The Jesus Experience: Status 2024 Mar
"...if we can prove that we are capable of raising the necessary funds, the beautiful venue on the Sea of Galilee is still available for us."
The Jesus Experience – Update
Many of you have asked how the war in Israel will affect our project: The Jesus Experience.
If you have been following our newsletter or attending our AMA, "Ask Me Anything" monthly Zoom meeting, you know that even with the situation in Israel, "The Jesus Experience" is still moving forward. The concept is developed and the legal team and design team are on board and if we can prove that we are capable of raising the necessary funds, the beautiful venue on the Sea of Galilee is still available for us.
This project, because of its eventual size and expanded concept for delivering "Jesus Before Christianity" to the world, we have incorporated this project as its own legal entity.
Currently, we are focused on fundraising and the creation of a multi-faith steering committee to help us present the life and teachings of Jesus in a way that will both appeal to individuals and serve to unify the major faiths of this world, hoping to bring peace and harmony to the middle east that will spread around the world. Daniel Cohen is leading the effort to create this steering committee. This month, we invited Daniel to share with you an update on the progress of this committee.
The Jesus Experience—Steering Committee Update
Committed Committee Members
1. Gabriel Rymberg - Co-founder.
2. Rick Lyon - Co-founder
3. Lisa Crawford - Coordinator
4. Steven Marble - Creative Lead, former Creative Director, Universal Studios’ ‘Back to the Future’ theme park.
5. Daniel Cohen, Committee Lead. TV documentary writer (National Geographic TV, PBS etc), author of The Holy Land of Jesus, writer of visitor leading center content: Niagara Falls, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Rome, Jerusalem & more.
6. Prof. Motti Aviam, head of archaeology at Kinneret College, expert on ancient Galilee, Director of the el-Araj Excavation that proposes it is the true site of ancient Bethsaida (link)
7. Ari Marom - former Director, North America, for Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, with special responsibility for all religious tourism.
8. Sharon Regev - former Director of Inter-Religious Affairs at Israel’s Foreign Ministry, currently head of European Economic relations.
9. Gil Lainer - former Israeli diplomat (16 years), Consul for Public Diplomacy, New York, former Head of International Relations & Resource Development, Technion.
Thanks to Rick Lyon's diligent work, the Jesus Experience project has been successfully incorporated in the US and is in process of receiving its tax exempt status.
Because of the situation here in Israel, the practical work of the steering committee to enroll potential strategic partners has been delayed by several months, but this seems now to be coming back on track.
Working from the ground up, we plan to soon begin meetings with key officials of the two local municipal authorities responsible for the Sea of Galilee region, as well as with major players from the many pilgrim sites around its shores.
Once a substantial network of such partnerships has been created, we will approach national bodies, such as Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, Ministry for the Development of the Negev & Galilee, and others.
Meanwhile we have been busy preparing all the materials needed (Once this is established we will be in a position to approach high worth individuals and launch our global fundraising campaign).
We look forward to keeping you informed of our progress
Daniel Cohen - steering committee lead.
Also...
Let us continue to pray for all of our CFU team in Israel and all the families who have lost loved ones in this conflict. Our attorneys for the Jesus Experience in Israel are Nir Kimhi and Calev Myers. They are very involved hostage negotiations and say that they do not want the world to forget that there are still hostages somewhere in Gaza. Please keep them in your prayers, both personally and for the success of their efforts to bring hostages home safely to their families.
Here is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fozmuseum
The Jesus Experience donors kit video on Youtube
View and download the donor's kit.
View donor's kit video on our website.
