2026 Conference, a Gathering at the River

by Mac Lacy | October 6, 2026

Photo by Mac Lacy

The international faith-based travel industry convened in Owensboro, Kentucky, for three days when 186 delegates joined dozens of hosts and local officials at the 2026 Going On Faith Conference, held August 11-13. The city’s impressive riverfront was on full display as attendees filled the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Owensboro/Waterfront and the Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront, two properties that bookend the award-winning Owensboro Convention Center.

“Visit Owensboro outdid themselves for all our guests and certainly made quite an impression on the travel planners and tour companies that joined us,” said conference general manager Jennifer Ferguson. “They treated us to two splendid evening events, some great sightseeing tours and a keynote speaker who was as inspiring as any we’ve enjoyed. We commend Mark Calitri and Teresa Jones for all they did to shine a spotlight on Owensboro, Kentucky.”

Delegates were enthralled by the life story of one of Owensboro’s favorite sons, Jason Koger, during his keynote address. Koger’s effortless delivery and unshakeable optimism held his audience spellbound as he shared his story of losing both hands in an ATV accident in 2008 after hitting a downed utility line. His determination to continue his life and help raise his children led him to become a pioneer in the use of multi-articulating bionic hands. Koger is an inspirational figure as he works with companies across the globe to further the development of prosthetic devices.

Visit Owensboro treated delegates to a luau-themed opening reception and meal held in the spacious lobby of the convention center and an artfully inspiring dinner the following night at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. This venue is perhaps Kentucky’s finest regional fine art museum and features the work of Emil Frei, a German stained-glass artist; Pablo Picasso, the Spanish master painter and sculptor; Jim Cantrell, a noted Bardstown, Kentucky-based painter and ceramic artist; and numerous other celebrated artists.

Buyers and sellers from dozens of states and global destinations including Kenya, Ireland, Italy and the Holy Land shared six-minute appointments during two marketplace sessions held in the convention center’s expansive exhibit hall overlooking the Ohio River.

Delegates were treated to several sightseeing tours that showcased Owensboro venues, including Saint Stephen Cathedral and the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden. Major sponsors for the conference included Visit Owensboro, the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, Collette, The Great Passion Play, Southwest Adventure Tours, Armstrong Collective, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What Travel Planners are Saying

“We’re seeing booking patterns that are expanding farther out, which means business is good. We still do a lot of traditional destinations like Nashville and Branson, but we are exploring lesser-known places like Muscle Shoals, Alabama, or Eastern Kentucky. I just came back from a trip to Eastern Kentucky where we did the Hatfields and McCoys site, the Mountain Arts Center, explored the history of musicians coming from the region, and the vibe there was ‘Don’t rush — enjoy the ride.’”

— Debbie Eaton, Art Henry Tours

Columbia, Tennessee

“We are semiretired pastors after 40 years in the Assemblies of God denomination. We have led senior adults and youth group trips across the world for many years. We charter coaches from Southern Coaches in Dothan, Alabama, and we just go. We like to put about 40 people on a 56-seat coach so people can spread out and keep some things in the back of the bus. Our travelers average 55-75 years of age, and about 60% are female. We’ve done Israel, Italy, the Footsteps of Paul and many places in the U.S. We do devotions every day when we travel.”

— Thomas and Rese Moore, Moore Than a Tour

Bonifay, Florida

“We plan travel for a lot of groups, and I specialize in sports travel. We have many fans for sports teams who attend games with us, especially the Kansas City Chiefs. We also do historical road trips to places like Memphis or Nashville for their musical heritage. I’m a former teacher, and I get a lot of 20-somethings on my trips. We’ve also done a lot in Europe to countries like Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Our clients do Italy as well, especially cities like Rome, Florence and Sorrento.”

— Keri Borchers, R&R Travel Agency

Higginsville, Missouri

“We traveled a lot throughout the world in our former careers. We were both technology-oriented, so upon retirement, we studied the Travelogy technology and started running trips for groups. We’re just getting started, but we’ve already done The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs with 20-25 people, and the Ark Encounter with Cincinnati sites for about the same number. We live in a retirement community just outside Bentonville, Arkansas, and we plan trips for residents there. We have a lot of interest now for doing Brazil, Ireland and parts of Scandinavia.”

— Bill and Babs Verbrick, Be Young and Free

Bella Vista, Arkansas

What Destinations & Travel Companies are Saying

“We’re a full-service Catholic travel company that offers customizable packages all over the world. We are very large — we currently have 11,000 customers and operate more than 200 departures annually. Every trip we run includes a priest in good standing who performs a daily mass. I’d say that 80% of what we do on our trips has a spiritual emphasis, but we don’t miss the must-see sites. In other words, if we are in Paris, we’ll include the Eiffel Tower.”

— Phil Mauro, 206 Tours

Brentwood, Tennessee

“For 2027, faith-based travel will be very important to us. We’re working closely with Lisa Nievaard with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their celebration for the reopening of the temple in 2027. We want to include general admission for all our groups while they are in Salt Lake City during our Canyon Spirit trips next year. We can also do this with all our professional partners that are here in Owensboro — companies like Collette, Mayflower and Southwest Adventure Tours, for example.”

— Jeff Bont, Armstrong Collective — Rocky Mountaineer/Canyon Spirit

Vancouver, British Columbia

“Collette’s growth since the pandemic reflects the trust the company has built with travelers over generations. During COVID, Collette refunded more than $200 million in Full Money Back tour payments, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to putting guests first. Every Collette tour is designed by professionals who live and work in the destinations they create, bringing firsthand local knowledge, authentic connections and deep cultural understanding to every journey. Collette also continues to invest in personal relationships. With 62 business development managers across North America, Collette remains closely connected to its customers and committed to delivering exceptional experiences at every stage of the travel journey.”

— Jim Edwards, Collette

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

“My company is the brainchild of Safari N Smiles, the international dental hygiene mission that works in Kenya. I am the founder and director, and we are based in Washington, D.C. I am passionate about showcasing authentic Kenyan culture. We work with church groups, educational groups, families and other markets to provide customized trips. We take groups to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo) plus other wildlife, including ostriches, zebras and giraffes. We are mission-driven and can work with groups to bring Bibles, clothes, shoes and books to African families.”

— Morris Mugo, Nesh Tours & Safaris

Washington, D.C.

“We’ve been busy expanding our facilities. At the Ark Encounter, we have built a new welcome center for tour groups that allows them to check in much more quickly. Groups get off their coach and onto a shuttle and head straight onto our grounds. We are also building a first-century Jerusalem model that spans 2,000 square feet and allows 40 or so people to examine it simultaneously. This model will be the most accurate in the world due to its state-of-the-art technology. At the Creation Museum, we have enlarged our Sprig & Stone restaurant to offer enhanced dining experiences for our guests.”