Janice McIntyre
City Editor
EL DORADO — Scott and Jane Johnson of El Dorado “would like to invite those who have a desire and are able to join us on a 10-day trip to the Holy Land Nov. 8-17. We will serve as co-hosts for this trip as having previously gone in 2010,” Scott Johnson said.
“The tour company (LeSEA Tours) is one of the oldest Israel tour companies in the U.S. and we have been asked to co-host this trip. Our group will register under the group tour name – Church of Christ– Scott and Jane Johnson. The seat count is normally 200 using four to five charter buses,” Scott Johnson explained.
“Our target is to fill one bus of 40 seats as the ‘Church of Christ’ bus. Tour costs are all-inclusive, round-trip from Newark, New Jersey to Tel-Aviv, Israel. The cost of travel to New Jersey and return to your home is extra. A Holy Land trip proves to be a tremendous blessing as Bible reading will come to life after seeing the land where scripture became reality,” Scott Johnson said.
LeSEA Tours is a ministry that has been providing escorted tours to the Holy Land for over 45 years, according to a news release provided by the company, of South Bend, Indiana. The cost of the tour is $3,500 per person from Newark to Tel-Aviv – all inclusive – flight, lodging, meals, taxes, tips, bus and entry fees. A land package only is available for $1,900, with flight arrangements made by the individual (can use points, miles or direct flight).
Packets are available by request from Scott Johnson, pastor of East Faulkner Church of Christ in El Dorado, at [email protected].
The package includes: round trip airfare from one of LeSEA’s gateway departure cities – Newark or Chicago O’Hare Airport; deluxe hotels (three nights in the Leonardo Plaza, Tiberias and four nights at Dan Panorama in Jerusalem); visits to major biblical and archeological sites; three meals each day, but lunch not included on free day; private transfers to and from airport in Tel Aviv; taxes and tips to guides, drivers and hotel staff; private boat ride on the Sea of Galilee; baptism in the Jordan River; comprehensive tour with entrance fees to sites; and professional English speaking guides.
A $300 deposit is required to reserve a place on the tour, which will be refundable until Aug. 4, and final balance is due Sept. 8 and balances not paid by Sept. 8 risk cancellation. Enrollments are accepted after Sept. 8 and require payment in full.
LeSEA Tours is a ministry of the worldwide outreach of LeSEA Broadcasting. By joining on a LeSEA Israel Tour, those attending will join a tradition that dates back to to 1960s, when Dr. Lester Sumrall began officially hosting tours to the Holy Land.
“Israel is like no other place on earth. This is the exact spot our Lord chose for His home. You will be walking on this land, seeing the same hills and watching the Bible come to life before your eyes. We promise you will not return the same,” LeSEA officials said.
Those on the tour will arrive on Nov. 9 at Tel-Aviv and visit Caesarea, where they will see the Crusader’s Castle, Roman Theater and the world famous aqueduct and view the harbour from where Paul was taken to Rome. They will then drive to Megiddo, one of Solomon’s chariot cities and place of the final battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16) and view the Valley of Armageddon. At Mount Carmel, those on the trip will see where Elijah was called down the pillar of fire which consumed the bullock upon the altar in front of Baal’s prophets and then check into the hotel, which is located on the Sea of Galilee.
On Nov. 9, those on the tour will experience a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and the boat will dock at Nof Ginosar. Then by motor-coach, the group will visit Capernaum and see ruins of the ancient synagogue, the ruins of the first church of St. Peter. They will stop for lunch at a Kibbutz at Ein Gev and then experience the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus ministered to the crowds and preached the famous Sermon on the Mount. The day’s activities will end with a visit to the Primacy of Peter, where tourists will walk along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee in the area where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.
The tour will also include visits to Cana, Nazareth Village, Zippori and end the day on Nov. 11 with an opportunity to experience baptism in the Jordan River. On Nov. 12, tourists will plant a tree in the Lavi Forest, then travel along the Jordan Valley to the largest archaeoloical site in Israel, the ancient ruins of Beit She’an, then board a bus en route to Jerusalem, stand atop the Mount of Olives and see views of old and new Jerusalem. They will take a Palm Sunday route to the Garden of Gethsemane.
On Nov. 13, the tour will include visits to the Old City, the Pools of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, Western Wall and City of David and on Nov. 14, tourists will see Mount Scopus, the Upper Room, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. November 15 will be a free day with an optional tour for purchase to Masada, the Dead Sea and the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. On Nov. 16, guests will tour Yad Vashem, Emek Tzurim, Garden Tomb and Golgotha, followed on Nov. 17 with the extended tour to Eilat in the southern tip of Israel – where Egypt, Jordan and Israel all meet at the Red Sea.
For more information and registration forms, call 1-800-685-3732 or visit leseatours.com.