Testimonies from Greece, Egypt, the Holy Land, and more!

Renewed joy, enthusiasm, connection, peace, enlightenment, and faith – these are what believers are once again experiencing with EO Tours! Travel borders are opening back up, and Christian travelers continue to enrich their faith – reliving New Testament memories in Greece, seeing the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey, following in the footsteps of Jesus in Israel!

ON LOCATION

As they journey, travelers reclaim a sense of stability in their beliefs. So many have reenergized their faith connection. “You realize how much of this country Paul walked and covered, and what an amazing part of that it would have been,” said EO guest Joel Turley while in Greece. “It makes Jesus come alive, not just a name in the Bible,” said a recent Holy Land guest. ” There have been so many sights that have been beyond our expectations and imagination, so it’s just been an absolute delight to be here,” said Joel’s wife, Nancy.

The lack of crowds and lines has only added to the richness of their encounters! Most of them experienced rare solitude within revered, holy places. Recent Holy Land guest says, “We’ve been able to walk right into sites, like the Holy Sepulchre, Shepherds’ Field, the Church of the Nativity, with no lines at all!”

HEALTH & SAFETY

And because of EO’s vigilance towards health standards, guests have been able to let go of fear or reservation. Instead, the light of discovery dawns, and the truth of the Scriptures become larger than life. Jeff Coleman of Sugar Hill United Methodist Church recently returned from the Holy Land, “What I want you [future EO guest] to understand… is first things first… it’s incredibly safe.” Bishop John Hopkins thought health regulations were consistent and easy to handle, allowing for a fantastic Wesley journey in Ireland, “We felt like we were on holy ground, and we were visiting ancestors in the faith. It was wonderful.”

Even though COVID-19 continues to impact travel , guests almost uniformly say that they feel safe while traveling. Safety is EO’s number one priority, and EO goes above and beyond to ensure guest safety. EO diligently communicates with overseas partners, researches the latest safety guidelines, and offers a helping hand to guests trying to wade through the sometimes confusing health protocols. Perhaps this going above and beyond is why a recent guest said, “I’ve traveled here [Israel] before under different organizations, but never any more. EO is just the best.”

THE HEART OF IT ALL

Joy is infectious, and the joy of Christian travel, similar to the Gospel, can’t be contained. These travelers want you to share their awe and wonder. They bid you come! “Every Christian should make the effort… to experience the land of the Bible,” says Nancy Turley, after following the footsteps of Paul in Greece. “You gotta do it. Come. You’ll never read the Scriptures the same again.” says fellow traveler, Jeff Coleman.

Take the advice of those who have already experienced it. Awaken the dreams of your childhood; explore the world the Lord has given us once again; reclaim the joy of Christian travel.

Discover your next life-changing journey with EO!

Pilgrims Returning to the Holy Land and the World

(Lakeland, FL November 15, 2021) – Educational Opportunities Tours will host hundreds of pilgrims in the Holy Land, Jordan, and Egypt this month. Throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, interest in visiting these countries remained high. Israel’s Ministry of Tourism and other governments’ offices worked hard to find creative solutions to facilitate the safe return of tourists. Starting in November, all vaccinated travelers can enter Israel, individually or in a group. In addition, officials reopened border crossings to make travel between these countries easier for visitors to experience the religious, historical, cultural, and natural sites. 

EO Tours restarted tours in October 2020 with a familiarization tour to Turkey. Since then, hundreds of travelers have toured destinations around the world. In October 2021, nearly 1,000 EO Tours travelers visited Greece, the Holy Land, Iceland, and other destinations by land, ocean cruise, and river cruise. 

The number of travelers and demand for faith-based tours continues to increase as the pandemic wanes. “Every group leader I talk to says their group is ready to travel again. People are ready, and we’re excited to take them on a Christian journey of a lifetime.” says James Ridgway, President and CEO of EO Tours, “The situation is so fluid with the ever-changing requirements so that’s where we can help. We ensure guests know what to expect while they travel.” 

As conditions and requirements evolve, EO remains in contact with government offices and keeps travelers up to date on the protocols and guidelines required by each country. EO’s Operations and Logistics teams help each traveler understand the requirements, collect documents and data, and even schedule PCR tests needed for the return trip to the United States. 

“EO has been wonderful in setting everything up. The travel has been safe and everything we have seen and experienced has been life-changing,” said Kathy, a guest who returned last week from an EO Tours journey to the Holy Land. 

Educational Opportunities Tours is a Christian travel ministry that has been delivering Christian journeys of a lifetime for almost 50 years. Travelers have joined EO around the world on Holy Land pilgrimages, Bible land expeditions – by land and sea, Church heritage tours, retreat cruises, and cultural explorations. EO’s travel experts and on-site hospitality staff serve each guest by handling all travel details and ensuring safety and health throughout each journey; curated itineraries, educational resources, and guest speakers create unique experiences that change individual lives, ministry, and the Church.