The Church Family Vacation
How Pilgrimages Enrich Faith and Community

By Kevin J. Wright

Think of your fondest memories in life: Where did they take place? What did they involve? Was it your wedding day? The birth of a child? How about moving into your first home?

For most of us, these are probably some of the best candidates. And if you think about it, others probably also involve travel.

Most of us can attest to reliving tales with others about trips or vacations we’ve taken. We boast about places visited, laugh about mishaps, and radiate with joy about friendships developed or strengthened. That’s the beauty of travel: It creates community. It creates bonds. It creates affinity.

Simply put, travel occurs when people are in their best emotional frames of mind. With the normal day-to-day stresses of life absent, people let their minds and bodies melt into the delights of rest and relaxation. By doing so, they begin to let their guard down and open up to others. Conversations become more fun, engaging and intimate. Each moment together takes on greater significance as the shared memories accumulate. By the end, your fellow travelers feel like family.

For those of us who are members and leaders of churches and religious organizations, this is exactly what we desire: stronger community. Such ties often create more faith-filled communities, and travel is one of the best ways to do it.

When was the last time you, your church or a ministry group traveled together? If it’s been awhile, consider taking a trip individually or with your community in the coming year.

There are literally dozens of “footstep” tours available that cater to a variety of personalities. Destinations include the Holy Land, Europe and beyond.

A trip to the Holy Land represents a lifetime desire for many Christians. Not only can you walk in the footsteps of Jesus, you can also experience the Old and New Testaments up close and personal. Among the many highlights are the Sea of Galilee, Mt. Beatitudes, Nazareth, Jericho, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and much more. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Following in the footsteps of Apostle Paul is the second-most-famous Christian footsteps tour. On this trip, travelers retrace the missionary journeys of the Apostle through Greece and Turkey as they experience the sights and sounds of early Christianity. Typical destinations include Thessaloniki, Ancient Philippi, Veria (Beroea of the New Testament), Meteora Monasteries, Mykonis Island, Rhodes Island, Patmos Island, Corinth and Athens.

One of the most popular Christian pilgrimages is a visit to the Seven Churches of Revelation in Turkey. On this inspirational and unforgettable journey, you can explore all Seven Churches of Revelation, including Izmir (Smyrna), Ephesus, Eskihisar (Laodice), Alasehir (Philadelphia), Sart (Sardis), Akhisar (Thyatira), and Bergama (Pergamum). In addition, visit Patmos Island and the cave where St. John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelations.

Relive early Biblical and Christian history with an in-depth visit to Jordan. Visit Mount Nebo, one of the country’s holiest places as it’s the burial site of Moses. It’s also where Moses saw the Promised Land. Also visit Bethany, where John the Baptist lived and preached in the early 1st century, and where he baptized Jesus. And make sure to see Madaba, where you’ll observe one of the best-preserved Mosaic Maps of the exodus of Moses.

On a journey of faith to Egypt, one can gain a greater insight into the life of Moses and the Books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. Also experience firsthand the area where the Jews began their journey to the Promised Land. In addition, visit sites on the route that Jesus, Mary and Joseph took while journeying through Egypt when they fled their homeland during Herod’s persecution.

Another very popular form of religious or pilgrimage travel is journeying to the place of one’s particular Christian heritage. For example, Protestant Christians often enjoy discovering Germany and the land of Martin Luther. On such a journey, one can explore firsthand the places where he was born, preached and is buried. Other places typically visited on this type of pilgrimage include Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther translated the Bible; the Augustinian Monastery, where he served as a monk; the Museum of Reformation; and All Saints Castle Church, where he hung his famous 95 Theses.

On a visit to England, one can experience the roots of Methodism and the life of John Wesley. Along with exploring famous cities such as London, York and Oxford (where the Methodist movement began), one can see numerous sites associated with John and Charles Wesley, including Westminster Abbey, Wesley’s House and Chapel, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Lincoln College, and The New Room (the oldest Methodist building in the world).

In Scotland, you can relive the early days of Presbyterianism. Visit Iona, the site of the first Christian settlement of Scotland, which is home to Iona Abbey. Step inside St. John’s Church and St. Giles Cathedral, where John Knox preached Protestant Christianity. Visit many other sites related to his life, including Haddington, where he was born and raised.

Within the Catholic faith, one of the most popular current tours is tracing the steps of Pope John Paul II. On this pilgrimage, one can experience firsthand the Pope’s hometown, his favorite boyhood shrine, and favorite Marian devotion site, as well as the city and cathedral in which he served as cardinal. Visiting the homelands of saints is another popular form of travel within the Catholic faith. Some of these tours include tracing the steps of St. Patrick in Ireland, St. Therese of Lisieux in France, St. Theresa of Avila in Spain, and St. Padre Pio in Italy.

If you’re looking to develop a closer bond among your church or organization members — or simply looking to enrich your personal faith — there are many travel options available. In fact, with more than 50,000 churches across America participating in organized group travel, now might be the perfect time to join a group pilgrimage. Afterwards, Sundays at church take on a whole new meaning.

Kevin J. Wright is a religious travel manager for Globus and Cosmos (www.globusjourneys.com/faith) in Littleton, Colo.