EPIC is more than a trip: it’s a wholistic pilgrimage experience
The Good Shepherd calls us by name…
A big part of any Christian pilgrimage is taking time to hear the voice of the Father, our Shepherd, the One who knit us together and knows us fully. The EPIC journey provides many opportunities to break away from the busyness of life to be invited into those “thin places” where heaven and earth seem to touch and the voice and hand of Jesus are palpable.
And He leads us out
Just as Jesus restored and commissioned Peter in John 21, we are invited to stand in that same place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and experience our own John 21 moments and the freedom that comes from being not only fully known, but also fully loved by God and called according to His purposes.
Where might Jesus want to lead us next?
Our mission:
Every EPIC experience includes these four elements, truly allowing participants the opportunity to engage mind, body, and spirit
Tour
Every believer should visit the Holy Land at least once in a lifetime. Experience the sweet scent of the Sea of Galilee at dawn, the joy of baptisms at the Jordan River, the hustle and bustle of people rushing through the old stone streets of Jerusalem on their way to pray, and the solemnity of walking in the Garden of Gethsemane. The words of Scripture will become even more alive as you walk the land, trace Jesus’ footsteps, engage in the culture, meet the people, and explore the geography.
Train
As Jesus went along, He taught His disciples how to live in and announce God’s Kingdom. In the same way, we want Jesus’ words to train us on location. What did He want the disciples to learn on the other side of the Sea of Galilee? Why did He take the disciples all the way up to the pagan city of Caesarea Philippi? Why did He weep over Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives? We will stand in those places and let Jesus’ words train and teach us new ways of understanding what He said and did during His ministry and how those things can inform our own ministries and witness.
Talk
Every EPIC experience is designed to provide opportunities for you to have natural encounters with Christians, Jews, and Muslims who are indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. We share meals with new friends, learn about Shabbat from Messianic Jews, meet Palestinian Christians and hear their stories of living as a tiny minority in the Holy Land, strike up conversations with shop owners in Jerusalem’s Old city, and talk about the Messiah at dusk in Manger Square just a short distance from Jesus’ birthplace.
Tender
We also RECEIVE the blessings that come from loving and supporting our friends who are bearing witness to Jesus and doing ministry in the region as we GIVE of ourselves in presence, fellowship, and service. Our great hope is these experiences will spill over into continued support, persistent prayer, and on-going relationship long after the EPIC experience is over.
