Meet Marcela Reynolds

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcela Reynolds and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcela, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind the success of Agape Travel Pilgrimages has been our clear purpose: to create not just trips, but transformational spiritual experiences. For more than 37 years, I have led groups to Israel, Europe, and the Middle East with the desire that every person who travels with us not only visits sacred places but also connects deeply with their faith and personal growth.

Our mission goes beyond tourism—it’s about transformation. Each pilgrimage is designed to inspire reflection, renewal, and a deeper relationship with God. As a leader and coach with over 40 years of experience forming and guiding others, I believe true success is measured by how lives are changed.

Israel remains my favorite destination because it is there that travelers encounter the living example of leadership and love in Jesus Christ. Witnessing people walk where He walked and seeing their hearts touched in profound ways is what continues to inspire me every single day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been learning to live a life of balance while continuing to follow the passion that began in my youth. My journey started when I was just 15 years old, hosting a radio program in my hometown in Colombia. From a very young age, I questioned the meaning of life — working, eating, sleeping, and repeating the same routine couldn’t be all there was. When someone shared the message of Christ with me at that age, something awakened inside me, and I wanted everyone to experience the same peace and purpose I had found.

I began speaking in schools, on radio programs, and in every place where I was given a voice. Later, I studied family counseling, theology, and life coaching, combining these disciplines to bring guidance, hope, and transformation to others. By the age of 18, I was already training leaders, and soon after, I began organizing pilgrimages to Israel and Europe — experiences that not only transformed lives but also helped fund the educational and community programs I led.

When I moved to the United States at 26, after managing a travel agency that took over 1,200 travelers per season to Israel and Europe, I was invited by an organization to establish a leadership center in New York. That same year, I founded Agape Travel Pilgrimages as both a travel agency and a way to support the mission that had shaped my life. The agency became a source of sustainability for our projects and for my radio programs, which continued for over 14 years in New York, New Jersey, and Miami.

What sets Agape Travel Pilgrimages apart is that we don’t just take people to places — we take them on journeys of the heart. Our travelers are not only tourists; they are seekers of growth and connection. Many of them were my radio listeners who wanted to experience in person what they had heard on air — a journey that renews faith, brings clarity, and transforms the way they see life.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way are simple yet profound: stay faithful to your purpose, serve others with love, and never underestimate how one inspired life can change another

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting, I would definitely take them to the Florida Keys — one of my favorite places in the world. We have a boat in Marathon, and spending time there always feels like a little piece of paradise. I would plan a few relaxing days on the water, exploring the small islands, enjoying the ocean breeze, and simply slowing down to appreciate the beauty around us.

One of the highlights would be watching the sunsets from the marina. The colors that paint the sky over the ocean and the Gulf are absolutely breathtaking — soft pinks, deep oranges, and golden reflections that remind you how magnificent creation is. It’s a peaceful and inspiring moment that never gets old.

We’d probably enjoy some fresh seafood at a local restaurant by the water, take a sunset cruise, and spend quiet evenings sharing good conversations under the stars. For me, that’s the perfect way to experience Florida — surrounded by nature, good company, and the beauty that speaks straight to the soul.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I want to give credit to God. My personal relationship with Him has been the foundation of my life and the source of every inspiration and decision I’ve made. The Bible has been my constant guide and a well of wisdom that continues to shape who I am and how I serve others.

I’m also deeply grateful for the many people who have believed in me and walked alongside me in this journey of transformation. Their trust, support, and willingness to share their own life-changing experiences with others have been a beautiful reminder that true success is never achieved alone.

Ultimately, my greatest joy is seeing lives touched—not through religion, but through a genuine relationship with God that brings peace, purpose, and renewal

Website: https://www.agapetravelperegrinaciones.com/

Instagram: @agapetravelagencia

Linkedin: Marcelacoachdevida

Facebook: Agape Travel