Anders Kiledal | Collegian
Hillsdale students hike in Ein Gedi national park in southern Israel.
When Rivekah Kidron, former adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noticed that most tourists in Israel mainly visit its holy sites and neglect many that define the modern state, she asked Netanyahu to change her title to adviser on Christian Affairs. Kidron made it her mission to provide a way for the next generation of Christian leaders to learn about Israel as a blend of sacred history and modern innovation.
She connected two nonprofits, Museum of the Bible and The Philos Project, as partners in accomplishing her vision of educating the next generation of Christian leaders about Israel.
The two groups worked together to organize and subsidize a Christmas Break trip to Israel for more than 150 college students. Students were chosen from schools selected for their likelihood to promote future leaders in religion and policy, and while the trip cost about $3,000 per person, each student paid only $500.
The January trip was one of the first that the two nonprofits planned together. In the next few weeks, a new nonprofit formed by Museum of the Bible and Philos will be named with the purpose of organizing trips and following up with the participants afterward to continue developing them as leaders, said Scott Phillips, who will serve as executive director of the temporarily unnamed group.
“We are strategically developing relationships with college presidents and faculty who represent a diverse spectrum of college students from future pastors to leaders in journalism and politics,” Phillips said. “Our ultimate goal is have an Christian leaders rooted in biblical faith and who can be informed voices for Israel — that’s the whole mission of the program.”
Phillips said the group hopes to organize trips this summer for between 500 and 700 students with the long-term goal of sending around 5,000 students per year.
“We want people to see truth on what’s happening in Israel,” Phillips said. “In general, we believe the truth is on our side. We want to show fact and give a diverse spectrum of view, and then the students can take what they learn and be advocates for truth.”