Local Pastor Tours Holy Land

Igniting the Fire Within

Jerusalem

The journey began three years ago. Through a continuing education class at Columbia Seminary, Cheryl Raine first heard about the Pastors Renewal Grant from the Cousins Foundation that offers ministers a two-week tour of the Holy Land for only $500 – travel, room, and board, all included. Her application was chosen along with 19 others (out of 80) and this fall she took her dream trip of a lifetime with fellow clergy from many denominations.

The trip got off to an auspicious start when her plane arrived on the heal of a storm after months of drought. “A rainbow greeted us as our flight touched down at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. It reminded me of God’s promise to Noah, ‘My bow in the clouds.’” More scriptures came to mind as each day began with a tour of a place right out of the Bible – the Jordan River, Jerusalem, Capernaum, Meggido (Armageddon.)

Hills around Sea of Galilee

“What struck me the most was the landscape,” she says, her voice rising. “I didn’t realize how many hills surround the Sea of Galilee. And the Judean wilderness is barren. There’s no scrub brush, nothing!” Seeing the geography up close has given her a spatial orientation that impacts her devotions.

“Just the other day I was reading the passage about Peter's denial.  Jesus is being interrogated by Caiaphas, the high priest, and then Mark describes how Peter was below in the courtyard. The word "below" jumped out at me.  I was there on the steps with Peter in the courtyard looking up towards Jesus as the rooster crowed, feeling the weight of his denial as my own." 

Archbishop Chacour

In the afternoons the pastors met in small groups to process their experiences, a practice which proved especially significant after the group’s encounter with Archbishop Abuna Elias Chacour. The author of Blood Brothers shared personal stories and his lifelong struggle for reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians. When asked how he keeps the passion alive, the Archbishop answered with the enigmatic, “I don’t possess the fire; the fire possesses me.”

Back in the U.S., Cheryl is still mulling over the meaning of those words. But she has no hesitation when asked what the trip has meant to her. “I’m burning again.”