Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | April 24, 2024

Serve the Purpose of God

“The Purpose Driven Life” was written by California mega-church pastor Rick Warren. The book was published in 2002 and became a best-seller with more than 35 million copies sold worldwide. Warren addresses the questions — important questions — that every human being has wrestled with since the beginning of time.

Why am I alive? Does my life matter? What on earth am I here for?

Something deep inside us longs for answers to these questions, answers that are essential to discovering our purpose — which is essential to living a meaningful life.

“Seinfeld” premiered on July 5, 1989 and famously earned the reputation of being a “show about nothing.” The sitcom achieved a remarkable level of popularity in the 90’s primarily because of its plotless programming. One commentator observed that the show was popular because it resonated with the emptiness in the lives of plotless people.

God did not design us to be plotless people who live meaningless and meandering lives. He created us for much more than that. The Bible assures us that God has a plan for each of our lives (Jer. 29:11), which includes doing good works which He prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10).


In a sermon that Paul preached on his first missionary journey, he said, ”Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.” (Acts 13:36). But, what David did in his generation impacted the course of redemptive history because he faithfully served the purpose of God.

The reality is that each of us have only our generation in which to serve the purpose of God. This is our time. God placed us on the planet to serve His purpose in this generation — not two-hundred years earlier or two-hundred years into the future. Now.

Each of us are stewards of a narrow slice of time in which to serve God’s purposes. After that, we die and return to dust. However, like David, what we do in our generation does not have to die with us if we will responsibly serve God’s purposes while we have opportunity.

In order to serve the purposes of God, we must know God and His purposes. Every Christ-follower should seek to know and understand the purposes of God and then live them out.

Here are three to consider:

First, we must love God and love others. This is known as the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37-40). Like Jesus, if we will live lives “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), then we will find favor with God and man (Prov. 3:3-4). Grace often opens the door for people to become receptive to the truth.


Second, we must share the good news about Jesus with the entire world. This is known as the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). God never intended that we keep this good news to ourselves. Those of us who know Christ do, in fact, owe Christ to all who do not know Him (Rom. 1:14).

Third, we must champion the rights of the oppressed, express kindness to others, and walk in dependence upon God. This is known as the Great Requirement (Micah 6:8). Not a day goes by that we do not read or hear about terrible injustices in our world. Christ-followers must be on the front lines of the war against injustice, exploitation, and oppression.

When it comes to living out the purposes of God, our walk and our talk must match. The world will never see the gospel as good news if the messenger is bad news.

In order to serve the purposes of God in our generation, we must understand the times in which we live. 1 Chronicles 12:32 records that the men of Issachar “understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” These guys were in touch with what was happening in their generation and how God could use them to make a difference.



We too, must understand the times in which we live in order to know how to serve God’s purposes, extend His kingdom, and bring glory to His name.

We are living in the best of times and the worst of times that present us with both great opportunities and intimidating obstacles that can only be faced by those with the requisite courage and audacity to fulfill the purposes of God. What we do today to advance the interests of the kingdom of God matters.

One hundred years from now no one will likely know that we ever lived. Our influence, however, can reach far into the future. What we do today to serve the purpose of God has the potential to impact nations and generations long after we are gone.

May we courageously and faithfully serve the purpose of God every day — in our generation. The welfare of so many is at stake both in our generation and the generation to come. What will you do today to serve the purpose of God?

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Posted in Personal Growth

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 31, 2024

One Empty Tomb

In March of 1998, I visited the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty. This complex of tombs in Beijing was designed according to Feng Shui principles to keep away bad spirits and evil winds. The sacred walk leading to the tombs is lined with massive statues of people and animals, first in a standing and then in a kneeling posture to symbolize the obeisance of man and nature to emperors being carried to their tombs. The complex is quite impressive.

