Going to Israel was special to me. Some of my favorite places were the birthplace of Jesus, the City of David, and the Sea of Galilee.

Three days before I left for Israel, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I was baptized by my dad in the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum. You need to go to Israel because it is life-changing and an experience you do not want to miss.

The trip was even better than I had thought it would be. It helps me read the Bible with better understanding with the information I received. Education is to help one clearly and effectively pass information and knowledge on to others. I have found renewed excitement in doing this after the trip. I was impressed with coordination and enthusiasm of the staff before, during and after the trip. The entire experience was wonderful. The leadership of the staff of Father’s House, the fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, and the endless flow of knowledge and information from Moshe made everything outstanding. It was life changing. I am ready to go back.

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.

To have such a gift like a Torah Scroll Parchment is very precious to us, to have one that speaks of the release of the captives from Egypt by the power of our God and King is truly priceless for us.  I suppose the one that has Exodus 13:14 through 14:28 contains the portion that speaks so greatly to us.  I know it is easy to write wonderful words in an email expressing our gratefulness and gratitude for this gift but, I wish you and your team could really see into my heart and see how precious this is to us.  To write anymore would be less impacting than I desire so I send you Peace and love in the name of Jesus.

Summarizing the NAUMS 2011 Father’s House Israel Trip, despite the fact that it was the most informative and enlightening trip I have ever been on, has been a surprisingly difficult task.  As one might imagine, I have been asked by numerous friends and family members, and members of our congregation, to share what the most influential or to isolate what my favorite part, of the trip was, but I have to admit that there wasn’t a most influential or favorite part of the trip for me.  Each and every day there were multiple parts that I was very fond of and that were quite influential,  The entire trip, from beginning to end, was packed full of information and spiritual depth. I honestly wish the trip hadn’t ended, and I have been suffering from feelings of … homesickness???  Kind of strange, but it is true.  I want to return with the The Father’s House each and every time they go to Israel.  Perhaps the Lord will open a door for that to happen. I have come down to one simple statement that sums up my feelings about the trip, or maybe a better way to say this is to say that this statement sums up my feelings toward God since experiencing the NAUMS 2011 Father’s House Trip to Israel, and that is this … I have a lot more “Want To” where it comes to serving the Lord.  Having experienced Him on such a real and personal level, I don’t want to do anything that would displease him.  The experience has deepened my relationship with The Lord and has made me a better minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Father’s House, Thank you so much for the time, energy and care you put into our Israel trip. I am so grateful for the loving attention you gave to our group from Pedernales River Fellowship. May the Lord continue to bless you as you serve Him. In Christ, Greg

Thank you so much for providing the opportunity for me to visit the land of our Lord. What a blessing, what an adventure! I’ll never read another another word of Scripture the same. What a life change this trip has been. In the midst of all that I experienced, what an added joy it was to be with a number of other pastors from my community. You’ll never know what you have helped do, by God’s divine hand. The eight pastors who went from Susanville are all part of our local ministers group. We have done many community wide events together and seek to bring the churches of our town together by our example. But this trip brought us together in ways that we could never have imagined. The fruit of this adventure together will be born in the many months and years to come. You just didn’t affect the lives of a few pastors, you helped promote the Kingdom of God in a whole county in Northeastern California. Thank you, thank you! My prayers and blessings go out to you and Tammy, your work and ministry. May God continue to prosper and favor you and yours. Blessings/Shalom Rick Conrad

Part of me wants to say a hundred ways how much Mom and I love each one of you and how the journey with each of you (sovereignly chosen by God) has forever imprinted our lives.  And, and part of me, on this quiet day back home, just wants to simply say, “Thank you!”  Thank you for all your prayers and acts of kindness towards Mother and me. John and Roxie called us to meditate of Psalm 91 in anticipation of our trip and this morning I read it again, and I thank the Lord for who He is.  Join me in praising Him. “…He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”…If you make the Most High your dwelling– even the Lord, who is my refuge– then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;…”Because He loves me,” says the Lord, ” I will rescue him [her]; I will protect him [her], for he [she] acknowledges my name.  He [She] will call upon me, and I will answer him [her]; I will be with him [her] in trouble, I will deliver him [her] and honor him [her].  With long life will I satisfy him [her] and show him [her] My salvation.” And He has…and He does…and I thank Him. Thank you, again, for your prayers and acts of kindness.  Know you each remain in our prayers for God to give you rest and refreshment, and for God to sweetly whisper His truth and grace to you…to lead you in His path all the days of your life.  We’ll never be the same, will we, since this journey.  He is good and you are beautiful.