- [Julie] It's called Passages.

- As a Christian your, "why," your, "why,"

is rooted in your faith.

And your faith is rooted in Israel.

(drumming)

- [Julie] This big event in Jerusalem

with Israeli musicians,celebrated the fourth anniversary

of this unique, educational program

for American Christian students.

- In 2016, Passages was born,

to give you, the religious, political,

social leaders of tomorrow an opportunity

to come to Israel to ignite your faith,

to connect with the values

that the United States shares with Israel

and to strengthen your leadership journey.

- [Julie] Former Israeli Knesset member,

Michael Oren talked abouttheir connection to the land.

- Your faith gives youa part of this land.

The land of Israel.

It gives you a part of this sacred city.

- [Julie] After talking to students,

current US Ambassador toIsrael David Friedman,

told CBN News the trip is invaluable

at this time in history.

- So to bring these kids here for 10 days

and to show them, youknow, especially Jerusalem,

but all the rest of theparts of the country,

it's very, very powerfuland very important.

- [Julie] Passages wasstarted by Christian leader

Robert Nicholson,

and Orthodox Jewish Israeli, Rivka Kidron.

- As I began to becomemore and more attached

to Christianity, I began tosee that many people my age

and younger, were actuallygoing the opposite direction,

and I knew that this new encounter

with the land of Israelcould be a remedy for it.

- And I really believewe are at a unique moment

in history, where Christians and Jews

can come together and reallyfocus on our shared values,

not what separates us, but whatwe have in common together.

- [Julie] Participants travel the land

for nine days visitinghistoric Biblical sites

and seeing the modern state.

- With Passages, theyoffer something unique

by diving deep into thegeo-politics of the land,

trying to provide adiversity of narratives,

that students come outof the trip realizing

that the media isn't allthat there is to the story.

- [Julie] CBN News spenta morning with students

from the University of Alabama,

visiting Jerusalem's City of David.

- As Christians it'simportant for us to understand

what's going on in the world

and so there is a lot of modernday political conflict here,

and so we're getting to hear lots

of different perspectives on that

and just become educatedfrom a firsthand perspective.

- [Julie] Student leadersCarter Helm and Emily Bernard

told us about the value of their visits.

- My first tour of Israel hada great impact on my life.

It changed the way I read the Bible,

it changed my prayer life,it changed the way I think

about culture, and Judaism,

and the Hebraic roots of my faith.

It had an everlasting impact, I would say.

- [Julie] By the end of this year,

Passages will have brought 10,000 students

to the Holy Land, as part ofthis program leaders call,

"a game changer in relationsbetween faith and nations."

Julie Stahl, CBN News, Jerusalem.