Testimonies

"Dear Pastor John, We thank you so much for your willingness to use your tour organizational talents for God’s glory. What a privilege it was to join your tour to the Holy Land! You had the tour organized magnificently so that our days were filled with visits to places that Jesus and Moses and Israel’s prophets and kings like Elijah, David, and Hezekiah lived and walked. We continue to enjoy our tour experiences and to reflect on the spiritual and historical impact of the places we were privileged to visit. Because of the security precautions that exist throughout Israel, we felt safer than we sometimes feel at home. We had no transportation hassles, no reservation hassles, and no entrance fee or tipping hassles because you had handled all those details for us in advance. We wonder if your Holy Land tours ever conflict with your ministerial duties at home. But we do know that your tours are a very fruitful ministry to the participants in bringing us to a greater faith and a greater confidence in the accuracy of the Scriptures. We pray your home church values your tour ministry and that God will continue to richly bless that ministry. Thank you, John, for all you do."

Jim Jim & Cyndde (Ohio)

"Pastor John, Well it is about five weeks since we have returned Home, from the Trip to Israel, and it that period we have had a lot of time to reminisce and reflect on fifteen of the most memorable days in our life. We fully realize, it took more than one individual to do all that was required to put a trip like this together. A trip of this magnitude requires a "Team Effort", of the Travel Agency, and other Sources that you utilize, but it took someone to put the package together and present it to the people, and that individual is you! This is an extension of your Ministry, as a "Sheppard", guiding a Flock to the Lord! Both Jane and I just want to extend our "Thanks" for giving us the opportunity to participate in this most meaningful journey. Your ability to orchestrate detail, communicate with participants, and vibrant personality, makes you the success that you are in the Church you lead, the trips that you conduct, and the people that you meet.

We were pleasantly surprised with all the photos that you sent us on the CD's. What fantastic pictures have been added to what we taken, and had received from Darla and Todd. In fact we were so excited with the trip, the CD's, we went out and purchased a 52" TV, just to view them. Our only regret with the entire trip is, that we did not do it earlier in our life, so that it would have been physically easier to handle, but considering everything, we did pretty good in keeping up. You can be assured if any of our peers, even utter a word about a trip to the "Holy Land" both Jane and I will be there to tell them, the only way to go, is with Pastor John!"

"This was a trip of a Life time for me. It was a buffet of the Bible. I was able to taste so many places in Scripture that it was coming alive to me. I will be digesting this buffet for a long time. Although we had over 50 people in our tour, it seemed that we were all kept together and protected by His Grace through the very busy streets of Jerusalem and other sites. I felt very safe as a group, and would go back in a heartbeat. I am grateful that Pastor John had options for the group depending on your physical abilities. Our Tour Guide in Israel was so delightful and so missed by everyone when his tour was over."

"Shalom, Pastor John! I know you're on your way back and I've prayed for a safe trip. God is good! I can't wait to tell you how much Jamie and I appreciated the unparalleled opportunity to be with you and our new friends on this memorable tour of the Holy Land. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your hard work and support. Your passion for the Lord and pastoral leadership are truly inspirational and we continue to pray for God's hand to be upon you, your family and ministries. We are grateful for your humble leadership and love, Pastor John. Jamie and I will continue to think of you and keep you in our prayers.

To summarize: Awesome leaders, guides and friends, awesome sights, and awesome weather! What else could we ask for? Israel is small in size, but big in heritage. As we traveled through the Holy Land, the Bible's sights and events came to life in a vivid way. As we retraced the steps of Yeshua, we felt a little closer to Him... we felt the grace of His touch, the wonders of His ministry, the pain of His death, and the beauty of His resurrection. Jerusalem is set like a precious jewel in an arid and unfriendly land, as we are set like lamps in a dark and evil world. Intimacy with Christ starts with a passion for God, and a passion for God leads to compassion for others.

Our visit of the Holy Land developed in us greater sensitivity to the One who laid down His life for us and those He loves. Shalom, shalom! We slowly, however, started missing y'all, as we reminisced about all the fun times, moving moments, jokes, learnings, etc. We missed the camaraderie, the sights, the kind words, the hugs, the spirit of acceptance, etc. We did not hear one complaint during the whole trip, which is in itself a testimony to God's grace and power. The respect and sincerity we experienced with you was an answer to prayers... where God brings together strangers, His followers from various Christian denominations, and blows His Spirit of unity and love. Yeshua shows us that He has risen and is alive indeed!"

Dominique & Jamie (Toronto)

"Hi Pastor John! I just want to thank you for your guidance of a very memorable, uplifting journey to The Holyland. We were indeed blessed with having good weather and a lovely group of people on the trip. Also, having Rev. Tom at the end of a crowded area watching out for everyone of our group so that no one gets lost was so comforting. Your daily postings and pictures definitely help me a lot in sorting out my own pictures after coming home. I hope to go again with you in the very near future." Best Regards."

