At the core of our Family and Friends trip to Israel are the parents and relatives who have children attending at The Master’s University IBEX campus. However, we also open the trip to those who may have no direct connection to IBEX or TMU. We invite you to join us for an October ten-day trip to Israel. The Family & Friends Program is arranged to allow you to visit Israel, explore the historical and biblical sites, and be introduced to our IBEX program. Opportunities for several meals and fun with the students have been arranged. Some sites of significance on the itinerary include the Sea of Galilee and the Galilee region, the Shephelah, the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, and Jerusalem.
Our trip is not a slow-moving tourist trip but a fun and engaging study trip emphasizing how the Land connects with our Bibles. We desire to help each participant better understand the land of the Bible through our time together and enjoy a sample of what our IBEX students are experiencing. We will provide a pre-trip orientation packet and field notes to help you follow the instructions. We will walk a fair bit to several sites and ride the bus to other stops.
October 23 – November 1, 2026
The IBEX Friends and Family Fall Program locations visited typically include:
When we submit your personal information (full name, passport number, and expiration date) to the airline, the information we submit must match what appears on your passport. Otherwise, you will face challenges when you check in at the US and Israeli airports and likely have to pay some surcharge.
Along with your registration, send a clear color scan of your passport face page. This helps Dr. Behle start to connect faces with names before the trip begins. This is also helpful if someone loses their passport. If you don’t have your passport when you submit your registration form, email or mail it to the IBEX office by September 1st.
Dr. J. Gregory Behle’s professional experience centers on higher education. He has demonstrated expertise as an administrator, professor, grant-writer, researcher, and author. He is a five-time recipient of The Master’s University “Professor-of-the-Year” Award. He has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California and at Biola University. He is the former Director of the IBEX program and continues to serve as a field instructor. Dr. Behle has also taught Reformation history at the AMBEX campus in Regensburg, Germany. The Behle’s live in Camarillo, California and are members of Chapel City Church.
A current passport is required and must not expire until six months after our return date. Don’t delay in applying for your passport, as it may take several weeks to process. Each traveler must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) before departure. A tourist visa will be issued upon entry to USA passport holders. If you are a non-USA citizen, please check online for possible additional entrance requirements.
No vaccinations are required.
After the trip roster is settled, the tour leader will email a file that provides some guidance on what to bring and what to expect for weather.
You may make other arrangements to leave from other major airports and connect with the group, but we generally discourage travel to Israel apart from the group due to potential scheduling conflicts. We cannot arrange ground transportation or hotels for alternative travel arrangements if your flight schedule does not match that of the group or your flight’s arrival in Tel Aviv is delayed.
We will not go forward with a trip to Israel if we are convinced it is not safe. We also don’t go near Gaza, hang around border crossings, or match the profile that terrorists pursue. In the end, we trust God’s providence and stay up to date on the status of travel in Israel.
A trip canceled before full payment is due will be refunded. A trip canceled after then can’t be refunded, as the money will be out of our hands. Individuals can buy travel insurance if concerned. Be advised, most travel insurances will not refund trip costs because choosing not to travel does not serve as one of the conditions for refunding trip expenses. If a person flying on their own calls off the trip because bad weather will delay their arrival, TMU will have no money to refund and most travel insurances will not apply. If TMU cancels the trip, then we will refund as much money as possible.
