Reflections from former eXperience Israel team members
"The eXperience Israel tour was the most monumental, life changing experience ever. I've been purged, humbled, moved and deeply challenged."
- Vivian
"I am so grateful for my experience in Israel and how it has deepened my walk. I regularly utilize what I learned in my sharing, in my family, and in my walk."
- Jill
"I've actually been meaning to write to you for some time now. Only to let you know how jealous I am for your new team of folks this year. Clearly this is not just a tour or a mission experience that people go on (I've done my fair share of both); because I have never felt as attached to an experience as I have to our trip to Israel. I find myself in worship at church OFTEN revisiting the many places we went to in the homeland of Yeshua-my Savior! I can't really put words to it except to say that what you offer people here is so much more than just a trip-it's a two week experience that will stay with them forever. Just to have been in Israel was life changing for me in a way I can't quite express. I suppose that's why you have to 'experience' it. Thanks for making this happen for me and know that I'll be saying prayers for you and the team this year (and secretly wishing I was there too)."
- Michele (written 1 year after her trip to Israel)
"The trip to Israel was unlike any other trip I have been on before. The Bible became more alive to me as I would listen to the events being read as we were standing or sitting in the actual site that it took place. It was amazing to actually be in a place where Jesus walked, talked, cried, prayed, etc. I will never read the Bible the same way again. It really opened my eyes to the culture of the people during the time of Jesus and why certain things took place or were said. I now understand so much better."
- Kayla
"I had an amazing time in Israel! God really worked in my life during those two weeks and He has been using this experience to continue to work in me. It was so amazing to see some of the places where Jesus actually walked and ministered. God really has blessed me by allowing me to have experienced Israel. God really changed me a lot and I don't want to go back into my 'old life' where God was just someone I worshipped on Sundays and where Jesus was just some guy I read about for five minutes before I went to bed. God really spoke to me during those two weeks and the Holy Spirit has never been so real to me. God is so alive and I need to live everyday like he is alive in me."
- Amanda
"I really enjoyed the outreach opportunities. They helped me understand how simple sharing my faith with Jewish and Arab people can be. It doesn't take a lot of head knowledge...just love, and the gifts that God has given me. But most of all I learned the importance that love plays when reaching out to others. Joy is a key element that opens the door to sharing my faith. I knew this before the trip, but this time it was really apparent in our outreach efforts, and it was an area that I camped out on in my thoughts during our entire stay in Israel."
- Jim
"There are so many ways that eXperience Israel has impacted me. Before I went I did not know what to expect because I wasn't really familiar with Chosen People Ministries, Israel, or about sharing my faith with Jewish people. For each of these aspects I have gained knowledge and a deep love. Although I have always known that my Savior, Jesus, was the Messiah and that He was Jewish, I do not believe I ever fully comprehended that my faith is rooted in Jewish soil. I have now seen through the tour and teaching sessions that I worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As part of this, I have gained a love for Jewish people that I never had before. I was also challenged through our outreach encounters that sharing my faith with Jewish people is not only my obligation, but also my privilege. These chosen people of God should be a priority to me as they are with God. I have now seen the importance of Israel as the birth of my faith and its importance in history, the present, and the future. I hate to admit, but I was rather ignorant of life in Israel today. I not only am aware of the struggle for peace, but I have been burdened to pray for the peace of Israel with more passion. I have great hope that there will be peace when Jesus returns to this precious land. In the meantime, I know that there are those who are working and ministering in Israel. I realize that this is tough work with obstacles, but I have seen the Lord working in great ways. This tour has also changed my whole perspective on God's Word. Being able to see places written about in the Word and go to places where Jesus walked has made it a greater reality in my life."
- Penny
"Israel was an amazing experience, and God really put it on my heart that I need to get out of my comfort zone, and talk to people who need to hear the good news of Jesus. I would love to go back, and I realize now how amazing it is to be able to talk to people who live in a completely different world, and who are so interested in hearing the gospel. That trip also made me start to seriously think about missions. I have always had it in the back of my mind, but now it has pushed its way in front of everything."
- Heather
"The trip helped me to feel in my spirit what I already knew in my head - that the Jewish people are very dear to the Lord. The country is completely spiritually charged, and it was amazing to stand back and listen to the Lord there."
