B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included
Overview
Itinerary
Purpose
Arrangements
Price
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Journey Overview
Join us in Greece as a fellow traveler on our Christ and Culture purposeful journey. This intriguing journey follows the travels and work of Paul in establishing the early church in the milieu of ancient Greek culture. Christ and Culture is balanced with New Testament encounters, exquisite cuisine and cultural experiences.
The Apostle Paul brought the Gospel to people living in the culture of ancient Greece. The reception of the Gospel in his time, in that context, may be best summarized in his own words recorded in Acts 17:32, “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” While, of course, we do not live in the culture of ancient Greece, we do bear witness to the Gospel in a culture that can be just as indifferent, complacent, or hostile to hearing the Word of God. Therefore, this travel experience will seek to empower, enliven, and embolden the witness to the Gospel by fellow travelers.
Your Hosts for Our Journey
Our hosts for Christ and Culture will be Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton and Rev. Andrew Packer. Dr. Clayton serves as Concordia University of Chicago Assistant Professor of Theology. Our hosts bring wonderful complementary gifts to this journey. Our hosts are as personable as they are knowledgeable. Fellow travelers are sure to be delighted by what our hosts bring to this journey.
Pastor Clayton offers a wonderful background that balances an engaging personality, pastoral perspective, and sharp intellect honed by years of theological study. Fellow travelers will find Dr. Clayton to be a personable journey host with an exceptional ability to engage people where they are in their Christian life while offering unique depth to those who desire to engage the deepest theological questions.
The Reverend Doctor Clayton loves to travel. As a boy, he traveled to the Holy Land. Soon after the events of October 7, 2023, at a time when nearly all group travel to Israel had either been postponed or cancelled, in January 2024, Pastor Clayton led a tour of Israel entitled A Miraculous Journey. In 2022, Pastor Clayton led a tour of Germany featuring the Passion Play at Oberammergau.
Pastor Clayton served as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church—Mascoutah, Illinois from 2055 where he loves the warm, caring, family-friendly atmosphere of the congregation. He is a 2000 graduate of Concordia Seminary—St. Louis. In 2017, the Rev. Dr. Clayton earned his PhD and continues to study, write, and speak on the topic of Apologetics, especially in defense of the resurrection within an increasingly secular society.
When he is not busy with his academic work, Dr. Clayton loves spending time with his family—his wife, Lori, and their six children, Johnathan, Matthew, Nathaniel, Abigail, Isaiah, and Samuel! In his other spare time, Pastor Clayton enjoys music, traveling, reading, photography, model railroading, cooking (and eating!), and working on advanced degrees.
Above all, Pastor Clayton rejoices in the love God has poured out upon him and on all of us and gives thanks for the opportunity to show and share God’s love with others. Pastor Clayton welcomes and warmly encourages you to join him as a fellow traveler on Christ and Culture.
Fellow travelers are sure to find Pastor Andrew Packer very engaging and quite knowledgeable as a theologian who can answer the questions of fellow travelers with keen insight drawn from his deep theological background helpful to understanding current events and contemporary culture. Fellow travelers can find Pastor Packer as a guest on various podcasts and regularly on Pastor Wolfmueller’s YouTube page. He has also served as an Associate Editor of The Steadfast Lutherans website and has served on the Board of Directors for Wittenberg Academy.
Pastor Packer has served as Administrative Pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois since June 18, 2023. In the eleven years prior to accepting the call to Good Shepherd, Pastor Andrew served as the head pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. In 2002, Pastor Packer earned his B.A. in Biblical Studies at Simpson University in Redding, California. He completed his Master of Divinity Degree in 2012 at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne.
God blessed Rev. Packer with his wife Destiny. Destiny and Pastor Packer are richly blessed with their seven children: Ethan, Abby, Ally, Livy, Lucy, Micah, and Maggie.
Day 1 – Wheels up!
Saturday, July 5, 2025
We go wheels up on our overnight flight to the co-capital of Greece, Thessaloniki. (NB: Depending on the number of fellow travelers and preferred departure airport, Purposeful Journeys will offer a group flight)
Day 2 - Welcome to Greece!
