Welcome
As part of the Winterim experience, 29 students, parents, and staff members from Legacy Christian Academy traveled to Turkey for an immersive, faith-centered biblical tour of the early Christian world.
Over the next ten days, travelers will visit historic sites including Aphrodisias, Sardis, Ephesus, the Artemision Temple, Thyatira, Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Smyrna, Pergamum, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Colossae, Hierapolis, Priene, Miletus, Didyma, Cappadocia, Athens, and Corinth. Along the way, the group will reflect on moments of faith and perseverance connected to places such as the Asclepeion, the martyrdom of Polycarp, and locations traditionally associated with the Crucifixion.
These are not simply destinations on an itinerary. They are places where Scripture was taught, tested, and lived out in real time. By walking these ancient landscapes together, students and parents are able to connect classroom learning with lived experience and gain a deeper understanding of how the early Church took root and endured.
This tour reflects Legacy’s commitment to preparing students to live with purpose, faith, and courage. Learning extends beyond the classroom as students engage history, wrestle with faith, and grow in community through shared experience.
We are grateful to have Todd Kardell providing daily updates from the tour, giving our Legacy community a window into the learning, conversations, and meaningful moments unfolding each day. We invite you to pray for safe travels and follow along for updates and photos throughout the journey.
Day 1 & 2: December 31–January 1
We arrived at the airport a little after 9am. Mr. Mulvihill started us off with a reading of Psalm 121 and a prayer for our day.
Despite a short delay we arrived in Chicago with plenty of time to celebrate New Year’s Eve by sufficiently touring terminal five at the Chicago O’Hare airport as we await our international flight to Turkey about 6 hours later.
Spirits are good and the excitement is real as we anticipate a flight through the night and a 9-hour time difference upon landing.
Thanks for the continued prayers as we embark on a journey of a lifetime exploring many sites of the New Testament Church, and as we embrace how this will bring Scripture to life and transform our understanding of how we shall live as fully devoted followers of Jesus.
Day 3: January 2, 2026
After a night of sleep and an attempt to get adjusted to Turkey time, we ventured out on our first day of exploring sites.
Smyrna, Pergamum, and Acropolis of Pergamum
We had the privilege of learning about Smyrna, Pergamum, and Acropolis of Pergamum today. It’s something quite amazing to not just study about a location but to actually walk, climb, touch and see these biblical landmarks.
A common thread was present throughout the day. Following Jesus is not a prescription for comfort but a devotion to seek, serve and surrender. The life of a Christian is never promised to be easy but is a daily commitment to trust that Christ is better than anything this world has to offer. Our sovereign God has good purposes for anything we might experience in this life. The examples of those who have gone before us who have both succeeded and failed to align their faith and worship to the one true God regardless of circumstance have provided some great guidance for us to strive towards living a more consistent and impactful Christ-like life.
All members of the team are doing well and we have relocated to a new city to rest for tonight as we prepare for a new day and new sites to discover tomorrow.
Day 4: January 3
Today we ventured out to explore Sardis. The beauty that we experienced in our morning hike was breathtaking. We were challenged to take the task on as a team and to genuinely recognize the reality of our limitations, doubts and uncertainties as we navigated the journey together.
As we reached the summit we faced an essential lesson of faith. Life can at times be a difficult challenge and we most often are not aware of what lies ahead, but by faith we must commit to taking the next step and to deepen our trust in the Lord’s provision and the support of our community.
As we looked down from the Acropolis of Sardis we could recognize the amazing backdrop of God’s creation while acknowledging our need to not give in to complacency. The very condition that both was the downfall of the city and a warning to the state of faith that the early church in Sardis and ourselves often become victim to.
We all must be diligently proactive to fight against complacency through genuinely abiding in Jesus, embracing His lifestyle, while committing to simplicity and living life in community.
The stark reality of complacency and/or failing to abide in the one and only one worthy of our affection hit hard as we then toured the remains of the Artemis temple in Sardis at the bottom of the mountain. This place was devoted to detestable worship and painted a vivid picture of the disorder, pain and corruption of our world that is not new nor absent today.
We reflected on how do we live in a deeply broken world without compromising, yet also not remaining distant nor complacent.