Statue along the sacred walk. | 1998 | Ming Dynasty Tombs

I also stood in a very long line at Tiananmen Square to visit the very impressive mausoleum of Mao Zedong, hoping to catch a glimpse of his body. Unfortunately, we were only permitted entry into a portion of the mausoleum where a Chinese guard with a Polaroid camera took our photo and charged us a buck. So much for seeing Mao’s carefully preserved remains.

Gate leading to the sacred walk. | 1998 | Ming Dynasty Tombs

The tombs of many of the world’s leaders, like those I visited in Beijing, are awe-inspiring wonders characterized by elegant architecture, impressive epithets, eternal flames, and beautiful surroundings. In most cases, no expense was spared to memorialize the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, in spite of their magnificence, these tombs all share one common characteristic — they are still occupied!

Mosaic in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre | 2009

By contrast, Jesus was buried in an unpretentious tomb that was not prepared exclusively for Him. No artisan or workman carved it out with the intention of preserving His memory. And yet today, the empty tomb of Jesus remains as mute testimony to His victory over sin and death. His simple tomb assures us that through faith in the risen Jesus, people can experience forgiveness of their sins and a new and everlasting life.

The Apostle Paul understood the supremacy of Christ in life and death. In his letter to the Colossians he wrote these words: “And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18). Christ is “the head of the body,” His church. Paul referred to Jesus as “the beginning,” the One who made a way for us to become a part of the church — the fellowship of the redeemed.

But, most important of all, Paul emphasized that Jesus was “the firstborn from the dead.” In other words, He was the first person to be raised from the dead without dying again. He reigns supreme and alone is worthy of our unrivaled love and loyalty. This Easter weekend, we remember His resurrection and victory over the grave. Along with Christ-followers around the world, we rejoice in the fact that He is alive and reigns supreme.

As you reflect on the meaning of Easter, keep these things in mind and take a moment to lead your family in praise and thanksgiving for all that Jesus did to make a way for us to be reconciled to God.

Remember that…

E = Easter is about an empty tomb that offers hope to those with empty lives.
A = Easter is about an announcement that Jesus is alive.
S = Easter is about God’s offer of salvation to all who believe.
T = Easter is about the triumph of Jesus over death.
E = Easter is about the joy that we can experience every day.
R = Easter is about our responsibility to share the good news that Jesus is alive.

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Posted in Easter Reflections

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 3, 2024

Caring for Katy 2024

Kingsland’s 17th Annual Caring for Katy day of service was an amazing day. On the last Sunday in February, we closed the doors to the church to go out into our community to be the church — to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

The weather on Sunday was perfect — an absolutely beautiful day for blessing our community.

All of our community groups mobilized to move in the direction of people in need, to serve alongside many of our local ministry partners, and to do the kind of good works that glorify God and make a difference in the lives of others.

Our presence did more than meet practical needs in a tangible way. Because we moved in the direction of people in need we brought smiles, refreshed tired hearts, lifted heavy burdens, and restored hope. God showed up through His people and made a difference.

This year’s Caring for Katy video highlights a few of the 50+ initiatives that we did around Katy and beyond. I hope you will take a moment to watch it and to rejoice. I especially like the fact that Caring for Katy always gives families opportunities to make memories of serving together. You will see that in the video.

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Posted in Caring for Katy

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | January 20, 2024

Men of Courage Nepal Summit

In 2019, Kingsland’s missions and men’s ministries collaborated to write a series of discussion guides based around the theme of calling men to embrace God’s vision for biblical manhood. On the day we presented Men of Courage, our first discussion guide, we gave away one-thousand copies to the men of Kingsland.


Later that year we traveled to Uganda to do our first Men of Courage Summit in collaboration with our valued partner, Pastor Robert Nabulere. It was a smashing success as more than 300 men met and made a commitment to do life in community with other men because alone is dangerous.


We then set dates to do four summits in 2020 — the first of these in Nepal in the month of April. As we were making final preparations to travel to Nepal, Covid shut down the planet. And now, four years later, we were finally able to travel to Nepal to do our Men of Courage Summit.


