CALVARY CHAPEL OXNARD
THE ENCOUNTER
Your Personal Encounter With Faith
Led by Pastors Lance Ralston & Rob Branchflower
November 8-19, 2026
DAY 1 – Sunday, November 8 – Depart the USA. Overnight: Flight to Tel Aviv.
DAY 2 – Monday, November 9 – ARRIVAL IN ISRAEL – Arrive safely at Ben Gurion International Airport. Welcome by our representative, assistance with arrival formalities and after claiming luggage transfer to Tel Aviv. Time permitting, stop at Joppa (present-day Jaffa) from which Jonah departed before being swallowed by the whale. We'll visit the House of Simon the Tanner, on whose roof Peter had his vision that led to the baptism of Cornelius (Acts 10 1-23). Check into your hotel, enjoy a welcome dinner and hopefully get a good night's sleep.
Dinner & Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY 3 – Tuesday, November 10 – CAESAREA-MEGIDDO-NAZARETH – After breakfast check out and drive north along the Mediterranean Coast to Caesarea (Acts 10) where we'll explore the ruins of the Roman and Crusader cities; built by Herod the Great, Caesarea is where Paul was imprisoned and tried and where Cornelius was converted to Christianity. From there we'll continue to Mt. Carmel (First Kings 18), site of Elijah the Prophet’s dramatic contest against the false prophets of Baal. Stop for a falafel lunch before continuing to Megiddo (Revelations 16,14-19) and visit Tel Megiddo to see the remains of King Solomon’s Stables, an altar from the time of Abraham, and the magnificent water tunnel. Then we'll continue to Nazareth, stopping on Mt. Precipice to look out over the city where Jesus spent most of His childhood. Drive east to the Sea of Galilee and check into the hotel.
Dinner & Overnight: Sea of Galilee.
DAY 4 – Wednesday, November 11 – SEA OF GALILEE–THE CRADLE OF CHRISTIANITY – After breakfast drive to the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee and visit Capernaum (Matthew 9,10-13), where Jesus began His Ministry, and walk through the ruins of an ancient synagogue. Continue to the Heptagon Church at Tabgha (Matthew 14, 13), and view the beautiful mosaic floor which depicts the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish that took place here. Stop for a delicious St. Peter’s Fish lunch on the shores of the Lake. We'll then visit the Mt. of Beatitudes (Matthew 5), where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. We'll then view the ancient Jesus Boat exhibited at the Yigal Alon Museum at Nof Ginosar. We'll continue to Magdala, the new archaeological site of the Village of Mary Magdalene, followed by a visit to Kursi, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus drove the swine into the sea. End the day sailing across the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat much like the one used by Jesus and the disciples. Return to the hotel.
Dinner & Overnight: Sea of Galilee.
DAY 5 – Thursday, November 12 – NORTHERN GALILEE – After breakfast we’ll have a full day to tour Israel's lovely northern region and dedicate our day to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We'll begin by driving north through the Golan Heights and visit the Valley of Tears. We'll visit Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16,12-23), the Banias, one of the contributory streams of the Jordan River. We'll then continue to Tel Dan (Judges 18, 27-31) where the tribe of Dan disobeyed God's order and created a golden calf. Stop for a light lunch and then drive through the beautiful Golan Heights. Continue to Nimrod Cassel over the road to Damascus where Paul eyes were opened. Afterwards we’ll return to the hotel.
Dinner & Overnight: Sea of Galilee.
DAY 6 – Friday, November 13 - BEIT SHEAN–SEPPORIS-MT. ARBEL – After breakfast we will explore Mt. Arbel overlooking the cradle of the ministry. Continue to Sepphoris, a great Roman and Byzantine city where we'll view a beautiful mosaic floor. Stop at Beit Shean (First Samuel 31,8-13), Israel's largest archaeological site where we'll explore the ancient Roman city with its reconstructed amphitheater, buildings and streets.
We'll end the day at the Yardenit Baptismal site for a baptism in the Jordan River.
Dinner & Overnight: Sea of Galilee.
DAY 7 – Saturday, November 14 – THE DEAD SEA BASIN – After enjoying our rich Israeli breakfast we'll check out and head south towards the Dead Sea Basin. Our first We'll then drive south along the Jordan Valley Rift, passing by the ancient city of Jericho, Caser Al-Yahud and stopping at okhav HaYarden National Park introduces visitors to the Belvoir Fortress – a complete Crusader castle, one of a kind in Israel, overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Gil’ad from the heights of the Lower Galilee. Continue to Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We will then visit Ein Gedi, the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea and the area allotted to the Tribe of Judah and famous during the reign of King Solomon; this was also one of David's main places of refuge as he fled from the wrath of King Saul and where he wrote many of the Psalms. Ascent to Jerusalem.
Dinner & Overnight: Jerusalem.
"All these came as allies unto the vale of Siddim--the same is the Salt Sea" Genesis 14:3
DAY 8 – Sunday, November 15 – MT. of OLIVES-GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE – VIA DOLOROSA – Following breakfast we'll drive to the Mount of Olives for a magnificent view of the Old City. We'll walk down the traditional Palm Sunday path to the Church of Dominus Flevit, continuing to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations to spend some time in the private Prayer Garden. We'll then enter the Old City via the Lions’ Gate, and visit the Pools of Bethesda (John 5,1-10), the Tower of Antonia, the Praetorium and Pilate’s Judgement Hall where our Lord was tried by Pilate, beaten by the Roman Cohort and took up His Cross for Calvary. The Ecce Homo begins the traditional Via Dolorosa and on the way we'll stop for lunch on own. We will visit the Old City's Jewish Quarter, walking along the Cardo, Byzantine Jerusalem's main business thoroughfare. We'll end our day of touring at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Catholic site of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection).
Dinner & Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 9 – Monday, November 16 – THE OLD CITY OF KING DAVID – After breakfast we'll enter the Old City to begin with a visit to the Temple Mount, where we can view the golden Dome of the Rock. From there we'll go on to the Pool of Siloam and the City of David. Continue to the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount where you will walk on the original steps that lead up from the Kidron Valley to the main entrance of the Temple including the spot that might be the actual Gethsemane. Explore Mount Zion, where we'll see the Room of the Last Supper (Matthew 26). Visit the Western Wall and take a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels. We will have free time in the Arab bazaar for shopping.
Dinner & Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 10 – Tuesday, November 17 – JERUSALEM'S NEW CITY – After breakfast we'll start the day at Yad Vashem, Israel's main Holocaust Memorial. We'll then explore the Israel Museum and visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are preserved and presented as well as the Model of Ancient Jerusalem. Then drive to Tel Shiloh where the Tabernacles stood for 4,000 years.
Dinner & Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 11 – Wednesday, November 18 – BETHLEHEM-HERODIAN-ELLA VALLEY- GARDEN TOMB – We'll depart the hotel after breakfast and check out and start the morning by driving out of Jerusalem and stop at a hill overlooking the Shepherds' Field and Bethlehem, followed by a visit to the city of Jesus' birth. Continue to the Herodian Park where King Herod challenged the forces of nature. Continue to the Ella Valley, one of those delightful places, where biblical texts come alive; It was here that David the shepherd brought down the Philistine giant Goliath with a single stone flung from his sling. Return to Jerusalem. Visit the Garden Tomb, where we will have time for prayer and to take communion. Enjoy a delicious farewell dinner and then transfer to the airport to check in for your flight, with best wishes for a safe trip home!
Overnight: En Route.
"The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers" Psalms 104:18