For Christ has overcome the world and if we abide in Him and lock arms with fellow believers to not be overcome by the world, but instead intentionally engage with it to impact it with conviction and the radical love of Christ, we then offer ourselves as honorable worship unto the Lord.
Today we are grateful for much, including the rain holding off and not a single drop coming down until we were done touring for the day.
Tonight we rest, tomorrow we relocate to a new city and continue the journey of exploration, learning and reflection.
Day 5: January 4
Today as we drove to our next sites we were able to see the beautiful countryside of Turkey. A backdrop of mountains and vineyards reminded us that this country not only displays a rich history but the land produces a richness in resources.
Our first stop was at the Church of St, John in Philadelphia, (insert bad cheesesteak joke here). This site was a place that reminds us that even in difficult times, communities can remain faithful.
In John 15, Jesus refers to himself as the true vine. This image of the love of Jesus wanting to stay connected with us and to be our source of life took on a far greater depth of meaning as we stood within a vineyard among the vines and branches. We could truly understand what it means to be pruned by Jesus, lifted up by Him so that other things cannot steal our source of life, and the necessity to remain in Him so that we can bear fruit.
We proceeded to go to Aphrodisias, an expansive site that displayed the vast presence, influence and infrastructure that these Greek cities had become. This city became the center of entertainment. As we toured marketplaces, theaters, shrines to celebrities, enormous pools and a 30,000 people stadium it was a stark reminder that humanity has always been prone to escaping to the endless consumption of pleasure, self-indulgence and distraction. What can be good in moderation can also become a vehicle used for shifting worldviews and a diversion of our true purpose of running the race for Christ.
As we wrapped up our time exploring the largest discovered and preserved stadium in antiquity. That once would have held all sorts of events and competitions. We were challenged with this question: Are we running our race for Christ? Tomorrow is not promised for any of us. What is keeping us from running, not walking, the race that Christ has set before us?
Right now this team is sharing an experience of learning together that is unique, but we are each becoming keenly aware of those that we are running with back home and are increasingly grateful for the “great cloud of witnesses” that surround each of us to help keep us running the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith. (Hebrews 12)
Day 6: January 5
Hierapolis was our first site today, and it greeted us with an amazing sunrise, an incredible mountain range and a backdrop of hot air balloons layered throughout the sky. At times it felt like a scene that was almost too picturesque to be real.
Hierapolis was a key training ground for Roman legions and presented us with a pertinent location to examine the crucifixion practices that these military leaders had perfected. As we studied the severe methods used, we reflected on the price Jesus paid us on the cross. It was a humbling but powerful time as we acknowledged the greatest display of sacrificial love that could ever be done.
This life transforming gospel knowledge was what launched the disciples to spread this good news to all people. Hierapolis allowed us to walk the same grounds that the disciple Philip walked. We toured the martyrium that had been established to honor the life of Philip and was another reminder of the call for us to carry our own cross no matter the cost. No matter what we may endure, Christ is always worth it, Christ is always better. To visit the space in which Philip modeled this only further solidified our call to courageous living for Jesus.
Hierapolis is also the site of incredible hot springs that have shown to have healing properties and simply seems like a piece of creation that could only come from a creative and generous almighty God.
Our day continued with visits to Collassae and Laodicea. We faced a challenging word that forced us to examine the condition of our own faith, and whether people who encounter us are experiencing refreshment or restoration due to an overflow of Jesus’ presence in our lives.
As we walked through newly uncovered discoveries in Laodicea it was hard to deny the reality of the undefeated truth and accuracy of the Bible as every artifact seemed to continually point to connections in Scripture over and over again.
Our team is more aware than ever about the generosity of our God to establish, preserve and provide His Holy and completely sufficient Word to us: a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. (Psalm 119:105) Thanks be to God!
Day 7: January 6
Today is day 7 and we took a break from the fast paced, full scheduled day of touring. We were intentional about spending some focused time with God both individually and with others. The teaching has been rich and thought-provoking, the time set aside today to process, reflect and consider the impact of this trip upon our lives when we return was much appreciated.
As we acknowledge that often we leave little space in our lives to simply practice what it means to abide in Christ. Our reality is often living in a world that continues to increase in speed, expectations, efficiency, commitments and we often focus primarily on doing and not very much on being.