Nepal is a land of take-your-breath-away kind of natural beauty. The magnificent Himalayan mountain range defines the northern border of the country. The jagged snow-covered peaks look down on the clouds as they proudly rise up to close the distance between earth and outer space.


Toward the eastern end of the range, the iconic Mount Everest stands just a bit taller than its neighbors. Named after George Everest, a Surveyor General of India at the time its height was calculated, it has a an imposing magnificence all its own.


The Nepali people have always known this mountain as Sagarmatha, the Goddess of the Sky. Sagarmatha’s siren call summons adventurers from all corners of the globe. And so they come, each driven by a powerful determination to stand at the highest point where earth gives way to sky.


The Nepalese people reflect both the beauty and the ruggedness of the magnificent slice of geography they call home. Life, especially in mountain villages, is hard. But, the people have adapted to the altitude, the cold, and the challenges of doing life in the clouds. They persevere with stoic resolve. They are an amazing people.


We had our first meeting in Kathmandu where 350 men gathered at Bethlehem Church. Seated on the floor, the men packed the room. We provided each man with a copy of our first two discussion guides — Men of Courage and Men of Character. These guides are designed for men to use in weekly small group settings.


Worship was amazing as the men stood to their feet to sing praises to God. The energy was palpable as the men raised their voices and hands. Our partner Pastor Ishwor Sunuwar welcomed the men and also served as one of our translators.


We spoke to the men about what it means to embrace God’s vision for biblical manhood, to stand firm against culture’s efforts to redefine manhood, and the importance of doing life in community with other men. A resounding theme throughout each session was “alone is dangerous.”


And indeed, alone is dangerous. Satan is a pirate looking for a vessel without a fleet. Men are most vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy when they do life alone and apart from the safety and accountability that comes from doing life in community with other men of like faith and interests.


On our second day we drove eight hours into the Himalayas to a place called Jiri. This is the town where Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norway started their trek toward Everest in 1953, the year they became the first men to stand at the top of the world.
On our second day we drove eight hours into the Himalayas to a place called Jiri. This is the town where Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norway started their trek toward Everest in 1953, the year they became the first men to stand at the top of the world.


We met at a new church located adjacent to the Himalayan Leadership Development Center, the beautiful facility that was funded by gifts to the Cooper Potts Memorial Fund. Two hundred and fifty men from mountain villages attended this two-day summit. Once again, the energy and anticipation were high.


At the end of our sessions Gil Harris, Kingsland’s men’s ministry director, called the men to commitment. Every man in the room committed to either starting and leading a small group or to participating in a small group. The men committed to shared study, shared service, and shared adventure. This was a powerful moment as every man in the room dropped to his knees to pray.


We concluded our time in Jiri with a hike in the snow to the top of Hanumante, a 10,000+ foot peak a short drive outside of Jiri. Standing atop Hanumante was a great way to end our time in Nepal — a shared adventure with our Nepalese brothers.


We returned home with grateful hearts for what God had allowed us to experience in Nepal. We forged new friendships, encouraged one another, prayed for one another, and deepened our commitment to do life in community with our brothers in Christ because alone is dangerous.

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Posted in Men on Mission, Nepal

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | December 6, 2023

Looking for Jesus

Every year, our missions ministry produces a report that looks back at all of the ways in which the generosity of the Kingsland family enabled us to impact the nations. This publication also introduces the theme for the coming year and looks ahead at all of the opportunities that await us.

Our challenge for 2024 is for each of us to look for Jesus in the distressing disguise of people in need. The short video below interprets our theme and what it means to look for Jesus. I hope you will take a minute to watch the video and then determine to look at the people around you with new eyes.

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Posted in Kingsland Missions, Mother Teresa

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | December 1, 2023

A Gathering of Champions in Malta

Valletta, Malta

Something historic happened this past week on the isle of Malta — The Global Congress for Life. This was a gathering unlike any other in the history of the world. And although unnoticed by the world, the deliberations of those who gathered on the island nation will reverberate to every corner of the planet.


