Tulsa pastor recounts harrowing Holy Land trip amid Middle East conflict

After suffering a stroke in May, Dr. Tom Harrison still led a group to Israel in June, only to be stranded during a missile exchange between Israel and Iran, forcing an emergency evacuation across three countries.

A Journey of Faith Turned Crisis

For decades, Dr. Tom Harrison has led spiritual tours to Israel, guiding groups through biblical landmarks and daily Bible studies. But his most recent trip took a turn he never expected.

Harrison, a longtime Tulsa pastor, experienced a stroke in May but still committed to the June departure.

The trip began as usual, with a group of 40 travelers, including pastors, spouses and laypeople. “Everything was just normal,” Harrison said. “I've taken about 1,000 people over the years.”

Missile Alerts and Shelter-in-Place

Things changed abruptly on Friday, June 13. At 3:30 a.m., the group received its first missile alert.

“I've never been to an alert in Israel before,” Harrison said. “We got this note… and it’s like, ohh, what’s going on?”

Initially believing the threat might be from Yemen, they soon learned the missiles were from Iran—retaliation for Israeli strikes. The group sheltered multiple times in a basement bomb shelter, some two levels underground, experiencing 13 alerts in four days.

“It was like a tornado alert,” Harrison said, referencing his experience surviving the 1974 Epworth Methodist Church tornado in Tulsa.

Stranded in a War Zone

When Tel Aviv’s airport shut down, the group was trapped. Their Israeli guide proposed a solution: travel to Egypt by bus and then fly to the U.S. But changing plans amid conflict wasn’t easy.

Thanks to help from Congressman Kevin Hern, the group was eventually routed through Jordan, Cyprus, and Tampa before returning to Tulsa.

Faith Amid Uncertainty

Despite the danger and the complex evacuation, Harrison said the experience strengthened many in the group. One traveler, a 50-year-old woman who had never flown before, told him, “We weren’t afraid… now I’m ready to go again.”

Though Harrison is still recovering from his stroke, he’s already planning future trips. “I’ve got a group next spring and another in June,” he said.

For more about his ministry and upcoming trips, visit tomharrison.com.