BIBLICAL STUDY TOUR TO TURKEY & GREECE

January 3-17, 2017

Tour Host: Dr. Jeffrey A. D. Weima

Email:

Cell: 616-328-3110

Walk in the footsteps of Paul and John during the day and study their New Testament writings at night! Travel by deluxe motorcoach to sites connected with Paul’s First, Second and Third Missionary Journeys (Attalia, Perge, Aspendos, Colossae, Loadicea, Hierapolis,Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Miletus, Didyma, Assos, Alexander Troas, Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, Thessalonica, Berea, Vergina, Athens, Corinth, Cenchrea) and the seven churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea) to whom John wrote the Book of Revelation. Most evenings feature a study session either on “Paul: His Life and His Letters” or “From Patmos to Paradise: The Seven Sermons to the Seven Churches (Rev. 2-3).” Join host Jeff Weima, professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading biblical scholar, for this truly inspirational tour.

Who:

  • Calvin Seminary students (MDiv, MA, MTS, ThM) may take the study tour for academic credit: either a 2-credit OT, NT or History of Christianity elective or a 3-credit course (ThM students)
  • Other students, spouses and family members of students, and friends of Calvin Seminary (alumni, pastors, donors, etc.) may sign up for the study tour, though space will be afforded first to students taking the trip for academic credit. Such folks will not be required to complete any of the course assignments.

Where:

  • This study tour will concentrate on biblical sites in Turkey and Greece, as well as other sites of historical and cultural interest
  • Go to to download the four-page brochure which provides the day-by-day itinerary as well as the projected sites to be visited on the study tour

Key Dates:

  • June 1: Deadline to apply for scholarships (see below for more info)
  • June 15:Students will be notified about scholarship awards.
  • July 1: Bonus deadline to complete online GTI Tours registration and pay $400 deposit.

Complete registration at

  • Sept 24:Additional deposit of $600 due
  • Oct 24:Additional deposit of $1200 due
  • Nov 24:Total balance due

Scholarship:

  • All seminary students are eligible to apply for a Dodds Travel Scholarship of $500 if one has not already been awarded for prior eligible travel. To qualify for this travel scholarship a student must be enrolled in a degree program and take the course for credit. Please contact Denise Mokma () for the application which is due June 1.
  • M.Div students at Calvin Seminary are eligible for an additional travel scholarship whose amount is yet to be determined. There is a limited number of these travel scholarships that will be awarded. Please indicate your desire to be considered for this travel scholarship by completing the special scholarship application by June 1, available from Jen Settergren.
  • Fundraising: Calvin Seminary will provide students with an institutional letter that they can use in raising personal funds to underwrite the cost of the study tour (home church, local church, relatives, friends, etc).

Insurance:

  • Health Insurance: All participants are required to carry travel health insurance or verify that their health insurance policy will cover them during international travel.
  • Travel Insurance: All participants are encouraged to purchase travel insurance in case of unexpected circumstances that would require them to withdraw from the study tour at the last minute and thus forfeit their payment. Our local tour company, GTI, recommends “Travel Guard” trip insurance. You are encouraged to contact them for rates and additional information.

Course Requirements:

  • Complete pre-tour “Recommended Reading List”
  • Plan a 20-30 minute presentation to be delivered on site (or in case of inclement weather on the bus) on an assigned passage from Acts. Presentations will be done in teams of 2-3 people.
  • Write a sermon after the tour on one of the seven sermons to the seven letters of Rev 2-3 to be submitted by Friday, Jan 27 (10 days after our return home)
  • More specific details about course requirements will be provided in the Course Syllabus

Questions:

  • For questions dealing with the logistical aspects of the study tour, contact Dot Holleman at GTI Tours:
  • For questions dealing with theMDiv travel scholarships, contact Jen Settergren:
  • For course requirements and the like, contact Dr. Jeff Weima:

International Students:

  • Requirements of the country being visited: It is the student's responsibility to check with the Embassy of the countries they are visiting.
  • Requirements to re-enter the U.S.: Students need to present (at a minimum) a valid I-20, a valid passport and a valid visa.
  • Additional information is provided on an “addendum” for international students