Malta’s fascinating history is a rich tapestry woven with the threads of the gallantry, courage, and exploits of the Knights of St. John — courageous individuals who dedicated their lives to the fortification and defense of the island. They built fortresses and watchtowers along the coast as well as palaces, hospitals, theaters, and more.

The work of these champions safeguarded life for the people of Malta who previously had been vulnerable to invasions that resulted in their deaths or enslavement. All of that changed, however, when the Knights of St. John arrived. Everything changes when champions arrive on the scene and enter into the arena.


Five years ago, God gave a vision to my friend Kurt Dillinger, the founder and president of Life International — an organization dedicated to venturing into the global arenas where the sanctity of human life is threatened. And that threat is real.

Abortion is just one way in which the sanctity of life is violated. By some estimates, a human heart will beat more than 35 million times per year. And yet, for every heartbeat that keeps us alive, the heartbeat of a preborn child is silenced. Abortion does not kill a potential human person, it kills a human person with great potential — a bearer of the image of God.


Thus Kurt’s vision — to assemble delegates from every nation in Malta, much like the knights of old, and to equip them to stand as champions in the arenas where the sanctity of life is violated. Champions from 155 nations heeded the call to participate in the historic and strategic Global Congress for Life.


Every day of the congress, the champions spent time in prayer, in the study of the Scriptures, sharing personal stories and strategies of their respective engagement, and forming new and meaningful relationships and stronger networks. The congress was a reminder to all that we cannot do the work alone. We need each other.

Those who arrived battle weary were strengthened and encouraged. Those who felt alone were enriched by new friendships. All developed a greater resolve to continue to work on behalf of the voiceless, helpless, and vulnerable — and to build watchtowers and fortifications to protect the sanctity of human life.

Over the course of the congress, I gleaned insight into the characteristics of a champion. I returned home from Malta inspired by the people I met — their stories, their tears, their scars, their vision, their setbacks, and their resolve. Every person I met demonstrated the following characteristics of a champion.

First, a champion sees the bigger picture. Seeing the bigger picture is essential to strategic engagement. Understanding the violations against the sanctity of human life in all of its expressions guides our understanding of the scope of the challenge.

Second, a champion knows what is at stake. Whether the destruction of a child in the womb, bullying on a school yard, trafficking human beings for sex or labor, mass shootings, or other assaults against the sanctity of life, a champion understands that because the stakes are high neither silence, cowardice, nor walking away is an option.

Third, just like the Knights of St. John, a champion moves in the direction of the threat. A friend who retired from active duty as a Marine once told me that you can always recognize who the Marines are in a battle. “Marines,” he said, “always run toward the fight rather than away from it.” The champions who gathered at Malta are indeed moving in the direction of threats to the sanctity of life.

Fourth, a champion must be willing to risk it all. This, of course, speaks of sacrifice. One delegate to the congress told me, with tears in his eyes, how he continues to invest his dwindling personal resources to protect life in his nation. “Our enemy,” he said, “is passionate and uses every means possible to convince the world of lies. Are we more passionate than the enemy in regard to convincing the world of truth about the sanctity of life?”

Finally, a champion is relentless. Giving up is not an option because there is too much at stake. And so, though weary, a champion presses ahead, often one painful step at a time, but always in the strategic direction of preserving life. The Global Congress for Life was like an IV of encouragement for many of the delegates. All returned to their homes with greater resolve to make the Father’s heart for life known.


And now, the Global Congress for Life is in the history books. And while the congress is over, it launched a new beginning by fostering greater unity and collaboration to advance the purposes of God in regard to the value of all human life. Lives will be saved as each champion continues to take ownership of making known the Father’s heart for life in their respective geographical contexts.

And as for Kurt’s dream to equip and inspire the nations to embrace the Father’s heart for life, I have no doubt that his dream will outlive him. Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC, said this in his book entitled “In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day” —

“God-ordained dreams … have the ability to survive any and every circumstance, and they stand the test of time. Even when you die, your dreams do not. Long after you are gone, your dreams have the potential to impact nations and generations.”


