Itinerary

Israel with Sam Sorbo & Karen Vaughn

On this tour, we follow the footsteps of Jesus from His ministry in Galilee to His final days in Jerusalem. Each key Biblical location features teachings from our hosts and experts at the actual sites being described. Very cool!


PROGRAM & ITINERARY

Monday - June 14, 2021

If you make your own flight arrangements, be sure to arrive in Israel the afternoon of June 14th. Flying from the US is an overnight flight, requiring you to leave on June 13th.


Tuesday - June 15, 2021

Welcome Home! Next stop - the white sandy Mediterranean beaches of Tel Aviv

This evening: Meet & greet in our beach hotel.

  • Overnight : Tel Aviv
  • Meals : Dinner

Wednesday - June 16, 2021

After breakfast we will have our first day orientation meeting. We will meet our tour hosts, leaders, guides, staff and each other.

Following the orientation we start our Galilean excursion. On our way to Galilee, we will visit the 2000 year old theater in ancient Caesarea. Here at Caesarea by the sea we will see the Crusaders' castle, the Roman amphitheater, and the seaport from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome.

We will then continue along the coast to Mount Carmel to the most picturesque city of Haifa for a magnificent view of the Bahai gardens and the waterfront. From here we will ride to the peak of the mount to see the site of Elijah's triumph over the prophets of Baal. Here we will hear the biblical message and experience this magnificent site. From here we continue to Megiddo on the Plain of Armageddon of latter day prophesies, we will see the remnants of the king Solomon's northern fortress's stables and its famous water supply system. We will continue to the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. Our hotel is on the waterfront and the famous boardwalk.

  • Evening : Free
  • Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Thursday - June 17, 2021

We will start our day with a memorable boat ride across the Sea of Galilee.

While cruising, we'll pause for a great sing along and even learn Israeli dancing right on the Sea of Galilee. We are sure to remember the many miracles our Lord performed in this area.

After docking at Ginosar, biblical Genesseret, we will visit the Primacy of Peter to see the area where Jesus asked Peter, Lovest thou me? Then we'll proceed to Capernaum to see the remains of an early church, the ruins of Peter's house, and the ancient synagogue. We will gather on the Mount of Beatitudes to read the Sermon on the Mount while overlooking the Sea of Galilee and have an on location teaching session.

We will also visit many of the places connected to the ministry of Jesus in this region, including the place of the multiplication, walking on water and much more.

Later in the afternoon we will meet at the Jordan River for traditional Baptismal Service. Here in the summer of 2019 we joined together for the Aaron Vaughn Tree Planting Ceremony, the ceremony was in Yardenit on the shore of the river. This is a place that is visited annually by hundreds of thousands believers who come to experience baptismal and baptismal renewals in the water of the Jordan River. It is the spot that Karen Vaughn, Aaron's mother, had a dream where she saw Aaron calling her to cross to the other side of the Jordan River. This vision led her to her own Jordan River Baptismal during our 2018 visit and a year later to this very unique tree planting ceremony. Today, before we experience individual baptismal services, we will visit where the tree was planted and have a short memorial service for Aaron Vaughn and the 29 U.S. military heroes who perished with him.


After the baptismal service we will proceed to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Evening Program with Sam Sorbo & Karen Vaughn

  • Overnight : Galilee
  • Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Friday - June 18, 2021

We will start our day with a visit to the little town of Cana where Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding feast. Are you ready to renew your wedding vow here? We may just have the right pastor at hand.

 


We continue to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and one of the world’s most panoramic sites, a view of the entire city of Nazareth, the valley of Armageddon, Mount Tabor of the transfiguration and the Gilboa range. This great vista is from the top of Mt. Precipice - the cliff where Jesus was chased away and was about to be thrown to his death by the worshipers at the synagogue.

From here we will drive through the Valley of Sharon, ascending to the City of the Great King – Jerusalem!

This will follow with a traditional Shabbat Dinner with our Jerusalem ministry members.

This evening we will partake in a most fervent “Kabalat Shabbat” service - the receiving of the Sabbath service at the Western Wall.

Here we mingle with thousands of Jerusalem Jews in praise, worship and dancing. This place is the only remnant of the holy temple atop Mt. Moriah.

This is a "not to be missed” event where young and old worship in song and dance in a way most never have experienced before.

