Holy Land | Footsteps of Paul | Reformation | Christian Heritage | Music of the Masters
This is a trip of a lifetime! You'll take a step from faith to fact as we see the actual places that our Lord walked. You'll see Jerusalem, the city of God, and Bethlehem, the city of David. Sail across the Sea of Galilee and visit biblical cities like Beth Shean, Capernaum, Caesarea, Jericho, Nazareth, and so many more. You'll walk the dusty roads of Galilee, the Jordan Valley and Judea and have a chance to float in the Dead Sea and be baptized in the Jordan River. This trip will take you back 2000 years as you walk where Jesus walked. Reading your Bible will never be the same again!
Optional extensions are available. Add Petra in Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Italy or Turkey and make this a tour you will never forget.
Greece played a major role in the expansion of Christianity, and to visit here is to walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. It was here that the way was prepared for Christianity, by giving the world a universal language to proclaim the Gospel in a known tongue. Walk the ancient streets, learn of pagan culture, and stand in the theater where Paul was mobbed and arrested while addressing the multitudes. The beauty of the land, the majesty of it's seas, the awesomeness of it's mountains and most of all, the culture, design and artistry of the past will thrill you. This is an exciting land! On the basic tour you can visit Athens, Corinth, Philippi and Thessalonica, but consider adding an optional extension that will include Ephesus and Patmos as you sail the Aegean. Or, perhaps add a tour to Turkey where you visit the Seven Churches of Revelation.
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Since its beginnings nearly 2000 years ago, perhaps no event has had more impact on the church than the Reformation. In the one simple act of hanging a paper of protest on the door of the local church, one man changed the course of history and reestablished the Scriptures as the ultimate authority. Of course, that man was Martin Luther, and that document was his 95 Theses, hung on the door of All Saints Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This is just one of the many sights you will see when you join us for our Reformation Tour of Germany. Come visit Eisleben, where Luther was born, christened, and eventually returned to spend the last days of his life. See Erfurt, where he studied at the University before entering the monastery. View the famous Thomas Church in Leipzig, where he first introduced the “Reformation” to the people. See Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament into German, the language of the people. Tour Worms and Augsburg, both sights of great defenses of the principles of the Reformation.In addition to visiting all the Reformation sights, there is much more included in this exciting journey. Other stops on the tour include the medieval walled city of Nuremberg, the opulent castles of Potsdam, the picturesque village of Rothenberg, and the modern metropolis of Frankfurt. Driving down the fabled “Romantic Road” and cruising on the Rhine River are bonuses included on the trip. Add a pre-tour extension to Holland and Belgium, or a post-tour extension to France and Switzerland, and you can see other important Reformation sights in Europe. With the beauty of Europe as the backdrop, and the power of the Reformation as the focus, this is a trip you won’t want to miss.
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When you think of England and Scotland, what comes to your mind? Maybe it’s the pastoral beauty of the gently rolling countryside. Perhaps it’s the majestic grandeur of the cathedrals and universities. It might be the bustle of the cities or the quaintness of the villages. Whatever your impression is, everyone agrees that it is a place of great heritage and rich history. And what better way to see this land than to explore how it’s history and heritage have influenced our Christian faith. That’s why we have developed our Christian Heritage Tour.
This journey will emphasize the impact of a thousand years of church history. It includes visits to several cathedrals that date back to Norman times. Even today their beauty and splendor are awe-inspiring. There is a stop in Oxford, the beautiful university town, where men from Reformation times (Latimer and Ridley), through Wesley and the birth of Methodism, to the twentieth century writings of C. S. Lewis have had a profound affect on the Christian church. See many important sights associated with John Wesley and George Whitefield, including Bristol, Gloucester, Epworth and Bedford. Spend time in Edinburgh, where John Knox took his stand for the faith against the throne of England. And of course, there is London, where stops at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Charles Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle emphasize the importance of the church in England’s history. Combine these experiences with visits to culturally significant places such as York, Cambridge, and Stratford-on-Avon, sightseeing along the English countryside, and first-class accommodations, and you have all the ingredients of a life-changing trip.
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Music is such a vital part of the Christian life. Whether it’s praise and worship, quiet contemplation, majestic oratorios or simple hymns, it is one of the purist expressions of the heart’s attitude toward God. Perhaps that is why music has played such a significant role in the history of the church. That is also why we have put together our Musical Heritage Tour. This journey is designed for those who appreciate the origins of our church music, have a desire to learn more about the people and places that have influenced it, and want to experience firsthand the sights and sounds of our musical heritage.What better place to start than in Germany, with an emphasis on Johann Sebastian Bach, perhaps the greatest composer in the history of Western music. Visit the homes where he was born, lived, and died, and more importantly the churches where he ministered. The tour stops in Germany at places such as Leipzig, Nuremberg and Munich, before crossing over to Austria and experiencing its wealth of musical history. With entire days spent in both Salzburg and Vienna, there is opportunity to explore the sights associated with Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Strauss, in addition to viewing the magnificent architecture and breathtaking scenery. We have also included opportunities to attend concerts that will bring the music alive, enhancing our traveling experience.
If you choose to add on the post-tour extension, there’s a visit to the spectacular Esterhazy Palace, where Haydn lived, worked and performed for 30 years. Then it’s on to Budapest, home of Franz Liszt, where a day of touring and sightseeing is capped off by a romantic evening cruise on the Danube. What a perfect way to end such an inspiring adventure, and you could be a part of it!
Available Tour Dates
