Led By Dr. James Fleming and Hannaniah Pinto and Hosted by Dr. Linda Christians, St. Luke’s UMC
 Sept. 28 – Oct. 9, 2018 | $ 5500.00 per person | Round trip from Houston

Explore the settings of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospels as Jim Fleming and Hannaniah Pinto weave the context of Scripture through history, geography, archaeology and theology. Discover the time, places, customs and physical settings into which Jesus was born.  Follow Jesus as His ministry unfolded around the Sea of Galilee and as He turned His face toward Jerusalem.

Israel:  Sept. 28 – Oct. 9, 2018 | Jordan Extension:  Oct. 9 – 12, 2018

Sept. 28, Friday – Depart Houston

Sept. 29, Saturday – Arrive in Tel Aviv
You will be greeted by your teacher then transfer to hotel. Dinner/Overnight David Resort in Dead Sea  D

Sept. 30, Sunday – Matriarchs and Patriarchs
Drive to Negev Desert to visit Tel Arad and Tel Beersheba, descend the water channel.  Return to the hotel on the shore of the Dead Sea for a swim (float 33 percent salt). Dinner/Overnight David Resort in Dead Sea  B/D

Oct. 1, Monday – Romans, Tax Collectors, and Zealots
Visit Masada (Jewish stronghold against the Romans).  Walk Ein Gedi waterfall then visit the ruins at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Drive north to stop at the Jordan River, near Jericho, to remember Jesus’ baptism by John. Optional hike to upper waterfall. Dinner/Overnight Ein Gev Kibbutz Sea of Galilee  B/D

Oct. 2, Tuesday –  Jesus’ Ministry Around the Sea of Galilee
Visit Capernaum (synagogue and the Octagonal Church). In Tabgha, visit the Church of the Multiplication, the traditional location for the feeding of the 5000.  Visit the ruins of Chorazin.  You will stand on the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was delivered.  A St. Peter’s fish lunch will be provided followed by a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Dinner/Overnight Ein Gev Kibbutz Sea of Galilee   B/L/D

Oct. 3, Wednesday –  Jesus’ withdrawal from Galilee
Drive to the Golan Heights to view Gamla, a Zealot stronghold.  View the border between Israel and Syria to talk about the road to Damascus and St. Paul.  Visit Caesarea Philippi/Banias. Optional Gamla hike to visit the synagogue Dinner/Overnight Ein Gev Kibbutz Sea of Galilee  B/D

Oct. 4, Thursday –  Nazareth, Megiddo, and Caesarea Maritima
Visit Nazareth and the Church of Annunciation. View Tel Cana and discuss Jesus’ early ministry.  Visit Megiddo, a major Old Testament city, to walk the water tunnel and a New Testament city, Caesarea Maritime, the capital port from where St. Paul departed on his missionary journeys.  We will visit the theater, stadium, Cardo road, harbor and the Crusader Castle. Dinner/Overnight Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem  B/D

Oct. 5, Friday –  Jesus’ Birth Place and Nativity Stories
Tour Bethlehem Basilica of the Nativity.  Enjoy shopping in local shops for olive wood carvings and other treasures from local Christian artisans.   Optional hike to the top of the Herodion, the palace built by King Herod the Great for his burial place. Dinner/Overnight Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem  B/D

Oct. 6, Saturday –  Jerusalem Temple and Palm Sunday
View the mosques:  Al Aksa and the Dome of the Rock.  Visit Bethesda Pools and St. Anne’s Crusader Church. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, visiting Antonia Fortress, Stations of the Cross and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  Stand on Mt. of Olives and view the Old City. Walk the Palm Sunday route, visiting the Church of  Dominus Flevit (our Lord Wept). Visit the Garden of  Gethsemane’s “Church of All Nations”, remembering Jesus praying in the garden. Receive communion at the Garden Tomb. Optional hike back to hotel via Kidron Valley. Dinner/Overnight Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem  B/D

Oct. 7, Sunday – Museums in Jerusalem
Visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book (home of the Dead Sea Scrolls), the Holy Land Model of Jerusalem, the Holocaust Museum and the Menorah at the Knesset building.  Visit the Western Wall (Kotel), for prayer [bring your written prayers to insert in wall], and the southern wall excavations. Dinner/Overnight Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem  B/D

Oct. 8,  Monday –  Jewish Inquiries and the Last Supper
Visit the Old City of Jerusalem, starting in the Jewish Quarter, the synagogues and the Cardo. Visit Peter at  Gallicantu (believed to be the house of  Caiaphas), Zion Gate, Church of the Dormition, and the traditional Upper Room. Dinner/Overnight Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem  B/D

Oct. 9, Tuesday – Group finishing tour will depart for USA.   The extension group goes on to Jordan.