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Following our arrival in Greece, we will transfer to our beautiful hotel in Thessaloniki. After some rest and time to settle in, we will gather for a spectacular welcome dinner. D
Day 3 – The City of God
Monday, July 7, 2025
After a wonderful breakfast at our beautiful hotel, we will depart for Lydia Springs, Philippi, and the beautiful city of Kavala once known as Christoupolis (the city of God) where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas (Acts 16:11) and Luke arrived from Troas. We will visit the town where Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe, Philippi. We will also visit a site in Lydia Springs where Lydia converted, and other Christians were baptized. Other highlights today will include a crypt from the Roman period, believed to have served as a prison for St. Paul, the Market Place, a famous Acropolis, and Roman Theater. B, D
Day 4 – Journey to Kalambaka
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
After breakfast at our hotel in Thessaloniki, we will depart for Kalambaka. Our journey today will include stops at the churches of St. Demetrius and St. Sofia and the town of Veria, evangelized by Paul as recorded in Acts 17:10-14. A highlight in Veria (Beria) will surely be the famous mosaics of St. Paul and other sights. We will continue our journey to Kalambaka at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly. We will check into our hotel before enjoying dinner in Kalambaka B, D
Day 5 – On to Delphi
Wednesday July 9, 2025
We will enjoy breakfast at our hotel before visiting spectacular “Meteora” with its cluster of Orthodox Monasteries. Depending on time available, we will visit one or two fourteenth century monasteries before continuing on to Delphi where we will check into our hotel and enjoy dinner. B, D
Day 6 – Prayers on High
Thursday, July 10, 2025
We will enjoy breakfast at our beautiful lodgings in Kalambaka before going on our tour to the spectacular geological and religious sights of the monasteries of Meteora. Built in the middle ages by monks, these monasteries are a UNESCO World Heritage site perched high on pinnacles of rock formations. After our visit, we will continue on to Delphi and our lovely hotel and dinner. B, L, D
Day 7 – The Oracle
Friday, July 11, 2025
The ancient Greeks thought this Delphi as the center of world marked by a stone monument known as “the omphalas” (the naval). Delphi grew rich as the seat of Pythia, the oracle consulted about important decisions in the throughout the ancient world. Delphi, the place of the inscription “know thyself” above the Temple of Apollo, was perhaps made best known to us by Socrates. We will visit the archaeological site and museum in Delphi before departing for Athens. B, D
Day 8 – Christ and Culture in Athens
Saturday, July 12, 2025
After breakfast we will enjoy a memorable day in Athens. Our exploration of Athens will offer fellow travelers perspective on many of the main points of interest in the city including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Agora of Athens, and Mars’ Hill (Areopagus) where St. Paul preached about the “unknown God.” (Acts 17:16-34) We enjoy a wonderful culinary experience before we settle into our hotel for the night. B, D
Day 9– St. Paul and Corinth
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Today we explore the connection of Paul to Corinth as recorded in his New Testament epistles as well as Acts 18:1-18. We will see many of the sights associated with the ministry of Paul including the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s seat, the pillars, stairs, and the place of public worship where Paul preached. We will enjoy a fabulous Greek cultural experience before returning to our hotel where we will enjoy a sumptuous farewell dinner! B, D
Day 10 - The Formal End of Our Journey
Monday, July 14, 2025
The memories will indeed last a lifetime. We hope your conversations, and therefore your journey, will continue with your new friends. Our journey concludes, formally, with the departure of our flight home.
Day 1 – We’re Cruis’n (Cruise Extension)
Monday, July 14, 2025
After breakfast, we will make our way to the Port to board our beautiful ship to enjoy a 4-night, 5-day cruise. Our first stop will be stunning Mykonos famous for iconic sixteenth century windmills. Beautiful Mykonos offers delightful classic cuisine and shopping. B, L, D
Day 2 – Inspiring Ephesus and Patmos (Cruise Extension)
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
We arrive at the port of Kusadasi, Turkey where we will embark on an excursion to Ephesus recognized by Christians around the world for the work of St. Paul. On our excursion, we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary and enjoy one of the largest, most fascinating and inspiring open-air archaeological museums in the world. After our tour, we expect to have time to shop for carpets, jewelry, leather goods or other souvenirs before returning to our ship to depart for Patmos. Our visit of Patmos will be highlighted by a visit to St. John’s Monastery, the Grotto of the Apocalypse, and a small museum home to priceless treasures including manuscripts, medieval textiles, and vestments. B, L, D
Day 3 – Medieval Connections (Cruise Extension)
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The Island of Rhodes offers stunning landscapes with dramatic ancient and historic sites and charming modern hillside villages. Rhodes features a medieval history that is as fascinating as it is significant. To immerse ourselves in this history, we will enjoy a walking tour in the medieval city of Rhodes to gain a sense of this history. B, L, D
Day 4 – Island Hopping (Cruise Extension)
Thursday, July 17, 2025
As we arrive in Crete, we will be greeted by the imposing sixteenth century walls of Koules Fortress. On this island fellow travelers can enjoy the calm of the stunning waterfront or opt for a fun adventure. After lunch we will cruise to Santorini, one of the best known of the Greek islands with its iconic white houses and blue-domed churches (and some believe the site of lost Atlantis). We will have the opportunity to explore the magical villages of Fira and Oia, and enjoy the sunset before returning to our ship to sail overnight to Athens. B, L, D
Day 5 –The end of our purposeful Journey
Friday, July 18, 2025
After breakfast on board, we will disembark our beautiful ship and transfer to the airport. The memories will indeed last a lifetime. We hope your conversations, and therefore your journey, will continue with your new friends. Our journey concludes, formally, with the departure of our flight home.
