazareth

We begin our pilgrimage today at the biblical port city of Jaffa (Joppa) where Jonah fled to avoid going to the Gentiles but where centuries later Simon Peter did take up the challenge. Then north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesaria, the coastal city built by Herod and great seaport of the Roman Empire.  Here we will sit in the Roman theater where Pontius Pilate enjoyed gala events, learn about Cornelius the Centurion and his miraculous conversion to Christ, and walk among the ruins where Paul was imprisoned. Continue through Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal, then visit Megiddo, the great chariot city fortified by King Solomon and view the Valley of Armageddon, staging ground of the final conflict.  View Mt. Tabor as we drive to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home.  On to Cana where Jesus converted water to wine at the wedding, and the Sea of Galilee.  Dinner and overnight in the hills of Galilee.       

Day 4, Tue., June 3  Sea of Galilee – Caesaria Philippi – Jordan River

We begin our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Tabgha- where Jesus called the fisherman to be “fishers of men” and later multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the 5000, the Mount of the Beatitudes where He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ public ministry.  Here we visit the ancient synagogue where Christ taught and the ruins of the home where He miraculously healed Peter’s mother-in-law.  We then wind our way north to the Golan Heights for a scenic view of Mount Hermon and the “Road to Damascus” where Paul had his vision of Christ.  On to Caesaria Philippi (Banias) where Peter testified “Thou art the Christ!”  End our day at the Jordan River baptismal site before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.  

 Day 5   Wed., June 4     Beth Shean – Jericho – Mt. of Olives

Travel south through the Jordan Valley to Beth Shean, one of the Decapolis cities, where the Philistines hung the bodies of Jonathan and King Saul and site of magnificent 2,00 year old Roman ruins.  Continue along the biblical Pilgrims Way via Jericho, the oldest city on earth, where Joshua marched and the “walls came tumbling down”. Ascend through the Judean Wilderness passing the Inn of the Good Samaritan as we literally “go up” to Jerusalem, the Holy City. Stop on the Mt. of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem and pause for a prayer of thanksgiving where Jesus taught his disciples to pray the “Lord’s Prayer” and ascended to heaven.  Walk down the Palm Sunday Road, passing Dominus Flevit, where the Lord wept, and into the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed and was arrested.  View the City of David where King David and Solomon lived and where we reconstruct David’s conquest of Jerusalem from the Canaanites. Proceed to our hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Day 6   Thurs., June 5     Mt. Zion – Bethlehem -  Ein Karem

Begin are day on Mt.  Zion where we visit King David’s Tomb, Room of the Last Supper, and the Peter in Galicantu Church, traditional sight of Caiphas’ house and underground dungeon where Jesus was held His last night.  Walk on the Sacred Stairway which has been unearthed, possibly the very steps used by the “man carrying the water pitcher” as the Disciples prepared the Passover.  Travel to Bethlehem where we enter the cave (cattle stall) of our Lord’s birth at the Church of the Nativity and view the Shepherds Fields and Rachel’s Tomb. Opportunity to visit a local olive wood carver's workshop before returning to Jerusalem to visit sites around the new city, including the Yad Vashem national Holocaust memorial.  Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. 

 Day 7   Fri., June 6              Old Jerusalem 

Today is a full day walking tour of the Old City’s Christian, Jewish, and Moslem quarters.  View the Broad Wall from Isaiah’s day and descend to the Western Wall (“Wailing Wall”), a 2000 year old remnant of the Jewish Temple retainer wall.  Proceed to the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount where we walk on the very steps Jesus and His Disciples used to go up to the Temple and view the remarkable evidence of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.  Continue to the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the lame man.  We stand on the Stone Pavement, the Lythostratos, where Jesus stood before Pilate at the Praetorium, then walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) as Christ did when he carried the Cross to Golgotha.  We conclude our day at Calvary and the Garden Tomb where we can have our Lord’s Supper Memorial service and celebrate in song our Living Savior.  Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.            

Day 8   Sat., June 7               Sabbath in Jerusalem            

This is the Jewish Sabbath in Jerusalem.  We have a leisurely free day.  You may choose to walk the Old City ramparts and take in views of the Old and New city of Jerusalem from a whole different perspective, visit the colorful Arab market in the Old City, take in the Israel Museum and its vast assortment of exhibits including the Dead Sea Scrolls, or just rest.  You may also want to spoil yourself and have a drink or lunch at the world famous King David hotel.  Dinner will be served at our hotel tonight.  

 Day 9   Sun., June 8      Dead Sea -  Massada – Home Hospitality

Today we drive through Judean desert wilderness, then down the Jericho Road to the Dead Sea- the lowest spot on Earth. Visit Qumran, where the famed Dead Sea scrolls were discovered.  Continue south to Masada where we will explore the impressive palace fortress complex built by Herod the Great atop a high desert plateau and where a handful of Jewish zealots fought the Roman army.  Opportunity to take a “dip” and float in the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem by way of Ein Gedi, the desert oasis where David hid out from King Saul. We are cordially invited by Zack Shavin, our guide, for home hospitality with drinks and refreshments to celebrate our wonderful experiences together. We celebrate these unforgettable days with a farewell dinner.

 Day 10   Mon. June 9                Return to U.S.A.

We say our farewells before transferring to Ben Gurion International Airport for our late night flight to the USA.  Arrive home on Tuesday, June 10^th.    Shalom! Shalom!