Recruiting travelers: a 90-day launch plan

Weeks 1–2: Seed the vision. Announce the trip from the pulpit with a personal story about why the Holy Land matters to you. Show a 60-second video. Place a signup table in the lobby with printed flyers. Send an email blast with a link to the trip page. Target: generate 20 "interested" signups.

Weeks 3–6: Build momentum. Host an informational meeting (Sunday after service, with lunch). Walk through the itinerary day by day. Show photos. Answer questions about cost, fitness level, and safety. Have 2–3 past Holy Land travelers share testimonies. Offer an early-bird deposit discount. Target: 15 deposits collected.

Weeks 7–10: Personal invitation. This is where most groups stall. The secret is personal, one-on-one invitations from the pastor and from travelers who've already signed up. "I'd love for you to come with us" is more powerful than any flyer. Target: 25 deposits.

Weeks 11–13: Final push. Create urgency with a registration deadline. Announce the current count publicly. Share a "last 5 spots" update. Use social media testimonials from past travelers. Target: 30–40 travelers confirmed.