Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel from 17th to 24th November, 2022.
This is a report concerning the pilgrimage to Jerusalem by the members of Jesus Sanctuary Ministries. Two of the pilgrims came from outside London. One was from Sheffield and the other was from Austria. The Church congregation of 26 members met at Heathrow Airport and departed to Tel Aviv Airport. The essence of the trip was to pray at the strategic places as it will be discussed in the body of this report. The trip lasted from 17th November to 24th November 2022. The experience brought the Bible to come alive in the lives of all the Pilgrims. The wife of Prophet Uzor Ndekwu (The Senior Pastor), Pastor Mrs Uzo Ndekwu led us for the pilgrimage. The coordinator was sister Iby.
Day 1, Thursday 17th November 2022
Arrived at Tel Aviv Airport.
Tour Guide and transportation – Transport – Private bus/coach with a tour guide from Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem, about one hour’s drive to Ramat Rachel Hotel.
Ramat Rachel Hotel – The hotel was very comfortable with various amenities including gym, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, spas that offered massages, therapies, treatments, a swimming pool etc, and everything for improved healthy living. The hotel provided breakfast and dinner. The restaurant serves assorted Israeli dishes alongside international cuisine. There is also a pool-side bar and a café in the lobby. The hotel is located in the heart of Jerusalem in a tranquil garden setting. It is about 15 minutes’ drive from Jerusalem city centre. There are public bus stops by the hotel and buses are every 20 minutes.
Places we visited were accompanied by a driver and a tour guide. The tour guide is very knowledgeable in the history of Jerusalem and Jerusalem’s reflection of the Bible. We prayed at all the places we had visited.
Day 2, Friday 18th November 2022
The Garden Tomb – For prayer. There was also another tour guide at the Garden Tomb who lectured on the history of the Garden Tomb before we prayed. God granted us open heavens and other tourists were attracted to our prayers, and some joined us to pray. We also went in groups of three to pray briefly in the Tomb of Jesus Christ.
The Wailing Wall – For prayer. Men and women prayed in separate sections of the walls. Friday is a day for Shabbat/ feasting/celebration, a tradition that is observed by the Jews on a weekly basis.
St Peter’s at Galicantu – We prayed in the dungeon where our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was kept the night prior to His crucifixion. The Church is a Roman Catholic Church located on the Eastern slope of Mount Zion, outside the Old City of Jerusalem. This was where Peter also denied Jesus. God granted us open heavens and it was a spiritually refreshing experience.
Day 3, Saturday 19th November 2022
The Upper Room – We prayed at the upper room. Other tourists were amazed to witness the intensity of our prayers.
Gethsemane – We observed the garden where Jesus went to pray with 3 of His disciples: Peter, James and John before His arrest. We also participated in the Church service at the Church by Gethsemane. The Church is known as The Church of all nations (Agony or Basilica of the Agony). It is a Roman Catholic Church. Gethsemane has ancient olives trees. Gethsemane is near to the Mount of Olives.
The Pool of Bethesda – We had a tour of the Pool which has dried up,
The Pool of Bethesda is located near the Lyon’s Gate or St. Stephen’s Gate.
We also prayed inside the Catholic Saint Anne’s Church. It was also a relaxing moment. This is the Pool where Jesus miraculously healed a paralytic man who had been sitting by the Pool for 38 years (John 5:1).
Day 4, Sunday 20th November 2022
River Jordan – Many people were baptised; some had previously been baptised in this same place. The heavens were opened with white butterflies around those who were being baptised. The baptism was conducted by Pastor Mrs Uzo, supported by Pastor Peter and brother Tobe. Some were led by the Holy Spirit to be baptised and they obeyed. The participants reported total peace following the baptismal event.
Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes – tour guide took us around the building and the beautiful garden and informed us on the history behind the building and the environment. The Beatitudes as written in the Bible was read by sister Onyinye.
Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee – It was great to walk around the hometown of Jesus Christ, in the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is where the oldest Church and the Old Temple in the world that was ruined. We saw Apostle Peter’s house and where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. We went into the New Church which is built on top of Peter’s house.
Day 5, Monday 21st November 2022
Day for us to relax and celebrate – shopping, explore other avenues in Jerusalem, etc.
Morning – Bus/coach drop off at Manilla for shopping for those who wanted to do so. This was exciting for some of us who enjoy shopping and interacting with others and sharing the Good News. The tour guide was with us to show us around, some of us gently indicated to the tour guide that he should take a break and pick us up in the evening, which he kindly obliged.
Evening – picked up from Manilla to the hotel.
Day 6, Tuesday 22nd November 2022
Wall of Jericho – located near the southern end of the Jordan River Valley in the modern Palestine. It is the oldest city on Earth as well as the lowest one. It is also north of the Dead Sea. We spent some time praying on various prayer points on the top of Jericho (after listening to the video/audio commentary about Jericho). Jericho was one of the places that Jesus visited on his trips to Jerusalem.
Mount of Temptation – It extends between Jerusalem, Jericho and the Dead Sea. This is where our Lord and Saviour was tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:8). We took the cable car from Jericho (called Tel Jericho) to the Mount of Temptation. There is a Greek Orthodox monastery build into the side of one of the mount’s steep slope. We also prayed one by one in the place our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ stayed praying during His forty days and nights fasting. We also saw the exact stone he stood on as he was being tempted by the devil. During the visit to this Mount, our Church did experience some devil’s temptation, but we overcame, and the devil’s agents disappeared or went off the scene, just like when the devil left Jesus.
The Dead Sea (also called the Salt Sea) is a Salt Lake bordering Jordan to the east, and Israel to the west. It is the Earth’s lowest elevation on land in which one floats and does not sink. Some people purchased items made from the minerals of the Dead Sea. Almost everyone went into the Dead Sea for the Dead Sea experience, some collected mud from the sea.
Day 7, Wednesday 23rd November 2022
Bethlem & Shepherds Cave/Field – located at Migdal-Eder. This is where the shepherds kept watch over their flock. It has been identified as the Shepherds’ Field. It is a place where the shepherds were informed by the angels of God about the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Luke 2:7). The tour guide did not accompany us on the trip to Bethlehem, however, the driver was a Palestinian who took us to Bethlem where a Palestinian tour guide welcomed us and took us on a tour guide to the caves and the Church of the Shepherd that nestles in the slopes east of Bethlehem. The Church is believed to be over the caves where shepherds watched over their flock. We prayed in one of the caves. The Palestinian tour guide also joined with us to pray. It was obvious that he marvelled at the way we prayed. The Shepherds Field is identified with Boaz, who owned a wheatfield, where he met Ruth, while Ruth was picking barley. (Ruth 2:4-7). Furthermore, the Shepherds Field is also associated with Jacob in Gen. 35:21. We also went to the Palestinian Christian shop.
Day 8, Thursday 24th November 2022
St Peter’s at Galicantu – Prayer.
Depart Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to London.
Summaries of experience by member
Almost everyone reported their experience of the trip as being a lifetime event that will remain with them forever. Some reported changes in their spiritual walk. Some have stated they will travel again to this great Holiest City and will encourage their family members and friends to travel with Jesus Sanctuary Ministries. In addition, the prayers had great impact in their lives in positive ways.
Conclusion – due to Jerusalem’s Biblical association, it has attracted Christian pilgrims for centuries. God is with Jesus Sanctuary Ministries to give us the opportunity to make to visit this Holiest City, a life changer.