“Stones & Living Stones”

Pastors Israel Encounter

Why are we doing this?

2 minute sample video. We will create a custom video for you and your ministry too.

Join your ministry colleagues from your network and community to spend time together in Israel!

  • Enjoy traveling with your friends and colleagues from the USA, meet local Christian ministry, scholars, church and business leaders.
  • Soak up some time to yourself and with the Lord in the Holy Land.
  • Reflect and go deeper in the scriptures and walking through history.
  • Connect in fresh ways to YOUR LIFE in Christ!

  • Gain New Personal Insights!

$8,750 per person

projected cost as of 5/1/26

w/ airfare included

  • Your Group Size: 12 minimum to 14 maximum

    • Until locked the projected price may adjust based on group size and airfare cost

  • 10+ days in the Holy Land exploring, learning & connecting

  • Sample Itinerary/Sites/Lodging Locations:

    • 4 days in the Galilee

    • 2 days in Samaria

    • 4 days in Judea

    • 2 days air travel from/to USA (with connections)

    • Add-on days and destinations is possible too

    • Chartered Bus/Shuttle Transportation and Professional Drivers

    • Licensed Bilingual Guides and Bible Teachers

    • Living Stones Today Trip Leader

    • All Fees for Group Tours, Entrance, Events, Museums

    • Excellent Hotels (double occupancy)

    • Delicious Meals!

    • Bottled Water and Snacks while traveling

    • All Tips (guides, drivers, hotel staff, restaurants, etc)

    • Living Stones Today Concierge Travel Services

    • All Local Agencies/Broker Fees

    • Pre Trip Meetings and Materials

    • Basic Travelers Insurance (see more insurance details in separate tab)

    • Country Visas or Entry Fees as needed

    • Transportation to/and from airport in USA.

    • Meals while traveling to/from USA.

    • Elective upgrades with Airlines (seat, food/drinks, baggage, extra services)

    • Single Occupancy Rooms if available - at extra cost. Please let us know ASAP -if you or someone in your requires or desires a private room and we will adjust invoice with the upcharge ( pending if room is available).

    • Personal (gifts, souvenirs, spending money and exchange fees, etc)

    • Personal /Elective Freetime activities, events, meals, taxis/uber, etc.

    • Extra Insurance coverage. Note we provide Basic Coverage in cost. See Insurance tab for more details.

    • Immunizations, Special Admittance Requirements, Paperwork or Process, Medical tests : if required by country.

  • Terms and Agreement:

    • Pre-Trip Deposit; Balance and any agreed upon follow up charges/after trip payments need to be paid on time and in full. Thank you.

    Refund Policy:

    • Tour deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable on date due.

    • Likewise all following balance payments are non-refundable and non-transferable on date due.

    • Note: If you pay your tour balance ahead of stated due dates and then drop out of the tour; the portion of your prepayment that was made early then the deadlines will be refunded in full. Note key dates below.

    • Airline Tickets: LST will acquire tickets either as a group contract or directly per person depending on price, routes, and terms.

    Payment and Non-Refundable dates:

    • TBD - Deposit Due

    • TBD- ½ Balance Due

    • TBD- ½ Balance Due

    • Airfare Payments may be due once LST makes reservations per terms.

    All Payments are made to Living Stones Today, Inc. You will be notified by Invoice regarding payments process.

    Please let us know if you have questions regarding this mutual agreement and terms.

    We want to give you max time to save up money, make payments on time and also for us to be able to stay ahead of our contractual financial agreements with our tour vendors.

    Thank you.

  • We will purchase Basic Travelers Insurance for each traveler - included in cost. Note because of the regions we travel insurance products change quickly.

    We recommend each group and every traveler strongly consider if they need to obtain additional travel and medical insurance via a reputable third-party provider to the level that meets their concerns, risk profile and realities.

    If you intend to have premium "Cancel for Any Reason" insurance coverage; Then please note that your travel insurance provider requires that this type of policy be obtained within a set amount of days soon after (usually 14 -21 days) submitting your first payment, buying airline tickets or making your deposit.

    Feel free to use our preferred vendors/contacts or to choose your own preferred travel insurance provider.

    Main thing is to be sure you have what you want and need.

  • Make sure your passport is current and has 6 months of time until expires from the start date of our trip.

    Pray for the trip to be amazing, fun and deeply impactful for everyone going.

    Start walking and getting in shape,

    Keep up with recommended Reading and Trip preparation.

    Group and Emergency Contacts will be posted once we have all our travel members signed up.

    Final Detailed Travel Itinerary, will be supplied and discussed at our final pre trip meeting and posted for your convenience.

    Balance of our time and places we visit will at times be flexible based on local realities, opportunities and access.

    Since 2013 we utilize our staff from Living Stones Today, local travel brokers and licensed guides, professional drivers.

    We love what we do…and have expertise, local knowledge, relationships and excellent vendors to design your custom tour.

