Meet EBC Interview with Rhonda Sand

Rhonda Sand was interviewed by ETV in Addis regarding Christian travel developments in Biblical Ethiopia.

Rhonda sand, Owner of Living Passages

Why Faith-Based Tourism in Ethiopia Matters

Rhonda’s tours attract Christian travelers, who have previously visited Israel, Jordan, or followed Paul’s missionary journeys through Greece and Turkey. Now, they’re looking for something deeper — and they’re finding it in Ethiopia.

“Ethiopia keeps the Bible alive,” says Rhonda. “What’s written in scripture is still practiced today — from Psalms sung in Ge’ez to ancient worship traditions in Lalibela, Axum, and Garalta.”

For many, witnessing Ethiopia’s Jewish-Christian heritage — dating back to the Queen of Sheba and early Judaic traditions — is more than a trip. It’s a spiritual journey.

Key Faith-Based Destinations in Ethiopia

• Lalibela – Home to the world-famous rock-hewn churches

• Axum – Believed to house the Ark of the Covenant

• Garalta – Remote cave churches with living liturgical traditions

• Gondar & Bahir Dar – Rich with Ethiopian Orthodox history

• Lake Tana Region – Monasteries and biblical manuscripts

Trips usually last 7–11 days, depending on the itinerary and teaching focus of the accompanying pastors, who teach on-site using scripture tied directly to what travelers see.

Tourism as Ministry and Impact

Faith-based tourism in Ethiopia is not just about sightseeing. Many of Rhonda’s clients become emotionally connected to the people and communities they meet — funding schools, digging wells, and even adopting children (though international adoptions are more regulated now).

“When guests come here, they feel called. They want to be the hands and feet of God.”

Some support families instead of adopting — a move Rhonda sees as more sustainable and culturally respectful.

Connecting Ethiopia with the Exodus Route

Rhonda also leads groundbreaking Christian tours to Saudi Arabia, tracing what she believes is the true Mount Sinai in Jebel al-Lawz, and the Exodus route through the Red Sea and Jordan. Surprisingly, she’s found connections between ancient Sabean and Thamudic inscriptions in Arabia and Ethiopian Jewish history — potentially linking Ethiopia more deeply to the biblical Exodus.