If you travel some, then go prepared and prayed up. I mean, pray for the people and what they are dealing with there. There are ways to find out early. Walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh -- we live under the Spirit's control, not under the law, though we love the Law of the Lord. Like Paul we opt to minister where we go, as we go. Yes, and share the gospel with people as you go. I say with every venture, bathe it all, the entire trip in prayer, during and before you go.
The Apostle Paul had a heart for the people. He really did seek the Lord and sought to minister across the Mediterranean world, specifically targeting key cities like Athens (on Mars Hill) and in Caesarea, as described in Acts. I like to highlight the locations to discuss Paul's evangelistic and seed-planting strategies in places like Caesarea. He preached the word.. wordless and with words when needed.
- Athens (Mars Hill): See Paul's address there delivered to the Areopagus in Athens (Liney and I plan to be there pretty soon God being our travel-Helper). Paul emphasized proper reasoning with his engagement among tbese skeptical philosophers.
- Caesarea: Paul's ministry and the subsequent imprisonment there in Caesarea highlighted his steadfast commitment to Jesus before the Roman leaders. Man, let's do like he did and point people to Christ. See all of what Paul wrote in letters, such as 2 Corinthians 1:8–9, that illustrate how his Med-travels and his heart to heart ministry there.. was accompanied by by the Spirit during some intense suffering. Those hurt provided him with some good perspective. Remember. Opposition comes and goes -- trials come and they go.
Rowboat or Sailboat? Which do you prefer.. working so hard alone, or being used effectively in that good partnership? Which do you desire? I say let the winds of the Spirit empower you along. He provides the winds that can fill your sail. It's far better than striving, working so hard at rowing!
People believe so many things. Some hunger for the truth. Must Christian missionary travel look like traditional missionary endeavors from yesteryear? Nope. What idols have changed in those those towns you are headed to?
What really matters to God is that you're walking with him in victory (with a right attitude, right spirit, right worship and thoughts that glorify Him). Yes, that you're knowing Him, seeking Him first, and sharing your faith (the gospel way -- his way), also helping others come to know him and go do the same.
Q: So how do you pray for the people in the region where you plan on visiting? I say earnestly.. like you would pray for your own family members. Do this in faith, because if you don't and they don't repent, it's going to be hell for them. Yeah, real bad. It's true, if they don't come to know the Jesus Christ of the Bible, then they will split Hell wide open.
Q: How will you care enough to go share (both the bad news and the Good News)? How will you come to have real compassion and a sense of urgency a.k.a. a heartfelt burden for their souls? How will you be, live exemplary, and give verbal witness to them (who are open to truth) of the Lord if you don't first pray expectantly?
God loves Muslims and Jews -- everyone! There needs to be more prayer than wise strategizing. There needs to be more prayer than smart planning instead of striving (in that order). There needs to be a no-compromise lifestyle in Christ 24/7/365! There needs to be more red-hot passion inside.. than the typical lukewarm ho-hum spiritual apathy and indifference. That's why you're here. There needs to be more heart-to-heart, simple prayer and care than share.. but there also needs to be your share! Pray for all men, boys, and girls without ceasing. If you are going to walk into a city, a neighborhood, or even a single conversation carrying the name of Christ, then begin where heaven begins—with prayer. Not casual words, but earnest intercession, the kind you would pour out for your own child or closest friend. Scripture does not leave this optional: “I urge that supplications, prayers.. be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1), and again, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
To pray this way is to feel the weight of eternity. Jesus Himself said, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). That reality sobers the soul. Without Christ, people are not merely “missing out”—they are perishing (John 3:18). That truth, rightly grasped, dismantles indifference and ignites compassion. As Charles Spurgeon once warned, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.” Such words are not harsh—they are honest love.
So how do we pray for those we are about to meet?
We are to pray personally. Not as a project, but as people made in God’s image—men, women, boys, and girls with names, stories, fears, and eternal souls. Jesus looked on the crowds and was “moved with compassion” (Matthew 9:36). True prayer borrows His eyes.
We are to pray expectantly. Prayer is not preparation for the work—it is the work. The early church did not strategize their way into power; they prayed their way into boldness (Acts 4:31). Plans have their place, but power comes from God. As E. M. Bounds said, “God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.”
We are to pray urgently. A Barna study has repeatedly shown that many professing Christians rarely share their faith—not because they don’t believe, but because they don’t feel the weight of it. Prayer rekindles that burden. When you truly pray for someone, it becomes harder to remain silent. The heart that pleads with God will soon speak for God.