I am grateful for the privilege I had to travel to Malta to spend time with champions for life from around the world. And I am grateful to serve a church that embraces the Father’s heart for life and invests both human and financial resources in strategic initiatives around the globe to promote the sanctity of life.

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Posted in Malta

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | November 2, 2023

Men of Conviction Devotional Guide

In 2019, Kingsland’s missions ministry and men’s ministry collaborated on a global initiative to call men to embrace God’s vision for biblical manhood. That collaboration resulted in writing Men of Courage, the first of five devotional guides for use by men in small groups.

We held our first Men of Courage Summit in 2019 in Uganda with more than 300 men in attendance. We then scheduled summits in Nepal, Cambodia, India, and Brazil for 2020. However, Covid caused us to postpone our 2020 summits.

So, we set our sights on a new goal — to distribute Men of Courage to men through our local and global partners. We gave away more than 2,000 copies for men to use locally in their small groups. With the help of our global partners, we had our Men of Courage Devotional Guide translated into more than ten languages with thousands of copies distributed free of charge to men around the globe.

Finally, in May of this year, we held our Men of Courage Summit in Brazil with 650 men in attendance. We challenged the men to make a commitment to shared study, shared service, and shared adventure — essentially to do life in community with other men because alone is dangerous.

We will hold our next Men of Courage Summit in Nepal in January. Our first summit will be in Kathmandu and then we will travel to Jiri to do the second summit. Jiri is the place where Sir Edmund Hillary started his trek to Mount Everest in 1953, the year he and Tenzing Norgay became the first men to stand at the top of the world.

Last Fall we introduced Men of Character, the second devotional guide in our series — calling men to show the world that biblical manhood is the antithesis of toxic masculinity. This guide calls men to make wise choices, build strong friendships, stand firm in the midst of a confused culture, serve others compassionately, and live adventurously.

Tonight at our Fall men’s event, we will introduce our hot-off-the-press Men of Conviction Devotional Guide — a call for men to have a biblical backbone in a world tossed about by the winds of subjective truth and cultural chaos. Like our other guides, this guide features six months worth of lessons for small group discussion.

In the works are our two remaining devotional guides — Men of Compassion and Men of Commitment. Our five study guides challenge men to embrace biblical manhood and to advance the interests of God’s kingdom in the midst of a generation that denies His very existence.

We believe that it is imperative for men of God to take responsibility for their lives, their choices, their homes, and the geographical and historical context in which they live. Our world needs men who will live courageously, have integrity and character, develop and stand firm on sound biblical convictions, serve compassionately, and show the world the difference commitment to God can make.

In the words of the old hymn. It is time to…

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things;
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of kings.

3 Comments

Posted in Men on Mission

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 4, 2023

Empowering Homes in Uganda

I met Kurt Dillinger just weeks after I arrived at Kingsland in 2005. I was eager to lead Kingsland to engage with the world’s remaining unreached people groups, mostly in the 10/40 Window. And then I received an invitation to meet Kurt, the founder of Life International — a ministry committed to upholding the value of all human life worldwide.

I reluctantly agreed to meet Kurt for breakfast, as a courtesy to a friend. Sitting across the breakfast table from me, Kurt challenged me to think of the pre-born as the world’s largest and most hidden and vulnerable people group. His words pierced my heart. I had never regarded the pre-born as a people group.

I left my meeting with Kurt deeply convicted that our missions ministry needed to adopt the pre-born as one of our people groups. So, that is what we did. In addition to people groups less than 3% evangelized that we adopted, we added the pre-born. We would stand as champions for life on the mission field created by abortion worldwide.

In a follow-up conversation with Kurt, we agreed to help Life International launch the first pregnancy help center in Uganda, a place where abortions are readily available. We named the center The Comforter’s Center — a Christ-centered ministry committed to the promotion and preservation of life.

