A pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Posted by admin on Nov 18, 2009 in News | 0 comments

“…Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in books and one you will find in the land they call holy. Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you.” (Fr. Bargil Pixner)

For those looking to truly experience God’s word, Trinity Western University has the chance of a lifetime for you; a guided biblical tour of the Holy land. This is the fist time such a trip has been offered by TWU and the University intends to take full advantage of this historical opportunity, ensuring there is an educational component.

The trip will consist of visiting such holy sites as Tel Gezer (one of the first identified cities of the Bible conquered by Joshua, the Valley of Elah (site of the famous battle between David and Goliath,) Nazareth Village and even hike up Mt. Arbel, (the reputed site where Jesus went to pray all night before appointing the disciples.) These are just some of the archaeological sites those that are lucky enough to go on this trip will visit.

This isn’t all fun and games (though it mostly will be,) there is a major educational component to it as well. However, unlike most teaching environments, in this case as Prof. De Silva puts it,”the land itself is your classroom.” The idea of the travel study is to inspire students by giving them a first-hand glimpse to the very birth-place of Christianity and by giving them the opportunity to visit historical sites they have only read about in the Bible, allowing them to, in essence, relive these powerful events.

For students wondering what courses will be offered for you in this travel study, there is a myriad of choices: Introduction to Old Testament Studies (RELS 101,) Introduction to New Testament Studies (RELS 102,) Biblical Archaeology (RELS 350) and the Life and Teaching of Jesus (RELS 351.)

For those with security concerns, Ivan De Silva, a detective with the Special Investigation Section of the Vancouver Police Department, easily abates those fears. “Israel is one of the safest places to visit in the world, it is so tightly and carefully managed from a security point of view.” Even their tour guides are trained in providing security; “they’re in constant contact with all relevant government agencies to ensure their is no possibility of risk. The Israeli government hasn’t lost a tourist.” To absolutely ensure safety for those who visit Israel, TWU constantly monitors Israel’s state of security, following the guidelines of the US Security Department.

Anyone wanting more information, including costs, can e-mail Lucy Gerbrandt at lucy.gerbrandt@twu.ca or by phone at (604) 513-2121, ext. 3846.