The BlessNations Experience is a three-month program in which we discover more about the Bible while on location. We get to know more about the Islamic and Jewish world and thus expand our intercultural understanding. For one month we serve on different outreaches within a Jewish and Arab environment. This serves to equip us to live a Kingdom culture and Christ centered life among different cultures back home. Right where we live! Come and see!
When
July 7th to September 28th 2024
Where
In the center of Jerusalem, right on the border of the Jewish and Arab quarters.
Costs
Students Switerzland: approx. CHF 1750.00 monthly
Students Europe: approx. € 1500.00 montly
The training phase is based on six foundational values.
Bible study
We study the word of God through contextual Bible study.
Bible sightseeing
We visit biblical sights and experience the stories up close.
Cultures
We dive in the Arab and Jewish world.
Tracks
You choose your track: Hebrew, Arabic or bible study
Community
We live, eat and celebrate together.
Servanthood
We serve the locals during the experience.
Two months
Training
During the first two months you will experience intensive training in Jerusalem with top speakers from all over the world. We focus on the studies of Judaism, Islam and the bible.
One month
Outreach
For four weeks you will complete an outreach with a team in the Jewish or Arab environment in Israel or in the orient. This gives you the opportunity to put into practise what you have learned during the frist two months.
Tracks
Tracks take place two afternoons per week.
Hebrew
In the «Hebrew» track you will attend private group lessons twice a week. We are among ourselves and can thus benefit maximally.
Arabic
In the «Arabic» track you will attend private group lessons twice a week. We are among ourselves and can thus benefit maximally.
Bible study
While the others attend language classes, we dive deeper into the Word of God in the Bible Study track and become better acquainted with the Jewish approach to the Torah.
We recommend that you attend one of the language courses if possible. Being able to connect with people in their own language opens doors that otherwise would stay closed. Being able to introduce yourself to locals in their language is such a great and beneficial experience for all. The language courses are voluntary and for this reason associated with additional costs: Arabic CHF 400.00 | Hebrew CHF 440.00
Weekly schedule
Monday, TuesdaytThursday, Friday
Mornings: ClassesAfternoons: Tracks, Krav Maga or free time
Wednesday
field trips in IsraelSightseeing
Saturday
Day off
Sunday
Celebrationlocal outreach
Our speakers
Guido Baltes
Dr. Guido Baltes is a university lecturer for the New Testament at the Philipp University of Marburg, Germany and teaches at the MBS seminary in Marburg. He is the author of several books, including «Jesus der Jude» (Jesus the Jew).
Schmuel Kahn
Shmuel Kahn holds a B.A in Israeli Studies and an M.A in Pedagogy. He attended a Talmud school and today works, among other things, as a licensed tour guide in Israel. He is a profound connoisseur of Judaism.
Ahmed Ali*
Ahmed Ali (*name changed) lives with his family in Cairo and ist pastor of a church. He is an expert on Islam and will teach us a lot about this religion.
Adi Furrer
Adi Furrer studied theology. His specialty is the Jewish understanding of the New Testament. He is an expert on the Middle East and, as the founder of Mideast Tours Ltd. (travel agency), travels the Orient for several months every year as a tour guide.
Henok Worku
Henok Worku is a pastor living in Germany and is part of the Gospel Forum Stuttgart and the «Holy Spirit Night» movement in Europe.
Jannick Baumann
Jannick Baumann studied theology. He works as a pastor at a church. He also works as a Bible teacher.
Martin Bühlmann
Martin Bühlmann was the leader of the Vineyard movement in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) for many years. He works as a coach and consultant.
Geru Furrer
Geru Furrer studied theology. He is the founder of BlessThun and works as a pastor.
and many more
Where we are staying
The felm center (finnish evangelical lutheran mission center) is located between the Arab and the ultra-orthodox Jewish quarter and only a few minutes walk from the old town. At this prime location we are in the middle of the melting pot of cultures and at the pulse of the city.
Villa Adranly
Villa Adranly is located in the Arab Quarter in the middle of Jerusalem's Old City and serves as one of our accommodations. The felm is less than a 10 minute walk away.
Salesian Monastery
The Salesian Monastery is located next to the felm and also serves as one of our accommodations.
More Info
All the little details
The requirement for the experience is a completed apprenticeship, a high school diploma or an education similar to a high school diploma. We are open to all ages. Whether single or married or family – we have enough space for everyone who wants to join us in this unique experience. We expect the majority of participants to be between 18 and 39 years old.
Married couples are welcome. The first person pays 100% of the costs, the second person receives a 10% discount. As a couple, you are entitled to a double room.
If finances are a problem – be sure to contact us!
On May 20, 2023, we will meet with all the students from the class 2023. We will be able to get to know each other and discuss further information. You will also be able to ask all your questions. Please note this date in your calendar. More details will follow in due time.
- The school fee includes: food, accommodation, mandatory field trips in connection with the experience, school material, speakers, all tracks except language lessons.
- Married couples receive a discount: 10% for the second person.
- The school fee does not include: travel to and from the school and any visa costs (not required for CH, D and A), language lessons (private teacher), local transportation costs (e.g. to and from language classes, Krav Maga etc), optional offers and their costs (e.g. museums etc), outreaches, insurance (health insurance, cancellation insurance), personal expenses.
- We recommend budgeting USD 300.00 per month for personal expenses.
- The school fee must be paid one month before the start of school. We will send you an invoice.
You book your flight to Israel yourself. If you need help – our travel partner Mideast Tours GmbH will be happy to help.
No visa is required for people from CH, D and A. You can spend three months as a tourist in Israel. Citizens of other countries: Please contact your embassy for more information.
We will assign the rooms around one month before the start of the training and inform you accordingly. Two to four people are accommodated per room. Married couples are entitled to a double room.
The rooms are available from the beginning of the Bible Experience and are already furnished. For logistical reasons, it is not possible to move in before the start of the training.
- The program will take place as has been defined. The tracks will be published in spring 2023 and posted on the website.
- The final timetable including all speakers will also be published in spring 2023.
- The lessons are either in German or English (alternating) and will be translated into German or English simultaneously. So the experience is a perfect place to improve your language skills.
- Participation in the experience is mandatory and requires that you be present at all times. Absences are only allowed in justified individual cases (e.g. final exams). We therefore advise you not to receive any or only a few visitors. Free time is always on Sunday and once on a long weekend (Thursday evening to Sunday). Otherwise no holidays are planned.
We will put the teams together during the first few weeks of the experience. We organize the various possible outreach options as a team. You are part of the process and get an insight into the organization of an outreach.
After successfully completing the experience, you will receive a certificate for intercultural work.
Impressions
Class of 2022
