Now that we hope things are back to a new normal in the way we live our lives, Good News Wants to Know… What’s the top item you would like to check off on your bucket list?

The top thing to cross off my bucket list – to lose the 10 pounds necessary to shed, as preparation for my enjoyment of all the culinary delights that I feel obligated to partake in as I continue to travel the world.

Alan Platt, Doxa Deo/City Changers

I confess that I really don’t have a bucket list. I look forward to traveling again once the airlines get their issues worked out. I am grateful that we have been blessed to see and experience some of the most beautiful parts of the world. 
William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott

The top of my list would be Antarctica, but realistically I don’t think it’s going to happen.

Bill Tolia, Chairman, South Florida CBMC

I’d love to take my son to every ballpark in the U.S. He likes Roblox + Minecraft more than baseball, so this whole thing will likely take place in the metaverse in the year 2033.

Bob Denison, President, Dension Yachting

I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to do most of what I’ve wanted to be able to do…but one thing I haven’t, and probably won’t, is hiking the entire Appalachian Trail straight thru. I’ve effectively hiked, in bits and pieces, the trail from the North Georgia Mountains to Virginia but have never come close to having the six months or so needed to hike the whole trail, and I don’t think I’d do that to my wife Ashley or my knees later on.

Brian Mudd, Program Director and Host of The Morning Rush & The Brian Mudd Show, iHeartMedia

I had the honor of traveling to the cradle of our faith when I joined Governor DeSantis on the trade mission to Israel, and that was a bucket list item. I think the next one would be to travel Europe with my wife and visit the cultures of the countries of Italy and Spain where our ancestors came from.

Chip LaMarca, State Representative, Florida House District 100

Even though I am not a big traveler, I would love to travel to Alaska with my wife and enjoy God’s creation in a way that I have never experienced. That would be super cool! 

Chris Lane, President, First Priority of South Florida

Despite all the travels over my varied careers, there is one “bucket list” trip I would love to take: a family tour of the Holy Land. With the sights, sounds, smells and flavors of Israel combined with the deep spiritual connection of our family’s faith, that would be worth checking off!

Chris Simpson, President, CBMC International

Mine is: Get down to writing the Forman Family’s history.

H. Collins Forman, Jr., P.A.

Primary on my bucket list is to win as many souls as possible for God’s Kingdom – with one on each hand when I go to heaven…besides this, I’d like to retrace the steps and voyages of Paul’s second missionary journey.

Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

The top item I would like to check off on my bucket list is seeing my immediate family come to know Christ as Savior. Runner ups would be skydiving, paying off retirement house on the coast, and vacationing along the west coast.

Dennis DeMarois, Executive Director and CEO, Gathering Palm Beach County

I have always wanted to tour England, Ireland, Scotland and other areas in Europe. We are planning such a trip for 2024 for our 25th Anniversary, but I have learned not to plan too far in advance and also be ready for God to have another plan. If I could go today, though, I would!

Dolores King-St. George, President, King Communications and GraceNet Radio

For the past 12 years we have been building a mission Hospital and College of Nursing in a very rural area of Nigeria. Next door to the medical complex are two schools; it is our vision to see all 4 institutions self-sustaining and flourishing as they make an impact for Christ on the region and the entire country.

Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service, Inc.

Bucket list? Hmmm, great question. Well, my greatest hope before my time here comes to an end is that in some way or another God saw fit to use me to bring at least 10,000 souls to Jesus through my broken and imperfect efforts and His Great and perfect Grace. Starting of course with all my family, friends, and associates who have been a blessing to me.

Eddie Vega, Pastor, Fuel Life Church

Laurie and I have been wanting to go on a river cruise since before Covid. We cannot wait for next summer or fall to go! We are not real fans of ocean cruises (as we both get seasick very easily), but we feel a river cruise would be fantastic!

Fred Scarbrough, DVM, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and HOPE South Florida

Bucket lists become more valuable as we get older. Speaking from experience! Mine is a three- or four-week pleasure trip throughout Europe. Not a combination business and pleasure trip! Pre-planned in 2019 then the chaos of 2020 happened. I love traveling! Now is the time.

Helen Wayner P.A., Century 21 Hansen Realty

The top priority on my buck list now that we are returning to some semblance of pre-Covid normalcy is to visit my parents in Canada. I’ve been unable to see them since the pandemic shut down the Canadian border. Both are well into their eighties, and I am so grateful to God that despite their frailties they are still with us.  

