Great Outdoors Church Trip to Israel 2023

The trip of a lifetime to Israel took place in February 2023.  New friendships were molded, spiritual baptisms happened, and tears of joy were shed during the journey to God's Holy place.  Thank you to J.B. and Tass for brainstorming and working hard to plan the trip.  All the planning and effort put into the trip were well appreciated.  God's presence was felt throughout the trip and the history was inspirational. 

Beautiful Art Work at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv

Grand Beach Hotel in Tel Aviv

Mediterranean Sea

City of Tel Aviv with hills and mountians made of sand and rocks.

Oasis Hotel in Jericho

View of Jericho

Souvenir shop below the Mount of Temp

Coptic Orthodox Church is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the world. Coptic churches can be found all over the world; and the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese is located in Jerusalem beside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Agricultural Gardens

There are natural caves here where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We walked through excavated ruins that showed aqueducts, cisterns, reservoirs, foundations of houses and workshops, and more. There is a great view of the Dead Sea from the tower ruins.

Tell es Sultan is also an active archaeological site. We had the opportunity to observe several workers at the dig site.

Monastery Deir al-Quruntal, a Greek Orthodox monastery on the Mount of Temptation. Visitors can walk up to the top on a very steep path, but our group decided to take the cable cars up the mountain (about 1180 feet above sea level).

There were several levels of ruins, giving much insight into how the people lived and survived on top of Masada. The ruins contain remains of Herod’s Northern Palace and Western Palace, a synagogue, Roman bathhouse, a Byzantine Church, storage areas and water reservoirs.

Shepherds Field (a hillside where the Angel of God appeared to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds) and the Chapel of the Angels. Paintings in the chapel depict the angel’s announcement. There was also a cave area behind the Chapel for group worship.

Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem -- This church was built in the 4th century by Empress Helena (mother of Emperor Constantine) over the grotto where Jesus was born. The Church was partially destroyed in the 6th century, but rebuilt around 530. The church is owned by the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Apostolic and the Roman Catholic Church.

The Mount of Olives -- “old” and the “new” Jerusalem – the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, the massive cemetery (estimated 150,000 graves)

For more information, or contact:
Rev. J.B. Kump
email: jb.kump@tgochurch.org, or jb.kump.tgo@gmail.com
Phone: 321-383-0303, 321-543-1608