TheFootsteps of Paul Experience

A Spiritual Adventure in Turkey and Greece

“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 22 people so we can move efficiently, get to know each other on a deeper level, and share a spiritual experience together. We will be traveling in passenger vans, averaging nearly four hours of driving per day, traversing beautiful country and exploring breathtaking ancient sites. We will eat our lunches as picnics along the way, our dinners will be in local restaurants, and each night we will stay in small boutique hotels with rich cultural and historical ambience.

To prepare for the trip participants will be asked to 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 nearly 30 years’ experience. Bob first traveled in Greece and Turkey at the age of 19 and subsequently lived in Jerusalem with his wife Pam where he conducted post-graduate studies in New Testament archaeology and sociology. The cost of the trip is $2650 per person, not including airfare to Adana, Turkey. 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. Many people who have taken this kind of journey with us over the last 20 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 $650 made out to “God Experience” to Pam Rognlien at PO Box 7718, Torrance, CA 90504 or pay online here.

TheFootsteps of Paul Experience

October 5-19, 2017

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

Day One, October 5 (.5 hours of driving)

Fly in to Hatay, Turkey

Stay in Antioch (Antakya): .5 hours

Accommodations:Liwan Hotel

Theme: Saul in Antioch: A New Community and Calling

Visit: Ancient Cave Church of Antioch, Hatay Archaeological Museum

Day Two, October 6 (3.5 hours of driving)

Antioch to Roman Road in Cilicia: 3 hours

Roman Road to Tarsus: .5 hour

Accommodations: Elif Hatun Konagi

Theme: Saul’s Hometown: Doing It Alone

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

Day Three, October 7 (7 hours of driving)

Tarsus to Anemurium (Anamur): 4 hours

Anemurium to Side: 3 hours

Accommodations: Kamer Hotel

Theme: First Missionary Journey: Paul’s Call to the Gentiles

Visit: Ancient ruins of Side

Day Four, October 8 (3 hours of driving)

Side to Perga (Aksu): 1 hour

Perga to Egirdir: 2 hours

Accommodations: Nis Otel

Visit: Ancient Perga

Day Five, October 9 (3 hours of driving)

Egirdir to Pisidian Antioch (Yalvac): .5 hours

Visit: Ruins of ancient Pisidian Antioch

Pisidian Antioch to Iconium (Konya): 2.5 hours

Accommodations: Konya Dervish Otel

Theme: Paul and Barnabas in Galatia: Gospel Takes Root

Day Six, October 10 (2 hours of driving)

Iconium to Lystra (Hatunsaray): 2 hour round trip

Accommodations: Hich Hotel

Theme: Paul and Barnabas under Pressure: Overcoming Kingdom Opposition

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

Day Seven, October 11 (5.5 hours of driving)

Iconium to Laodicea: 5 hour drive

Laodicea to Hierapolis (Pamukkale): .5 hour drive

Accommodations: Venus Suites

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

Visit: Unexcavated site of Colossae, ruins of Laodicea

Day Eight, October 12 (3 hours of driving)

Pamukkale to Ephesus (Selcuk): 3 hour drive

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

Accommodations:Hotel Nilya

Visit: The ancient city of Ephesus, Temple of Artemis

Day Nine, October 13 (2 hours of driving)

Ephesus to Cesme: 2 hours

Accommodations:Aegean Sea Rooms

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

Day Ten, October 14

Ferry from Chios to Neapolis (Kavala)

Theme: Paul’s Macedonian Call: New Territory

Stay in Neapolis

Accommodations: Akontisma Village Hotel

Day Eleven, October 15 (4.5 hours of driving)

Neapolis to Philippi (Krenides): .5 hour

Philippi to Royal Tomb (Vergina): 1 hour

Vergina to Platamon: 1 hour

Accommodation: Kymata Hotel

Theme: Paul and Silas in Prison: Power Perfected in Weakness

Visit: Ruins of Philippi, Roman Agora in Thessalonica, Royal Tombs of Philip Museum

Day Twelve, October 16 (4 hours of driving)

Platamon to Athens: 4 hours

Overnight in Athens

Accommodations: Sweet Home Hotel

Theme: Paul & the Philosophers: All Things to All People

Visit: Agora, Areopagus, Acropolis and Parthenon

Day Thirteen, October 17 (1.5 hours of driving)

Visit: Athens Archaeological Museum

Athens to Corinth Canal, Cenchrea, Diolkos, Lechion

Accommodations: Enalio Suites

Theme: Paul Deploys Disciples

Day Fourteen, October 18 (1.5 hour of driving)

Visit: ruins of Corinth, Acrocorinth

Accommodations: Enalio Suites

Theme: Paul in Corinth: Finishing the Race

Day Fifteen, October 19 (1.5 hour of driving)

Corinth to Airport: 1 hour

Depart from Athens for home!

The Footsteps of Paul Experience

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