As Susan and I have returned from a meaningful tour of Israel, Palestine, and Jordan — and as we prepare for an upcoming trip back to Israel for a dig, then on to Bangkok for the Baptist World Alliance, then to Laos and Vietnam for fun and cultural enrichment — I’m reminded of how meaningful travel can be. When we remain comfortably in our usual niches, staying at home or with an occasional trip to the mountains or a familiar beach, we run the risk of becoming isolated and failing to appreciate the amazing diversity of this world in which we live.
For the travel-impaired, I’m happy to announce that Nurturing Faith Experiences and Campbell University are riding to the rescue with some terrific opportunities in the coming year.
Dr. Albert Brinson
While the Nurturing Faith Experiences to Glacier National Park this summer are full, a different kind of opportunity awaits in Atlanta on September 14, when editor Johnny Pierce hosts a tour of important Civil Rights landmarks, including the King Center, the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Atlanta University Center, the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Atlanta Student Movement Boulevard and more.
Leading the tour will be Dr. Albert Brinson, who became active in the Civil Rights movement as a student and served as an assistant pastor with Revs. Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr.
The day includes a luncheon program at historic Paschal’s Restaurant. The day, which costs only $125, offers a rare opportunity to spend time with a living source to learn about the past and continuing struggle for human rights and justice for all. For more information, click here.
The observatory atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii
I deeply regret that I can’t fill one of them, but spots also remain open for an amazing “Big Island — Big Sky” adventure, featuring a behind-the-scenes tour of the world-class Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and Observatory on the 14,000 foot summit of Mauna Kea, on the Big Island in Hawaii.
Astrophysicist Paul Wallace, who writes a regular column on religion and science for Nurturing Faith, will lead the tour, along with hosts John Pierce and Bruce Gourley for this special small-group experience, which features not only stargazing, but a visit to Volcanoes National Park, a horseback ride, black sand beaches, and amazing scenery. Dates for the trip are March 10-16, 2018 and the cost is $3,275, excluding airfare. For more information, check this link.
Nurturing Faith will offer two trips to Montana and Wyoming in July 2018. More on those here.
If you’ve always wanted to visit Europe, Campbell University is offering a terrific opportunity to join president Brad Creed and his wife Kathy on a December 15-23 tour of important Reformation sites in Germany, along with visits to Germany’s lively Christmas markets. The tour celebrates the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, and will include visits to Frankfurt, Eisenach, Leipzig, Berlin, & other significant cities.
Hotel accommodations, travel, all breakfasts, and three dinners are included in the price of $3,899, plus air taxes expected to exceed $600. Learn more and register for this opportunity here.
Bucket brigades are part of any dig.
For a different kind of travel experience — especially if you’ve always wanted to see what a real dig is like and see the Holy Land up close — we’re exploring the possibilities of a cosponsored Campbell University Divinity School/Nurturing Faith Experiences trip to Israel next June — which would include two weeks of active participation in a dig. If it works out, I’ll be sure to let you know.
If you’re not in a situation that allows you to travel much these day, I hope you’ll share in our travels vicariously. I’ll be posting blogs and pictures from the dig and Southeast Asia later this summer, and hope you’ll come along for a virtual tour!
Professor of Old Testament at Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, North Carolina, and the Contributing Editor and Curriculum Writer at Good Faith Media.
