Take a moment: Think about some of your favorite Bible Stories that you have heard since you were a child. Consider your favorite stories about people of the faith like Martin Luther. Contemplate the experience of the Apostle Paul or John in communicating what becomes the words of the New Testament.

What images, words or stories, come to mind when you think on these things?

While serving as a parish pastor for over 20 years, I came to appreciate just how much faith leaders lovingly invest their creative energy in seeking words to illuminate answers to fundamental questions of life’s meaning for you. No sermon illustration, however, no matter how clear or potent, can physically transport a hearer to a destination. Likewise, no picture, video, or other media can truly substitute for being present in a place where God acted in history for us.

When you embark on a faith travel journey, stories you have heard your entire life are brought to life and come into focus for you in ways like you have never experienced. Faith travel, then, may be defined as encounters with the power of place to enrich, enliven, and embolden your faith that you may become an even greater blessing to others.

Among the most potent international destinations for an effective faith travel experience include Israel, Germany, Turkey and Greece. Israel offers powerful opportunities to gain perspective and deepen your faith in the land where Jesus was born, where he taught, performed miracles, was crucified, died, where he was buried, and rose from the grave for us. A faith travel experience in Germany offers a balance of heady, theological encounters with experiences of authentic German culture and bucket list experiences like Oktoberfest. A journey to Greece and Turkey provides an amazing context for understanding how the Word of the Lord took hold and grew in the early church.

Faith travel offers the blessing of widening our perspective and deepening our faith that we may be an even greater blessing to others.