Dear Friends,

It has been nearly 25 years since my husband Lee’s and my first pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This life-changing journey was made possible thanks to childcare by my parents, encouragement from our churches and the support of the Annual Conference. 

Seven trips later, we continue to be shaped by walking in the land where Jesus walked . . . seeing places he frequented . . . riding in a boat on the Sea of Galilee . . . and peering into what may have been the very tomb where the disciples took Jesus’ body after his crucifixion. Each journey to Israel has deepened our faith and relationship with Christ.

Our next Holy Land pilgrimage will be February 21-March 1, 2024, and is open to clergy and laity in the Holston and North Alabama Conferences. We will make the trip again with Educational Opportunities, a Christian travel ministry that celebrates its fifty-year anniversary in 2024. Costs for recent ordinands as well as provisional and associate members are greatly reduced with generous scholarships from Educational Opportunities and the Holston Conference Board of Ministry. More information about clergy costs can be obtained through the Board of Ordained Ministry Office (terrygoodman@holston.org).

Also, three optional extensions are available: 1) Wonders of Petra and the Dead Sea; 2) Nile Cruise Extension; and 3) Cairo and the route of the Exodus.

I want to invite you to join us on this pilgrimage to Israel. Click the button below for more information and to sign up today. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact Rev. Chris Brown at dukevol@gmail.com.  

Thank you for prayerfully considering this amazing spiritual formation experience. It very well may change your life.

As always, it is a joy to serve as your bishop.

Blessings,   
  
Debra Wallace-Padgett
Resident Bishop
Holston and North Alabama Conferences 

 

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