Early in the summer, we had the privilege as a congregation to travel to the country of Israel. This time, the group was a bit smaller and consisted of people of very different ages. There were elderly women who had difficulty walking from the bus to the places we visited, a Catholic Iraqi woman who had heard about the trip through our programs on YouTube, and several young couples visiting Israel for the first time.
Among the travelers was Benjamin, a young boy of 15, who traveled together with his parents and little brother. He was a typical teenager—tired in the mornings, sometimes finding his parents a bit embarrassing, and with an appetite like a horse. How would he experience this trip to Israel, visiting one site after another? I was a bit curious.
Israel is often called the fifth gospel, because it’s as if the land itself preaches. When you read Bible verses in the very place where they took place, when you pray and allow the Lord’s Spirit to touch your heart, faith becomes more alive, more grounded.
But in a group as diverse as ours—with different ages, backgrounds, and expectations—I still wondered how it would impact Benjamin in particular.
Would it mean anything to a teenager who mostly just wants to sleep, listen to music through his headphones, and tag along with his parents because it’s mandatory? I prayed in my heart that God would meet him in some way—in a way only God can.
It turned out that my worry was completely unfounded. Benjamin loved what he experienced. He was very interested throughout the entire trip, asking questions and commenting on things he saw and understood. The wonderful thing is exactly this perspective—the Bible becomes incredibly alive. You see the places that testify that Scripture is true, and you gain perspective and context that strengthen your faith. This happened so clearly with both Benjamin and his family.
A few years ago, I took along a couple of younger guys to Israel who were somewhat lost in their Christian faith. Like so many other teenagers from the free church, they had started questioning their own beliefs during high school and had also “dabbled” in the world. But when we arrived at the ruins in Capernaum, saw the synagogue so often mentioned in Scripture—the one gifted to the Jews by the Roman centurion—and not least when we saw Peter’s house, something happened.
The largest house among the ruins is known to be Peter’s home, where Jesus stayed when he was in the town. It is also believed that Jewish men gathered here for prayer and Scripture discussions before the synagogue was built, since it was the biggest house in the town. This also tells us a bit about Peter himself—he came from the largest house, was used to respect, and knew how to take his place.
When one of the boys looked at this house and listened to the information about how archaeologists had found evidence in their excavations, he became silent. In the rental car heading south towards Jerusalem, he said, “If Peter’s house exists, then the other things written in the Bible must also be true.”
I rejoiced inwardly and quietly thanked “the fifth gospel” for the wonderful sermon that led this young man to return to his childhood faith. That same year, he went on to attend Bible school.
The mission of Livets Ord in relation to Israel is to “bring Christians to Israel and Israel to Christians.” The trips are absolutely central to this. In encountering the country, one not only experiences the biblical stories in a deeper way but also gains a heart for the land and the people God chose to bring salvation to the world. God’s dealings with His people, their eternal calling, and the price they pay through antisemitism and misunderstanding touch the heart. One becomes a true Christian Zionist.
God needs us to understand what Israel is and is not, to stand with them, pray for them, and resist antisemitism—a hatred that has caused them so much suffering throughout history and keeps appearing in new forms. Today, in our countries, there is an anti-Israel attitude that denies the Jewish people the right to their entire land.
Israel took a deep place in the hearts of Benjamin, his little brother, and their family. It was a financial commitment to travel there, but they believed it was worth it every single day. And it truly is. Visiting Israel is different from going on any other vacation. It is an investment in the eternal, in God’s plans and kingdom. It is always worth it.
Next year, we’re going again.
From June 13 to 20, 2024, you are warmly invited to join us!
