Dr. Larry Ehrlich, ACA Administrator, and his wife, Mary, run the Jerusalem Cornerstone Foundation (JCF) ministry. In 2002, they set up the U. S. office and obtained the 501(c)3 status to provide support to a ministry already existing in Israel. Dr. Ehrlich spoke to The Augustine Forum about the JCF ministry.
Forum: How did you get started?
Dr. Ehrlich: Our introduction to the importance of studying the Hebraic roots of Christianity came from a small prayer group that always prayed for Israel at every meeting. That beginning impressed us, and we realized that the Lord was saying, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” After years of study and many trips to Israel, we have been so blessed to understand many nuggets in the scripture that come alive when one views them from a Hebraic perspective. For most of my ministry life of over 30 years, Mary and I have seen the importance of studying the Hebraic roots of Christianity. As grafted in branches, it becomes essential to understand the nature of the tree that we have been grafted into.
Forum: How many missions have you taken to Israel?
Dr. Ehrlich: We led our first group to Israel in 1987 and have taken about 15 groups since then; plus, we have traveled to Israel ourselves many other times for a total of over 20 trips.
Forum: What is the average size of a mission group?
Dr. Ehrlich: Our groups have ranged from 12 people to more than 60, but the average size is about 25.
Forum: What percentage of Israelis are Christians? What is their status in the country? May they serve in the military?
Dr. Ehrlich: I don't have exact statistics on this, but I'll explain a little. "Christians" in Israel are made up of several groups--traditional Christians who are mostly Arab and are Catholic or Orthodox. There are also some Protestant denominations such as Baptist, Nazarene, and Lutheran; ex-patriots working in Israel; and Messianic Jewish believers who classify themselves as Jewish, but other Jewish groups would generally call them Christian. Reports say there are about 15,000 Messianic Jewish believers now-- more than at any time since the 1st century. Most of these are Israeli citizens, so they would serve in the Army.
Forum: What are some interesting experiences that have occurred during missions in the past?
Dr. Ehrlich: Avdat was an important city on the Nabatean Spice route and is located on a high point in the Negev (southern desert area near the Wilderness of Zin). No other tourists were around, the sky was clear and gorgeous, the climb up to the ruins was a bit strenuous, and everyone was walking among the columns and stones, when someone came upon the area where a Byzantine Church (c. 3rd century) had been. The Augustine Christian Academy students stood there and began deciphering the Greek inscriptions left in the stone. This happened again in Nazareth in the cave ruins under the Church of the Nativity when the students came upon Latin inscriptions and began translating them. It made the chaperones proud of our classical education. Another time, a winter storm descended on the Jordan Valley. We were driving along the Dead Sea, watching the water and sky turn various shades of green, blue, purple and saw the most spectacular double rainbow appear in the sky.
Forum: How does it benefit ACA students educationally, culturally, and spiritually, to visit the Holy Land?
Dr. Ehrlich:: The benefits are great. First, most students have never traveled outside the U.S., so just the experience of being in a wholly different culture is very exciting and beneficial. Second, the trip opens up the scriptures because you are actually walking and traveling in the exact places that you have read about all your life in the Bible. You can really read your Bible right along with the tour guide. Third, it makes the whole Middle East understandable and explains all the tensions that we read and hear about almost daily on TV and in the newspaper. You realize very quickly why God is interested in the land of Israel and why we as Christians need to be aware of the political climate in the area. This trip will be special as we have a student from the 2006 tour studying at Hebrew University and will be able to visit him; he can travel a bit with us as well. We also plan to visit an Israeli high school on the Golan Heights, spend some hours talking to students there, and get to know their hearts.
Forum: What are your favorite landmarks and educational points of interests?
Dr. Ehrlich: An incredible archeological dig is at Bet Shean. It covers a large area and has been going on for several years, so it is always interesting to see what else has been uncovered. This is one of the largest and most important sites of a Greek Roman city in the Middle East. The same applies for the amazing seaport of Caesarea. Keep in mind that all of these spots have a direct connection to us; for example, the Gospel went into the Gentile world from the port of Caesarea. The nature of Israel has always been one of my major interests, so the nature parks, the desert blooms, and the incredible variety of plants and crops from north to south intrigue me. Visiting Jerusalem is, of course, the pinnacle of any trip. Even though Jerusalem is a modern city, you walk on 3,000 years of history and can relate to much of what is written in the Gospels. The Bible really comes alive in Jerusalem.
Forum: What is your favorite story from one of your trips?
Dr. Ehrlich: On the 2006 ACA student trip, I watched the students reenact the I Kings 18 story of Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal on the rocky slope of Mt. Carmel. Their Bibles were open; parts were assigned, ranging from the narrator to the oxen; and they acted out the story (serious, but hilarious). It was quite thrilling to know we were acting this out in the exact area that the ancient Biblical event took place. The students also presented the story of David and Goliath in the Valley of Elah (I Samuel 17). It makes the Bible a living book.
Forum: What are you most looking forward to with the Spring 2009 trip?
Dr. Ehrlich: I look forward to introducing the students and others on the trip to the magnificent and incomparable experience of visiting Israel--the Land of the Bible. I'm praying that this trip can become a yearly option for the students, staff, and parents of ACA. Sometime in the future, I would like to expand the trip to six weeks to include Rome and Greece and make this a traveling classroom that would yield several credits.
Forum: What are the dates of your upcoming Spring 2009 trip?
Dr. Ehrlich: The trip is scheduled for March 12-25, 2009. Anyone is welcome to go, but first preference will be given to the present juniors and seniors of ACA and the chaperones.
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