ISRAEL INITIATIVE

“As a seminary committed to training students in the Word of God, we believe it is crucial to not only educate each student about Israel…but to educate them in Israel!”

Dr. Doug Bookman
Professor and Israel Trip Leader

What is the Israel Initiative?

The Israel Initiative is Shepherds Theological Seminary’s commitment to get students to the Holy Land for a 2-week study course at minimal cost. You can read more below about why STS thinks this trip is so important for students.

Is the Trip Really Free?

Our generous donors have made it possible for STS to underwrite the land costs and most meals for the Israel Initiative, leaving students with only minimal costs for lunches, snacks, and souvenirs.

What's the Trip Like?

The Israel Study Trip is intense! Spanning 2-weeks, the trip is an intensive course covering the history and geography of the Holy Land—Old Testament to New Testament. Days usually begin at 8am and end about 7-8pm.

About the Israel Initiative

Shepherds Theological Seminary is committed to the idea that all degree-seeking students visit the Holy Land and our Israel Initiative is a commitment born of two realities. First, we believe that this trip is of crucial value to students who are preparing to faithfully and accurately handle the Word of God. Visiting Israel gives our students much-needed context and allows them to explore the stage on which so much of the drama of God’s “mighty acts” unfolded. A good teacher seeks to incorporate visual aids for the students, and there is no better visual aid then seeing in person the land where the bulk of biblical history took place. For STS students, Israel becomes their giant blackboard, their real-life powerpoint, and the pages of Scripture come alive in front of them.

Second, it is worth mentioning that we live in that remarkable and very narrow window of history during which the land of Israel – a land which was functionally closed from AD 70-1967 – is actually accessible. The Apostle Paul testified to a special love for the people of Israel , and his desire was that all believers would have an affection for Israel as well (Rom 9:1-5; 11:28-36). The modern state of Israel is the most dramatic and important concentration of Jewish people and culture since AD 70, and that nation is much cherished at STS because of our grammatical-historical hermeneutic and exegesis.

Given all of that, the seminary continues to raise the funds necessary to provide a full two-week study trip for its credit students every year.

APPLICATION

Since participation in the trip is limited, we ask that each potential traveler submit an application. The application deadline for each year’s December trip is August 31. After all the applications are submitted and reviewed, you will receive an email regarding your eligibility for the trip. If approved, you will receive further information at that time via email (typically within the first week of September).

The study trip for the 2023-2024 Academic Year is scheduled for December 9-21, 2023. For a detailed itinerary, please see the “Israel Trip Travel Itinerary” below.

Before submitting your application, please read the following documents:

To apply for the Israel initiative, please use these forms:

Student Application (Credit Students Only)

Personal Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Street Address *

Apartment, suite, etc

City *

State/Province *

ZIP / Postal Code *

Country

Email Address *

Phone Number *

Number of People: *

Student Information

Have you read all travel documents? *The following documents are available on the Israel Initiative page: 1) Israel Initiative Program and Protocols 2) Important Travel Information 3) Israel Trip Travel Itinerary 4) Suggested Packing List 5) Waiver

Years at Shepherds *How many years have you been a student at Shepherds?

Degree & Graduation Date *In which degree program are you enrolled, and when do you anticipate graduating?

Current Credits *How many credits will you have earned by the end of the next fall semester?

Have you been to Israel before? *If so, please list the dates of any trips you have taken to Israel in the past.

Vocational MinistryIf you are in full or part-time ministry, please describe the ministry above.

Logistical Information

Passport Number *

Passport Expiration Date *Do you have a passport that won’t expire before 6 months after you return from Israel?

Room Preference *The trip is offered on a double-room basis (two travelers to each room in the hotels). A single room involves a considerable upcharge. Please indicate your room sharing preference.

Preferred RoommateIf you selected a double room and have a roommate preference, please enter that person’s name here. If you are traveling with your spouse, enter their name here.

Physical Preparedness *Are you currently able to participate in a trip that involves a great deal of walking (sometimes 8-9 miles per day, often on steep and rough terrain)? And if not, are you willing to do some level of physical conditioning to prepare yourself for it?

Health Concerns *Are there any health concerns that STS should know that might affect your ability to participate in the trip?

Current Health IssuesPlease list ANY and ALL health issues you have that might impact your eligibility for the trip. This helps STS plan accordingly for the trip.

Questions?If you have any questions or concerns about the trip or your eligibility, please record them here.

The intent of the Initiative is to provide the study trip for you basically at the cost of tuition. The following questions should not be read to suggest the seminary expects you to cover the cost; the default assumption is these costs will be covered fully as provided for in the Initiative. On the other hand, it is possible that some students will have the means to pay for the trip themselves, or at least to help with the costs. In order to assess this, please answer the questions below.

Financial Ability *Would you be able to, without financial difficulty or strain, cover all or part of the land cost of the trip yourself?

Other Financial CommentsIf you have any notes or explanations on finances you believe the Initiative should be aware of, please enter them here.

Other Donor Partner Travelers?Non-student travelers pay a fair-market rate for the Israel Initiative trips. This helps defray the cost for STS student travelers. If you are aware of anyone who may want to attend the trip with you at the fair-market rate, please indicate who they are and the probability of their coming with you. They will need to fill out the “General Application” if interested in attending.

General Application