We are to pray purely. A compromised life dulls spiritual authority. James is clear: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Holiness is not perfection, but it is a surrendered life—no hidden negotiations with sin, no divided loyalties. Fire falls on altars that are wholly His.
And then—we speak.
There is a holy balance: more prayer than planning, more dependence than striving, more compassion than mere conversation—but still, we must share. “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
We each have a part in rescuing the perishing -- caring for the dying.
Do we weep and pray o’er the erring one, do we lift up the fallen who want our help?
If you are going to “go and tell,” then begin where all true gospel movement begins—on your knees. Before a word is spoken to man, let many words be spoken to God. Jesus’ command is clear: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (Mark 5:19). But the power to obey that command is born in prayer.
Prayer is not a warm-up—it is the warfare. It is not preparation for ministry; it is ministry in its purest form. The early church did not organize their way into boldness; “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” after they prayed (Acts 4:31).
Hudson Taylor said it plainly: “When we work, we work. When we pray, God works.” That is the difference. Strategy may impress people, but only prayer moves heaven.
And we must feel the urgency of this. Jesus did not describe a neutral world—He said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Not unwilling—few. According to Barna research, a large percentage of professing Christians believe sharing their faith is important, yet only a small fraction actually do so regularly. The gap is not knowledge—it is burden. Prayer closes that gap.
When you truly pray for people, they stop being interruptions and start becoming assignments.
William Carey, often called the father of modern missions, lived this tension well: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” But notice the order—expectation in prayer fuels action in obedience.
We pray for souls, not statistics. Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). That single question outweighs every earthly ambition. It reframes every conversation. It puts eternity into ordinary moments.
And yet, prayer must lead to proclamation.
Charles Spurgeon pleaded, “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” Strong words—but rooted in truth. The gospel is not meant to be admired in silence but announced with love. Paul echoes it: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11).
There must be both tears and testimony.
David Brainerd, who often prayed in the snow until physically exhausted, wrote, “I care not where or how I live… so that I may win souls to Christ.” That is the language of a man captured by eternity.
And consider this: many believers say they care, but heaven measures care differently. Care kneels. Care weeps. Care speaks.
Even our hymns preach to us:
“Go, labor on; spend and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father’s will…”
And again:
“I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord…
I’ll say what You want me to say.”
This is not emotionalism—it is consecration.
So what does this look like in real life?
- You opt to pray like souls matter—because they do.
- You opt to live clean and pure inside—because power flows through surrendered vessels (James 5:16).
- You opt to speak boldly and clearly—because “faith comes by hearing… the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
- You opt to trust God fully along His way for you—because only He saves people.
Jim Elliot, who gave his life in Ecuador, left us with this piercing line: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” That is the heartbeat of evangelism—trading temporary comfort for eternal impact.
He who would talk to man about God would do well to first talk to God about men.
So go—but go prayed up.
Speak—but speak with tears.
Care—but care enough to act.
Because when prayer ignites the heart, the mouth cannot stay silent. And when the gospel is spoken in the power of the Spirit, God does what only God can do—He brings the dead to life.
And that is why we "go.. tell." Paul loved to spread the gospel in cities as well as in smaller areas.Searched the web
Here's a comprehensive breakdown of every city and island Paul visited on his missionary journeys, organized by journey:
* Where'd He Go? Paul's Loved The People On Those Islands And In Those Cities — It Was Christ Through Him Reaching Out
Cyprus — Paul traveled through Cyprus on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:4–5).
- Salamis (Cyprus) — the principal city and seaport of Cyprus, where Paul and Barnabas preached in several synagogues.
- Paphos (Cyprus) — where Paul confronted the sorcerer Elymas before the Roman governor (Acts 13:6–11).
Cos & Rhodes — Paul's vessel sailed past these islands during his third journey, docking briefly off their coasts (Acts 21:1).
Cos (modern-day Kos) and Rhodes are Greek islands located in the Aegean Sea, just off the southwestern coast of modern Turkey. The Apostle Paul visited these islands during his third missionary journey (Acts 21:1) while traveling from Miletus to Jerusalem. They are now popular Greek tourist destinations known for their ancient ruins. Where were and are these places?
- Cos (is now called Kos): Paul sailed to this fertile island, which was famous in antiquity as a health resort and the birthplace of Hippocrates.
- Rhodes: Located about 90 miles from Cos, Paul stopped here on his journey. According to tradition, his ship may have landed in a small harbor at Lindos, sometimes known as St. Paul’s Harbor.
