Frequently Asked Questions

The Summer of Service is a four week trip to the Holy Land which includes visits to Biblical sites and other sites or religious and historical significance; home stays with local Christian families; fellowship, prayer and bible study; opportunities for volunteering and service and meetings with Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers.

Simply fill out the online registration form and submit the $150 registration fee using the payments page. Once both of these have been submitted we will review these materials and, assuming we don't see any problems, send your your acceptance letter via e-mail.

We reserve the right to reject any application submitted to us. We may, for example, impose a cap for a maximum number of participants. In this case any application submitted after we have filled all available spots will be returned. If for any reason whatsoever we feel that you may be a risk to yourself or others during the program, your application will be denied. We ask that people do not purchase their plane tickets until they have been formally accepted into the program.

The program is geared toward Christians from all denominations and all walks of life. Anyone 18 or older is welcome to apply. Participants from outside of the United States are also welcome to apply as long as they are able to obtain an Israeli visa. We expect a few things from our participants: 1) a willingness to participate in all scheduled activities, 2) a willingness to listen to different points of views and to be challenged by new experiences and 3) a desire to grow deeper in their understanding, their empathy and their faith. Other than that, there are no prerequisites and we strongly encourage you to apply!

Unfortunately there are no scholarships or discounts available at this time.

If you need to miss a day or two of the program, that is probably fine. If you would end up missing more than a few days, however, you may want to explore different options that fit your summer schedule. Holy Land Trust and Middle East Fellowship run another program during the summer season called the Palestine Summer Encounter with more flexible dates. If you are looking for a program during another time of year, please refer to the Travel & Encounter Department at Holy Land Trust for information about other tours and available options.

Please refer to the dates and cost section of this website.

The $150 registration fee is non refundable. The remaining fees are refundable as long as you inform us of your cancelation 30 days in advance. If you cancel later than that late cancellation fees may also apply.

The cost of the program covers a wide variety of expenses, including: basic medical travel insurance for each participant, money to cover the expense of food and housing, small honorariums for guest speakers, tips for drivers and guides, transportation expenses, preparatory materials and staff/administrative expenses. We try to keep the cost of the program as low as humanly possible while still insuring that we've covered all of the bases.

Yes. There are several ways to do this. Your friends and family, of course, can give you money directly to use toward the cost of your program participation. These gifts, because they are given to you and not to a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, are likely NOT tax deductible. We encourage you to thank your friends and family for their support in person or in writing and then make your payment in full for the program.

If your donors would like to make a tax deductible donation to the generalized scholarship fund for Crossroads participants they are free to do so. Checks can be made out to "Middle East Fellowship." Please also have donors write "Summer of Service" in the memo of the check. In a letter or e-mail included with the check or payment, the donor should indicate that they want their donation to be designated for the Summer of Service scholarship Fund. Additionally, they can recommend that the funds be used on behalf of a specific participant whom they would like to support. Although the dispersement of these funds is under the prerogative of Middle East Fellowship, we will carefully track these donations and give full consideration to all donor requests and specifications. Please understand that, by handling donations in this manner, we are merely adhering to IRS rules and regulations. If you have additional questions about how this process works, please contact us.

If a parent, guardian or other friend or relative is making a direct payment for your program, and the tax deductibility of their gift is not an issue, they should just make clear that their payment is being made to cover your program fees. They need not (and should not) designate their payment as a gift toward the scholarship fund.

We strongly encourage donors on your behalf to consult with a tax advisor as laws are subject to change.

Yes. You will receive 3 units of credit upon successful completion of the program.

You need to complete 300 pages of assigned reading, along with a reading journal, prior to the start of the trip. In addition, you need to attend and participate in all lectures, trips and volunteer hours during the course of the program. Units will be given on a Pass/Fail basis.

The Bethlehem Bible College is accredited by the Palestinian Ministry for Higher Education and Middle East Association of Theological Education (MEATE).

The program is subject to change, but the classes will likely address the following topics: the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Nonviolence and Reconciliation in the Palestinian context, Judaism, Islam, Introduction to Christian Theology in the Arab World, Alternatives to Christian Zionism, Pastoring in Palestine, Messianic Judaism and Beginner’s Arabic.

The Bethlehem Bible College has had their transfer units accepted in colleges and universities within the United States. Different colleges have different policies regarding the transfer of credits, so it is also important to be aware of your own school policies or to have a conversation with your academic administration and/or campus advisor.

Yes. Particularly in the Bethlehem area, it is safe to visit. We have run this program, and many other pilgrimages and delegations for internationals in this area, for many years and participants have consistently reported that they felt safe and comfortable during their visit.

It is important to note that the Palestinian community is an extremely open and welcoming one. They are happy to see tourists in their country, including Americans, and, rather than being treated with suspicion or hostility, you will likely be treated like kings and queens by the people you meet (anyone who has traveled to the area can attest to this).

Whenever traveling, however, it is important to take into account certain safety concerns:

Although we feel that travel to Israel and the West Bank is very safe at this time, we take the safety of our participants very seriously and take a number of precautions. We secure basic medical travel insurance for every participant and also provide each participant with a cellphone for their use throughout the trip—this enables them to contact other participants, the tour leaders, the U.S. Embassy or emergency services at a moment's notice if needed. Because the staff at Holy Land Trust are local Palestinians they are well aware of the situation on the ground and are able to avoid any dangers if they should arise. We also encourage participants, when traveling on their own, to do so in pairs or small groups. Additional safety information is included in our orientation packet, provided to all participants prior to departure.

Yes. Many of the countries we encourage people to visit in order to build relationships with its people have Travel Warnings from the U.S. State Department. Please be aware of these warnings and take them into consideration. You can check the most recent travel warnings, find visa/passport information, and obtain other travel information from the State Department website: http://travel.state.gov

In many areas it is. To be on the safe side we encourage participants to stick with bottled water as much as possible. It can get very hot during the summer season, so it's crucial that you do your best to stay hydrated at all times. When possible try to stay indoors or in the shade, especially midday and the early afternoon.

For information on vaccinations and other travel tips regarding health visit the Center For Disease Control website at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/israel.aspx. Many vaccinations require boosters or multiple shots so please plan in advance and accordingly.

We provide all participants with basic medical travel insurance through Volunteer Card, so there is no need to purchase your own insurance.

You should arrive on the first scheduled day of the program: June 14th. If possible arrive in the morning or the afternoon. You should leave on the last scheduled day of the program: July 11th.

If you are a U.S. citizen you do not need to apply for a visa to travel to many countries in the Middle East including Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. If you are not a U.S. citizen you may need to apply for visa to travel any where in the region.

Bethlehem is located in Palestine (the Palestinian Territories). Geographically it is very close to Jerusalem, but it lies on the opposite side of the Separation Wall/Barrier.

Generally participants find their own transportation from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (there are shared taxis and private taxis available immediately after exiting the airport). At a meeting point in Jerusalem (TBA) participants are picked up and brought to Bethlehem by drivers from Holy Land Trust. If participants would prefer to be picked up directly from the airport and brought to Bethlehem right away we can arrange a direct pickup for an additional $100 fee.

Generally people fly into the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv (TLV).