Purpose
Christ and Culture will explore the proclamation of Christ by Paul to the people living in the culture of ancient Greece for the purpose of enriching, enlivening, and emboldening the faith of fellow travelers so they may bless others in their witness to the Gospel to our own culture.
Well beyond the High Middle Ages in the time of Aquinas, the Church continued to wrestle and attempt to negotiate, integrate, or appropriate philosophical ideas that developed in the very same Greek culture encountered by Paul. How, or to what extent, the same philosophical ideas that developed in ancient Greece continue to inform our culture today can stimulate quite a lively discussion, especially as we recognize how our lives continue to be influenced by the ancient past.
The Apostle Paul brought the Gospel to people living in the culture of ancient Greece. The reception of the Gospel in his time, in that context, may be best summarized in his own words recorded in Acts 17:32, “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” While, of course, we do not live in the culture of ancient Greece, we do bear witness to the Gospel in a culture that can be just as indifferent, complacent, or hostile to hearing the Word of God. Therefore, this travel experience will seek to empower, enliven, and embolden the witness to the Gospel by fellow travelers.
The sights and activities on this journey are intentionally curated for fellow travelers to deepen their perspective through encounters with the power of places where Paul proclaimed the Gospel and ideas that formed, shaped, and continue to influence Western Civilization developed. The itinerary will focus on sights where Paul delivered the Gospel as well as key places associated with the ideas and culture of ancient Greece.
Our Philosophy
We hope you will measure the quality of your journey, not by the quantity of sights you see, but by the invaluable experiences you absorb.
Balance of stimulating experience, serious reflection…
…and just plain fun.
One word describes our intention for your journey: balance. We believe each place we visit should relate to whole story, the arc of a narrative. We believe in creating journeys formed and shaped as narratives; journeys that are serious, purposeful, and fulfilling with time to reflect with fellow travelers or alone while providing opportunity for experiences that are just plain fun.
Expert interaction and rich personal encounters
Rather than a trip led by a tour guide trained to disseminate information from a script, we endeavor to seek experts to lead you on a journey who are available as a resource for as much depth as you desire or to leave you to your own reflection.
One beautiful base location
Too often, group travel can leave you feeling like you are part of a herd of a large group of strangers hustled from sight to sight, packing and unpacking everyday of your trip. With us you will stay in one beautiful base location that serves as a base for our excursions. Changing hotels as few times as possible during a journey allows greater opportunity to experience people and culture.
Meticulously planned; yet flexible journey
How does a trip become a journey? Carefully selected excursions that form a narrative, staying in one beautiful base location, with time and flexibility for reflection, and activities that are just plain fun.
Cuisine as a delectable complement to culture and conversation
Cuisine, and the wonderful dining experiences we share in an eclectic array of venues, provide a delectable complement to your rich encounters with the culture and the delightful conversation you enjoy with fellow travelers.
Arrangements
Flight Information
Purposeful Journeys may arrange a group flight departing from a major airport to be determined by the proximity of the group to that airport. While the specific price of the group flight cannot be determined until the flights are booked, based on current market conditions flights will likely cost around $1400.
As a fellow traveler, you will have the flexibility to choose how you will join your cohort to formally begin your journey. Purposeful Journeys marks the formal beginning of your journey with the welcome reception and dinner at our destination hotel. On most journeys, you will have three options to join your cohort. Below are the options for joining your cohort with the primary advantage for each option:
- Join Your Cohort on Our Group Flight: On most journeys, Purposeful Journeys will arrange a group flight from a major airport in closest proximity and convenience for the majority of the cohort. The group flight will include a transfer from the destination airport to the hotel.
Advantage: This is often the most cost effective and certainly the most convenient option. - Meet Your Cohort at the Destination Airport: For a number of reasons, you may want to choose a flight other than the group flight and still meet your cohort in time to transfer from the destination airport to the hotel. Fellow travelers who choose this option will incur an additional cost for the transfer from the destination airport to the destination hotel.