- Crete (Fair Havens) — where Paul's ship docked for a time on its way to Rome (Acts 27:8).
Malta (Melita) — the island near where Paul was shipwrecked. He survived a snakebite and healed many people there (Acts 28:1–9).
Samos & Chios — Paul sailed past these islands during the third journey, stopping briefly before arriving at Miletus (Acts 20:15).
Check Out Paul's First Journey (~AD 46–48, Acts 13–14)
Antioch (Syria) — Paul's home base, where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
Seleucia — the port city from which Paul and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus.
Perga & Attalia — stopping points in Pamphylia before traveling inland; they eventually sailed home from Attalia back to Syrian Antioch (Acts 14:24–27).
Pisidian Antioch — where Paul gave a major synagogue sermon. A different city from Syrian Antioch, located in Galatia (modern Turkey).
Iconium — where Paul and Barnabas preached and were threatened with stoning (Acts 13:51–14:7).
Lystra — where Paul healed a cripple and was hailed as a god, then later stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:6–21). Also the home of Timothy.
Derbe — where Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel (Acts 14:6–7, 20–21).
Check Out Paul's Second Journey (~AD 49–52, Acts 15:36–18:22)
Derbe and Lystra — the first named cities revisited, where Paul and Silas also picked up Timothy as a companion.
Troas — where Paul received the Macedonian vision calling him into Europe (Acts 16:9–12).
Philippi — where Paul, Silas, and Timothy converted Lydia, cast out an evil spirit, and were beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:11–23).
Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica — Paul journeyed through these cities, preaching in the synagogue at Thessalonica (Acts 17:1).
Berea — where Paul found noble-minded listeners, until Jews from Thessalonica followed and stirred up trouble (Acts 17:10–13).
Athens — where Paul preached in Achaia, most famously on the Areopagus (Acts 17:15–34).
Corinth — where Paul met Aquila and Priscilla and worked for an extended period (Acts 18:1–17).
Ephesus (brief stop) — Paul visited on his way back from Corinth before sailing to Caesarea (Acts 18:18–21).
Caesarea & Jerusalem — Paul stopped at Caesarea before going up to Jerusalem and then returning to Antioch to close out the journey.
Check Out Paul's Third Journey (~AD 53–58, Acts 18:23–21:14)
Galatia & Phrygia — Paul traveled systematically through these regions, strengthening the disciples as he went (Acts 18:23).
Ephesus — Paul's longest stay, teaching for two years, performing miracles, and sparking the riot of the silversmiths who made shrines to Artemis (Acts 19:1–41).
Macedonia & Greece (Corinth) — Paul revisited the churches in Macedonia before heading into Achaia again.
Assos, Mitylene, Miletus, Samos, Trogyllium — cities briefly visited during the return leg of the third journey (Acts 20:14–15).
Patara — where Paul boarded a ship bound for Tyre in Phoenicia (Acts 21:1).
Tyre & Ptolemais — Paul stayed a week with believers at Tyre, then stopped briefly at Ptolemais before reaching Caesarea (Acts 21:4–8).
Troas (yep, on his third journey) — where Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:6–12).
JOURNEY TO ROME (~AD 59–60, Acts 27–28)
Myra — where Paul's ship docked in Lycia during the voyage to Rome (Acts 27:5). BibleStudy.org
Appii Forum, Puteoli, Rhegium, Syracuse, Three Taverns — the Italian and Sicilian cities Paul passed through on his final approach to Rome (Acts 28:12–15). BibleStudy.org
Rome — where Paul preached for two years under house arrest, and from which he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and both letters to Timothy (Acts 28:16–31).
Check Out The Other Significant Cities Too (pre-journeys or epistles)
- Damascus — where Paul was converted and first preached Christ (Acts 9).
- Tarsus — Paul's hometown in Cilicia (Acts 9:11).
- Jerusalem — Paul's repeated point of return and final arrest (Acts 9:26; 21:17ff).
- Caesarea — where Paul was imprisoned and made his defense before King Agrippa (Acts 25–26).
- Crete — where Paul left Titus to establish church leadership (Titus 1:5).
Where has God placed you and what are you called to do in expanding His Kingdom? Do you really think you will experience fulfillment apart from Jesus and doing His will for you? How?
That's roughly 40+ distinct cities and islands across modern-day Turkey, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Italy, and Malta. Paul's journeys essentially traced the entire arc of the Roman Mediterranean world — which of these is on your cruise itinerary? Here, combining biblical history with natural beauty. Let me think through this carefully, drawing on both Paul's travels and what those places look like today.
