A wooden boat waits along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
There is something special about the Sea of Galilee.
Standing along its shoreline and looking out across the water, it is easy to imagine the scenes described in the Gospels unfolding in the very place where you are standing.
It was along these shores that Jesus called His first disciples, taught the crowds who gathered to hear Him, and performed miracles that have been read about for thousands of years.
For many Christians, visiting Israel is more than a trip. It is the opportunity to walk the land where the stories of the Bible took place.
In late February of 2026, my husband and I traveled to Israel as part of a group of forty-one travelers from our church, Calvary Chapel Summerville in South Carolina. It was our sixth visit to the Holy Land, but for about half of the group it was their very first time experiencing Israel.
Watching Israel through the eyes of first-time visitors is always something special.
Many had read about these places their entire lives, but nothing quite prepares you for what it feels like to stand there in person.
Faith-based travel is not just sightseeing. It is experiencing Scripture in a way that deepens understanding and brings the stories of the Bible to life.
When the Bible Becomes Real
Crossing the Sea of Galilee, a place where so many Gospel stories unfolded.
Standing along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, it is easy to picture the crowds gathering to hear Jesus teach.
Places that once existed only in the pages of Scripture suddenly become real locations you can see, touch, and walk through.
Passages of the Bible take on new meaning when you understand the geography, the distances, and the landscapes where these events happened.
For those visiting for the first time, there is often a moment when it all truly sinks in.
You can see it on their faces.
The Story Isn’t Over
Our journey began as a joyful pilgrimage through the land of the Bible.
Our group upon arrival in Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on February 20, 2026.
But as the trip continued, events in the region unfolded that none of us expected when we first boarded our flights.
What followed became one of the most meaningful experiences many of us have ever shared together.
Israel has a way of leaving a lasting impression on the heart. Once you have walked those places, you never read the Bible the same way again.
After Petra, our journey would eventually lead us back to Israel and on to Jerusalem, a city layered with thousands of years of faith and history.
I will share that part of the story in the next post.
If visiting the Holy Land has ever been on your heart, I would love to help you experience Israel for yourself when the time is right and travel becomes possible again.