Details to Discuss:

  1. Best dates for you? January or June?

  2. Scholarship Pastors in-part or full? Implications, etc.

  3. Men only? If not we can accommodate and have some best practices & suggestions to consider.

  4. What are our mutual and distinctive Key Objectives?

  5. Trip Size minimum 12 paying guests ( max 14).

  6. Need to build a pre-trip Local Support Team in place (that focuses on fundraising, prayer, leadership, follow up, etc)

Next Steps:

  1. Pray, Meet with us, pray more and make the decision if this is good timing, etc.

  2. Discuss itinerary, local realities and any questions.

  3. Confirm Dates, Agree to Travel Plans, Key Objectives,

  4. Lock in Cost/Terms and Pre & Post Trip Prep/Meetings/Process.

  5. Create your Local Support Team

  6. LST team will come alongside you, your team, your ministry and pastors…with coaching, prep, timelines, etc.

  7. Prayerfully create a list of pastors to invite and pursue to sign up for this invitation only trip to Israel.

  8. PRay about who is best fit for your group; invite them and confirm who is signed up

  9. LST will submit invoice on an agreed terms and schedule for Group Deposits/Payments, Plane Fare, etc.

  10. LST will confer with you and reserve Plane tickets and routes for your group.

  11. LST team, will coordinate pre-trip meetings and FAQs for pastors, etc.

  12. Let’s get going!

Key Quesions & What Next:

What have some of the “Stones & Living Stones” alumni Pastors said over the last 14+ years?

“Praying and worshipping together as a group and with local leaders and pastors was an amazing experience.”

“It is hard to explain but meeting brothers and sisters in this part of the world was deeply meaningful, humbling and very encouraging.”

“We did adventuresome stuff that I had never thought of when I think of a typical Holy Land Tour. Fun memories and lots of laughs together was really good for my soul. We also went off the tourist trail to see extra historical and Biblical sites…most people do not get to see!”

“I immensely enjoyed meeting local pastors in the ancient biblical locations where they live and serve today!”

“Having local, scholarly, licensed, Christian guides and all the hands on care of the Living Stones Today’s team made our experience extraordinary.”

“Hearing…from a former muslim now turned follower of Jesus…that we American pastors ‘are the ends of the earth’ was shocking, profound and an unexpected gift that I ponder to this day.”

See The Stones 

Explore ancient and modern sites across the Holy Land…Walk in the footsteps of Jesus, the disciples and people of the Old and New Covenant…see Nazareth, Caesarea, Sea of Galilee (Capernaum, Tabgha, Magdala)…meander the winding streets, shops and Bible sites of Old City Jerusalem, Find the site at the Jordan River Valley near where Jesus was baptized…enjoy rare access to the “high-places” and a “sanctuary-city” on the border of Samaria, the trail of Patriarchs and Upper Negev Desert, Wadis and the Dead Sea…Learn while exploring all the Biblical regions of Galilee, Samaria, and Judea and more!

Go off the tourist trail.

Meet The Living Stones 

Dine, worship and Connect with local Christians (“Living Stones”) from different streams (Messianic Jews, Protestant, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Ancient Heritage, Muslim converts, etc.), also meet Muslims, Jews, secular Israelis, Palestinians …everyday people! Learn about Israeli and Palestinian life, the ancient church and present effective ministries led by local followers of Jesus. Learn their reality, struggles and personal stories.

Create new friendships.

Watch this unfolding story for one group of pastors, their friendships and local community…

17 minute video

Joining us:

Vance Patterson

Vance is the current director of Living Stones Today

and a Middle East Ministry Leader,

Experienced Regional Guide & Bible History Teacher

vpatterson@me.com‍ ‍

Call me! M +1 (719) 641-1009

Since 2013… I have been Designing and Leading unique custom small group educational travel for American Christians; Stewarding and carefully Sharing my deep local friendships, rare access and earned trust; Partnering and Serving local projects, ministries, Church and Christian business leaders across the Middle East, North Africa and Mediterranean Sea Region,

Home: Black Forest, Colorado Family: Married Lauren in 1990; three adult children (son Connor married to Grace; daughter Cicely married to John Michael; daughter Catherine engaged to Wyatt); and five grandchildren.

Ministry & Business Leadership Background: 14+ years in international group travel and missions: 7 years as Executive Director, Living Stones Today; 11 years as Co-Founder of Origins Tours and 11 years with Missional Tours; 18+ years on Young Life Staff:‍ ‍Senior Director - YoungLife Texas Region and Africa/Middle East Division; Young LifeMarketing Director - Colorado; 15+ years in Oncology and Surgical Services Executive & Startups: Co-Founder & President, M&A Consultant - INnMED; Executive Consultant, Pietas Global; Former USA Business Development Director Healthtronics

See:LinkedIn

Degree: Education, Texas Christian University

What do we mean by the Holy Land Region?

Beyond Israel and Palestine we also include the modern countries of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Each place has a vibrant Christian history and resilient people of faith. Yet the present-day metrics and realities are concerning.

We actively build bridges with Living Stones across the whole region.

We hope to see the Holy Land Region (and the whole world) experience what Isaiah envisioned long ago:

“In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria.The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”

~Isaiah 19:23-25

We elevate the voices

of local Living Stones.

Learn More!