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Multnomah sponsors Israel Tour

While students and faculty heard about missions all over the world, Dr. Daniel Lockwood and Dr. Don Brake walked in the footsteps of Jesus. From Feb. 6-19, they toured Israel with about 40 alumni, donors and other friends of Multnomah. The ages of those on the tour ranged from 30 to 79. The tour commemorated the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus.

"I memorized the map of Israel a zillion times for classes, but I learn better actually walking the land," Bonnie Bissell, 47, said. A graduate of Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary, Mrs. Bissell jumped at the chance to tour Israel with two of her professors. Her husband, Stephen, decided to join her because he wanted to understand more about Israel.

The tour, titled, "In the Footsteps of Jesus," emphasized Jesus' life and ministry on earth. The Israeli tour guide led the group through the region of Galilee, going through Capernaum. They rode a small fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee and participated in a sunrise service.

The Palestinian bus driver helped the group enter Bethlehem, which lies in the West Bank. The group also spent time in Nazareth. Finally, they stayed in Jerusalem and visited all the places that formed the last week of Jesus' life. Mrs. Bissell said the places emphasized the magnificence of who Jesus was.

The tour visited many tells, cisterns and tombs. Mrs. Bissell described a tell as a "layered cake of civilizations built on top of each other."

Dr. Brake said the highlights of the trip fit under two categories: the places the group visited and the spiritual, touching moments where the Lord blessed in a special way. For example, the group celebrated communion in the actual upper room. Dr. Brake said people usually don't have time to meditate and pray in these places, but the tourism industry had slowed down as a result of the recent tension in Israel.

Many people in the group said they enjoyed the experience in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which marks the place of Jesus' crucifixion. Standing before the rock split by the earthquake, the group read the medical description of what happens at a crucifixion and sang hymns. "For us to stand up there and belt out the great hymns of the faith was really a thrill," Dr. Brake said.

The tour also included several Old Testament sites. At Qumran, the group saw the caves where a Bedouin found the Dead Sea Scrolls. On Mount Carmel, they read about the encounter between Elijah and the priests of Baal.

Mrs. Bissell said she appreciated that the tour focused on growing closer to the Lord rather than venerating old sites. "It was almost like we collected these experiences," she said. "And I think we will use them as we go back to read our Bible and have time to reflect."