PASTOR BILL ANDRICK'S TRIP TO ISRAEL

I have not been to Israel, but many friends have told me how spiritually enlightening it was for them. One of these friends is Bill Andrick, an engineer and the pastor of St. James Church at Crossroads in Navarre, Ohio. I’ve asked him a few questions to help us understand the significance of the trip.

You said you went to Israel in a more peaceful time. When was that?

My wife Dianne and I went to Israel from April 27 to May 7, 2013.  It coincided with our 45^th wedding anniversary. We went with a church group from Boone, NC on Templeton Tours.

Would you go back this year or at least sometime in the future, based on safety concerns? 

I would go back anytime.  Israel is one of the safest places on the planet.  It is also the only real democracy in the Middle East.  It is truly multi-cultural with Jews, Christians, Arabs, Muslims, Kurds, and assorted other ethnicities all living and working side by side.  The disputed regions of the West Bank and Gaza are basically anti-Jewish political areas that forbid Jewish people from entering.

Were you able to interact with many Israeli citizens or military persons? 

We were blessed to have a Christian guide for our tour.  A former officer of the Israeli Defense Forces, he was fluent in 5 languages.  We ate at Christian and Jewish restaurants, same with shopping.  In every case, almost everyone could speak English and loved to interact with us. Everywhere we went there were young men and women in uniform with weapons.  We talked to soldiers from Arizona, Georgia, New York and New Jersey, who returned to Israel to fulfill their military obligations and attend college. Most planned to make Israel their home. 

I’m sure there were many important places to see; what three were the most impressive or spiritually uplifting? 

Oh my, you would think that is an easy question.  Since we had a Christian guide, our tour focused on those areas of significance to Christians.  Of course, we did go to the Old Testament areas that would become prophetically linked to Christ, but the emphasis was on areas that were significant to the life and ministry of Christ.  Many were traditional sites, some were speculated, but many were actually the real deal. We were blessed to be able to spend time in Nazareth, Bethlehem, Capernaum (Sea of Galilee) and, of course, Jerusalem.  

1) Historically for Israel, Masada would be emotionally the place that was most significant.  The siege against the Roman army lasted 3 years after Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D.70. In the end, 960 Jewish men, women and children committed suicide rather than becoming enslaved by Rome.  All IDF military academy graduates make a pledge, an oath at Masada, “Masada Shall Not Fall Again”! 

2) Bethlehem was available for our tour group at that time.  Since then, the majority Christian population has been displaced and only a small percentage of Christians are there now.  It is a Muslim city and we were blessed to spend time there at the Church of the Nativity, and meet the Kando family who’s Great, Great Grandfather discovered the Dead Sea scrolls. Their antiquities store has one of the original clay urns that contained the scrolls. It has since moved out of the city.

3) Of course, Jerusalem is filled with significant sites that are worthy of mention. Too many to pick just one, but standing on Temple Mount and looking east to the Mount of Olives, seeing the Kidron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane, scripture tells us that when Christ ascended to Heaven from there, He will return to the same place in the end times. So much of His ministry centered around that area it becomes very emotional to consider. 

 

How were the hotel and food and travel amenities?

First, visiting Israel does not make you a tourist. You become a Pilgrim! All the hotels we stayed at were wonderful.  Most offered “western” style facilities and menus.  Since we ate at mostly Christian owned restaurants, the menus were diverse and typically served buffet style for our group of about 40 folks. At the end of the day, all was wonderful!

What was your personal highlight of the trip?

Now, that’s an easy one.  I mentioned it was our 45^th wedding anniversary while we were there.  So, we had the opportunity to visit Cana of Galilee and the traditional site where Christ performed His very first miracle, water into wine.  There is a beautiful Catholic Church there with a very appropriate “Wedding Chapel” that is non-denominational. Our tour host, Dr. Dan, is an ordained pastor who conducted our re-affirmation wedding ceremony with the group all witnessing it.  The Catholic Church gave us the proper certificate for our re-affirmation ceremony.  How cool was that! They do this all the time.

Would you advise others to visit the Holy Land?

Absolutely!  From start to finish, you are filled with inspiration and confirmation of our biblical heritage. Walking where Christ walked, boating on the Sea of Galilee, touching places where the Prophets and Apostles were physically present, seeing an empty tomb and even the Jezreel Valley (Armageddon) are all faith confirming and life changing. The Bible becomes more significant immediately.  God designated this over 4,000 years ago as the forever homeland for the Jewish people. It’s the birthplace of my Savior, a Jew from the tribe of Judah, the lineage of King David.