Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Sparks.
Elizabeth, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up on Greece, I always loved the English language and when I graduated from high school, my father offered me the opportunity to enroll in Gordon College outside of Boston since we had family in the area. Catching my first airplane, I landed in the States totally amazed at a very different culture but also ready for a new adventure.
During my college days, I met and fell in love with a seminarian who was headed towards parish ministry. We married three years later in my hometown of Berea, Greece and then returned to the States where David was called as pastor of a church.
After five years of State-side life, I was so ready to return to my homeland. to see family, swim in the Aegean Sea and climb Mt. Olympus. How could we make this happen? We decided to organize and lead a tour group to Greece. The tour was successful and so we ended up making it a yearly event. We weren’t particularly impressed with the canned tour guides and typical tourist itineraries, and so, looking at our skill sets, we decided to form our own company, Footstep Ministries.
David, with his seminary degree and historical knowledge, would provide the lectures, and I would plan our accommodations, transportation and, of course, our Greek menus allowing our groups to taste and experience my beloved Greek culture and wonderful Greek food! Soon our tours were growing in number and travelers asked where else they could travel with us besides Greece and so we expanded to Italy, then Israel, then Turkey.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The journey was not always a smooth one! One of the challenges we faced along the way was the growing threat of international terrorism, especially September 11, 2001. We had a tour scheduled for Friday of that same week. As we watched in horror the events of that day, we knew that tough times lay ahead for foreign travel.
Tours decreased dramatically for the next couple of years. Fortunately, David was able to pursue his love of music and bring in additional income by composing children’s music for several film and video productions, including Barney (the purple dinosaur).
Footstep Ministries – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
What sets us apart is that we don’t send people on tours, we take them. David and I accompany every tour in order to offer the best in personal attention. I select each restaurant and plan each menu so that our travelers taste the very best of a wide variety of dishes. I also choose each hotel for its location to ensure that our travelers engage in the local cultures.
David is a knowledgeable teacher who takes history and the Scriptures and brings them to life in their historical settings, while also making them relevant to our own lives. David has a pastor’s heart and a scholar’s mind which is a wonderful combination.
We set a different pace than other tours. Most bit tour companies rush travelers through sites simply to check them off a “must-see” list. We take our time. Our philosophy is that it’s better to experience a site than rush through it in order to move on to the next thing. We slow-down the pace and drink in the historical settings and appreciate the historical significance of each place we visit.
There is no better way to experience a country than with a native. Having been born and raised in Greece, I have an insiders perspective on Mediterranean cultures and customs. My aim on each tour is that our travelers don’t feel like tourists but rather as guests.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is measured by our relationships with those we love. Success is doing what you love to do with the gifts God has given you!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.FoostepMinistries.org
- Phone: 972-418-6103
- Email: info@FootstepMinistries.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FootstepMinistries/
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