* Most Scenically Beautiful Places Paul Visited — Today
1. Rhodes, Greece (Acts 21:1)
Arguably one of the most beautiful islands in the entire Mediterranean. Paul's ship passed by here. Today it offers a medieval walled Old Town (UNESCO), turquoise coves, and dramatic clifftop villages like Lindos with its ancient acropolis overlooking the sea. Stunning in every direction.
2. * Santorini - is adjacent — Cos (Kos), Greece (Acts 21:1)
Paul sailed past Kos on the way to Jerusalem. Today it's a gorgeous Aegean island — volcanic hills, crystalline water, ancient ruins, and postcard-perfect harbors. Very close to the Turkish coast.
3. Cappadocia region — Galatia/Phrygia (Acts 18:23)
Paul traveled through "the Galatian and Phrygian regions." While Paul likely didn't walk through the fairy chimney landscape of Cappadocia specifically, it falls within that same ancient territory. Otherworldly rock formations, cave churches, and sweeping valleys — one of the most visually dramatic landscapes on earth.
4. Amalfi Coast near Naples/Puteoli, Italy (Acts 28:13)
Paul landed at Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli is still there near Naples) on his way to Rome. The entire coastline nearby — Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento — is among the most celebrated scenery in the world. We don't live for travel or being in those places, but we are willing to go with Him -- for proper prayer, care, and share. I love the vertical cliffs there, the lemon groves, and jewel-blue water.
5. Ephesus & the Aegean Coast, Turkey (Acts 19)
Paul spent more time in Ephesus than anywhere else. The ruins themselves are breathtaking, but the surrounding Aegean coast of Turkey — especially the areas around Kuşadası, Selçuk, and the Meander River valley — is lush, scenic, and dramatic. The coastline south toward Bodrum is world-class.
6. Malta (Acts 27–28)
Paul was shipwrecked here. Today Malta is a jewel — honey-colored limestone cliffs, the stunning Blue Grotto sea caves, crystal-clear coves at Comino (the famous Blue Lagoon), and the Grand Harbour of Valletta. Small island, enormous beauty.
7. Cyprus — Paphos & the Akamas Peninsula (Acts 13)
Paul preached in Paphos on Cyprus's western tip. Today the Akamas Peninsula just north of Paphos is one of the most unspoiled wilderness areas in the Mediterranean — rugged sea cliffs, crystal coves like the Blue Lagoon at Akamas, sea turtles, and dramatic gorges. Also, the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite is nearby on the coast.
8. Patara Beach, Turkey (Acts 21:1)
Paul boarded a ship at Patara. Today the ancient ruins sit beside what many consider the longest and most pristine natural beach in Turkey — over 12 miles of untouched sand backed by sand dunes and ruins. Almost no development. Breathtaking.
9. The Taurus Mountains — Perga to Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13–14)
Paul famously traveled overland through the Taurus Mountains (likely one of the hardships he references in 2 Cor. 11). Today this rugged mountain corridor in southern Turkey is spectacularly beautiful — snow-capped peaks, cedar forests, rushing rivers, and ancient Roman roads still visible in places.
10. Thessaloniki & Northern Greece coast (Acts 17)
Paul preached in Thessalonica. Today the broader region of Macedonia and the Chalkidiki Peninsula — just east of Thessaloniki — is strikingly beautiful: three forested peninsulas jutting into deep blue Aegean water, including Mount Athos, one of the most spiritually and visually dramatic places in all of Christendom.
11. Athens — Attica Coast (Acts 17)
Paul stood on the Areopagus overlooking Athens. While the city is urban, the surrounding Attica coast (the "Athenian Riviera") heading south toward Cape Sounion — where the Temple of Poseidon sits on a clifftop over the sea — is hauntingly beautiful, especially at sunset.
