The Holy Land
The Holy Land…one of my favorite places in the world. From the minute your feet hit the ground, if feels like coming home.
Israel was home to my family in 1956. I was 6 years old and we were there because my dad, Lester Sumrall, was studying prophecy and was lecturing in and around Jerusalem. After we arrived, the Sinai War broke out. We were living in a brand new hotel in Jerusalem. What an interesting time to take your family to the Middle East! As usual, my dad did not make decisions based on fear and even in the middle of the war, we were safe and my memories are happy ones.
That’s one of the beautiful things about Israel…even in the midst of an intense political climate, there is an undeniable peace.
One of my favorite spots in Israel is the Sea of Galilee. Taking a boat ride to the the middle of the sea is a highlight of our tour. You can feel the very tangible presence of Jesus and it’s easy to imagine what it would have been like to be a disciple on a boat in the middle of the storm. Jesus spoke peace to the atmosphere in that very spot. Wow! What an amazing thing to be right where Jesus walked and talked.
As believers, so much prophecy will be fulfilled from the Holy Land. It is a unique place with a unique past, present, and future for us as the body of Christ.
I would love for you to follow along on our journey as Provident Ministries tours the Holy Land. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram (@stevesumrall50). Better yet, I would love to see YOU next year in Jerusalem with us!
Invitation to Israel
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In this bonus episode of Table Talk, Pastor Steve shares some details of the upcoming visit to Holy Land places.
You’re Invited to Israel: It Will Change Your Life
It will change your life. I’m not talking about a new job, a new weight loss program or anything like that. What I have to share with you is an opportunity that could really change your life. It changed mine and my wife Diane’s many years ago, and I’d like to invite you to experience the same thing.
On April 25-May 4, 2017, Diane and I will be leading a tour of Israel. I’ve had the privilege to travel to many places throughout my lifetime, but few have impacted me as much as Israel. The chance to walk where Jesus walked, to see the landscape that He called home, to visit the sites that we read about in the Bible is a holy experience like none other. And you’re invited to see it for yourself.
In Israel, we will sit on the hillside of the Mount of Beatitudes, visit the Apostle Peter’s house in Capernaum, take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, be baptized in the Jordan River, pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, see the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the cripple, walk the Via Dolorosa and rejoice at the Garden Tomb. These are just a handful of the amazing spiritual experiences that await you in Israel. You will see where Jesus walked. You will explore the land he called home. You will feel the Bible come to life. You will come home a different person.
The question is: are you ready to have your life changed? Whether you have been to Israel before or this is will be your first trip, are you ready to see the landscapes of the Bible come to life before your eyes? If so, the good news is that we still have openings available, so register today. This 10-day trip comes at a phenomenal price that beats most any other tours out there right now, so don’t delay in registering.
Come and experience the Holy Land like you never have before and even if you have gone before. Trust me when I say this trip will change your life.
For more information, visit our Provident Ministries website.
Israel 2015 Travel Blog: Day 2
We awoke to vibrant sunlight pouring in through our windows and a light Mediterranean breeze drifting off the ocean at Caesarea! What a beautiful way to start the day. After a delicious breakfast of breads, cheeses, pastries, fish, yogurt, juices and coffee, we were off to our first stop of the day. After a five minute drive, we arrived at Herod’s palace which is complete with an amphitheater and a hippodrome. It is a place of amazing history and architecture!
Our next stop was another great example of Roman architecture and influence, the aqueducts. When building his palace and the surrounding city of Caesarea on the shores of a salt water sea, Herod had one big problem: fresh water. He solved that problem by bringing in fresh water over miles and miles of aqueducts.
After dipping our toes in the cool salt water sea, we dried them off and jumped back on the bus. Our driver Aaron drove us off to Megiddo and the surrounding valley of Armageddon. What an interesting place with an incredible past that holds such significance in the future! Napoleon once said about this valley, “There is no place in the whole world more suited for war than this…all the armies of the world could maneuver for battle here… [It is] the most natural battleground of the whole earth.” The book of Revelations also speaks of the importance of the valley to the future of mankind!
After soaking in Megiddo and it’s spectacular views we stopped in at Mount Carmel. This is the location where in 1 Kings 18, Elijah challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal. From there we drove over to the town of Nazareth where Jesus grew up.
What an incredible day of experiencing the locations where the events of Bible occurred! Visiting these places has started to give our tour members a whole new outlook on the Bible. We finished our day with an amazing dinner at our hotel in Tiberius.
