Day 6
Jordan, Bet She’an, and Qumran
Date: October 29th
The Jordan River
We began our day at the Jordan River enjoying the wonderful experiencing of seeing many people being baptized in obedience to Jesus (Matthew 28:19—20).
Make Disciples of all the Peoples/Nations
The Great Commission was never meant only for “missionaries.” When Jesus gave this command, there wasn’t even a formal category of missionary—there were simply disciples. Every believer was called to be a witness of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
And think about this: since the Great Commission was given in Israel and was aimed outward to the ends of the earth, if you were not born in Israel, then you were born in the ends of the earth! That means wherever God has placed you—America, Canada, South America, Europe, or anywhere else—you are already standing in the very place Jesus intended the gospel to reach.
As we live our lives in “the ends of the earth,” we have the privilege of obeying Jesus and participating in His mission. In a real sense, every follower of Christ is called to the work of missions.
Who is one person you can tell about Jesus today?
Bet She’an
After the Jordan River we made our way to the ancient city of Bet She’an
Ancient Ruins of Bet She’an
The Entrance to Bet She’an
A Gospel Moment at Bet She’an
While at Bet Shean I met a Jewish man named Oree which means “my light” in Hebrew. I was able to share the gospel with Oree and we had a wonderful yet short conversation.
Qumran
Our final destination on this day was the Qumran community and caves located on the outskirts of the Dead Sea.
The Dead Sea Scrolls
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Ibex
While at Qumran, our group was treated to a visit of several ibex.
Posing with an Ibex
Conclusion to Day 6
Day 6 was another meaningful day. From Jordan to Bet She’an to Qumran, we were reminded everywhere we went of the truth and reliability of God’s Word.
One special moment was meeting a Jewish man named Oree—“my light” in Hebrew. I had a brief but genuine opportunity to share the gospel with him. Please pray that God would open his heart to see the true Light, Jesus the Messiah.
I am also continually reminded of how much I rely on the prayers and partnership of others in ministry. As I work to bring the good news of Jesus to the Jewish community in DC and Baltimore, would you consider becoming a monthly ministry partner? A gift of $25, $50, or $100 a month would greatly help me begin this full-time ministry of evangelism and church equipping.
I’m grateful for your prayer and partnership as we bring the hope of Jesus to God’s people.
Friends of Israel Ministry Highlight
Thank you for continuing to follow my trip to Israel. As I am nearing the end of this tour I would like to share with you in more detail about my ministry to God’s people Israel in the greater DC and Baltimore area. In this ministry highlight, I want to answer the following question:
What inspires you most to do what you do for FOI?
The promise of the Messiah is not just a New Testament idea—it is central to the Old Testament, beginning in Genesis 3:15 and continuing through Malachi 4. For my ThM thesis, I studied Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:10 and its connections to Messianic prophecies in Numbers 24:7–9; Genesis 49:8–12; and Genesis 3:15. That research deepened my conviction that the Old Testament must be interpreted literally and grammatically, preserving God’s Messianic promises and His promises to ethnic, national Israel. What inspires me most in ministry is helping others see that these truths are consistent with how the New Testament uses the Old Testament—and that God’s promises to Israel and the Messiah are sure.
Partner with the Overholtzers
As a Field Representative, my income is dependent—by faith—on God’s provision as He leads His people to pray and financially give. To launch into full-time ministry, I need to raise my budget of $95,500, which includes my salary, benefits, and ministry expenses per year.
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boverholtzer@foi.org
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