Shabbat (Sabbath) Dinner

  • Overnight : Jerusalem
  • Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Saturday - June 19, 2021

This morning we travel to the Jordan Valley via Jericho and visit the Dead Sea area where Jesus spent time in solitude and the place of John the Baptist's ministry. It is the deepest spot on earth, 1200 feet below sea level. We visit Qumran where many of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and the surrounding wilderness where Jesus roamed for 40 days.


We will experience Masada, atop the mountain over-looking the sea below. Masada was the last pocket of insurrection in the Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire where 960 men, women and children defied the might of Rome and fought for three years after the destruction of Jerusalem. We will visit king Herod's Palace, the synagogue, and a very sophisticated 2000 year-old water and irrigation system.

Later in the day a special treat awaits us as we go bathing in the heavy water of the Dead Sea.

Return to Jerusalem

  • Overnight :Jerusalem
  • Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Sunday - June 20, 2021

We start our day with a short Sunday Devotion in the City of the Great King! Following service, we visit the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of the City of Jerusalem. This is the spot where Jesus was weeping over the faith of Jerusalem. From here we descend to the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of the Agony.

From here we proceed to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room and the traditional Tomb of King David. We end the program today with a visit to the Southern Wall excavations. This southern side of The Temple was the main entrance for the common folk, whereas the Priests and Levites had their own entrance from the higher eastern side. Parts of the giant stairs, which led to the Temple Mount from the courtyard have been unearthed along with the purification pools. This is the famous site under the pinnacle of the temple that the scripture quotes: … "Bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest, he is to waive the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf" (Lev. 23:11). This is the very place where King David composed his Psalms and where the Holy Spirit was poured upon the early believers (Acts 2). We will experience an earth moving service and feel the awesome outpouring of the Holy Spirit.


From here Jesus entered the Temple Mount and drove out the vendors and money changers who were exploiting the people. It is also likely that this is the place that Peter stood and preached and where thousands were saved and baptized on the Day of Pentecost.

The old city bazaar will be our next stop.

  • Evening : Jerusalem Ministry Program
  • Overnight :Jerusalem
  • Meals :Breakfast, Dinner

Monday - June 21, 2021

Twenty-five hundred years ago, as Jerusalem was rebuilt by those who returned from exile, Nehemiah said: "From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked." (Nehemiah 4:16-19).

In accordance with biblical prophesies, Israel was reborn and just as in the days of Nehemiah, since her rebirth in 1948, Israel is in a continuous struggle for survival. More now than ever before. Jewish soldiers, young Israeli boys and girls, are the "Shields of David", the defenders of God's Land. To honor them, our special program today is in Latrun - the official Israel Defense Force Commemoration Center and armament display. Latrun is the fortress that was strategically built on Israel's main crossroads and throughout history protected the Holy City of Jerusalem.

The program here features a full army ceremony including the laying of a wreath at the "Wall of Names" in honor of our fallen soldiers and to pay tribute to our living warriors. Here we will mingle with the young soldiers; we will be briefed by experts who will give us the opportunity to gain a better understanding and insight into the region's conflict. Here we will pray for the young heroes of Israel - What a place to pledge our support and solidarity with their/our Godly plight. What a place to pledge our support and solidarity with Israel.

 

We end the day with a visit to the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept and view a scaled model of Jerusalem that dates from the time of Jesus. This is a perfect spot to get oriented with what we have experienced in the city of Jerusalem thus far.

  • Overnight : Jerusalem
  • Meals : Dinner, Breakfast

Tuesday - June 22, 2021

We start our touring program with a visit to the Temple Mount where the holy temple (first & second) is now the site of the Islamic Dome of the Rock. From here we trace the footsteps of Jesus on His last day, visiting on the way the Pool of Bethesda, Stephen's Gate and St. Ann's Church and on to the Via Dolorosa, the way of the agony and the Stations of the Cross. We are reminded of His way of suffering along with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Later in the day and following a security clearance we are invited to an official visit in the “Knesset” – The Israeli Parliament.

Evening Program

  • Overnight : Jerusalem
  • Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Wednesday - June 23, 2021

Mission Grand Finale

Early morning, we travel a short distance to the Yad Va'Shem, a museum built in memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis in World War II. It is also a commemoration for the righteous gentiles who by risking their own lives, rescued Jews from certain death.

We will continue our program with a Devotion Service at the Garden Tomb. What a great place to celebrate a communion, praise and worship and have time for devotion and prayers.

We will then return to the hotel for our Grand Finale with our tour hosts and teachers.

  • Overnight : Jerusalem
  • Meals : Dinner, Breakfast

Thursday - June 24, 2021

Flights home!