About Our Study Tours
Ministry Partners
Roc Bottomly
Roc Bottomly received his Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. After pastoring churches in Oklahoma City and Colorado Springs, he served as the Senior Fellow for Marriage Studies for the Focus on the Family Institute for seven years. He is presently the lead pastor at Our Lord's Community Church in Oklahoma City.
Bob Bouwer
Bob Bouwer, a graduate of Western Theological Seminary, has been the senior pastor of the large and growing Faith Reformed Church in Dyer, Indiana, for the past 20 years. Throughout Bob’s ministry career his singular passion has been to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ with a particular emphasis on training leaders for the next generation that are Godly, passionate and faithful.
George DeJong
George DeJong has served as senior pastor of Holland Heights Church in Holland, Michigan since the summer of 1990. In 1998 God ignited a great passion in George as He led him to journey the land of Israel, walking in the footsteps of his Rabbi, Jesus. Since then George has been committed to a deep study of the Text in its Jewish context. In turn, this has not only shaped his life and ministry but his love for the Word has opened opportunities to study with Ray Vander Laan of That The World May Know Ministries as well as at Jerusalem University College. Shaped by the rabbinic method, George has participated and lead dozens of study trips to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. As great as George’s passion for the study of God's Word is his love and delight to share and to teach it in its context. George obtained his bachelor's degree from Trent University, his Master of Divinity from Calvin Seminary and also studied at Jerusalem University College.
Keith Doornbos
Keith Doornbos, a graduate of Calvin and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminaries has been the senior pastor of Providence Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, for 18 years. Keith’s passion has been to teach and instruct people in the practical application of God’s Word. This will be Keith’s fourth journey to the Holy Lands, including a sabbatical study tour in 2006.
Rich Ferreira
Rich Ferreira is a graduate of Talbot Seminary and the director of the Joshua Wilderness Institute at Hume Lake Christian Camps. He and his wife Becky and their three kids Ellie, Jaron and Ronen live in the beautiful Kings Canyon National Park and enjoy hiking, biking and motorcycle riding. When it comes to the text Rich has a desire to not only teach the Bible but help people truly experience it in its context. He has been leading tours to Israel with GTI since 2005 and enjoys bringing not only college students to the Holy Land but anyone with a willingness to hike and dive into Gods word.
John Ferret
Rev. John Ferret is the founder and president of Light of Menorah Ministries, a teaching ministry that focuses on the archaeology, history, geography, customs, culture, and language of ancient Israel and the Middle East. The purpose of the ministry is for all followers of Jesus, of any church or Christian organization, to reconnect to their Hebrew heritage, resulting in a deeper understanding of their faith and the scriptures from the added dimension of our Jewish roots. The ministry website offers free online teaching with lesson notes and pictures. John has lead many Bible study tours to Israel and is studying now for his Ph.D in ancient Biblical history. He teaches in many churches in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area and has also taught in Uganda and Kenya.
Bill Geisel
Bill Geisel presently serves as the Executive Director of "Help with Love." He has studied at Jerusalem University College and has been a GTI ministry tour leader for over 15 years. He has over 20 years of experience as a pastor, most recently as senior pastor at Wawasee Community Bible Church in Milford, Indiana. Bill's tours will observe the Jewish Holy Days and customs.
Brad Gray
Brad Gray is the Lead Teaching Pastor at Solomon’s Porch in Jenison, Michigan. Brad’s first biblical study trip to Israel and Turkey launched him into a lifelong pursuit of seeking to understand what was going on in the biblical text. Molded by the rabbinical approach, Brad has participated, facilitated, and is now leading trips to the land of Israel and Turkey. Brad’s greatest desire is teaching people how to passionately love the text – the very words of God. Brad lives in Holland, Michigan, with his wife and three children. Brad has his bachelor’s degree from Cornerstone University, his Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary, and also studied at Jerusalem University College.
Brian Haynes
Brian Haynes serves as lead pastor at Bay Area First Baptist Church in League City, Texas. After being profoundly impacted by many trips to Israel walking the ancient paths of the Bible, Brian committed to giving others the gift of learning the Bible on location as often as the Lord will allow. His attention in study to the Jewish roots of the Christian faith helps western Christians discover new connections with the culture and context of the Bible. Brian is the author of the books, "Shift: What it Takes to Finally Reach Families Today" and "The Legacy Path: Discover Intentional Spiritual Parenting" based on the Sh’ma (Dt. 6:4-9). He is married to his high school sweetheart Angela and they have three daughters, Hailey, Madelyn, and Eden. Brian is a graduate of Baylor University, Southwestern Seminary, and Liberty Theological Seminary where he earned a Doctor of Ministry for his work in discipleship and family ministry.
Scott Heare
Scott Heare grew up in Austin, Texas and felt the call to be a pastor while attending college at Concordia University. He graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1994 and entered into the Methodist itineracy as an ordained pastor. It was at his first appointment at Alamo Heights UMC in San Antonio where Scott was introduced to studying God's word from a Hebraic context. In 2001 Scott was invited to go on an Israel-in-Depth study tour with Ray VanderLaan. He returned with the scriptures rooted deep in his heart. The approach to understanding the Jewishness of Jesus and the first century church has transformed Scott's ministry. His passion for God's word and unapologetic belief that we are called to live out God's commands are a central part of his leadership. Scott currently serves as pastor of Riverside Community in Spring Branch, Texas where he and his wife Cathi are raising their four children.