Advantage: Fellow travelers may find a balance between the convenience of choosing their own flight from an origination airport other than the airport where the group flight will depart while still taking advantage of the group transfer to the destination hotel. - Meet Your Cohort at the Destination Hotel: As a fellow traveler, you may want to choose to meet your cohort at the destination hotel in time for the formal beginning of your journey with the welcome reception and dinner.
Advantage: This option offers fellow travelers the most flexibility. Fellow travelers will need to weigh the flexibility of this option with what will likely be additional costs.
Group flights will usually be announced between 90 and 180 days prior to departure of your purposeful journey. Fellow travelers will be kindly requested to choose the option for meeting their cohort to formally begin their journey soon after group flight arrangements are announced.
Hotel Accommodations
Arrangements have been made for fellow travelers at hotels rated four star and above. Shipboard accommodation is a double stateroom with large window and private bathroom.
Ground Transportation
Ground transportation by deluxe travel coach will be provided throughout the journey. Transfers to and from the arrival flight into and departing flight from Europe will be provided as specified in the final itinerary.
Meals
Most meals are included in this purposeful journey. Dining in Europe tends to be as much of a leisurely event as a means of taking sustenance. Meals provide time for us to relax, taken in the culture, and discuss all that we have seen and experienced as fellow travelers that day. See the current, tentative itinerary for details.
Sightseeing and Events
This purposeful journey includes entrance fees to attractions as specified in the final itinerary.
Christ and Culture Land Only Cost—$3,850
(Up to $600 in discounts available!)
Current incentives:
- Save $300 with a special journey host discount code
- Save $150 if you apply to travel early
- Save $150 if you choose to settle your balance prior to the due date of your first payment
- 3% discount if you settle your balance by check instead of a credit card
Join us on an extension of this journey on a cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey—$1,450
Your cruise extension includes:
- Excursions to Ephesus, Patmos, and Rhodes
- Sky High Drinks Package
- Port and service gratuities
- WiFi access (one hour per day)
- Onboard dining
- Onboard entertainment
- Transfers from your hotel and airport
Your journey includes:
- Taxes and airline surcharges
- Deluxe coach transportation throughout your itinerary
- Double occupancy hotel room ($800 single supplement for land, $600 single supplement for cruise)
- Meals as specified in the final itinerary
- Admission fees as specified in the final itinerary
- Only goods, services, or activities as explicitly included in the General Terms and Conditions.
- An offer for Cancel-for-Any-Reason (CFAR) travel insurance at about the cost of a Basic Travel Insurance policy
Your journey does not include:
- Round trip airfare
- Gratuities for service staff, coach driver(s) and guides
- Alcoholic beverages, bottled water, after dinner drinks
- Any goods, services, or activities expressly excluded in the General Terms and Conditions.
- Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance
Remittance Schedule:
- A decision on travel insurance is required for approval of your application
- Once your application is approved, you will receive an invoice/statement that reflects your choice for settling your balance. Your first payment will be due approximately 60 days after your application has been approved.
- If you choose to avail yourself of the Pay-in-Full discount, you must settle your balance in full before your first payment is due as reflected on your invoice/statement.
- If you choose to make payments, your payments will be divided into monthly payments with a final payment due as specified on your invoice/statement.
- Payments will become due as specified in your remittance schedule.
- Final payment must be received no later than the date specified on your invoice/statement and remittance schedule.
When approved as a fellow traveler…
…you will receive an invoice and a remittance schedule from Malone Clan Expeditions, LLC along with a link to a password protected page on our website that will offer details and updates about your journey.
General Terms and Conditions
Malone Clan Expeditions, LLC will administer your journey. You must accept the General Terms and Conditions at the time you submit your application. Please refer to the General Terms and Conditions for any applicable additional fees that may apply in certain situations and circumstances such as any deviation from the group flight itinerary or your requirement of a single room.
We cordially invite you to apply to join us as a fellow traveler
Our journey application process has changed. We now offer Cancel-For-Any-Reason (CFAR) travel insurance for about the cost of Basic travel insurance. We no longer collect any deposit at the time you submit your application.
Your application now requires a decision on travel insurance. Your application will not be deemed complete until you have either declined to purchase NTA Travel Connect travel insurance or paid your travel insurance invoice. Once you complete your application form, you will receive a quote from Purposeful Journeys for CFAR travel insurance. Your quote will be about the cost of Basic Travel insurance, a large discount. You will also receive a more detailed explanation about NTA Travel Protect travel insurance. By using this process Purposeful Journeys can guarantee that fellow travelers purchase their CFAR travel insurance policy within the 14-day window allotted for purchasing CFAR travel insurance. You may also decline your purchase of travel insurance.
We are delighted you are taking the step of submitting your application to become a member of a journey with us. We look forward to notifying you of your acceptance as a fellow traveler.