- Adrienne
"Being in Israel was awe-inspiring! What struck me was the fact that God is at this time working in Israel, putting flesh upon the dry bones and sinews that have come together. The fact that we could walk around in the Land goes to show how the God we serve is the ultimate Promise Keeper. Not only is the existence of the State of Israel a miracle, but that God has raised up a Remnant there is also a sign of His faithfulness. What I saw there in terms of the believers and their passion to bring the Message to their nation was so exciting and encouraging. While many who come to Israel marvel at where Jesus walked and the rich biblical history of the Land, unfortunately these same people are ignorant or even apathetic of God's working and moving among His chosen people today. I love history (especially Jewish history!) and definitely appreciate the great significance of visiting the sites. However, I think that there needs to be a balance among Christians today: yes, this is where Jesus walked...but that's not the whole story. He still walks there today and is actively involved in bringing His promises to Israel to fruition."
- Serene
"The eXperience Israel Tour has had a very positive influence on my life. I look at Scripture in a whole new way. With every portion read, it takes on a new meaning. Now when there is a sermon on Jericho, Gethsemane, or Mount Carmel - to just name a few - I can say I was there and experienced this story."
- Jayleen
"I still have to let everything sink in...it was almost unbelievable that I was actually there in Israel. Israel has been on my heart more and more since I've gotten back. I now read my Bible and I think to myself, 'I was there in Galilee. I know what it was like to smell what Jesus smelled and see what he saw!' I want to tell others around me about this experience, but words cannot even express what I want to tell them. The only thing I have to say is...'You have to go there for yourself and see what it's like.' It's really deepened my relationship with God and it makes me want to go back."
- Nicole
"It has been more than a week since my return home and I am still having difficulty articulating how my life has been impacted by the 2 weeks in Israel. To say that my 'life has been changed' or my 'eyes have opened' seem to be inadequate descriptions of all that God has taught me. He has catapulted me out of my comfort zone and taken me to a level that I had yet to experience. My first impression of Israel when I got off the plane and onto the bus was the degree to which it was a land of physical contrasts: brown dry land with sudden bursts of greenery and beautiful flowers. As I was leaving Israel this same notion of contrasts struck me with respect to the people who live in Israel, especially with respect to their reaction to the message of the Messiah. At one extreme you have those who are completely closed-minded to any talk of Yeshua (i.e., the ultra-orthodox), contrasted with those who have no idea of who Yeshua is but who are curious to know more. This was evident during our time at the beach with a conversation I had with my new friend, Shifra - who, despite living in Jerusalem, had no idea what the ‘Garden Tomb' was about. God taught me so much through interactions with the messianic congregations, teammates on the bus, and the daily chapel times. As I read Scripture now that I'm back at home, I have a tangible memory to refer to. Words that had become routine are now alive and vibrant."
- Colleen
"Where do I start? I anticipated that eXperience Israel would be life-changing...and it was. Through the trip I gained an appreciation for the Jewish people and how they fit into God's plan. Now that I've been home 2 weeks, I read my Bible and pray in different ways. When I go to church and sing about the Lord's death and sacrifice for me, I'm amazed by it again because I can picture exactly where those things happened! This trip will stay with me the rest of my life."
- Aimee
"Since I went on eXperience Israel almost 4 years ago, I cannot get Israel out of my mind or thoughts. It's always there. I'm teaching our teen Sunday school class at church and everything we have been going through in class, I can always find something to relate to them about being in the country that opened my eyes to what we're studying. I'm praying that God allows us the opportunity in the near future to travel over there another time. Thank you for the ministry you and the others have provided for the rest of us who would otherwise have never had the chance to see the place Jesus walked and lived."
- Kayla
"Just about every Sunday that I am worshipping in church, I think about Israel and the time I had there. I think it will forever live in my heart and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to go and see where my Yeshua walked. What an amazing ministry you have in introducing others to such a wonderful place. Know that your work is NOT in vain."
- Michele (written 2 years after her trip to Israel)
"I'd like to share with you about one area of my life that I feel my trip to Israel has helped me with. I have had the opportunity to serve in a youth ministry at the church I attend and this summer we were able to take the students to a summer camp in Oklahoma. While we were there the youth pastor felt called to teach the students about ‘Missional Living-the idea that we are all missionaries and that we need to live out the love and good news of Jesus all the time, regardless of whether you are overseas or at home. To me this idea resonated so well with the lessons I learned during my experience in Israel. In the midst of my experience serving others in Israel I truly learned and appreciated the value of simply serving others and showing God's love no matter where I am. Consequently, I was able to help share this vision with the youth I spent time with this summer."
- Andrew (written 1 year after his trip to Israel)
What will you be saying after you've experienced Israel?
