Istanbul carries a tremendous inheritance. It was one of the first regions ever reached with the Gospel, leading to a legacy that lasted for generations.

The Holy Spirit commissioned Paul and Barnabas for kingdom ministry from Antioch, a place His presence was seen and felt. Why shouldn't we ask for the same?

Very few Christians today realize that Cappadocia is a region in Turkey mentioned in Scripture. Peter wrote his first letter to the believers here—those who met in cave churches to worship the Lord. This brings a whole new light to the words he shared!

When you think about the city of Ephesus from the first century, what's the first impression that comes to mind? Would it surprise you to learn Ephesus was a place of wealth and opulence? A city of power and beauty? The center of religion and idol worship? While all these descriptions are true, the people of that day saw something more. The citizens considered Ephesus to be a notoriously evil place.

Like the communities of Philadephia and Thyatira, the ruins of Smyrna are centered in the middle of a busy modern city. Now called Izmir, it's the third most populous city in Turkey. Located on the coast of the Aegean Sea, Smyrna was a major trade route and a wealthy port city in the first century, home to nearly 100,000 residents. It's a vibrant port city still.

Noted by ancient historians as “the most illustrious city of Asia” and a “royal city,” Pergamum in all its ruin still has the power to take your breath away.

Thyatira holds all the hallmarks of a classic “middle child”—very fitting, as its letter lands right in the middle of the other messages to Messiah's communities in the book of Revelation. And yet, they received the longest letter of them all, filled with poignant significance.

Sardis was a city of decadence, power, and paganism. With a population of 120,000 in the first century AD, its people were known for loose living, pleasure-seeking, and lovers of extravagance. And yet, it was from this place that the Good News spread rapidly, creating one of the largest Christian communities to impact the culture around them.

In this Biblical city of “Brotherly Love” we had no idea an encounter with love was waiting—an experience that would become one of the highlights from our trip.

Let’s start with the pronunciation of the name of this city, okay? Do a Google search and you’ll find multiple instances of the typical Western pronunciation we’ve been used to hearing: Lay-ah-deh-SEE-ah. Travel to Turkey, however, and you’ll find yourself quickly adopting the Turkish sounds: Lay-ah-deh-KEY-ah. It’s a subtle difference, but much more satisfying to pronounce it like the locals as the name rolls off your tongue. Try it! 😊

Hierapolis is one of those places mentioned in the Bible that is so easy to miss completely. Mentioned only once in Paul’s letter to the Colossians (4:12), he acknowledges this region through the work of Epaphras, connecting this triad of cities and shared faith found in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. So if this is your first time learning about this historical place, you’re not alone!

Most of us who are familiar with Paul's letter to the Colossians might be surprised to learn there is very little of this ancient biblical site that has been uncovered. Turkey contains so much wealth in biblical and historical sites that the resources necessary to excavate these strategic locations often come from other sources. Thankfully, Colossae is one region where plans to excavate are underway!

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to suffering. Yet there were certain places where he seemed to suffer more significant harm than others. He reminded Timothy of “the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra” (2 Timothy 3:11). What was the common thread between these three cities, and why was it most difficult for him here?