Dr. Jessica Vera, President and CEO, Elite Foundation

Although I am certain that I will see the new, improved and remodeled version, one of the check offs on my bucket list would be to visit the Holy Land, Israel. Having traveled the world with evangelist Luis Palau, Israel was always a desired location. Psalm 37:4 tells us to, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Maybe, next year in Jerusalem!

Ken Kerrigan, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Cornerstone Church

Even as a child I’ve always wanted to go to India. A dream is coming true November 4th as I head to Kolkata (Calcutta), Odesia and New Delhi to train 300 pastors in our Adventures in Marriage curriculum. 

Lisa May, Executive Director, Live the Life South Florida

As the years go by, my husband and I have slowly been checking items off our “bucket list.” The next top item we would like to check off is seeing the Northern Lights. There is a cruise out of Norway that guarantees you will see them or you receive a free cruise. So hopefully in the next year or so we will be able to see them!

Dr. Mary Drabik, President, South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary

My wife and I love to travel and have been blessed to visit many incredible places. One place still on our “bucket list” would be a nice vacation to Australia and New Zealand with our entire family.

Milan Stefanovic, Chief Operations & Personal Lines Officer, Bass Underwriters

Back before Covid hit, I was contemplating taking a trip to Israel with a tour group. Not sure it will happen anytime soon, but it is at the top of my list.

Mike McDermott, PA, Seniors Real Estate Specialist, The Keyes Company

I have always wanted to take a 3-month historic / castle tour of Europe that would include seeing England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy and Spain.  I would like to meet the people of that region and spend time learning about their foods, culture, architecture and the arts.

Oksana Horton, Artistic Director, Torch and Trumpet Theatre Company

Now that things are somewhat back to a new normal in the way we live our lives, the top item I would like to check off on my bucket list would be to take my wife on a long awaited vacation to someplace she would really enjoy, because she has worked with me so hard during Covid these past 2 1/2 years to keep the church productive in order to win souls for Christ Jesus.

O’Neal Dozier, Pastor, The Worldwide Christian Center

My bucket list is rather short. I have been blessed to be able to complete most of my goals in life. Currently I have 3 books in process, including a book of my memoirs for my children (they have been bugging me to finish). So, I guess I need to put that at the top.

Patricia Colangelo, EdS, Lecturer, Professor, Trinity International University – Florida

First on my ‘bucket list’ would be to take my family to Greece to be able to see where my in-laws were born (and to be able to swim in the aqua blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea). Then next would be to be able to go to Norway to learn more about the rich history of my Norwegian ancestry!!

Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder and President, SAINTS Homeschool P.E. and SAINTS International Sports Ministry

I love strange conventions.  I have been to ventriloquist, magic, juggling, ghost and bigfoot conventions. I want to go to a big UFO convention before I head for the clubhouse that’s at the end of the back nine.
Samuel Lamerson, Ph.D, Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies, Knox Theological Seminary

The top item on my bucket list is to take a trip to Italy. My background is Italian so having the opportunity to visit the country of my family’s heritage, get immersed in the culture and follow some of the historical sites from the Bible would be an exciting experience. One of my wife’s favorite places to visit is in Cinque Terre, so if God blesses us with the opportunity to visit Italy one day, you can be sure we would make a stop there. 

Steve Daigle, Campus Pastor, Calvary Chapel Parkland

My top item on my bucket list is going to the Holy Land! I’ve never been there and growing up going to Hebrew school, living through the six day war in 1967, and all that has happened since in Israel… combined with living through the Bible since coming to faith in November 1991… a trip to make the word come alive has been my #1 bucket list item. My wife and I were scheduled to go in January 2021 but that was canceled due to the pandemic. Now we are planning to go with our church, Calvary Chapel Miami in June 2023!!!

Steve Solomon, Area Director, CBMC South Florida

I would love to visit the great pyramid of Giza (the last of the seven ancient wonders of the world). 

Susie M. Cohen, PhD, Associate Dean, Assistant Professor of Education

A 7-8 day Caribbean Cruise with my wife and daughters. That’s it!

Dr. Ted Greer, Jr., CEO, Hope South Florida

One of our favorite places to go to is Oregon. My husband’s family is from the Pacific Northwest. It is beautiful country out there. I am hoping we can travel there soon and be able to do some hiking up Mt. Hood, visit Crater Lake, and drive down the Columbia River Gorge. There is nothing better than getting back to nature and breathing in all the beauty of God’s creation. There are so many sites that reflect the awesome majesty of God. Westward Ho!!!

Tewannah Aman, Executive Director, Broward County Right to Life

Read last month’s GNWTK at: https://www.goodnewsfl.org/good-news-wants-to-know-absolutely-great/