The world has firmly placed itself against all that God and Bible believers hold dear to them. This is especially true when it comes to Israel. What can be done to combat this resistance to morality? One of the best ways to fight for what is near to God’s heart is by participating in Christian volunteer opportunities in Israel.
The Benefits of Christian Volunteer Opportunities in Israel
When combatting immorality, your first idea may not be to fly across the world to volunteer in the Holy Land. Here are a few reasons why we think this is the perfect solution to this conundrum:
- Serve
- Strengthen your biblical foundation
- Participate in fulfilling biblical prophecies
- Experience a renewed zeal for God’s Kingdom
These are great in theory, but can’t these same things be applied in California, Texas or Florida? Not exactly. While serving people everywhere is wonderful, something different happens when you volunteer in Israel.
Isaiah 61:5 says this:
“Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.”
By coming as a foreigner to Israel to shepherd flocks and work in the fields and vineyards, you are fulfilling ancient prophecies first-hand. We like to say that when you volunteer in Israel, you experience the place “where prophecy meets reality”.
Types of Christian Volunteer Opportunities in Israel
We know that when you volunteer, you don’t want it to look like photo ops and busywork. That’s why we make sure to stay as far away from those things as we possibly can. When you volunteer with us, you’ll have confidence every day that you’re making a long-term impact. The following are some of the ways you can volunteer:
- Harvesting grapes
- Planting trees
- Pruning vines
- And more!
The volunteer opportunities we offer typically fall into one of these categories. However, each of our volunteer trips can have some flexibility and involve things like shepherding sheep, putting in infrastructure for new vineyards, rebuilding ancient ruins, harvesting olives, and countless other unique opportunities!
We understand that you’re busy and can’t always commit a large amount of time for a project. That’s why we have multiple options for you.
The Grape Harvest in Israel
In the autumn, you can volunteer for two, three or six weeks at a time with our grape harvest program. Of course, we like to recommend the 6 week harvest trip. On this trip, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the Israeli culture and scenery. You’ll also get to celebrate Israel’s fall festivals, which are an incredibly joyous experience.
On the 2-week and 3-week trips, you’ll still get to experience the culture and scenery, but they also go by very quickly, and typically don’t fall during the biblical feasts.
Pruning Vines in Israel
Pruning vines is a time to look within yourself for any areas in your life that may need pruning. This volunteer trip is in the dead of winter. Most people associate Israel with a dry and hot climate, but during the winter, it is quite rainy and cold. That is, to those of us who are from the southern American states, but if you’re from a cold area, you may think it feels like summertime!
Pruning trips provide an opportunity to visit the country when most tourists do not. As you prune the vines, you’ll be able to witness first-hand the beauty of removing parts of the vines to help them produce plentiful fruit in the upcoming harvest season. With this, you’ll be able to see your own life reflected in the vines like in John 15. This two week trip is sure to be a time of reflection, camaraderie, and immense growth.
Volunteer Programs for Young People
As a young person, it’s hard to find time to volunteer. Whether it’s school, sports, work, or something else, it probably feels like you’re busy most months of the year. That’s why we began this volunteer opportunity in Israel in the middle of summer. This intense, six week trip was designed for hardcore young people who want to make an extra special impact on the land and the people. Our most diverse trip is focused solely on the needs in Israel at that time. That’s why you may be planting trees and vineyards, pounding in posts for new farms, shepherding sheep, or an entirely different project.
What if I Can Only Commit to One Day?
Maybe you’re on a tour and only have one free day, or you’re on a worldwide backpacking trip and can’t spare a few weeks to volunteer in Israel. That’s why we have single day volunteer opportunities. You can message us directly and coordinate with one of our team members to schedule a time to visit our base of operations in Israel and plant a tree. Touching the soil in the Holy Land is a special experience that we want everyone to have, even if it’s just for one day.
Can I Join a Tour and Only Volunteer for Less Than Two Weeks?
Some people don’t tend to be quite as dig-in-the-dirt as others, so we made sure to take that into consideration. Whether it’s a personal preference, a health issue, or you’re looking for more of a “tour” experience in Israel, we have the perfect trip for you. Our ten day Heartland Experience is the perfect combination of touring and serving. This trip is primarily aimed at educating people about Judea and Samaria, with a few opportunities to serve through volunteer projects.
How Does Volunteering Help Combat Immorality in Today’s World?
Here at HaYovel, we’re hands-on people and we’re willing to guess that you are too. The Bible talks about redemption, restoration, and God’s soon-coming Kingdom countless times. As seen in Jeremiah 33:14-16, the correlation between a restored Israel and a world living in peace and morality is undeniable. Since you’re a person of action, we know that you want to have a hand in making this happen soon and in our lifetime. If the nations come and help aid in the restoration of Israel, we believe that brings us one step closer to bringing God’s Kingdom to earth.
Will You Join Us in Israel?
Deciding how to make a meaningful impact is difficult, but with the multiple opportunities listed above, we hope that it makes the “how” a bit clearer. Zechariah 2 tells about those who touch Jerusalem, and those who touch the apple of God’s eye. We can guarantee that when you visit Israel and serve, you are positively impacting the “apple of God’s eye.”
If you want to come and make a world-changing and life-changing impact, you can click here to explore our current trip options.
