“We were there at a very historic time,” announced Holland Davis, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel San Clemente, CA. “We arrived on Sunday, and Monday morning the [Israeli] hostages were released; [first] seven and then later, 13.” Holland was one of five CC pastors who brought groups of people from their churches to tour the Holy Land from October 13-24, 2025, commencing a pivotal U.S. return to Israeli tourism.

In early 2020, Israel’s government enacted strict nationwide lockdowns due to the Covid threat, and tourism took a hit. When the country began opening back up, a few Calvary Chapels managed to fit in a brief visit. However, when the Hamas-Israel war started in October 2023, the once heavy presence of U.S. pastors and churches dropped off entirely—decimating Israel’s tourism industry.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

Reconnecting

Led by knowledgeable local tour guides—some well-known to returning pastors—sites such as Masada, the Dead Sea, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, and the Israel Museum were just a few of the dozens of historical touchstones the groups visited. Chris Fraley, senior pastor of Wildwood CC in Yucaipa, CA, shared, “Our guide [David Tal] cried a couple times during the trip, being so blessed that we were there. The tour guides are always grateful when we come, but at just about every site, he thanked us—much more than normal—for coming.”

The group that accompanied Senior Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA, filled five buses. “We had more than 200 people eager to see the Holy Land—the largest tour group in Israel at that time,” Gary noted. “The people of Israel gave us a royal welcome and were thanking God that we returned to His chosen land.”

Senior Pastor David Rosales of CC Chino Valley (CCCV), CA, also noted an exuberant response from the Israelis to their presence back in the Holy Land. “Jewish people were approaching members of our tour just to say, ‘Thank you so much. Thank you for caring for us. Thank you for praying for us.’ It was a very deep, emotional time for us.”

Chris noted a marked change in the Israeli culture, something he had not experienced on previous visits. “I talked to the military. They are all young, and they ask, ‘Where are you from? Why are you here?’ We tell them we are from the U.S. on a tour. It wasn’t until we told them that we are praying for them and that we love and support them, that they just lit up! I think they are uncertain where the U.S. stands [regarding Israel] today. But when they realize churches and believers are standing with them, they practically leap at you and hug you. They are so grateful.”

Senior pastors Damian Kyle of CC Modesto, CA, Pancho Juarez of The Ark Montebello, CA, and Pastor Mike McClure, CC San Jose, CA, also took groups on this tour, making a total of nine buses traversing believers along the coast of Caesarea, the Galilee, Golan Heights, Jordan Valley, Jerusalem, and the Judean Desert. Chris noted that even though Israel is now experiencing more groups, and larger ones, the typically packed stops were easily navigable. “At the Mount of Beatitudes, sometimes there are thousands there, but because there weren’t as many tours as before, we practically had the sites all to ourselves.” A film crew traveled with Damian throughout the Holy Land, recording his teachings at significant biblical locations. The resulting video will allow those unable to travel to experience the spiritual richness of an Israel pilgrimage.

Rich Spiritual Impact

Although this marked his 30th trip to Israel, David Rosales said, “It is always a new experience to go, and we had a number of our people who came for the first time. It was a real blessing for them.” Some from David’s group were baptized in the Jordan River, a vivid highlight of their pilgrimage.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. Psalm 84:5

David’s staff minister and men’s overseer, John Mata, was greatly moved while sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane. “The very place where Jesus wept for you and me … one of the most powerful acts that Jesus did for us, to say, ‘Not my will, but Yours be done’. I started thinking about my life, [asking] Do I live a life that is set apart for the Lord?”

Like many travelers before them, Jim and Becki with CCCV voiced how wonderful it was “to have the Bible come alive.” Becki shared how one morning while reading her Bible, she was actually able to envision what she was reading. David confirmed, “This is a place that reminds us our faith is alive. It is alive because He [Jesus] is alive.”

Safe as Always

Although they had a bit of a scare when Hamas broke the peace treaty, killing two Israel Defense Forces soldiers, Holland Davis assured, “We were completely safe. Israel retaliated, and we were told the Houthis were going to send a ‘present’ to Israel that night.” Although the group was instructed to go into bomb shelters if they heard sirens, they didn’t have to. “Don’t think, Oh, I could be bombed in Israel. It’s not going to happen. You’ll be safe,” assured Holland. Pastor Gary concurred, “It was safe, and we are already planning our next tours!”

Jerry Paradise, associate pastor at Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia, PA, while considering their church’s next Holy Land trip next fall, learned that nearly every tour group there was from a Calvary Chapel, which Israelis took notice of and deeply appreciated. Jerry noted, “This increases our witness to the nation of Israel. Our founding pastor, Chuck Smith, had a very special love for the land of Israel that he passed on to us through his mentoring across his many years of ministry.”

Having been on five trips now with his church, Chris Fraley expounded, “It is safe, it always has been. The military is everywhere, taking care of their country, just keeping it safe. And you really sense God’s hand there when you go. We don’t worry one bit.” Concerned where the younger generation’s heart is for Israel, Chris shared, “Pastor Chuck was so good at leading us and had such a heart for Israel, but I fear our younger generation might not carry that. It concerns us a bit where that is headed in the U.S. Hopefully, us going, coming back, and speaking about it, and Israel’s place in the prophetic picture in the Scriptures, will help.” He closed, pluckily urging, “Go to Israel! You need to go.”

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