Christian HolyLand Foundation

Christian HolyLand Foundation: A Note from Matt Nance, Director

Note from Matt Nance, Director of the Christian HolyLand Foundation:

I‘ve been home for 3 weeks and can’t stop thinking about our amazing Holy Land Pilgrimage! I teamed up with David Mullins for pastoral support and Mark Ziese for amazing archaeological and biblical scholarship, this was the dream team with myself just paying the bills, making sure all the coffee was drank, and walking in the back to catch the stragglers.

For many, a trip to the Holy Land is the ’Trip of a Lifetime,’ but sadly not all trips are the same, many just churn through tourists for the money.

We really try to do things right.

1. Firstly our trips don’t make money. Missional Pilgrimages are an essential part of our ministry strategy.

2. We keep groups small to allow for genuine relationships to form and not overwhelm interactions with local folks.

3. Instead of rushing from site to site to see as much as we possibly can, we follow a more relaxed itinerary that seeks to soak experiences in.

4. We combine world-class teaching with authentic cultural experiences and transformative missional engagement with local believers.

5. We get off the ’tourist trail’ and engage everyday life alongside the folks who live in the land today.

From Ancient Stones to Living Stones: A Week in Eilabun

Hanna and Lena Eid with yours truly in Eliboun.

A Galilean Ministry

Our journey through the Heartland took a turn from the ancient to the personal this week. After a slow, sun-drenched stop at the summit of Tell Rehov—where the ruins of the world’s oldest apiaries overlook the Jordan Valley—we continued north into the heart of the Galilee.

A Saturday Night to Remember

Eilabun is a place where history isn't just under your feet; it's lived out in the community. Because their congregation meets on Saturday night, we had the distinct privilege of joining them for an evening of worship and encouragement.

There is something moving about sharing a meal and a song in the Galilee. The Eids are truly wonderful people, pouring their hearts into a ministry that serves as a lighthouse in this region. Worshipping with the “living stones”—the people who make up the modern church here—is more profound than the “old stones” that we excavate from the ground.

Partner in the Ministry

If you’ve been following our journey and feel a tug to learn more about the vital work being done here in the Galilee, I encourage you to check out their ministry. Hanna and Lena are doing incredible work through the Christian Holy Land Foundation.

Want to learn more about their ministry? See www.chlf.org