Day 01 - Southern Coast: Antalya Harbor, Antalya Museum, Roman Road

It was a fantastic first day in Turkey!

We began our day with with a breakfast and a beautiful view if the Mediterranean Sea and then headed out to Antalya (Attalia). 

While sitting at the harbor with a beautiful view of the coastline, Jared laid a foundation for who Paul was and why his ministry of spreading the gospel was so impactful for the 1st century church. Paul was culturally trilingual and able to understand the law as a Jew, appeal to the Hellenists as a Roman, and proclaim the gospel as a Christian. He was uniquely set apart for ministry!

We then went to Attalia’s museum where we saw statues from Perga and learned more about their emperors and gods and how each of them were carrying a message, trying to teach people their way to the good life. We were challenged to think about the ways we let culture influence us and try to pull us away from the good life in Christ that we get to live!

After lunch we walked an ancient Roman road system that Paul would have likely walked during his missionary journeys. We learned how the roads were built and that they brought quickness and efficiency in travel while also showing off Rome’s power and ingenuity. God used Paul, an unlikely instrument for the gospel and former persecutor of Christians, and Roman roads, things intended to bring power and pompous to Rome, to bring about His glory and gospel! It was a powerful reminder that God is always at work even when the pieces make no sense!