Israel/Jordan Trip:
“… I can report that 13 staff members, including my wife and me, recently returned from a trip overseas. Besides a few comments in this letter, I will be giving a report about this in my sermon tomorrow, which all brethren will hear August 20. I can at least quickly tell you that the countries we visited were Israel and Jordan, and this included a series of extraordinary visits with various government officials.
“Our trip was one of the most productive, informative and inspiring trips I have ever taken. Although I visited Israel 23 years ago, a great deal has changed in the tiny nation since then. The many purposes of the trip included meeting with a number of government officials, filming World to Come segments on location at a variety of sites, visiting—and examining—Petra in Jordan, as well as a little meaningful sightseeing fit in as we could. We were led by an experienced and very knowledgeable tour guide. Also, the experience and knowledge of Mr. William Behrer, who has now been to Israel 40 times, facilitated this remarkable trip.
“We were able to bring very sophisticated equipment with us that enabled me to film on location a total of seven times. We first filmed at Megiddo, where armies that will fight Christ are scheduled to assemble. Next was the Garden Tomb, where Jesus was buried. Also, two clips were filmed from the Mount of Olives, including one overlooking the Temple Mount on the coming fulfillment of the Abomination of Desolation. Then came the synagogue at Capernaum, where Christ attended. Another segment was filmed on the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered His “Sermon on the Mount.” Finally came Caesarea Philippi, in the far north, which is the place where Jesus was standing when He said He would build His Church. These productions will be used in a number of different ways. First, as stand-alone, on-location broadcasts to be posted in the coming weeks and months. Second, we plan to roll some of the footage into existing broadcasts. Third, we hope to incorporate some of it into this year’s ‘Behind the Work’ film. These special filmings were fascinating experiences for all involved. You ‘old-timers’ in the faith may recall Mr. Armstrong having done them at times.
“God’s people can look forward to seeing these ‘clips’ here and there going forward. As you view them, realize that all of them were filmed in the sun at a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I am most grateful for the dedication of all our crew in making these filmings possible under such trying circumstances.
“The meetings with various government officials were also productive. We had a private dinner with Uri Bar-Ner, the former Israeli Ambassador to Turkey, and met for an hour in private with the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Naomi Tsur, along with Benny Kashriel, the Mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, a very large city/suburb outside Jerusalem. We also met with a member of the Knesset, Dr. Einat Wilf, who would be the equivalent of a Congresswoman in the United States. We were privileged to receive a private tour of the Knesset before the meeting with Dr. Wilf. Also, a professional film crew accompanied us on all of these contacts. I should say that a copy of the beautiful 2010 Ambassador Center Envoy was presented to each of the four parties mentioned.
“These government meetings represent a new and very important ‘open door’ that has appeared before God’s Church. I will explain more about this and its connection to Revelation 10:11 in my sermon tomorrow. All brethren can look forward to hearing a much more detailed report of the trip, as well as some impressions after visiting Petra, in this sermon.
“Finally, I will be assisted by several of the men in presenting what will be an informative slideshow in two or three weeks that will be shown to the whole Church two weeks later. It will contain both film and ‘still’ photographs, with audio commentary in the background.
“I (and I believe all the others) have come away from Israel and Jordan more inspired than ever about the AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY we have to complete the Work of God. The world is burning down—but it is we in God’s Church who must be ON FIRE to finish what God has commissioned only us to do!”