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NILES -- Pastor Sam Mohn of Vienna United Methodist Church said his recent trip to the Holy Land was an "eye opening" experience for him.
Mohn was the guest speaker at the recent Niles Interfaith Brunch at Ciminero's Banquet Centre in Niles.
He said his journey took the group to the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized with he and others on the trip reaffirming their baptisms in the river.
On the trip was Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of the Ohio East Area of the East Ohio Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. Other stops included seeing the Dead Sea that nearby had a lot of date trees that had honey, which John the Baptist ate from.
"We were able to float in the Dead Sea because it is 30 percent minerals. I was told it is very good for your skin," Mohn said.
The group also saw the Sea of Galilee and also were able to draw water from Jacob's Well, which was the place where Jesus held his conversation with the Samaritan woman, and was probably being used for Christian baptisms.
"It is still an active well and we brought water home from it," Mohn said.
The group also saw Jerusalem and spent time at the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray the night before his crucifixion.
Mohn said he and the others also had a chance to ride camels for the first time and visit an olive wood factory, where religious items are made for sales around the world.
RECOGNITION OF YOUTH
The event also included the presentation of the Thomas Murphy Youth Memorial Scholarship to three local high school students: Alaina Erwin, Zoe Fisher and Colin Poling.
Georgeanne Walters of Niles First Christian Church said the scholarship recipients were selected by a committee.
She said the award recognizes Murphy, a local businessman from Niles, who co-sponsored and started the banquet along with the late Rev. Bernard Oakes of First Christian Church.
"They wanted to give recognition to the graduating students who have worked so hard," Walters said.
The Niles Lions Club presented $50 Amazon gift cards to the graduates.
l Alaina Erwin, the daughter of Brian and Nicole Erwin, is a senior at Niles McKinley High School and is a member of First United Methodist Church in Niles. She will attend Cleveland State University to study pharmacy.
l Zoe Fisher, the daughter of Mike and Sandy Fisher, is a senior at Mathews High School and is a member of Vienna United Methodist Church. She will attend Ohio Northern University for mechanical and civil engineering.
l Colin Poling, the son of James and Betsy Sheldon, is a senior at Niles McKinley High School and is a member of Niles First Christian Church. He will attend the New York School of Trades for electrical technology.
Candidates for the awards must be high school seniors of a participating church.