 

Jordan Extension:  Oct. 9 – 12, 2018 | $840 per person

Oct. 9, Tuesday – Mt. Nebo, Petra
After early morning breakfast, the extension group will go to Jordan via the Shek Hussein bridge.  You will be met by your Jordanian guide and meet the other group at Mt. Nebo where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land, a place that he would never enter. Visit a mosaic shop to learn how mosaic portraits and furniture are made. Continue on to Petra. Overnight/Dinner Moevenpick Hotel in Petra   B/D

Oct. 10, Wednesday – Petra
After breakfast we will spend the day exploring the Nabatean ruins of Petra, where you can choose to either ride a horse in or walk in to the Sik.  Walk through amazingly beautiful, red rock-cut architectures to the Treasury, tricliniums, and the Roman Theater.  Lunch on your own in Petra.  After lunch there are several optional hiking opportunities or make your way back to the hotel. Overnight /Dinner Moevenpick Hotel in Petra   B/D

Oct. 11, Thursday – Amman
Depart early for Amman and have a city tour of Amman. After lunch on your own, visit the Roman theater in the ancient Decapolis city of Philadelphia known today as modern Amman. View the palaces and universities, then continue on to the New Archaeological Museum.  Dinner /Overnight Grand Palace  B/D

Oct. 12, Friday – Early departure for USA

Included in Price

  • Round trip airfare from Houston to Tel Aviv
  • Accommodations for 10 nights in selected superior 4-star hotels with modern comforts
  • 4 optional hiking opportunities
  • Breakfasts, dinners and one lunch on Oct. 2
  • Tour bus for all transfers to/from airport for all visits in the itinerary
  • All entrance fees to sites on itinerary
  • All tips to hotels, drivers, porterage

Not Included in Price

  • Any items of a personal nature, such as laundry, drinks or coffee with/after meals
  • Lunches
  • Travel insurance (recommended)
  • 3-night Jordan extension
  • Israel single supplement: $1700
  • Jordan single supplement: $250

Tour Conditions & Payment Schedule

  • Deposit of US $500 per person due with registration form completed and mailed to Linda Christians (address below).
  • Cancellation: All cancellations for any reason and at any time must be received in writing and will be subject to a $100/person administration fee.
  • Cancellations between 66 – 90 days of departure will be subject to additional loss of some non-recoverable sums from independent providers of land and air services.
  • No refunds available within 65 days of departure. Full refund will be issued if Biblical Resources withdraws the offer of the program. Air tickets once issued are non-refundable. However, they may be used within a year of the travel date in accordance with airline’s policy.
  • Rates are based on a minimum of 20 participants. Prices quoted are in US Dollars and are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect as of July 2017.
  • These rates are subject to change without notice until tickets are issued.
  • Program cost based on group rate. We cannot use frequent flyer miles or upgrade individual tickets. Program is reduced by $950 per person if you are arranging your own flights. Please note: we must be notified immediately if you are making your own flight arrangements.

About the Tour Leaders

Dr. James Fleming, is a lecturer, director of Biblical Resources, LLC and the CEO of Biblical History Center, a     museum of daily life in biblical times,  located in LaGrange, GA. He has lived and worked as an archaeologist and educator in Israel since 1974 and has taught classes in the School for Overseas Students at Hebrew University and the Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem. He has developed courses in historical geography and biblical history, uniquely tying the studies with biblical text, with an emphasis on theological implications. He is the  author of several dozen notebooks and teaching materials that are an excellent  help to pastors and leaders. He obtained his Ed.D. degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX.

Hannaniah (Oliver) Pinto lived in Jerusalem, Israel from 1983 – 2004. He is a licensed Israeli tour guide fluent in four languages. currently directs study programs at Biblical Resources, and co-leads tours to Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. He is also the Chief Program Officer at Biblical History Center, a museum featuring the daily life in biblical times, headquartered in LaGrange, GA. Hannaniah’s teaching is focused on archaeology and the Jewish background of the Bible.He helps groups understand the remains of biblical towns,  connecting them to stories in the Bible in a new and exciting way.His published book, Jesus’ Last Night with His Disciples, a Study of the First Century Historical and Archaeological Setting of the Last Supper, provides insight into journeys to Israel.

Dr. Linda Christians feels blessed to be able to combine her spiritual journey with her leadership role as Executive Pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Linda came into ministry following a nursing career. She received her call to ministry during a Footsteps of Jesus study tour in the Holy Land in 1997 and feels her faith being strengthened with each successive journey. Linda graduated from Perkins School of Theology with a Master of Divinity degree in 2002, and received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2010. Linda and her husband, Doug, have two grown children, Zach and Emily.

For reservations or information contact:

Dr. Linda Christians
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
3471 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77027
Tel: 713-402-5114
lchristians@storage.storage.stlukesmethodist.org