Dr. Tony Crisp

Reverend Dr. Tony Crisp is Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Olive Tree Foundation USA, (OTF) and Director of the Center for Holy Land Studies at Tennessee Temple University.

Dr. Crisp received his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies at the Criswell College, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University and his Doctor of Divinity Degree from Southern California Seminary. In addition to his two years of graduate study at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, he has extensive on-site research in Israel, Jordan and the Mediterranean countries of the Bible. He is presently earning the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Leadership at Tennessee Temple University. Since his first trip to Israel in 1977, he has hosted hundreds of pastors and denominational leaders on study tours to Israel up to 6 times per year. In 2009 he travelled to Israel with the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF) to gain understanding about Israel's regional challenges. Later in 2009, after more than 30 years serving as a Senior Pastor in North Carolina, California, and then Tennessee, Dr. Crisp resigned his position in one of the leading churches of his denomination to dedicate the rest of his life, resources and influence to "all things Israel."

In his goal to deepen understanding among pastors for the Judaic roots of Christianity, the inaugural OTF Israel trip will leave on January 2, 2012 with 200 pastors from various denominations participating. There, they will study the Bible and learn firsthand the plight of modern Israel. By January 2013, over 1,000 pastors will visit Israel at no charge and return to teach their congregations. The Olive Tree Foundation USA trips are designed to unite evangelicals with Israel and the Jewish people in the US and worldwide. Each trip includes visits to both Christian and Jewish holy sites along with intensive briefings from Israeli experts on current issues facing the modern Jewish state.

Dr. Crisp, a native Tennessean, has served as an advisor to both public and private educational institutions across America in curriculum, public relations and institutional advancement. He has served on various committees and boards at every level of Southern Baptist denominational life. He is acknowledged and embraced among evangelicals as a leading authority on the historical, geographical, and cultural context of both ancient and modern Israel.

Among the many regional and national honors awarded to Dr. Crisp, Liberty University's "Stand with Israel Club" recently conferred on him their "Friend of Israel" annual award. Dr. Crisp serves as one of nine Christians on the National Council of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. (AIPAC) AIPAC's purpose is to educate Members of Congress on a bipartisan basis about the importance of the US-Israel relationship.

Dr. Crisp is author of "Passport to Israel, A Pilgrim's Guide" and serves as the General Editor of the soon to be released extensive 4 volume set of books entitled, "The Holy Land Satellite Atlas."