Tracing biblical footprints overseas

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

(Romans 15:4)

Almost 50 years ago, my papa, Don Wildmon, began leading group tours to Israel, the land of the Bible. Later, my parents, Tim and Alison, followed in his footsteps and have been taking groups to the Holy Land for the past 30 years. Then, about five years ago, my dad began teaching me – along with my brother, Walker – to lead tours. I learned quickly that it takes months of hard work and planning to take a group of 100 people to Israel, but the payoff is worth every second of the work.

The war between Israel and Hamas delayed our 2023 trip, but we were able to return in spring 2025. It was a special time. Our Israeli Christian friends rolled out the red carpet for us when we arrived in Tel Aviv.

Now, as I write this, my heart breaks once again for the nation of Israel, as it is in a full-scale conflict with Iran. Missiles are flying, cities are being destroyed, and the death toll is climbing. As of press time, the Iran-Israel conflict had recently begun, and the U.S. had just bombed nuclear facilities in Iran. I have no idea what the situation will be when this piece publishes, but I am praying for our Israeli friends and the country they call home. I am also clinging to the memories of our time in the Holy Land, and I am looking forward to our planned return in March 2026.

Until then, I will continually attest to how truly life-changing it is to visit the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem, Masada, Bethany, Jericho, the Qumran Caves, the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, Golgotha, and the Jordan River, among other places. It’s amazing to walk in the very places where Jesus lived and taught, as well as visit locations we read about in the Old Testament.

My favorite place we visit is Qumran. The Qumran Caves are where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered when a shepherd boy was throwing rocks in a cave and accidentally hit the clay jars concealing the scrolls. These scrolls are a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts that contain portions of the original Old Testament. The scrolls themselves prove the Bible’s accuracy.

Visiting these places in person has given me a greater understanding of why my papa began this trip decades ago. I am so thankful my parents continued it and that Walker and I are now able to follow their lead.

Because we see the value of following in the footsteps of Jesus and His contemporaries, Walker and I are adding a new trip to our lineup of tours for 2026. We will be taking a group to Greece to walk in the footsteps of the apostle Paul. We plan to visit Thessaloniki, Athens, Corinth, and Philippi, as well as see Mars Hill, Lydia’s Baptistery, and the jail where Paul and Silas were imprisoned.

The trip to Greece is distinct from the Israel trip, but when taken together, they will provide an enriching and thorough exploration of the Bible lands.

For those who want to go to both Israel and Greece, there will be a one-night hotel stay in Tel Aviv between the two tours. I encourage you to prayerfully consider one or both tours. Our time tracing biblical footprints overseas is always life-changing, and you won’t regret it.

For more information, visit wildmongroup.com.