On occasion, a local church, church organization, or group of churches plans trips for members and other friends. Such planned ventures include work camps, visits to other churches, or trips to a particular site of special importance to the denomination.
Sometimes a local congregation or church group will organize a trip to a foreign land, perhaps even to the Holy Land. When church leaders plan such a trip, they should recognize that a church-sponsored tour is different from a standard group tour. We believe that there are some important factors to keep in mind:

• The trip ought to provide regular worship opportunities.
• Community building and caring for the welfare of the individual traveler is important.
• Christians ought to be sensitive to the values and cultures of the people they visit.
• The behavior of the group and it’s individual members will give foreigners a picture of American Christianity.
• Instead of providing a “Been here, done that!” experience, a church-sponsored trip should enrich the faith of each traveler.
• People of faith in other countries are eager to meet American Christians and share their own experiences as children of God.

Most Americans think that the area that we call the Middle East is populated exclusively by Muslims and, in Israel, Jews. But this land is the birthplace of Christianity as well as the homeland of Jesus Christ. Since Pentecost there have always been Christians in the Middle East – sometimes as the majority, now as the minority. Most Palestinian Christians in the land today can trace their faith roots back to the time of Christ. They are a constant reminder to modern Christians of the continuity of the past, present, and future in our faith.

All too often, churches take groups on simple sightseeing tour, thereby missing the opportunity to encounter the indigenous peoples of the Holy Land. Rather than only walking in the footsteps of Jesus, church groups need to make time in their schedule to walk alongside contemporary Palestinians.

Your church or church organization is invited to plan a trip to include visiting not only the ancient stones of the Holy Land, but also the “living stones” – the reminders of Christ’s continuing presence in his land. As you walk these same mountains and valleys, you can reclaim a part of your heritage by coming into contact with the Christians who have been in the land for centuries.

The Cost of a Free Ticket

It is not unusual for pastors and lay leaders to be offered free trips to the Holy Land by major tour agencies in exchange for recruiting others to travel with them. The price for traveling to the land for free may be appealing, but the cost is actually very high. For example:

• The tour schedule is pre-planned and often unchangeable.
• The schedule keeps you “running where Jesus walked”.
• Your guide may know very little about the Palestinian people, but you can rarely change a guide who has been assigned to you.
• The choice of sights may ignore your particular interests in favor of more general “tourist attractions”.
• There will be little or no time for you to visit with the Palestinian people and hear their concerns and needs.
• All-day trips are often planned for Sundays, precluding an opportunity to worship with local Christians.
• The guide may “hijack” the group to shop at one store instead of spending the time where you want to go.
• Your hotel may be isolated, preventing you from traveling out on your own.
• You will be rejecting the hospitality of Palestinians who long for contact with other people of faith and who desire your friendship.
  
  

The Palestinians of the Holy Land Welcome You To:

• Visit with one of our United Methodist missionaries serving in the Holy Land.
• Attend Sunday worship at a local church and stay for hospitality.
• Visit a United Methodist sponsored social service institution or school.
• Arrange in advance to speak with a local church leader, imam, or rabbi.
• Stay in a Palestinian hospice or hotel.
• Share a meal and sleep overnight with a Palestinian Christian family.
• Learn more about efforts to support peace with justice for all.
• Purchase your souvenirs in shops that support development projects and cooperatives.
  
  

What to Do Next

If your church has already signed up for a trip to the Holy Land, work with your travel agency to modify the journey to include time to meet with the Palestinian people and to stop at Christian churches and agencies supported by the United Methodist Church. You may have to be firm in insisting that these wishes be included, but remember, this is your trip.

If you are thinking of organizing a trip to the Holy Land, we encourage you to contact the following for assistance in designing the trip you want to take:

• Our United Methodist Liaison in Jerusalem, the Rev. Sandra Olewine.
  E-mail: Solewine@annadwa.org
  Fax: 011-972-2-626-4730
  Phone: 011-972-2-676-6479
• Kathryn Johnson, Executive Director, Methodist Federation for Social Action
  E-mail: kj@mfsaweb.org
  Phone: (202) 546-8806