This is Justin.
Justin is a middle school teacher and a participant of BEMA Turkey 2022. Prior to the trip, Justin knew the value of experiential learning and the need to have a lived experience with content to truly understand it. While he and his wife had listened to the entire podcast, they both underestimated how much they would glean from experiencing the story themselves. Walking through the ruins of Perga, Sardis, and Laodicea provided a connection to the Text that Justin didn’t previously possess. He felt connected to the lives of the ancient believers in new ways.
“For me to make these amazing connections, I had to get to the places where the connections existed. ‘Honoring the miles’ wasn’t something I understood until we began running across ancient arenas, walking across ancient cities, and climbing actual mountains. It wasn’t easy, but it did help me to understand the daily experiences of the early believers.” Justin will remember sitting in the ancient arena of Aphrodisias and considering all those who have gone before him, cheering him on. This experience now inspires him to walk with more determination and perseverance as he returns to “life as normal” back home.
Justin returns home to his family and his classroom as a changed man. He now sees the need to look for where God is working and find ways to partner with what God is already doing in those spaces. His eyes have been trained to look for the good and he is determined, along with his wife, to bring the message of shalom to their own modern-day “Rome.” They are partnering with their home church to include more diverse voices who seek the mamzer, honor others, and create sacred spaces where others can experience the goodness of God. In this, they hope to share this experience with others in meaningful ways.