The Comforter’s Center started in rented facilities in 2006 and began to receive clients. At exactly the wrong time in 2008 — at the start of the great recession that rocked the financial climate in America — the owner of our rented facility in Uganda informed us that it was time to move out because he was going to sell the facility to an abortion provider.


We reached out to the owner and asked him to give us first right of refusal. Remarkably, he agreed and gave us two weeks to come up with the money. We immediately asked each family at Kingsland to give a gift of $100. The next week, we received all the money we needed and purchased the property.

Since 2008, the center has counseled thousands of women to choose life for their babies. One of the greatest joys of my life has been to travel to Uganda to meet mothers holding babies that otherwise would have been aborted.


Last week, Pastor Ryan and I traveled to Uganda to meet with the staff of The Comforter’s Center and also to spend time with our partner Pastor Robert Nabulere and the schools under his leadership that we have helped to underwrite.


After years of hearing about The Comforter’s Center, it was a joy to introduce Pastor Ryan to the team at the center. While there, we had the opportunity to meet with more than twenty mothers who had chosen life for their babies because of the counseling they received at The Comforter’s Center. These mothers and babies are the fruit of our investment in the sanctity of human life.


Ryan and I also had the opportunity to visit the four-story grade school currently under construction in the Kawempe slums not far from Pastor Robert’s church. In 2019, our Vacation Bible School raised almost $33,000 to begin the construction of this school. Since then, our missions ministry has invested generously toward the completion of this project.


We spent the balance of our time investing in the staff of the center along with key leaders and church planters that serve under the leadership of Pastor Robert. Ryan presented our Empowered Homes strategy and invited these leaders to join us on the journey of seeing 1,000,007 homes transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.


We often remind the people of Kingsland that every dollar they invest goes on an amazing journey. Uganda is just one of the places where the generosity and kindness of the Kingsland family is making a difference. It was a blessing for us to see the fruit of those dollars in Uganda.

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Posted in Sanctity of Human Life, Uganda

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | September 11, 2023

Among the Enslaved and Persecuted

I returned home from (undisclosed country) South Asia at the end of August. I ventured to an area that has recently witnessed some of the worst persecution of Christians — a place where the decision to follow Christ cannot be taken lightly.

In mid-2021, I learned about the plight of Christian families in servitude to Muslim note-holders. These families are trying to pay off debt they have either incurred or inherited from the previous generation. In most cases, these families in servitude earn a daily income of $5.00 or slightly more — certainly not enough to cover their living expenses and service their debt.


Being in debt means the entire family is obligated to pay the debt. So, the family, including kids, work long hours doing agricultural work or making bricks in order to chip away at their debt. The reality is that there is little hope that any of these families will ever know what it means to be debt free.


In order to give these families a brighter future, our missions ministry formed a strategic partnership with a regional Christian leader. Kingsland provides the funds for the payment of a family’s debt and our partner negotiates with the note-holder for the release of the family.


Once the debt is paid, Kingsland underwrites the relocation costs for the family and the purchase of farm animals or rickshaws or whatever will help the family to become self-employed and self-sustaining. To date we have freed 8 families with a total of 48 family members. We still have about 50 families in queue.

I had the opportunity to meet each family we have liberated and to hear about how their lives have changed. Their expressions of gratitude touched me deeply. For the first time their children are free to attend school and now have the hope of brighter future.


Another reason for traveling to this country was to meet families impacted by our Scripture distribution initiative. In January 2022 our missions ministry launched our 5511 Initiative — a collaborative initiative with our global partners to distribute 150,000 copies of the Scriptures around the world. Our partner in (undisclosed country) South Asia distributed both printed and audio Bibles. As a result, many people came to faith in Christ.


While in South Asia, our partner arranged for us to baptize these new believers. My friend Dr. Cesar Perez and I baptized 74 new believers in various locations. We baptized in secure areas and under the watchful eye of the armed security we were required to have — yet another reminder that choosing Christ is a serious matter for those who live in a place hostile to the gospel.