Today we allowed ourselves to be in His presence, to be intentional about rest, to be willing to go at a slower pace and to be willing to create space for communal recreation..
It was refreshing, rejuvenating and a blessing that will further equip us to absorb all that this trip has already provided and what is to come.
We leave early in the morning to head to our next city looking forward to what the Lord has to teach us as we begin the final stretch of this trip.
Day 8: January 7
Today we experienced Ephesus. With each new day, more pieces to the puzzle are added, and a fuller picture of understanding these seven churches in Scripture becomes more clear, more relevant, and more solidified as truth. The truth holds firm both in regards to the historical accuracy of the time it was written and the divinely inspired way it remains true for us to apply to our lives today.
To walk the same ground that both the Apostle Paul and Disciple John walked is humbling to say the least.
The means of which God used these men and many other faithful Christians to launch this world changing movement never felt so real.
There was a consistent theme of living both counter-culturally to the influences of the time while striving to remain in good standing with those who had not yet embraced the truth and love of Jesus yet. This modeling of Jesus’ example of being committed to a life of full truth and full grace is another example of how we are to apply God’s Word in our daily lives. These early Christian’s faced far greater risk and opposition than we currently do and yet they found a way to not compromise biblical convictions nor biblical compassion. Can we say the same?
It can often feel like the world is spiraling deeper to a dark and desolate place. This feeling and issue is anything but new. Our Christian brothers and sisters in the first century would have most definitely felt the weight of the world as well. Whether it was extreme immorality surrounding them that was completely normalized by the culture. Or a Roman Emperor like Domitian who demanded to be worshiped and claimed to be the hope of the human race. Christians living in this moment were consistently confronted with the question of which kingdom will they choose? Will they choose the faithful yet difficult path of the Kingdom of Jesus or give in to the kingdom of the world.
John provided them and us a letter of hope. An encouragement to persevere. A reminder that in the end that only one Kingdom will remain. So take heart, Christ is on the throne now and forever, Amen.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” (Revelation 21:4-6)
Day 9: January 8
With rain in the forecast we adjusted our schedule briefly to attempt to minimize getting soaked.
Our first stop on our last day of touring was at Miletus. Miletus is the home to a site that displays the remains of what would have been a theatre with the capacity to host 20,000 to 25,000 people. Tunnels or entry points are rarely intact at sites like this but Miletus is unique in this way and provided us with much needed shelter as rain storms rolled through.
It was at Miletus that we reflected on our trip and began the process of not just identifying key things we have learned, but committing ourselves to things that we desire to implement or change when we return.
Community was a theme for the day. Change rarely is solidified in isolation, so we were intentional about sharing our learning, and our desires for change with each other.
From there we went to Didyma temple, a site that boasted enormous pillars and would have been an extravagant oracle facility. Oracles were places that people would have gone to try and hear the voice of god (apollos in this case) through expensive rituals, bizarre spokespeople and unverifiable validity. And yet thousands would make the trip to visit with no timeline to be allowed access, no certainty to be seen, and with only one question allowed to be asked if granted permission.
The lengths of which people would go for an impersonal encounter with a perceived divine being is incredible. We reflected on this with gratefulness that the one true God has been generous to us by providing us with the Bible and daily invites us into communion with Him anytime, and anywhere, without payment.
Our final stop was at Priene in which the theme of community was further solidified. The necessity of early Christians to support each other as they continued living in ways that were set apart from a pagan culture was essential for survival and faithfulness to Jesus.
Much like our own struggle, they were faced daily with decisions of discernment on what is permissible and impermissible as they strived to live as disciples of Jesus and pursue unity within the body of Christ.
Our final teaching brought us back to the beginning of simply asking the question will you follow me (Jesus). He didn’t ask if you were good enough. He didn’t ask about your past. He didn’t ask if your training was sufficient. He didn’t ask if you have your affairs in order. He simply asked: Will you follow me?
It was clear that as we pondered all that we had learned about the courageous faith of the early Christians, that saying yes to this question was not an assurance of comfort or ease. But instead, a commitment to something better, someone greater, than anything this world has to offer. No matter the cost.
We leave Turkey with gratefulness, conviction and a deeper sense of calling and commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow is a long travel day as we return home. Your prayers are appreciated.