Nadav Hillebrand
Nadav is an Israeli American who spent his childhood in a suburb of Tel Aviv before relocating with his family to the United States. After completing his university studies in Political Science and Communication, Nadav moved back to Israel where he worked as a writer and journalist. After serving as a combat soldier in the Paratroopers' brigades of the Israeli Army, Nadav worked as a teacher in Israel's school system while enrolling in the tour-guiding program. Nadav currently resides in Tel Aviv's artistic downtown (Israel's "Soho") and can often be spotted strolling with a smile through his beloved Rothschild Boulevard
Wyn Laidig
Wyn Laidig lived in Asia for over 15 years, serving as linguist/translator and as Country Director with Wycliffe Bible Translators. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Illinois, as well as an MA in Linguistics from the University of Texas in Arlington. Prior to his years with Wycliffe Bible Translators, he was a professor at North Carolina State University in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Wyn has traveled extensively worldwide but nothing has impacted his life in a more profound and deeply spiritual way than his visits to the Holy Land. It was on his first trip with Ray VanderLaan that God ignited a passion within Wyn to help people experience and understand His Word in the original context of time, culture and place.
Todd Lanting
Todd Lanting teaches Bible at Front Range Christian School and is the lead pastor at West Bowles Community Church in Littleton, Colorado where he lives with his wife three children. Todd previously served as the director of That the World May Know Ministries. He has studied at Jerusalem University College in Israel and received his Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary.
Matt Lantz
Matt Lantz is a husband, father and pastor who lives in Tyler, Texas with his wife and two children. He serves as Director of the Forge, a leadership development program of Pine Cove of Tyler, Texas. As a part of his leadership of the Forge, Matt has been leading trips to Israel since 2008. Matt's unique methods of discipleship and teaching provide a challenging atmosphere that allows Israel participants to dig deeply into the Scriptures.
Ronen Moshe
Ronen is an native Israeli tour guide who has combined culture, history, and local traditions into a first-hand tour experience for thousands of visitors over the last 15 years. With a masters degree in Middle Eastern Studies, and a fluent speaker of five languages, Ronen is uniquely prepared to lead you on an unforgettable visit to the Holy Land where history follows you wherever you go.
Joe Mullet
Joe Mullet's studies began in 1996 with Ray VanderLaan and also did extensive studies under Dwight Pryor and David Bivin. He was ordained to the ministry in 1994 and in 1996 started pastoring a church. His major studies have been in Biblical Hebraic culture and the context of the Bible as well as geographical map studies. For the past twelve years he has been teaching the Hebrew culture in churches and communities across the U.S.
Marty O'Connor
Marty O’Connor is the former director and board member of "That the World May Know Ministries" and has facilitated numerous Israel study tours with Ray VanderLaan, Kent Dobson, George DeJong, Bill Geisel and Dr. Tim Brown. Over the last several years Marty has been privileged to lead Israel study tours for mega churches to main street churches to discipleship ministries. Marty is excited to share with you what he has learned from the Text, the culture, the land, history, and from his mentors.
Kevin Neuner and Danielle Parish
Married since 1998, Danielle Parish and Kevin Neuner serve as pastors and teachers in the dynamic and diverse region of Silicon Valley. Leading tours for That the World May Know Ministry with Ray VanderLaan since 2008, they also studied at William Jessup University, Jerusalem University College and Fuller Theological Seminary. Traveling to and from the Mediterranean and the Middle East since 2003, they love to share this "second home" with all their tour participants. Danielle is a contributor to Jerusalem Perspective, Kevin is an adjunct professor at William Jessup and they both serve as Advisory Board Members of the Biblical Language Center with Dr. Randall Buth.
Chad Pierce
Chad Pierce is currently a Professor of New Testament at Central College in Pella, Iowa. Chad earned his M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary, an M.A. in New Testament Backgrounds from Jerusalem University College, and his Ph.D. in Early Judaism from Durham University. In addition to living in Jerusalem during graduate school, Chad has participated in and guided numerous trips in the Middle East. Chad has a passion for understanding the text in its historical environment in order to help Christians today better understand God's Word and grow in their walk with Christ.
Todd Schenck
Todd Schenck is in his fifteenth year of teaching Bible at NorthPointe Christian High School. He secured his bachelor’s degree from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, his master’s degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and has completed coursework at Jerusalem University College. He has also been an adjunct professor at Cornerstone University for two years. As journalism major at Butler, Todd learned to ask the right questions and dig for revealing answers. He has directed this ability toward the study of the text and world of the Scripture. Todd is excited at the opportunity to lead in the Word and the Walk through the Land of Promise.
Ray VanderLaan
Ray VanderLaan is the founder of That the World May Know Ministries and host of the video series That the World May Know. He is a published author and teaches Bible at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan.
Dan Walcott
Dan Walcott has taught high school Bible at Holland Christian Schools for over 30 years and also taught in Nigeria for a year. Dan has spent time touring Turkey with the world-renowned archaeologist, Avner Goren. His wife Kathy assists him with his trips.
George and Karen Wilson
George Wilson is the lead pastor at Renovation Church in Little River, South Carolina. In 2012, George and Karen Wilson will embark on their 14th trip as tour hosts. Experienced in travel to the Holy Land, Europe, Asia, and Africa, they invite you to join them on this spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land. “Our prayer is that this be an intense journey for each traveler as we engage in faith building through dynamic, on-site teaching and worship with emphasis on life changing applications. We desire that each traveler deepen his love for the written Word and the Living Word. Expect to be deluged with the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the Land of the Book.”