Dear ABR Family,
The 2025 dig season at ancient Shiloh has begun and although we experienced some significant challenges we are pressing forward trusting in God’s guidance and blessing as our work continues. On May 4th a missile from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels struck Ben-Gurian International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. The strike caused an immediate and appropriate convulsion leading to enhanced security measures, including the cancellation of most international flights into Israel by most airlines – a reaction that had lingering and significant affects up to the date of the start of our excavation. Unfortunately, this led to many of our staff and volunteers registered for the opening week of the dig needing to find alternative flights – which proved to be quite difficult! In spite of the challenges our team has arrived but with many others still in the process of arriving for subsequent weeks of the excavation. This year has displayed once again the resilience of our amazing volunteers and the indomitable spirit of our dig leadership team. And for those who experienced the disappointment of insurmountable travel difficulties this season, we are working with great urgency that their dream of digging with ABR at Shiloh will see fulfillment in the 2026 dig season. We love our volunteers and want every team member to experience the life-changing impact of digging with us in Israel!
The ABR dig team - week one of the 2025 Shiloh excavation
The current dig season is and will be at the center of our ministry focus over the course of the next month, with our excavation and touring activities wrapping up in late June. It is always a profoundly fulfilling time for our ministry as we are led of the Spirit to the discoveries that He has ordained for our volunteers and for our ministry team. Special focus will be upon the continuing excavation work at the Shiloh Gate Complex, where the priest and judge Eli died. You may recall the extraordinary account from 1 Samuel 4 of the messenger returning after the battle with the Philistines and reporting to Eli of Israel’s defeat, the death of his sons Hophni and Phinehas, and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant. Our work at the Shiloh gate is humbling as we work in the soil and among the structures depicted in the pages of holy Scripture. The account describes the tragedy that befell Israel, and we can now tell the story with the very soil from the gate complex upon our hands and having touched its very stones. What a glorious time in which we live where the biblical accounts are being brought to life before us!
As I write today, I am mindful of the extraordinary way the growing ABR family has supported our ministry. Conducting original research in Israel as an evangelical ministry is challenging and expensive. It requires steadfast commitment, detailed planning and management, and teamwork on multiple levels – from our board of directors to the Civil Authority of Judea and Samaria, to our team of archaeologists and volunteers, and finally to our scholars who contribute their research and writing expertise to multiple publications. All of this carefully managed effort means that ABR is at the “table of ideas” with leading academics in archaeology, historical studies, and biblical research. Although all of this coordination and labor is essential, we are always mindful that we serve the King of Kings, and the Body of Christ – pastors, teachers, evangelists, and apologists. And ultimately every member of the Church around the world who live as witnesses to the gospel – that our Jesus died and rose again for the forgiveness of sins for all those who put their trust in Him.
As we move closer to the final weeks of our fiscal year, would you consider sending a generous gift to help us in these strategic areas:
- To expand our scholarship fund by $50,000 so that more college students can attend our excavation at Shiloh in 2026 and beyond.
- ABR has made a commitment to underwrite the building of a new archaeological laboratory at Shiloh. We are thrilled that a leadership gift of $100,000 has been committed to this effort, but we know that additional gifts for equipment and ancillary needs will be required. We are seeking to raise an additional $50,000 for this effort.
- In light of the continuing growth of platforms for communicating the powerful impact of biblical archaeology on the apologetic witness of the church, ABR will be expanding our staffing and outreach over the next several years. We are seeking an additional $100,000 for this strategic and important outreach.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration of these ministry objectives to further the work of ABR. And if the Lord prompts you today, please send a generous donation before our fiscal year ends on June 30. Thanks again for all of your love, prayers, and support for ABR!
All for Jesus,
Scott Lanser
ABR President
To make a donation online: https://biblearchaeology.org/supportabr
Donations can be mailed to the address below:
Associates for Biblical Research
PO Box 144
Akron, PA 17501
