At the forefront of everything we do
are our Christian values.  

Since we began in 1982, it has always been our outlook that what we do is our ministry. And over the years our mission has remained consistent—that as you walk where the Word was written, your faith in Christ Jesus will be strengthened and your witness enhanced.

Our Mission Statement 

Together, we hope to lead you on tours to Greece, Italy, Israel and Turkey that will shape your life in the years to come. It is our aim to offer you personal attention all along the way so that you may enjoy and experience and learn from the sites visited while on tour.

At the forefront of everything we do are our Christian values. Since we began in 1982, it has always been our outlook that what we do is our ministry. And over the years our mission has remained consistent—that as you walk where the Word was written, your faith in Christ Jesus will be strengthened and your witness enhanced.

David Sparks

is author of the Journal of Paul and a devotional series of daily insights based on the letters of the Apostle Paul.  For the past thirty years he and his wife  Elizabeth have led numerous tours both for adult-enrichment and academic credit.  His passion is to make the Word come alive by exploring it in its historical context so that travelers return home with a renewed faith and a strengthened witness.

Elizabeth Iliadou Sparks

delights in showing you her homeland as only a native can do. Her desire is for travelers to experience the cultures of various lands and to enjoy wonderful and supportive Christian fellowship. Her prayer is that the Lord will touch each traveler's heart in special ways as we study the Word and listen to His voice.

Dave Sparks

grew up traveling to Greece nearly every summer and relishes welcoming people to a land he knows and loves. He is thrilled to share with you his knowledge of Greek life, history, and architecture, while also exploring how we as Christians can relate to members of the early church. In particular, he enjoys pointing out the aspects of scripture that are often overlooked, and how the characters from the New Testament are more complex than most imagine. A deep theological discussion while hiking through Byzantine ruins is his idea of a good time.

Josh Sumpter

is currently an Assistant Professor of Biblical & Ministry Studies at Waynesburg University, a private Christian university located one hour south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He also serves in a staff capacity as University Chaplain. Prior to academia, he served in the local church as a youth pastor and associate minister for ten years in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He continues to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ by partnering with Footstep Ministries. It is a joy for him to explore God’s creation, read the scriptures, and reflect on the deep history of the Christian tradition. With each trip, he continues to grow in his faith and his love for Greek culture.

Yanni Iliadis

grew up in Greece and is enthusiastic about welcoming you to his beloved homeland. He has a passion for hospitality and how it can build friendships and ultimately unify the body of Christ. He has a background in ministry leadership and training and development with trusted brands such as Chick-fil-A. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife Kelly and their 3 children, working in the garden, or a competitive game or two of pickleball. His hope is that through Footstep Ministries, travelers will be filled by the kindness of God as they experience a world class pilgrimage to the wonderful sites that we visit.

Julia VanderMolen

first discovered a love for the ancient Mediterranean world in college when she was studying Latin as a requirement. After seeing Agamemnon's mask face-to-face, she declared a new major in Classics and never looked back. She is excited to invite you to consider the beautiful and complex story of God and us, specifically through the life and writings of the Apostle Paul in the places he lived and wrote. She also loves stretching even further back to where history blurs into mythology, seeing humanity trying to create order out of chaos whether by slaying a minotaur or by optically optimizing art and architecture. Her conclusions: stories and experience show us that humans are nothing if not inconsistent; and our Triune God is nothing if not faithful. 

Jeff Cramer

is a lifetime educator, having spent the last twenty-five years teaching at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where he enjoyed helping students understand the connections between a liberal arts education and their Christian faith. He is excited to use his teaching background while traveling with others and sharing the rich Biblical, historical, and cultural beauty of Greece and Italy. His hope is that, through these experiences, travelers will come away with a refreshed and deeper sense of their faith.  

Kleanthis Iliadis

is equally at ease showing off his town of Thessaloniki (where he makes his home) as he is Mt. Olympus (just across the harbor). With a deep understanding of Greek hospitality, or filoxenia, he loves showing off the country that he calls home. He is always ready for any adventure, from scaling a new mountain to teaching you the best way to fillet the fish that just arrived for dinner.

Seth Bartal

joins Footstep Ministries as part of its Israel team.  He is the Lead Pastor for the Community Church of Greensburg and Batesville, Indiana.  A native of Ohio, he has served in various ministry roles, from pastor of students to a church planter in Brazil.  He is passionate about inviting people to live out a vibrant, thoughtful faith that can be passed on to the next generation.   He hopes those traveling with Footstep Ministries in the Holy Land will be inspired to grow in their love of God and understanding of His Word.  He’s always up for an adventure with his wife and three kids in his spare time, traveling, eating desserts, and tinkering with electronics. 

Pete Hardesty

has led numerous tours to Israel during his 25 years with Young Life, where he currently holds the position of Vice President of Young Life College. Pete also serves on the board of Young Life Middle East.  Pete first visited the Holy Land in 2006, igniting his passion for Israel and Palestine.  He hopes that those who experience Israel will come away with a deeper appreciation of the life of Christ and become more like Him. Pete, the author of two #1 Amazon best-sellers, graduated from the U. of Virginia and holds a Master of Divinity degree.  He is married to the love of his life and has a teenage son who is his favorite.

Jill Sparks

is the one behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly. She has come to have an intimate connection to the nation of Greece, and finds new theological and cultural understanding with each visit. Her trips with Footstep have allowed her not only to assist others in preparing for their journeys, but also to teach others the lessons she’s learned along the way. Hailing originally from the Texas panhandle, she currently lives with her husband Dave in Carrollton, Tx, with their three children.

Adam Sparks

has enjoyed leading tours for fifteen years with a focus on making the history and culture of Greece and Italy come to life. As a Greek-American with an extensive background in Greco-Roman archaeology, Adam finds ways to make travel meaningful, relevant, and fun. Whether leading high school students through castle ruins, college students in Renaissance art galleries, or adults on island excursions, Adam enjoys providing a personalized, worry-free travel experience. Adam lives in Austin, Tx with his wife and four year old son.

Jeff Manion

has been the Senior Pastor of Ada Bible, where he has served for over thirty years. His great joy is digging deeply into Scripture and passionately teaching the story of the Bible in a clear and relevant way. Jeff has traveled to Greece on numerous occasions in preparation for various sermon series of the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Jeff writes, "I love the land of the Bible, and it is a genuine delight to introduce Footstep Ministries' travelers to the biblical sites I have grown to love. I hope that the Bible passages come alive in a fresh and life-giving way." Jeff is the author of several books including Dream Big, Think Small. He also enjoys running, cycling, and hiking. He and his wife, Chris, have three adult children and are proud grandparents.

We'd love to hear from you!

If you are interested in getting a group together to participate in one of our tours, or simply would like to know more about our ministry, please let us know!