Tour the Churches of Paul and John

February 17, 2005

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," writes Paul at the beginning of most letters. Before his death, his letters had circulated through many churches in Asia Minor. Similarly, the letters of John and his Revelation to the churches brought hope and instruction in persecuted days.

On May 31, Dr. Michael Martin, dean of the School of Christian Service, will host a tour to the churches of Paul and John. The trip will fly out of Oklahoma City, connect in Washington, and arrive in Istanbul on June 1. Istanbul is home to Smyrna, mentioned in Revelation 2:8-11. As the tour continues, Ephesus, Miletus, Laodicea, Philadelphia, Sardis, Pergamos, and even Vienna are on the route. The tour runs from May 31 through June 10, with the option of adding 2 days in Athens.

"This kind of journey can only be helpful as Christians," says Bobby Kelly, associate professor of Religion. "We spend so much time talking about the importance of culture and understanding the meaning of the Scripture's context." Dr. Kelly is accompanying Dr. Martin to assist in organizing the discussions at each biblical site on the tour.

Arranged through Dehoney Travel, Michael Martin and Bobby Kelly invite you to consider joining them as they survey the churches of Paul and John. This tour is open for anyone who would like to attend. For complete information, you may contact Dr. Martin by phone at 405.878.2229 or by email at michael.martin@okbu.edu.