GTI Tours Podcast

The Doctor is in the house for this podcast - Dr. Rich Liverance, of course! His work with the government of Israel brings insight to Rich Ferreira's update. This episode (recorded on July 4) will help you get an overview of the sequence of events in Israel and the surrounding countries since the initial attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Israel is the Center of God's Redemptive Story; the name itself means "to wrestle with God." Not only this, but also its ideal location makes it the most desired Land in the world! Remember that God is still at work in His Land and His People; continue to pray for peace for the people of the Middle East. Our partners, guides and drivers are safe and well and look forward to our groups returning to the Land.

Join Rich or follow the trip blog for the Stand with Israel Tour, Aug. 28-Sept. 7, 2025

https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-stand-with-israel-2025

 Rich Liverance and Rich Ferreira are fresh off the airplane and back in the studio to share about their amazing time in Saudi Arabia and Jordan! Our March 2025 Signature Tour group was an adventuresome bunch and the first ever to cross into Saudi Arabia! Their itinerary included not only many historical sites in Jordan but also the likely biblical sites of the Split Rock (Exodus 17), the grove of palm trees (Exodus 15), an altar-high place with bull/cow carvings at the foot of the Arabian Mount Horeb (Exodus 32), as well as the desert of Wadi Rum, a possible location of the Wilderness of Paran mentioned in scripture. 

To be able to follow the Text step by step and walk the likely route of the Israelites is monumental. God often used the desert as a place of formation for His people, and the Exodus was no exception. Rich L. explains how God met them in the desert, formed them into a nation there, and identifies with the desert; he also breaks down the 7+ specific types of desert in Scripture.

To learn more about this incredible trip, read their trip blog at:

https://gtitours.org/tour-journal/signature-saudi-jordan-2025

If you're interested in seeing Saudi Arabia and Jordan in March of 2026, email Joni at [email protected] and let us know.

Types of deserts in Hebrew (by Rich Liverance):

1. Midbar: This is the most used term for "wilderness" in the Bible. In fact, the book of Numbers is entitled, "BaMidbar," in Hebrew, which means "In the Wilderness." A midbar can be any sort of desert terrain but usually indicates a desert that can sustain flocks. There is also a possible association of this term with the Hebrew verb, "to speak (medeber)," which shares the same root (dbr). Thus, the midbar may be the place of speaking or the place where God speaks to His people.
2. Tziyah: This word is translated as "desert" in the Text. It generally refers to a dry, remote area.
3. Aravah: This is used as the formal name of the desert south of the Dead Sea to the Red Sea but can also refer to the entire Jordan Valley generally south of the Sea of Galilee. When used as a plural (aravoht), however, it refers generally to "deserts."
4. Yeshimon: This is my favorite. This refers to the most desolate, barren, and brutally inhospitable land without any water, greenery or growth of any kind.
5. Yabashah: This word comes from the Hebrew word, yabash, meaning "dry." It is usually translated as "dry land" such as when the Israelites crossed the Red sea on "dry land."
6. Tzekhikhah: This term refes to a "parched land" in Psalm 68:6.
7. Sharav: This word is translated as "scorched land" in Isaiah 35:7 but can also refer to a mirage. This is the kind of desert that causes you to see things like ghosts and oases that aren't really there.
8. Tzimaon: This word is translated as "thirsty ground" in Isa, 35:7 and is used together with "sharav" above.

If you live in the SO CAL area, you are in for a treat. GTI's friend and partner, Randy Alsonso, joins today's episode to share about the Bridges for Peace REVEAL conference, coming up on May 16-17, 2025. It will be a time of revealing Israel in scripture, the truth about the conflict and the role of the Church. The conference will be held at Calvary Bellflower Church, 14722 Clark Ave., Bellflower, CA 90706. Our beloved Israeli guide Ronen is coming to California to speak! Registration and details at https://subscribepage.io/Reveal-eventbrite-page

Additionally, the Well Clovis Campus will be hosting him at 6:30pm on May 7 at 325 Nees, Clovis, CA 93611. The event will be in the backyard of the home on the corner of Minnewawa and Nees. Parking off of Minnewawa across from Buchanan Stadium. All are welcome!

This fun episode comes to you LIVE from EGYPT while Rich, Jerrell and the Signature Tour group cruise the Nile River. Listen in as they describe the highlights of the trip thus far: the Pyramids and Sphinx, sacred temples, imposing statues, and the treasures of the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum. Egyptian guide Osama joins the conversation to discuss the 10 plagues of Exodus and the Egyptian deities they disparaged. Understanding where the Israelites were coming from is crucial to understanding their journey to the Promise Land; from now on, this group will read the scriptures in a new light!

