Last November, I took several staff members and 2 pastors to Israel. We had a wonderful time! GOD blessed our little group of 15 with lovely weather and unforgettable experiences such as planting grapevines in the city of Ariel in the mountains of Samaria the “West Bank”). We were privileged to be able to share in the fulfillment of GOD’S prophecy found in the Bible’s book of Jeremiah, chapter 31 verse 5, where the LORD said to His people the Jews, “AGAIN YOU WILL PLANT VINEYARDS ON THE HILLS OF SAMARIA...”

Our hosts in Ariel were Mayor Ron Nachman and Dina Shalit, director of the Ariel Development Fund. Approximately half of Ariel’s population of 18,000 are immigrant Russian Jews. Many of them are elderly and have joined Ariel’s Russian Choir. It has given them a new lease on life, and they are simply marvelous! We were treated to a special concert at the city’s community center. When I look at the men and women of the choir, I am looking at the word of GOD proven true once more. The LORD said that in the “last days” His people the Jews would return to their land from every nation on the earth. The LORD declared, “FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; I WILL BRING YOUR DESCENDANTS FROM THE EAST, AND GATHER YOU FROM THE WEST; I WILL SAY TO THE NORTH, ‘GIVE THEM UP!” AND TO THE SOUTH, ‘DO NOT KEEP THEM BACK!” (ISAIAH 43:5,6) If you look at a map, you will see that MOSCOW is directly NORTH of Israel!

We also traveled from Ariel in a bulletproof bus (a precaution in that area) to Shiloh, where the tabernacle of the LORD stood for 369 years. This is where Hannah prayed for a son. This is where her prayer was answered. Her son, Samuel, served Eli, the priest, at
November 2005 Israel Trip Review RCC Group at “Wailing Wall” (Western Temple Mount Wall) in Jerusalem Shiloh before becoming GOD’S prophet to 2 kings of Israel: Saul and David. Bits of ancient pottery can be found all over the site, and you can see and touch the original wall that outlines the spot where the sacred tabernacle once stood.

I feel that it is important for Christians to learn about the current state of affairs in
Israel as well as experience the land’s Biblical heritage.