Pilgrimages to the Holy Land do much more than serve as a sight seeing tour. They enrich the faith of the pilgrims who, for likely the first time, are able to stand in the very place where Christ was born at the Church of the Nativity, stand in the very place where the angel visited Mary in the Church of the Annunciation, and stand in the very place where Christ was crucified, buried, and resurrected at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
In addition to all of this, the pilgrimages help Christians living in the Holy Land provide for their families. Estimates show that up to 80% of the Christians in the Holy Land depend on pilgrimages for their income. They may be work hotels, Christian gift shops, they may be tour guides, they may be drivers, or work at restaurants. In all these cases, the pilgrims to the Holy Land help the Christians maintain their presence there and provide for their families.
In addition, some companies, like Nativity Pilgrimage, go the extra mile. Owned and operated by Christians from the Holy Land, every Holy Land pilgrimage booked through Nativity Pilgrimage includes a visit to a local Christian school that Nativity Pilgrimage supports. In fact, the pilgrims present a donation to the school during the visit that Nativity Pilgrimage makes in the pilgrimage group's name.
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a great way to see incredible new places, build your faith, and make a difference. I encourage everyone to do it at least once in your life. In fact, your second pilgrimage to the Holy Land will never be the same as the first. Many people enjoy taking multiple pilgrimages to the Holy Land during their lives.