Funny, We Planned This Trip And Then Realized All The Spots Paul Was In:
- Lindos, Rhodes — hillside village above a stunning bay, with Paul's ship in the waters below
- Miletus, Turkey (Acts 20) — ruins sitting in a flat river delta, eerie and beautiful
- Tyre, Lebanon (Acts 21) — ancient Phoenician port, dramatic sea setting
- Philippi, Greece (Acts 16) — mountain-ringed plain in lush northern Greece
Many valuable people live near seas we plan on soon traversing: The Black Sea, the Alboran, the Balearic, the Ligurian, the Tyrrhenian, the Adriatic, the Ionian, the Aegean, the Libyan (to the South), and the Levantine seas (to the East). Mediterranean
Gobs of places to go visit with the people - Malta, Cyprus (Paphos area), and the Ephesus/Aegean coast. Why? Because they are among the most scenically gorgeous spots Paul ever set foot on. Lookin' to jump on a Bosphorus boat ride, and that Taksim tram. Have you seen it? The Taksim-Tünel Nostalgic Tram (aka T2 line), that historic, iconic red tram operating along Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, connecting Taksim Square to Tünel Square.
* CORINTH, GREECE (Acts 18, 1 & 2 Corinthians)
Corinth sits there near a canal on the northeastern Peloponnese, near one of the most dramatic geographic features in Greece — the Corinth Canal, a narrow man-made gorge cut through solid rock connecting the Aegean and Ionian seas. Stunning to see. Ancient Corinth itself sits at the foot of the Acrocorinth — a massive rocky citadel rising 1,886 feet above the plain with jaw-dropping 360° views of two seas. The ruins are genuinely moving, especially the Temple of Apollo columns still standing.
A People Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! It's about 90 minutes from Athens, very accessible. The archaeological site is well-preserved, and the museum houses artifacts directly connected to Paul's time there.
Who Lives There Today?
Modern Korinthos is a mid-sized Greek city of about 30,000 people — working class, agricultural (famous for currants), largely Greek Orthodox Christian in name.
Their Idols (gods) Today — Their Master Passions, What They Live For?
- Comfort and security — Greece has been through brutal economic austerity since 2010. The dominant anxiety is economic survival, not spiritual searching.
- National identity and pride — Greek identity is deeply tied to ancient heritage and Orthodox Christianity culturally, but practiced nominally by most.
- Pleasure (some good and bad) and leisure — ancient Corinth was infamous for sexual immorality (the verb "to Corinthianize" meant to live immorally). Modern Corinth is tamer, but the broader Greek culture prizes pleasure, food, family, and the good life.
- Religious Orthodox tradition as ethnicity — church attendance is low but baptism, Easter, and saint's days remain social anchors. God is cultural, not personal for most.
* GALATIA, TURKEY (Acts 13–14, 16, 18; Galatians)
What and Where Is It?
Galatia was a large Roman province in central Anatolia (modern Turkey). The cities Paul actually visited — Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe — are in the southern part. Today, these correspond to the area around Konya, Isparta, and Karaman in south-central Turkey.
Scenic Beauty Today
Honestly — mixed. The central Anatolian plateau is wide, flat, and semi-arid in places — more dramatic than pretty. BUT the Lake District of Turkey (Lakes Beyşehir and Eğirdir near Pisidian Antioch) is genuinely gorgeous — turquoise mountain lakes ringed by the Taurus Mountains, largely undiscovered by Western tourists. Pisidian Antioch (modern Yalvaç) sits in beautiful elevated terrain with Roman ruins and sweeping views.
Iconium (modern Konya) is a large inland city — historically significant as the city of Rumi the "Sufi mystic," but not particularly scenic.
Worth Visiting?
For the serious biblical pilgrim — yes, especially Pisidian Antioch. For casual tourists — not on most itineraries. It's off the beaten path, which gives it an authentic, unhurried quality.
Who Lives There Today?
Predominantly Turkish Muslims, so-called conservative, Sunni. Konya in particular is one of the most religiously conservative cities in Turkey, known as the heartland of political Islam in the country.
Their Gods Today — Master Passions
- Islamic leaders and the false god of Islam — genuinely devout in this region, not merely cultural. Daily prayers, Ramadan observance, mosque attendance are real here in ways they aren't in Istanbul or coastal Turkey.
- Turkish nationalism — Atatürk is almost a religious figure. National identity and pride run extremely deep.
- Honor and shame — the social fabric is organized around family honor, community reputation, and shame avoidance in ways Westerners don't fully grasp.
- Rumi/Sufi mysticism — Konya is the home of the whirling dervishes and Rumi's tomb, attracting those seeking spiritual experience through mysticism rather than Scripture.
* COLOSSAE, TURKEY (Colossians, Philemon)
Where Is It Today?
This is fascinating — Colossae no longer exists as a city. The ancient site sits near the modern town of Honaz, about 12 miles from Denizli in southwestern Turkey. The tell (mound of ruins) has never been formally excavated — it's literally still buried in the ground. You can visit the site and stand on unexcavated ruins, which is strangely moving.
