Our trip to Israel with the Father’s House was truly heart changing. I had heard from people who have been to Israel before and how God seemed to speak to them in the Holy Land. I wondered deep down, would he speak to me, what would it be like, what if he didn’t? With all those thoughts swirling around my head, my prayer was God speak to my heart. As a man, pastor, husband, and dad, I struggle with pride.

I did not want to come back and be a know it all about Israel, I wanted to come back with a changed heart. And that’s exactly what happened. Sure, I learned, experienced, and gained tons of knowledge and I will never read the bible the same or preach the same again, but God’s greatest gift to me was a more loving heart. I tell people that Israel made me a better LOVER. I love my wife, my kids, others, and my God more and it’s easier to show it. The second to the last day of the trip John gave us the opportunity to be baptized in the Sea of Galilee. Inside I thought, I’m a pastor, I’ve already been baptized, I baptize others, I don’t need to be baptized. But then at the same time I felt our Father say, Do this for me, humble yourself, who cares what others think or say, do this for me, humble yourself for me. The wrestling match continued until the spirit won out and I got dunked. It was awesome. Humbling but awesome. It just felt right. Thank you for that opportunity. It was one of my highlights.

You and the Fathers House Foundation have been a mighty instrument in the Lords hand to change my life forever. Scott and I have dreamed for years of going to Israel and often times would say to one another “someday!” you made that “someday” a reality in our lives. When Scott first told me of the opportunity I was thrilled for him to get to do it. He wanted me to get to go too but I knew without going into debt we couldn’t do it and honestly I was fine with that. However, when my mother got wind of it she was not okay with me not going and offered to take care of all my expenses and come stay with the kids while we were gone. Thank you, Jesus! Now that I have been I have since told Scott, “you can’t ever go without me!” Now that I know what an amazing and life changing encounter it is I want to go back again and again. Unlike other vacations ( I realize this was anything but a vacation but it was in the sense that we were away from responsibilities from church and home) this one didn’t leave me with a longing to get back to my home in Burleson but it left me with a bit of a realization that I was home. I was grieved when the day came to get on board that plane and head back to Texas. I truly understood why Moshe greeted us upon arrival by saying, “welcome home!” That land is my home, it is where all the roots of my faith are, where all my spiritual fathers and mothers lived and loved and grew to know and love our God and Father, God and Son and God and Spirit. Our first Sunday back we took some time to share about some things we saw and did and how it impacted us. I told them it was like going to the place where your grandparents were raised after hearing them describe and tell stories of it for years and years. I told them I truly felt as though I was home and that I wanted to go back again and take all of them with me. Although we don’t have a date yet we are looking to do just that sometime next year. I have already started a “Back to Israel Fund.” God is so good and so worthy of our Highest Praise. He has blessed us in so many ways none of which we in any way deserve yet he was pleased to just shower good gifts on us just because we’re his kids. Thank you for being a vessel of honor for service in his house to all of us who went. May you be blessed in every way as you continue to seek to fulfill Gods plan in your lives. You are dearly loved and highly esteemed.

After serving in the pastorate for 33 years, I wish that I had gone to Israel 20 years earlier. The Old Testament and the Gospels became crystal clear concerning the plan of God for His people. In fact, everything now is not only clear, but alive. I am aware today that it is not only about what has happened, but about what is happening now. If you have the opportunity to go, do not delay!

(Excerpt of Jeremy’s message to Stonewater Church during his journey, June 5-15, 2012.) Church Family, Misti and I have had an amazing time on our trip to Israel. I am spiritually refreshed and ready to serve our Lord. I am totally in love with the Lord and my wife. This was the most amazing trip I’ve ever taken. It was hard, exciting, full of adventure, peaceful, and created much joy. Please pray for us as we travel today. I look forward to seeing you on Father’s Day. Your Pastor, Jeremy White

We’ve read about these places and studied them all of our life and have even taught others about it, and to actually be there and being in the places where the Bible took place was an incredible experience. When you’re at the Sea of Galilee, you’re right there on the shore and Jesus was right there on the shore. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. There was a lot of old, old ancient ruins where the Bible took place and you’re actually walking right in that area. To be a pastor and to go there and see it, I think the difference it made for me was you read about those places, but you don’t know what they look like, where they’re at, what topography it has and after being there, when I read the city name, like Nazareth, I can picture it on the hill where it sits. It just brings it out, how far places were from one another when you read about Jesus going from this place to that place or David going from this place to that place, you can picture how far they had to walk. It’s instant whenever I read the name of the city I’ve been to, I picture it and it just brings it right out so it’s easier to describe to people what it looked like, how far it was, how long it took them to travel, it just makes a difference. I think that’s the thing I drew away from most, the picturing it and knowing.

I want to extend my gratitude for a fantastic experience.  I am already having a wonderful time with God, processing what I have learned!   Thanks again for a wonderful trip.  God is doing wonderful things through Father’s House.

How amazing! I can’t wait to go back. Thank you for the privilege to be in the Holy Land last year and dreaming for another trip in His time.

We don’t even know where to begin to start thanking you for the amazing gift that you gave Steve and I.  It was truly life changing in every way.  We have fallen in love with the homeland of Israel and will never, ever be the same again.  Our days were so full but oh so, so good.  Our cups were so full that we were drinking out of our saucers.  Every single day, we thought wow, surely tomorrow cannot top today, but it did.  We cannot wait to sit down with both of you to share our experience.  Thank you so much Byron and Tammy for having the heart for Israel and for sending Pastors there to learn and to experience the life of Jesus. John Turner, Rick Hamm are great men of God that we respect so much. They love the Lord and it radiates through them.  It was a blessing to experience this trip of a lifetime with them and the other wonderful people that we met. We look forward to returning again soon.