SOJOURNERS Middle East
SOJOURNERS
Middle East
Biblical spiritual formation in a Middle Eastern context
Sojourners Middle East is a unique opportunity for people to reflect on the Bible in a Middle Eastern context and explore how to live meaningfully as a sojourner in this world.
You are invited to join our Retreats, Seminars and the Young Adults Explore program in Turkiye where you will reflect on scripture while engaging with Middle Eastern culture, visiting biblical sites and learning about first century Christianity and the ancient churches in the region.
Sojourners EXPLORE
Join with other young people to explore how to live meaningfully as a sojourner, in a country rich in biblical history.
The program will include 20 days in Istanbul and 8 days traveling through the biblical sites of Cappadocia, Hierapolis and Ephesus.
As you journey you will gain an appreciation for the land and culture of the Bible
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Sojourners EXPLORE PROGRAM
Explore Istanbul - Day 1- 19
During your time in Istanbul you will stay in a Retreat Centre close to the shores of the Bosphorus Strait. Breakfast and an evening meal will be included at the Retreat Centre.
Each morning, there will be a time of prayer and devotion followed by Bible teaching within the Middle Eastern context and seminars on spiritual formation.
There will be opportunities to worship and fellowship with believers from many different traditions including the ancient churches that follow liturgies dating back to the fourth century.
Based in Istanbul, you will learn the skills to thrive in another culture with some basic Turkish language studies and opportunities for cross-cultural interactions and service. You will also develop an appreciation for life in a mega-city. There will be a chance to spend a day with a Turkish family and learn to cook a Turkish meal.
As you explore Istanbul, you will enjoy the back streets as much as the historic sites and will have many opportunities to taste delicious Turkish cuisine.
Explore Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Day 20 - 28
We begin our journey traveling to the biblical province of Cappadocia, where Christians lived in the first few centuries. The unique volcanic landscape allowed Christians to form cave churches and underground cities where they hid during times of Roman persecution. We will stay in a cave hotel in Goreme.
You will visit the site of the early monastic community of Basil the Great at the Goreme Open Air Museum. Enjoy a hike through the Pigeon Valley to Uchisar Fortress with breathtaking views over the volcanic landscape. We will also visit Zirve Valley and the Fairy Chimneys and hike through the Rose Valley.
You will hike along the Ilhara Valley and visit the Kaymakli Underground City before traveling through the Turkish countryside to Pamukkale.
Pamukkale is in the Lycus Valley where the biblical churches of Hierapolis, Laodicea and Colosse were located. You will visit the ancient ruins of Hierapolis, a city founded around 190 BC which flourished for centuries as a health center because of its therapeutic thermal springs.
We will enjoy a walk along the white travertines, deposited by the thermal spring water and you can enjoy a swim in the ancient pool.
We will also visit Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.
We will travel to Kusadasi where you can enjoy a swim in the Aegean Sea.
The ancient city of Ephesus is a fascinating Hellenistic and Roman city with its beautiful theatre, Celsus Library, agora and peristyle houses. You will enjoy exploring as we reflect on Paul's time living and working in this city.
We will return to Istanbul before bidding farewell to our fellow sojourners.
