THE VICTIM AND CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR THE SHOOTER. NEW AT TEN A LAKE GENEVA CHURCH GROUP IS BACK HOME SAFE TONIGHT AFTER THE WAR WITH IRAN LEFT THEM STRANDED IN ISRAEL. >> WE BOOKED SOME FLIGHTS THROUGH JORDAN, FIGURED OUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO CROSS THE BORDER, HOW WE’RE GOING TO GET THERE. I MEAN, IT WAS A KIND OF A MULTI-DAY PROCESS OF MAKING IT ALL COME TOGETHER. >> AS 12 NEWS FIRST REPORTED, THEIR FLIGHT HOME FROM JERUSALEM WAS CANCELED AFTER THE WAR BROKE OUT. THE GROUP FROM LAKELAND COMMUNITY CHURCH WORKED WITH TOUR GROUPS AND OTHER CONTACTS TO PLAN A DIFFERENT WAY HOME. THE PASTOR TOLD US TONIGHT THAT THEY SPENT THEIR UNEXPECTED DETOUR IN JORDAN HELPING TO REHAB A CHURCH. THERE. >> WE SPENT OUR WHOLE DAY WHILE IN JORDAN AND JORDAN CLEANING OUT THIS CHURCH AND PAINTING AND PRAYING OVER THE PLACE, AND ACTUALLY WE MET WITH PASTOR, PRAYED OVER HIM. WE WE TOOK COMMUNION TOGETHER. WE WORSHIPED TOGETHER. IT WAS REALLY AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. >>
Lake Geneva church group stuck in Israel returns home as airstrikes continue
About 30 people from Lakeland Community Church were supposed to fly back to the U.S. on Feb. 25.
Updated: 12:35 PM CDT Mar 8, 2026
A church group from Lake Geneva has safely returned home after being stranded in Israel when the war with Iran broke out, canceling their flight from Jerusalem.About 30 people from Lakeland Community Church worked with tour groups and other contacts to plan an alternative route home. “We booked some flights through Jordan, figured out how we were going to cross the border, and how we were going to get there. I mean, it was kind of a multi-day process of making it all come together,” Lead Pastor Josh Amstutz said.While in Jordan, the group spent its time helping to rehabilitate a church.”We spent our whole day while in Jordan cleaning out this church, painting and praying over the place. And, we actually met with the pastor, prayed over him, we took communion together, worshiped together, it was really an amazing experience,” Amstutz said.The pastor said the group is grateful for the prayers and support they received during their trip.
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. —
A church group from Lake Geneva has safely returned home after being stranded in Israel when the war with Iran broke out, canceling their flight from Jerusalem.
About 30 people from Lakeland Community Church worked with tour groups and other contacts to plan an alternative route home.
“We booked some flights through Jordan, figured out how we were going to cross the border, and how we were going to get there. I mean, it was kind of a multi-day process of making it all come together,” Lead Pastor Josh Amstutz said.
While in Jordan, the group spent its time helping to rehabilitate a church.
“We spent our whole day while in Jordan cleaning out this church, painting and praying over the place. And, we actually met with the pastor, prayed over him, we took communion together, worshiped together, it was really an amazing experience,” Amstutz said.
The pastor said the group is grateful for the prayers and support they received during their trip.