"The trip to the Holy Land was an incredible experience. It was also a physical marathon! But to be where Jesus

lived, walked & preached was truly a lifetime experience that will take a long time for my brain to digest. There

was so much history and awesome discovery to absorb in such a short time. The tour was well organized and our leaders and tour guide did a phenomenal job in leading 52 people on a journey back in time. All my fellow travelers were a source of genuine Christian fellowship and inspiration. And if 86 year old Ruby could climb the hills and walk the cobbled paths and narrow stairs, it would have been total embarrassment not to be able to follow.

Although we were aware of the turmoil that engulfs the region, we felt completely safe and assured that Pastor John and Dr. Tom would not jeopardize our safety. Many of our fellow travelers were there on a second trip and many others plan to return. Even more meaningful is the fact that this experience from sailing on the Sea of Galilee & baptism in the River Jordan to following Christ’s final journey on the Stations of the Cross & Communion in the area of His tomb came just before this celebration of his Resurrection.

"Dear Pastor John, Thank you for an awesome trip. It is hard to believe that we were walk where Jesus walk. The places we went to use to be in black & white, now it is in full color. When I read about the places in the Bible I can see it in my mind (I have been there). And I know a little bit about what the Israelites had to go through. The Garden Tomb was one of my favorite places. The peace and the Communion service you could feel the presents of the Lord, and also the sign "He is not here." All through Israel I could feel God, we were standing on Holy Ground. One of Mike's favorite places was Masada. We look forward to going on another trip with you."

Michael & Veronica (Michigan)

"I would also like to give my thoughts on our trip to the Holy Land. It was truly inspiring. Everything we had hoped for. The sacrifices Rozelle and I had to make were worthwhile. Our great tour guide Ron asked why so many people from all over the World felt drawn to this tiny nation and its capital Jerusalem. The answer I think lies in Romans 10:12 and Galatians 3:29. The heritage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David also becomes our heritage through our faith in Jesus Christ. It explains and then strengthens our relationships with our Jewish friends and our Jewish heritage. From beautiful Mt. Carmel to a sunrise service on the sea of Galilee to Holy Communion at the garden tomb it was an experience Rozelle and I will always hold dear to our hearts. Pastor John and Dr. Tom ability to both share their knowledge of and passion for the land and its people certainly enhanced our experience. The singing was great and made even better by our two singing Angels Deanna and Rachel. The Hotels and food were first class and our safety was never an issue. The Holy Land is truly for all of God's people. Thank you for a wonderful time."

Bud & Rozelle (Florida)

"We sure had the trip of a lifetime going to Israel being led by Pastor John DeLancey . One of the highlights of our trip was getting up at 1:30 a.m. and making the climb up Mt. Sinai, the Mountain of Moses. The multitude of stars in the sky which were observed while riding part way on the camel were magnificent along with the beautiful sunrise at the top. It was a
difficult climb but well worth the effort. The boat ride on the Sea of Galilee was so peaceful with worship time and singing along with John's guitar. Many other highlights were Masada where King Herod had built many castles rising 950 feet above the valley (We are in awe how it was built).

The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem where we had a communion service was special as was our special baptism by immersion in the Jordan River by Pastor John and our pastor John Peterson. These are just a few of our experiences "in the land of the bible".

We did not have any safety concerns as there was a great deal of security present. The border of Israel and Syria was guarded well. We had three excellent guides and two leaders, John DeLancey and John Peterson who added spiritual leadership with scripture readings. This was a spiritual, awesome adventure.

Don & Brenda (Virginia)

:"We want to again thank you, Pastor John, for a wonderful trip - beyond my expectations! I have been going over the materials you sent when we first signed up for the trip and they are so helpful now that we have been to these places.
Thanks for putting all that together and giving it to us. I have nothing but good to say about the tour.

A tour of Israel has been a life long desire. Sometimes when you anticipate something for so long, the reality is a let down. Not this time! Our tour exceeded expectations. Pastor John, you did an excellent job of communicating with us as we prepared for the trip, giving us information on what we would see as well as what we should bring with us. Your knowledge of the land, the history, the people was very helpful to us. We loved how you packed so much into each day and made the most of our time in Israel.

Highlights of the tour would be sunrise meeting on the shore of Sea of Galilee, visiting the Old City of Jerusalem, Masada, the middle of the night hike up Mt. Sinai, and walking through Petra. We were awed by these incredible experiences and never felt any sense of danger. We appreciated beginning each day with the reading Scripture, prayer and then in group singing. Our hotels were very comfortable and the food was excellent!

"My journey to the land of Israel in November with Pastor John DeLancey was more than I ever expected. My eyes to the Scriptures and the Christian walk have come alive. I can not help but share my journey of following in the footsteps of Jesus and traveling in the land of Israel with others. God bless and keep you Pastor John as you lead others on this great tour of Israel, and blessings to our tour guide Gila."

