Study Tour - An excursion designed with an emphasis on history, archaeology, and geography. Undergrads or graduate students may receive credit for the Study Tour. Groups move with energy and stay in budget level accomodations.

Pilgrimage Tour - An excursion designed for one or more church groups. Emphasis here is placed on group synergy, personal reflection, and introducing the context of the biblical story. Comfortable accommodations and easy pace make pilgrimage tours appealing to travelers of all ages.

Extreme Adventure - An excursion that contains academic or spiritual elements, but also pushes the envelope in physical or other ways.

Biblical Greece: Paul’s second missionary Journey

Host: Michael Bartlett

Collective Church, Frederick, Maryland

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Church planter and pastor, Michael Bartlett, is bringing believers to the country of Greece to experience expressions of faith past and present. Michael’s off-beat style and passion will make this trip special.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

AFRICAN SAFARI, TANZANIA

Host: Mark Ziese

Destination: Northern Circuit, Tanzania

Join us on a private engagement to the greatness that is Africa. Our goal: to witness the glory of Creation on safari. We aim to explore several of the great parks, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire. Bring a camera and binoculars. We’ll be in pursuit of big game by means of four-wheel drive vehicles. We also will pursue the “Great Migration,” one of the wonders of the natural world. In the evenings we will tent camp (translate: “glamp”) in the bush. This will be an experience of a lifetime. For more information, see the link here.

Level of Engagement: Extreme Adventure

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

Jordan-Israel-Palestine: the christian holyland foundation

Host: David Mullins

Colonial Heights Christian Church, Kingsport, Tennessee

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Engagement with the local faith community sets this experience apart. In addition to visiting sites of biblical significance, we will worship, pray, and pick olives with Galilee believers.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Egypt and Sinai

Hosts: Mark Ziese, Jody Owens, Joe Wilson, and Craig Ziese

In-country: local guides

Details: This is the excursion of a lifetime! Pyramids, camel riding, climbing Mt Sinai, scuba/snorkeling in the Red Sea, a 4-day cruise up the Nile, Thebes, Aswan, are among some of the activities on this excursion. An optional Jordanian extension will add Petra and the Dead Sea to this amazing adventure of legs, head, and heart. Mark will develop biblical themes to knit these experiences together. See here for brochure with details.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine: the christian holyland Foundation

Host: Matt Nance

First Christian Church of Council Bluffs, Iowa

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Engagement with the local faith community sets this experience apart from other tours. In addition to visiting sites of biblical significance, we will worship, pray, and fellowship with Galilee believers.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Biblical Greece: Paul’s Second missionary journey

Host: Jody Owens

Pinedale Christian Church of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

This tour of Biblical Greece begins at Philippi on the Via Egnatia and moves south to the Peloponnese. There will be plenty of warm Mediterranean sun and delicious food as we follow the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Thessaloniki, Meteoria, Delphi, Athens, and Corinth are on the program. Jody Owens, professor at Johnson University will supplement this experience with biblical teaching and spiritual formation exercises.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Biblical Greece

college roundup: Ozark Christian college and Johnson University

Hosts: Rick Cherok and Jeff Snell

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Study Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine

Host: Jared Perkins

Plum Creek Christian Church, Butler, Kentucky

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Jordan-Israel-Palestine

Host: Isaac O’Casey

Friends from Central Oregon

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Details: TBA

Level of Engagement: Study-Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Biblical Greece

Host: Kevin Humphrey

Friends from Western Kentucky

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

This exclusive engagement will couple biblical engagement with travel comfort. Our itinerary will take us to sites on and off the tourist trail.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Full. All seats are reserved.

Jordan-Israel-Palestine

Host: Keith Buddemeyer

Wellspring Christian Church, Spring Hill, Tennessee

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

This amazing program includes sites in Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. Beyond the biblical narrative, a subtext of this trip is raising awareness of Christian ministry in these lands today. Click the link here for the brochure.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Special Engagement with Educational Opportunities: Mediterranean Cruise

Cruise Speaker: Mark Ziese

In country: local guides

Destination: Greece/Türkiye

Details: This cruise, aboard the state-of-the-art Norwegian Viva, will depart Athens for 7 days of summer exploration. Ports of call will include Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Bodrum, Rhodes, and Heraklion. A pre-cruise extension to Rome is also available. Mark will develop biblical themes to knit these experiences together.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! For details and sign-up see the link here or email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

AFRICAN SAFARI, TANZANIA

Hosts: Mark and Vicki Ziese

Destination: Northern Circuit, Tanzania

Join us on a private engagement to the greatness that is Africa. Our goal: to witness the glory of Creation on safari. We aim to explore several of the great parks, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire. Bring a camera and binoculars. We’ll be in pursuit of big game by means of four-wheel drive vehicles. We also will pursue the “Great Migration,” one of the wonders of the natural world. In the evenings we will tent camp (translate: “glamp”) in the bush. For more information, see the link here.

Level of Engagement: Extreme Adventure

We have room for you! Click here for more info or email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Steve Yeaton

First Christian Church of Columbus, Indiana

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Biblical Greece for Seminarians

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Study-Tour

Details: TBA

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine

Hosts: Scott and Lori Eynon

Community Christian Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Scott and Lori Eynon and folks from Community are returning to the Biblical Heartland for a fall visit.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Contact host at seynon@communitycc.com for available seating.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Steve Carr

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Details: TBA

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine: the christian holyland foundation

Host: David Mullins

Colonial Heights Christian Church of Kingsport, Tennessee

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Engagement with the local faith community sets this experience apart from other tours. In addition to visiting sites of biblical significance, we will worship, pray, and pick olives with Galilee believers.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine

Host: Brett Andrews

New Life Christian Church, Chantilly, Virginia

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Join host Brett Andrews for an exceptional holiday season abroad.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine

Host: Tyler Hodson

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Contact us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Guthrie Veech

New Hope Christian Church of Nokomis, Florida

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Details: TBA

We have room for you! Contact us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Kevin Stuckey

Leesburg Church of Christ, Leesburg, Ohio

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Details: TBA

We have room for you! Contact us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Tommy Baker

First Church of Burlington, Kentucky

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Details: TBA

Contact host at tbaker@firstchurch.me for available seating.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Jody Owens

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

This pilgrimage will integrate biblical history, archaeology and church history with formative experiences designed to connect pilgrims to one another and to God.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Contact us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Greg Taylor

Second Church of Christ, Danville, Illinois

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Details: TBA

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Contact host at greg@secondchurch.com for available seating.

Israel-Palestine

Host: John Veech

Greenwood Christian Church, Greenwood, Indiana

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Details: TBA

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage tour

Contact host at JVeech@greenwoodchristian.com for available seating.

Israel-Palestine

Host: Reuben Munn

Shore Community Church, Auckland, New Zealand

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Details: TBA

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine

Host: Bobby McGuffie

Flowood Baptist Church, Flowood, Mississippi

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Destination: Israel/Palestine

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

We have room for you! Email us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com

Israel-Palestine

Craig Grammer

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Details: TBA

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Contact host at craig@ferncreekcc.org for available seating.

Israel-Palestine

Hosts: Scott and Lori Eynon

Community Christian Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Field Instructor: Mark Ziese

Scott and Lori Eynon and folks from Community are returning to the Biblical Heartland for a fall visit.

Level of Engagement: Pilgrimage Tour

Contact host at seynon@communitycc.com for available seating.