Cesar and I also led daily leadership training sessions for church planters, house church leaders, and one special session for mothers. We addressed key doctrinal questions as well as the role of parents as primary faith trainers. We spoke on these topics no less than four times a day in villages throughout the area.


We were reminded daily of the constant pressure Christ-followers live with and the reality that things can go bad in an instant — as they did in surrounding areas where Christians homes and Bibles were burned. We continue to work with our partner to address the needs of the many Christians who recently lost their homes and livelihoods because of acts of violence.

For those of us in the West, persecution is a possibility. For our friends in this particular country in South Asia, it is a certainty. It was humbling for us to see that the persecuted did not pray that their persecutors would be punished but that somehow they would come to experience God’s grace and ultimately become brothers and sisters in Christ.

If the day ever comes, may I be as concerned for the spiritual welfare of my persecutors as the brothers and sisters I met in South Asia. I am thankful for the time I spent among the enslaved and persecuted and what God taught me through them and their determination to pursue the purposes and passions of God in a difficult context.

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Posted in Miscellaneous

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | July 18, 2023

A Pilgrimage of Discovery

There is something powerful about going on a pilgrimage — something that changes you and the way you think and how you see the world. Pilgrims through the centuries would agree.

For the past several years, Kingsland’s student ministry has sponsored a trip to the Holy Land for graduating seniors. This trip is especially significant for our students because it is the culmination of a year of small group study that revolves around biblical worldview considerations.

Earlier this month, a total of 87 students and adult sponsors boarded two flights bound for Tel Aviv in hopes of gaining better insight into our biblical worldview. The best insight tends to come when we are onsite. Being onsite leads to aha moments and prompts a lot of good questions.

The opportunity for our students to go to the places where our worldview unfolded provides context for what they believe. We want for our students to understand and appreciate the fact that everything recorded in the Bible happened in a geographical, cultural, and historical context. Understanding that context helps our students to strengthen their grip on what they believe.


We started our pilgrimage of discovery by visiting sites around the Sea of Galilee — the region where Jesus spent much of His ministry. From our vantage point on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, we had a 360-degree view of many of the places where Jesus taught and performed so many miracles.


Every site we visited helped our students gain perspective and better understand that the Bible was not written in a vacuum. The language, the metaphors, and the similes took on deeper significance because of standing in the places that prompted the words recorded in Scripture.

After Galilee, our pilgrimage of discovery took us south to the depths of the Dead Sea, the heights of Masada, and the living waters of En Gedi where ibex sated their thirst — the kind of scene that likely inspired David to write, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God” (Psalm 42:1).

Many of our students chose to be baptized in the Jordan River — always a special part of our pilgrimage. We also visited ancient sites like Beit She’an, a city that once had it all and now lies in ruins, and ventured to Jericho, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.


We concluded our time in and around Jerusalem where we visited the Temple Mount, prayed at the Western Wall, sat on the Southern Steps, waded through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane, walked the Via Dolorosa, and observed the Lord’s Supper at the Garden Tomb.


We also visited Bethlehem where we learned about the shepherds who unwittingly became the first evangelists. We visited the Herodium and bowed low to enter the Church of the Nativity through the door of humility. And, this group was the first to visit the Chapel of the Innocents.


I had the personal privilege of returning later to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where I fulfilled a bucket-list wish — to see the Domine Ivimus etching beneath St. Vartan’s Chapel. This etching was left by a fourth century pilgrim to the Holy Land who depicted the ship he traveled on and the words Domine Ivimus, translated “Lord, We Went.”

The Domine Ivimus etching prompted me to think about the pilgrim who left his mark on a wall. What challenges did this individual face? What sacrifices were made in order to make the journey? What did this pilgrim feel at the first sight of Jerusalem? In what ways was this unknown traveler changed? What happened when he or she returned home?


Since that early pilgrim visited the Holy Land, countess others have followed — and many more will continue to do the same. I am thankful for the opportunity to have led others to join the ranks of those who can say, Domine Ivimus.

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Posted in Israel, Miscellaneous

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