Emmanuel Baptist to sponsors trip to Holy Land

There is no question that biblical prophecy is unfolding as the world watches the turmoil in the Middle-East.

Iraq had been at the forefront of the conflict, and most believe the Garden of Eden was located there, where the Tigress and Euphrates Rivers come together. Egypt, Syria, Libya and other nations mentioned in the Bible are now in the daily news.

The Israeli and Palestinian conflict, the battle between Jews and Muslims, and Iran’s funding of Israel’s enemies have become everyday conversations. The armies of the world continue to build in the Middle-East and in close proximity to the Valley of Armageddon, which will eventually be the location for the final battle between good and evil.

Matthew 24:7-11 sounds like the evening news: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”

Believing that the window of opportunity for Christians to safely visit the Holy Land may soon be coming to a close, Emmanuel Baptist Church is taking a group for a tour on Nov. 14-23.

The idea of the trip was first broached at Christmas as the church was looking for a good project toward which to give its Christmas offering.  Church deacons suggested that Emmanuel honor our pastor emeritus, Milton Frazier and his wife, Patricia, for their 36 years of service by sending them on another trip to the Holy Land. Now both in their 80’s, the Fraziers have led many others on tours to experience the Holy Land over the years.

The Frazier’s first visited Israel in 1967. Since that time, they have led 17 trips and taken groups on tours until 1997. During that 30-year period, they built many memories. Their eyes light up as they speak of the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and standing before the open tomb of Jesus Christ. The volume in their voices rises with excitement as they talk about how the people were impacted by “walking where Jesus walked and by seeing, touching, and feeling the actual biblical places!”

Pastor Frazier stated that, “Without exception, every tour member returned from the Holy Land with a renewed love for Christ and His land.”

Following each tour, the Emmanuel Baptist Church was able to vicariously experience the Holy Land through Pastor Frazier’s slides and sermons, and through the testimonies of the members who participated in the trip. The excitement was contagious and led others to participate in the trips that followed.

Emmanuel Baptist Church will be coordinating the November trip. The group will take a bus from Hartsville to Atlanta. From Atlanta, the group will fly to New York, then on to Tel Aviv.

The total cost of the trip is $4,000. The trip is open to the community. More information may be obtained by calling Emmanuel’s current pastor, Dr. Gary Colboch, at (843) 332-2271.