Scenic Beauty Today
Surprisingly — yes, very beautiful. The Colossae region sits in the Lycus River Valley surrounded by dramatic mountains. Nearby Pamukkale (ancient Hierapolis, where Epaphras likely came from) is one of Turkey's most visually spectacular sites — white calcium terraces cascading down a hillside like frozen waterfalls, with warm mineral pools. It's genuinely otherworldly. A short drive from the Colossae site.
Also nearby: Laodicea (the lukewarm church of Revelation 3) — well-excavated ruins in a beautiful setting.
Worth Praying About And Visiting?
Yep. For the biblically serious traveler — absolutely yes, and it's dramatically undervisited. Pamukkale alone justifies the trip, and combining it with the unexcavated Colossae mound, Laodicea, and nearby Hierapolis makes for one of the most biblically rich and scenically beautiful inland Turkey days possible.
Who Lives There Today?
The Denizli region is largely Turkish Muslim, though more moderate and commercially minded than the Konya region. Denizli is known for textile manufacturing. Honaz itself is a quiet agricultural village.
Their Idols (false gods) Of Today — Master Passions
- Bucks of Commerce and prosperity — Denizli is a thriving textile hub. Wealth-building is the dominant drive.
- Islamic Leaders & Islam (they are so-called: moderate, but the false god with Islam is not/is far from. Mohammed was a pedophile and murderer. Allah is about evil wars, so unlike the God of the Bible. They try to be less intense than those in eastern Turkey. More westernized in practice.
- Paul's letter to the Colossians addressed this directly — he warned them about syncretism: mixing Christian faith with angel worship, Jewish ritual, and Greek philosophy (Col. 2:8, 16–23). The modern equivalent? A spiritually pluralistic culture that sees all paths as equally valid — which is exactly the impulse alive in Turkey's tourist towns today, where mosques, ancient temples, and New Age crystal shops coexist without tension.
Are You Seeing Deeper Patterns Buckeroo
What's striking is how Paul's diagnosis in his letters still fits several of these places:
| City | Paul's Warning | Modern Equivalent |
|---|
| Corinth - | Sexual immorality, divisions, pride | Pleasure, comfort, nominal religion |
| Galatia - | Legalism, works-based religion | Political Islam, honor/shame culture |
| Colossae - | Syncretism, angel worship, philosophy | Pluralism, mysticism, prosperity |
With time the idols often change in form but not really in nature. Let's only worship the God of the Bible.. His way
There's another place we plan to set foot in: The Greeks call it Katakolo without an "N," but Katakolon is also correct. It's pronounced "ka-TA-ko-lon," with the accent on the second syllable. You'll see both spellings are used interchangeably on signs and in tourism materials.
On a city/village tour: Katakolon is a very small village — about 500 residents — so a formal "city tour" in the traditional sense doesn't really exist, but there are fun ways to see it. Horse and cart rides are available for €5 per person, offering a pleasant 30-minute ride through local streets and a beach section. What's in that Port village is also completely walkable in under an hour. Highlights within the village itself include a lighthouse built in 1865, the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, a medieval Byzantine fortress called Pontikokastro on a hilltop northeast of the port, and a lively market with more than 60 shops. The waterfront is also distinctive, with old currant warehouses that have been restored into cafés, tavernas, and souvenir shops.
On the beach: Yes — and it's fairly impressive (even though I like big waves)! The main beach of Katakolon is an extended sandy beach — the beginning of what locals call Europe's largest beach. It's ideal for families with children: the waters are warm, not deep, and always calm. The nearest beach to the port is Plakes Beach (also known as Reneta Beach), only about 200 meters from the port — a short walk. It's a small pebbly beach with crystal clear waters that rarely have jellyfish, a quiet beach bar with palm-like umbrellas, and amenities including changing rooms and showers. Further along, beaches stretch in one continuous arc around the Kyparissian Gulf for at least 30 kilometers, with decent fish tavernas and beach bars along the way.
So, depending on our free time, we could honestly do all three in one day Lord willing — Liney and I would enjoy a stroll through the ole village, a couple of hours at the beach (in the water. Sometimes I end up witnessing out there swimming. We pray God will use us), and then we plan on making it over to Olympia, Sisliy, Naples and Rome again! Hey, everyone needs the God of the Bible today!
What are your needs or doubts about? Would you like some prayer? Email me! I'd love to talk even before we arrive near your hometown in the area of the Med.