To learn more about this trip, read our Egypt/Jordan Signature Tour trip blog (including some amazing photos).

https://gtitours.org/tour-journal/signature-egypt-jordan-2025

Join us for the next round of this incredible tour, March 4-16, 2026!

https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-egypt-jordan-2026

Exciting news: GTI is headed back to Europe! Not only do we run tours to Germany and Switzerland, but now also England and Scotland! The British Isles are steeped in 1800 years of Christian history from Bible times to our times. Pastor Adam Richardson brings his passion for church history, thorough education, and experience living and studying in England to bear in leading this incredible tour. We will follow the ancient path of our faith from 2nd-century believers under Roman occupation in Britannia to the late Middle Ages to the English Reformation and beyond, studying not only the astonishing architecture but the people who lived out the Gospel and passed it down to us today. Join us October 7-16, 2025 to understand the history of the Word and the People of the Word, and to invest in your own spiritual life. This trip is limited to 20 participants, so register today! 

https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-england-scotland-2025

What started as a project to stay connected during the pandemic turned into 5 seasons and 100 episodes! To celebrate this special milestone, Rich pulls from the archives and shares some of our favorite staff stories. Enjoy the following anecdotes:

"Missing the Boat"

"The Turkish Rock Star"

"The Egyptian Limo"

"Kickin' Chicken"

"Shooting Pool" (AKA "Too Much Moses")

"Where in the World is Trabzon?"

"Charter Flight to Kansas"

"The Most Expensive Lunch Date Ever"

We at GTI want to thank our podcast family for listening and supporting us through the years! Here's to many more years of travel, adventures, and laughs.

In honor of our 100th episode, we are giving $100 OFF to each person who registers for our Stand With Israel or Jordan/Israel Signature Tours! Just put "100th episode" in the referral section. Questions? Call our Michigan office at 616.396.1234.

https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-stand-with-israel-2025

https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-jordan-israel-2025

Rich Ferreira hosts previous guest Todd Morehead for this episode. Todd is the founder of Grafted Ministries and the creator of two films including Hope in the Holy Land: Delving Beneath the Surface of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Today, Todd and Rich return to discussing the age-old conflict. Although it is a heavy topic, it is imperative that we not only NEVER FORGET but seek truth in the tension. Todd's work tries to give an unbiased lens with which to view the Israeli and Palestinian people and a platform for each of their voices to be heard.

After October 7, Israel will never be the same. Todd's hope is that his film and docuseries will educate, change the way people (especially Christians) view Israel, and encourage love and support for the Jewish people.

GAIN a heart for both Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land.

LEARN the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

DISCERN the truth from the propaganda.

STAND with people who are taking real risks for peace.

WATCH THE SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/@hopeintheholyland

FUND THE SERIES:

https://raisedonors.com/graftedministries/fund-the-series

THE MINISTRY:

https://www.graftedministries.com/

WATCH THE FEATURE DOCUMENTARY:

https://hopeintheholyland.com/

Todd's bio:

Todd Morehead is from Southern California, where he lives with his wife and four children. He is a graduate of Talbot Seminary with an M.A. in Biblical & Theological Studies and the author of Grafted In: Understanding God’s Role for You and Your Jewish Neighbors. He has a passion for leading Christians to Israel—a country he has visited over twenty-five times—to help instill God’s heart for the people and the Land. Todd directed and co-produced the documentary Promised Land: Israel Through The Eyes of Surfers (2012) and is the Co-Creator/Producer of both the feature documentary Hope in the Holy Land: Delving Beneath the Surface of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2021) and the new docuseries Hope in the Holy Land: The Series. In his spare time, he loves to surf.

GTI is going to Rome! In this exciting episode, Rich and Jerrell share about their time recently exploring and planning for our groups. At the end of the first century, all roads led to Rome; it was the epicenter of the ancient world. Even today, over 35 million people a year visit the Eternal City and enjoy a LOT of pizza and pasta!

Our 2025 Greece/Rome Signature Tour itinerary includes Philippi, Thessaloniki, Athens, Corinth, Rome, and more. We will visit the Colosseum, Forum, Catacombs, even a Roman prison, reading Paul's letter from the place where it was written! We will walk the city like an open-air museum, remembering Christians who were persecuted and martyred here (including Peter and Paul), yet turned the city upside by the power of the Holy Spirit!

To understand the context of Acts to Revelation, it's necessary to understand Rome. Walk this Story with us on the ancient roads of Greece and Rome, October 16-27, 2025! 

https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-greece-rome-2025b

This short but sweet episode features Rich and Ronen, recorded LIVE from ISRAEL! Rich traveled to visit each of our Israeli partners, guides and drivers and enjoyed some sweet fellowship (and delicious food) in their homes.

2024 has been a very difficult year, but as the days get shorter and darker, a flame of hope is flickering brightly like a candles during Hanukkah. Peace is returning to Israel, and the people and their land are beginning to heal. One day soon, groups can return again to Israel and walk the Land.

One way to support Israel and our partners is to consider joining our "Stand with Israel Tour", Aug. 28-Sept. 7, 2025. Together, we will visit sites dear to our hearts from past trips and new sites that explore the Bible even more. Whether you are young or old, new to your faith, or a seasoned scholar, this trip will enhance your understanding of the Bible while standing with our friends in Israel. God willing, "Next year in Jerusalem!"

https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-stand-with-israel-2025

On this special episode, Rich Ferreira interviews employee and friend Amy Holstege as she prepares to retire after 20 years with GTI Tours. When Amy began with GTI in 2004, little did she know how many friendships she would make and how special those relationships would become! From coworkers in our Michigan office, to staff at Turkish Airlines, to guides and drivers across the world, those relationships became the key to a long and fulfilling career.

The Lord taught Amy important lessons along the way, like appreciating what each team member brings to the table, to stop and pray in stressful situations, and to do your very best so that many people can meet God in the Land.

Israel will always hold a special place in Amy's heart, as she will in ours. God bless her and her retirement!