Cindy and I shared pictures and our thoughts about our trip to Israel with our congregation tonight.  It made me appreciate all over again the blessing that the trip was and is for us.  I just wanted to express my gratitude for the Lord’s work through Father’s House and to you, Byron, John and Roxy in particular.  I hope that God allows our paths to cross again this side of heaven.  Grace and peace to you all in our wonderful Lord.

We took quite a group from our church and never felt unsafe. We never saw not one tank or anything. We never saw convoys or anyone getting ready for anything. I have felt more uncomfortable in some parts of Denver than I did in Israel.

I know more than ever that the roots of Christianity are there. I understand that it is important for us to know that our Christian heritage is there. Everything came through Israel. That is the nation God chose to manifest Himself and His plan. It was an honor to be walking on that land and learn. It was a tremendous time, a great education.

I knew a year ago that I wanted to go on the Israel trip. I saw the transformation in Roxie that I knew that I wanted to go if the opportunity came about. When we arrived in Israel we were greeted with welcome home. This is really appropriate since Israel is the birthplace of Christianity. Our family roots are there. My heart seems tied to Israel in a way I can’t really describe. For me the trip has really created more of a hunger to understand God’s Word and pay attention to every jot and tittle. I’m having fun seeing connections that I’ve never seen before. I loved seeing the covenant signs Israel having fun seeing passages about covenants. We stood at the gate where Boaz gave his right sandal to redeem Ruth. We learned that right is right and left is wrong. Right is clean and left is unclean. Then in Gilgal where the children of Israel had their camp when they crossed in to the Promised Land there is a huge outline of a “right” foot/sandal in boulders in the midst of the camp. What a reminder that they were in a conditional covenant with the Lord. If they obeyed they would be blessed if they disobeyed they would be cursed. Now go with me to The Cave of John the Baptist. You go into the cave and then descend steps that lead into the water. Before you get to the water you find a deep impression of a foot. Those coming to be baptized would put their foot in the depressions cleanse and anoint it and then go into the water to be baptized. Afterwards, they would come out of the water and break the jar against the wall of the cave. What a picture of no longer being a slave to sin that would have been for them. They have entered into a new covenant written on their hearts. Now picture us at the wailing wall. What a visual of Israel breaking covenant with the Lord. They are standing on the outside of a broken wall to worship. I was so moved standing at the wall, touching it, and praying for Israel and the Jews. What a privilege to be a Gentile believer and to be in a covenant relationship with the Lord. Our sign of being in covenant is the seal of the Holy Spirit that was given to us when we believed in Christ.

To have such a gift like a Torah Scroll Parchment is very precious to us, to have one that speaks of the release of the captives from Egypt by the power of our God and King is truly priceless for us.  I suppose the one that has Exodus 13:14 through 14:28 contains the portion that speaks so greatly to us.  I know it is easy to write wonderful words in an email expressing our gratefulness and gratitude for this gift but, I wish you and your team could really see into my heart and see how precious this is to us.  To write anymore would be less impacting than I desire so I send you Peace and love in the name of Jesus.

I was so blessed by being able to go to Israel. I have always had my own idea of what Israel was and is today. That view has been enhanced and changed forever. Being able to walk where Jesus walked, seeing Peter’s home, walking in the Garden has given me a new understanding of Israel. It was awesome to be in the land where Jesus was born, grew up, left this earth physically, and will one day soon return. If you ever have the opportunity, you must go to Israel. The experience will change your life.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my most heart-felt thanks to both of you for the opportunity you made possible for me, and my peers here in Susanville, to go to the land of the Bible. It was an extraordinary trip for me personally.  Everything in my Christian walk has been affected by this trip.  Already the Word of God has become more alive as I read and replay the places I walked and the things I saw and heard during my time in Israel.  I know I will never be the same and I am looking forward with anticipation to the next trip I can make but this time with my wife. John and Roxie are the best.  They were a joy to be with and love their heart for the people of Israel and their passion for Pastor’s, and others, to experience our other home. Thank you again and my God’s most abundant blessings be yours. With Gratitude; Allen J. Barger, Pastor

I am so very thankful and grateful to the FHEF for allowing me to travel with the Paschal-Hope Group. I can’t express the pure joy of being in the Holy Land!  Everything was perfect from start to finish. What a privilege to have 10 glorious days of nothing but the Lord Jesus Christ on our agenda!!!  I absolutely loved our times of reading the Bible, praying, singing and worshiping together.  Moshe was so informative, enthusiastic and passionate concerning everything he shared with us about Israel. Sami was an awesome driver and a joy to be with; Moshe and Sami make a great team. Byron was so very caring and watchful and made the trip easy for us!  I enjoyed getting to know so many loving, kind and joyful Christian brothers and sisters. The entire trip increased my love for Israel and the Jewish people.  But the most important event of the trip for me was:  my love, devotion, excitement and joy in Him was dramatically increased+++  I was in love with Him before the trip, but now I am melted and submerged in Him with joy inexpressible….TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY PRAISE AND HONOR FOREVER MORE…. AMEN AND AMEN+++ His servant, Betty Robinson