Endorsements

“Tired of just another cruise or exotic destination only for fun? Seen most of the world but missed the spiritual side of the ledger? Want to make your next travel experience Kingdom-focused? My friends, Rick and Susan McCarthy, were tired of the “next exotic destination” too, so they did something about it. They have traveled to 70+ countries and, after hundreds of thousands of miles, they have now captured their learnings into a comprehensive faith-based travel guide, like Fodor’s and Lonely Planet for travel with a purpose. You will find out where you can go, what to expect, what to read ahead of time, how to create deep bonding for your travel team in advance, what to pack, how to pray and much more, including daily devotionals, archaeological and Biblical guides, and suggested songs to sing at each site! Rick and Susan have created a step-by-step, nothing left out guide for you to turn everyday travel into missional-focused, life-changing travel including Israel, Greece, Turkey, the Reformation and short-term mission trips.  I highly recommend it!”

– Greg Leith

CEO, Convene

“Most people come back from travel dragging bags and scrolling photos - on their mobile device - with no compelling narrative to share with friends and family. Trips are forgotten before the boarding passes for the next journey are printed. Rick and Susan McCarthy aren't from that tribe of travelers: they've gone to places rich in spiritual history, and allowed themselves to be impacted by the settings that were backdrops for great moments in God's story. Allow them to take you along in those itineraries, and coach you in finding the rich meaning that awaits the pilgrim who is looking for more!”

– Bob Shank

Founder, The Master’s Program
Co-Founder, The Barnabas Group
Author of Life Mastery, Total Life Management & Full Time

Every once in a while someone writes a book solely out of the interest of those they write it for. In writing “Defining Moments: The Transformational Possibilities of Faith-Based Travel”, Rick & Susan McCarthy have set out to accomplish several goals ; to encourage people to take faith-based vacations and turn them into defining moments that will shape their lives forever, to help people see the real possibility of not just having their heads filled with facts regarding a vacation spot but to have their hearts shifted and changed in ways they never imagined, to learn the practical ways of meeting God in powerful and personal ways that will restore, revive, and re-energize their faith, and finally to inform people of the important places in Christian history so they can be can strengthened and inspired in their faith.

I have traveled around the world, led trips to Israel using such defining moments teachings, and have been on a faith-based trip that was led by Rick & Susan to Greece and Turkey in the Footsteps of Paul. Their passion for their faith, knowledge of Christian history and commitment to life transformation is why they wrote this book. I would highly recommend this book and the clear direction it gives for you to plan and execute a faith-based trip of your own. The defining moments they include are intended to move you to a discovery method of learning, rather than simply a teaching method that so many tour guides and pastors use. If you want to plan a trip of a lifetime that will impact your family, friends, believers and non-believers alike, then I heartily encourage you to pick up and read “Defining Moments: the Transformational Possibilities of Faith-Based Travel”.

– Eric Heard

Pastor of Stewardship and Marriage Ministry, Mariners Church