The Footsteps of Paul Experience

TheFootsteps of Paul Experience

A Spiritual Adventure in Turkey and Greece

May 23-June 7, 2021

“The Footsteps of Paul Experience” is a unique two-week journey across Turkey and Greece, from Antioch to Corinth. We travel the ancient routes by which the Apostle Paul brought the Good News of Jesus to Jews and Gentiles on his three missionary journeys. This is not a tour and we are not a tour company. This is a Christian pilgrimage in the historical places where Paul and his disciples actually carried out their mission. We travel as an extended family on a spiritual journey together.

Each day will begin with time for prayer and Scripture reading based on our itinerary that day. We will visit the sites with the greatest historical significance that illuminate the biblical account of Paul’s life. At each site we will offer an overview of the history and archaeology and then conclude with a time of biblical reflection, sharing, and prayer. In the evenings there will be opportunities for worship, teaching, processing in small groups, and free time.

The group is limited to 21 people so we can move efficiently, get to know each other on a deeper level, and share a spiritual experience. We will be traveling in passenger vans, averaging about three hours of driving per day, traversing beautiful country and exploring breathtaking ancient sites. We will eat our lunches along the way, our dinners will consist of local cuisine from our favorite restaurants, and each night we will stay in small boutique hotels with rich cultural and historical ambiance, including four nights on the Mediterranean.

To prepare for the trip participants should read two books, The Apostle: A Life of Paul, by John Pollack and A Week in the Life of Corinth by Ben Witherington III. These will help to connect the narrative of Acts with the content of Paul’s letters, as well as giving the participants a closer look at the Greco-Roman culture into which Paul brought the Good News of Jesus. You will also receive a trip handbook with maps, plans, charts, and site reconstructions, which will become your reference guide for the trip. This handbook includes reflection questions on key Scriptures related to the sites we will be visiting and space for prayer journaling each day.

Our trip leader is Bob Rognlien, a pastor, teacher and guide with 30 years’ experience. Bob first traveled in Greece and Turkey at the age of 21 and then lived in Jerusalem where he conducted post-graduate studies in New Testament archaeology and sociology. Bob and his wife Pam have been leading trips like this in the Middle East for over 25 years. The cost of the trip is $2950 per person, not including airfare to Hatay, Turkey and return from Athens. This does include all your meals and expenses during the trip.

Again, this is not a tour, it is a spiritual pilgrimage. Our goal is to experience some of what Paul and his disciples experienced as they followed Jesus and extended his Kingdom movement. Many people who have taken this kind of journey with us over the last 25 years have called it the trip of a lifetime. It is certainly an unforgettable experience that will profoundly shape your reading of Acts and the Letters of Paul. If you are interested in joining us, contact Bob Rognlien right away at bobrognlien@gmail.com. Space is limited, so if you are feeling led to join us on this spiritual adventure, send a non-refundable deposit check for $950 made out to "3DM West" and sent to Pam Rognlien, PO Box 7718, Torrance, CA 90504 or you can pay online with a credit card a thttp://footsteps-experience.com/register.

Daily Itinerary

15 days, 2200 miles, 3 hours average driving time per day

Day Zero, Wednesday

Fly in to Hatay, Turkey

Accommodations: Shahut Hotel (2 nights)

Theme: Saul’s Conversion: The Adventure Begins

Day One, Thursday (1 hour of driving)

Theme: Saul in Antioch: A New Community and Calling

Visit: Ancient Cave Church of Antioch, Hatay Archaeological Museum, Harbor of Seleucia Peria

Day Two, Friday (3.5 hours of driving)

Antioch to Roman Road in Cilicia: 3 hours

Roman Road to Tarsus: .5 hour

Theme: Saul’s Hometown: Doing It Alone

Visit: Roman Road, St. Paul’s Well, Ancient Shop Street

Accommodations: Elif Hatun Konagi

Day Three, Saturday (7 hours of driving)

Tarsus to Anemurium (Anamur): 4 hours

Anemurium to Side: 3 hours

Theme: First Miss. Journey: Paul’s Call to the Gentiles

Visit: Ancient ruins of Side

Accommodations: Kamer Otel

Day Four, Sunday (3 hours of driving)

Side to Perga (Aksu): 1 hour

Perga to Egirdir: 2 hours

Theme: Paul in Perga: The Missional Challenge

Visit: Ancient Perga

Accommodations: Nis Otel

Day Five, Monday (3 hours of driving)

Egirdir to Pisidian Antioch (Yalvac): .5 hours

Pisidian Antioch to Iconium (Konya): 2.5 hours

Theme: Paul and Barnabas in Galatia: Gospel Takes Root

Visit: Ruins of ancient Pisidian Antioch

Accommodations: Hich Hotel

Day Six, Tuesday (2 hours of driving)

Iconium to Lystra (Hatunsaray): 2 hour round trip

Theme: Paul and Barnabas in Lystra: Overcoming Kingdom Opposition

Visit: Unexcavated ruins of Lystra, Konya Archaeological Museum, Mevlana Mosque

Accommodations: Hich Hotel

Day Seven, Wednesday (5.5 hours driving)

Iconium to Laodicea: 5 hours

Laodicea to Hierapolis (Pamukkale): .5 hour drive

Theme: Paul Multiplies Leaders: Making Disciples Who Can Make Disciples

Visit: Unexcavated site of Colossae, ruins of Laodicea

Accommodations: Hotel Sahin

Day Eight, Thursday (3 hours of driving)

Pamukkale to Ephesus (Selcuk): 3 hours

Theme: Third Missionary Journey: Paul Establishes a Base for Breakthrough

Visit: The ancient city of Ephesus, Temple of Artemis

Accommodations: Hotel Bella

Day Nine, Friday (2 hours of driving)

Ephesus to Cesme: 2 hours

Theme: Second Missionary Journey: Paul Does What the Spirit is Doing

Visit: Ephesus Archaeological Museum, Basilica of St John the Theologian

Ferry from Cesme to Greek island of Chios (1 hr sailing)

Accommodations: City Point

Day Ten, Saturday (12 hours sailing)

Ferry from Chios to Neapolis (Kavala): 12 hours

Theme: Paul’s Macedonian Call: New Territory

Stay in Philippi (Krenides)

Accommodations: Old Town Inn

Day Eleven, Sunday (3.5 hours of driving)

Philippi to Royal Tomb (Vergina): 2.5 hours

Vergina to Platamon: 1 hour

Theme: Paul & Silas in Philippi: Power Perfected in Weakness

Visit: Ruins of Philippi, Lydia’s baptism site, Royal Tombs of Philip Museum

Accommodation: Kymata Hotel

Day Twelve, Monday (4 hours of driving)

Platamon to Athens: 4 hours

Overnight in Athens

Theme: Paul on the Areopagus: All Things to All People

Visit: Agora, Areopagus, Acropolis and Parthenon

Accommodations: Hotel Fresh

Day Thirteen, Tuesday (1.5 hours of driving)

Visit: Athens Archaeological Museum

Athens to Corinth Canal, Cenchrea, Diolkos, Lechion

Accommodations: Enalio Suites

Theme: Paul in Corinth: Deploying Disciples

Day Fourteen, Wednesday (1.5 hour of driving)

Visit: ruins of Corinth, Acrocorinth

Accommodations: Enalio Suites

Theme: Paul in Corinth: Finishing the Race

Day Fifteen, Thursday (1.5 hour of driving)

Corinth to Airport: 1 hour

Depart from Athens for home!

(Revised: 09/06/19)