Archives: Hosts

Passionate about expanding their own horizons and those of others, Johannes (John) and Lynda Witte have been leading tour groups to destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia since 1985. Both former educators, Lynda became an at-home mother after leaving education, and John joined Witte Travel & Tours as a group sales consultant and tour leader. They are parents of five children and 15 grandchildren. John and Lynda’s knowledge and experience have earned them a reputation as top-notch tour leaders. Group members appreciate the way they cater to each individual’s needs and interests. They especially enjoy leading small groups.

Passionate about expanding his own horizons and those of others, Johannes (John) Witte has been leading tour groups to destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia since 1985. A former educator, John joined Witte Travel & Tours as a group sales consultant and tour leader. John’s knowledge and experience have earned him a reputation as a top-notch tour leader, and group members appreciate the way he caters to individual needs and interests. John and his wife Lynda are the parents of five children and 15 grandchildren.

Dr. Jennifer Holberg is professor of English and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing. She is a popular CALL teacher, and she has led Calvin student interim classes to study Dante in Florence.

Mary is a genealogist, historian, writer, teacher, and lecturer. She has researched 19th & 20th-century Dutch immigration to Wisconsin for 30 years and has lectured throughout the Midwest and the Netherlands on the subject. She has a B.S. from UW-Madison and an M.A. & M.F.A. from Northern Illinois University. Mary has taken numerous trips to the Netherlands and has traveled extensively in the Achterhoek and Zeeland.

Henk has 30 years of experience leading student and adult groups on tours of the Netherlands. He is a Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies, Emeritus at Calvin University. Since retiring from Calvin in 2012, he is Senior Research Fellow at the Van Raalte Institute at Hope College, where he focuses on Dutch American history and culture. He grew up in the Netherlands, is fluent in Dutch, and has spent a number of semesters on research and teaching leaves in the country.

Ken Bratt is a retired professor of Classics at Calvin University who has led many student groups to Greece and Italy. He and Laurel directed a Calvin Semester in Britain, and they have traveled with adult groups to Italy, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, the Pacific Northwest, the Canadian Rockies, and several of the national parks in the U.S. They both have a passion for lifelong learning and love to share that learning by traveling with a group. Ken and Laurel are the parents of three children and they have four grandchildren.

Dr. Jeffrey Weima is Professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, where he has taught for the past 31 years. He is a sought-after speaker who is able to communicate well the truths of the Bible in an interesting, contemporary, and practical manner. Jeff is the author of numerous scholarly articles, academic essays, and book reviews. He has published six books, including a recently completed commentary on the seven letters to the churches of Revelation. Jeff is an active member of several academic societies, and he lectures and teaches courses around the world, leads biblical study tours, conducts intensive preaching seminars for pastors, and preaches widely in churches in both the USA and Canada.

Bill and Lyn have been married for 54 years, and they are retirees after serving more than 38 years in congregational ministry—30 of those years at Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church.

They have studied twice in Israel at Jerusalem University College and twice under the leadership of Ray VanderLaan, Director of “In the Dust of the Rabbi” ministries and the teacher of the “That the World May Know” video series. In addition, they have been group leaders 19 times in the Holy Land. They have journeyed to the lands of the Bible (Israel, Turkey, and Greece) more than 30 times.

Bill has a Doctor of Ministry Degree in multicultural ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has done extensive study in spiritual disciplines, most recently participating in a two-year exploration of the disciplines with the Transforming Center under the direction of Ruth Haley Barton, author of Invitation to Solitude and Silence. Lyn has a BA degree in teaching from Calvin College, has led children’s and single parents’ ministries at Oakdale Park Church, and has a wonderful spiritual gift of hospitality.