Shirley (Florida)

"I wanted to take a few moments to thank you for the wonderful tour in Fall of 2007 – it has truly changed my life. Not only has my Bible come alive because I have stood where the stories have taken place, but I had an interesting experience yesterday (Christmas day). As my husband was watching his favorite news channel, they were featuring a number of stories on the Holy Land. I had an opportunity to talk about what I saw and share with my husband some new perspectives that he didn’t hear from the newscast. One of the questions that has frequently been asked, is whether or not I felt safe. In fact, on this news program yesterday there was a story about how tourism in Bethlehem has fallen off – in part due to the border crossing. I have assured everyone that I did feel safe on the tour.You and Gila did an absolutely marvelous job of discussing scripture and helping us match it up to what we were seeing.

I also enjoyed the devotional time – it truly opened up my Christian walk. When I first decided to go on the trip, I thought it would be a once in a lifetime kind of thing. Now, I’m trying to figure out how to go back again! Thanks so much."

Karen (Indiana)

"I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for leading my recent trip to Israel. I enjoyed everything about it! My bible has come alive for me and I am finding that I have a much stronger desire to dive into God’s word since being back home. You were a huge inspiration for me!"

Brenda (Indiana)

"Our trip was beyond our expectations in many ways. The cost was competitive and all-inclusive as advertised. The size of our group provided much flexibility, personal attention, and allowed a very relaxed, comfortable feeling every day. Members of our group became close friends, sharing many experiences. We cried and laughed as we parted at the end of the trip. The accommodations were wonderful. The rental phones were very reasonably priced (compared to personal cells with international capability), and being able to check at home without extreme phone costs helped to make our trip more relaxing. Prior to departure, Dr.John DeLancey and Mira at Creative Travel were very helpful; although many questions we asked were basic/silly, they were always patient and thorough.

We were amazed at how many sites Pastor John was able to fit into our schedule for a wide variety of experiences. He also made each site special by reading related scripture, leading us in special worship services, sharing his expertise in archeology, and/or singing. His guitar and wonderful voice was a bonus!

The tour guides that he chose for our trip, Miri and Mo, were incredibly knowledgeable (of the land, history, and customs), and were very gracious. The bus drivers, Amir and Hamond, were also chosen well. We always felt safe and well cared for. All of them did little extras to help us feel at home in their country. Pastor John's level of expertise, as well as his impeccable attention to detail, made our trip very smooth and special, helped us understand the Bible in 3D, and helped us to grow spiritually.

We would highly recommend any tour of the Holy Land with Dr John DeLancey. We would also like to encourage you to make a trip to the Holy Land a top priority on your list. We wish that we would not have waited 25 years to go and experience God’s chosen land, to walk where Jesus walked, and to “feel” the Bible and the land. We have both taught Christian classes for many years; and we both, now, have a considerably deeper understanding of so many things. We plan to return to the Holy Land, and we wouldn't consider going back with anyone other than Pastor John DeLancey."

Betty & Jim (Pennsylvania)

"My recent trip with Pastor DeLancey was everything and more that you can possibly imagine a trip to Israel would be. We had the most wonderful guides on the entire journey, people whom I will never forget. Everyone on the trip bonded so well that I know I have 17 new lifelong friends. We were privileged to visit so many of the Biblical sites, it truly made the Bible come to life. Pastor DeLancey was so familiar with the sites, that he filled us with information, prayer time, reflection time, it was awesome. I do hope that I have another opportunity to revisit Israel.

It's really hard to pinpoint the most incredible part of the trip because each site we visited had something special about it, but I really enjoyed our worship time at the garden tomb. For anyone curious about safety, we were completely safe, never a moment of worry.

It's amazing too that so many people from so many different cultures would all be at the same locations at the same time with no animosity toward one another. The Holy Land is truly a very special place."

Pam (Colorado) (incidentally, Pam met "Rick" on this trip. I (Pastor John) had the privilege on uniting them in marriage 6 months later :))

"We have studied the life of Jesus and other Bible characters since we were young children--for at least 60 years--but there is still something very special about seeing the places with your own eyes. It was so meaningful to visit the places where Jesus was born, raised, and ministered in--and even to ride on a boat in the Sea of Galilee. We also traced the steps of his final week of life, with its highs and lows, as Jesus suffered and died for our sins but then was raised again in victory over death! We stood outside the tomb and celebrated that it was EMPTY!!

We have had many people ask us about our trip since we have returned and question if we ever felt "unsafe". We truly felt very safe and confident in the excellent leadership and the preparations that had been made for us. We also enjoyed great fellowship in our tour group and some special times of worship and sharing together. The whole trip was a great experience of learning, reflecting, and then personalizing many things that we saw--we would recommend it very highly!"

Lin & Pat (Illinois)

"We are making progress in returning to somewhat of a normal routine here in Warren County. We still have recurring nostalgic interludes thinking about the Israel/Jordon journey. It was such a great experience; so well planned and every minute of each day filled with biblical history. We thank God for allowing us this great opportunity.

Since returning from our trip people have asked us about the food and our personal safety. We have to say the food was excellent. In response to the safety issue we actually felt safer in Israel/Jordan than we would have in most larger American cities. We thank God for this wonderful travel opportunity and you for all the planning and effort that went into making the journey successful."

Bill & Debbie (Pennsylvania)