From South Bend to Israel
Our tour group has completed Day One! It is a 24-hour period of vans, trams, planes and a tour bus. We drove from Christ Chapel to O’Hare Airport, while missing all traffic delays in and around Chicago! Our flight then entailed two legs. The first 8.5 hour leg was from Chicago to Frankfort, Germany. After a 2.5 hour layover, the final leg was 4.5 hours to Tel Aviv.
Flying in to Ben Gurion was a beautiful sight! We were treated to some beautiful sunshine shimmering off the west coast of Israel on the Mediterranean Sea. Our guide Eli Rockowitz met us at the airport with a warm smile and a helpful hand.
After arriving at our hotel everyone checked in to their rooms, we all enjoyed a delicious meal. Now it is time to get some rest and recharge for tomorrow!
Israel Bound
Israel has always been near and dear to my heart. And it has been on my mind a lot lately as I prepare for my next visit there which is rapidly approaching. On March 16-25, I and 15 others will be visiting the Holy Land. I cannot tell you how much I look forward to going back there, to walk where Jesus walked, to see the land he knew so well. I look forward to experiencing it with all the others who will be my traveling companions, some who have gone before and some who will be seeing it for the first time.
During our travels, we will post pictures and short write-ups about what we are seeing and doing. You can stay up-to-date here on this blog of through this Facebook page. Not only do I hope you follow along with us, but I hope you will pray for us as well.
It Will Change Your Life
That verbiage gets old sometimes, doesn’t it? Eat this, drink that, do this and “it will change your life.” But this really is an opportunity to change your life. And you’re invited to come.
On March 15-25, 2015, we will visit the Holy Land, taking in many Biblical sites and getting the revelation of the word of God inside of us. You will see where Jesus walked. You will explore the land he called home. You will feel the Bible come to life. You will come home a different person.
As I mentioned before, this tour will not include Gaza where the current unrest has been taking place, so we will not come into harm’s way.
We still have openings available, so register today. This 10-day trip comes at a phenomenal price that beats most any other tours out there right now, so don’t delay in registering.
Come and experience the Holy Land like you never have before and even if you have gone before. Trust me when I say this trip will change your life.
Click here for more information.
Prayers for Israel
Israel has been on my mind and heart a lot lately, as I’m sure it has yours, as well. If you listen to or watch the news at all, you have probably heard of the most recent episodes of unrest in the Holy Land. As I hear the reports of what is happening there, my heart aches for those living in the Promised Land.
As I said before, I’ve had the privilege to travel to many places throughout my lifetime, but few have impacted me as much as Israel. I am still looking forward to next year’s Israel Tour in March, to once again walk where Jesus walked and see the landscape that he called home. Rest assured, this tour will not include Gaza where the unrest takes place and it will not take us into harm’s way. Israel is a land like no other. Walking there is like walking through the pages of the Bible in living color.
So, what do we do with all that is happening there now? First, we must remember that in Genesis 12, the Lord said to Abraham:
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
Secondly, pray. When we are half-a-world away, it’s easy to feel helpless. It’s easy to turn off the TV, close the newspaper or change the radio station. It’s easy for us to go about our days and forget. But, they need our support. And the one form of support that each of us can offer is our prayers.
So, please take a moment right now to pray for Israel, the land that Jesus called home. And, pray about joining us in March 2015 to see and experience this Holy Land for yourself.
(Photo credit: ©iStockphoto.com/yanstav.)
The Apex
What an amazing three days we spent in fellowship and worship during Summit 2014. As Pastor Diane said, “Again the Lord led us to the apex of the mountain, that highest level of meeting with Him in worship and the word.”
We had a packed house as Jesse Duplantis and Jess Gibson shared their wisdom with us. We celebrated in song with Paul Wilbur as he also spoke about receiving revelation from the Lord. We discovered that “passion makes a difference and causes us to come fully alive with the realization of vision and purpose,” as Jess said. “Passion moves us from where we are to where God wants us to be. And He uses ordinary people who choose to be uncommon, because of their commitment to Christ!”
While the adults heard of wisdom and learned of understanding, knowledge and revelation, the children engaged in age-appropriate ministry, surrounded by caring adults who taught them about five values from the parables of Jesus.
This was an incredible weekend for all. Thank you to everyone who attended. It was great seeing Provident Network members from across the country. What a special opportunity to spend time in worship with you.
As I continue to reflect back on this apex moment we shared, I can’t help but look forward to our Israel trip next March. Just as each Summit changes me and deepens my understanding of God, Israel has a way of helping us understand Christ in an even more real and tangible way. I hope you’ll join us in 2015.
In the meantime, remember what Jess said, “People will follow you into the kingdom of God when they see fire and an authentic life lived with God.” So let us be on fire and live with authenticity, so that others may reach the kingdom.