Tim Frakes Productions: The Life of Apostle Peter with Rick Steves

This looks like a wonderful new production and we encourage you to buy it to share with family and friends. We'll be ordering one and will update this post with our comments. Rick Steves is one of our favorite presenters

Looking for Reformation Books, Dvds or Videos?

If you are interested in books, dvds or videos about the Reformation, we invite you to visit our Reformation store, hosted by Amazon.

Thinking about an Oberammergau tour in 2010?

Although 2010 seems like a long time away, if you are thinking of attending the Oberammergau Passion Play, now is the time to be gathering your group.

Every ten years, this picturesque Bavarian town puts on a spectacular passion play with a cast entirely from the town. For more about the play, click here to read our webpage.

In order to accomodate the literally thousands of people from all over the world who want to attend the play, the town sells tickets that also include 2 nights accomodations, 5 meals (2 x breakfast, 1 x lunch and 2 x dinner). These tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Demand is extremely high and so groups need to gather their group as soon as possible, so they can get seats.

How can we help? We have designed a number of tours for 2010 that feature the Oberammergau Play and there's still space available. Call us today at 1-800-303-5534 or fill out our Oberammergau tour questionnaire. Our tours include the Passion Play with options to visit surrounding countries, such as Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy. We are also able to provide fellowship opportunities, both with fellow travellers and local believers.

New Jan Hus DVD from the Christian History Institute

Next month marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Christian History Institute. Their very first project was preparation of a mimeographed study guide to accompany a film release on 15th century Reformer Jan Hus.
Now they revisit the Hus story and the amazing new appreciation of his life and a public apology by the pope for the wrongful death of Hus.
This new one-hour documentary is titled Truth Prevails: The Undying Faith of Jan Hus.
Jan Hus lived almost 600 years ago and was a forerunner of Luther and the Reformation. A man of deep conviction, he took a dangerous stand against corruption in the church. He stood for the Truth of God’s Word and was put to death for it – burned at the stake.
Learn more about the story in Truth Prevails: The Undying Faith of Jan Hus offered at this special price – Order online at Vision Video for only $15.99 – a savings of 20% off the retail price of $19.99!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer House in Berlin

Frank (on left) was recently at the Dietrich Bonhoeffer House in Berlin, at the end of the Reformation Trails Tour. This house was built in 1935 as the retirement home of Bonhoeffer's parents. Sadly on April 5, 1943, he was arrested in the building.

The house on Marienburger Allee is now a museum about the life and work of Bonhoeffer and his study on the upper floor is restored to how it would have been in 1943.

We include a visit here on many of our tours to Berlin and if you would like to arrange a tour, just let us know. The address is Marienburger Allee 43, 14055 Berlin. (+49) 30 301 9161.

View from the train

view from train to Grindlewald from Interlaken
Originally uploaded by Reformation Tours, LLC.

Frank is currently in Switzerland leading our "Reformation Trails" tour, which journeys from Geneva to Berlin. He just called me from the train on his way up the Alps from Grindelwald. He took this photo on the tour last year of the view from the train window. Switzerland is gorgeous! The group is having a wonderful time and enjoying fellowship along the way. I'll post some highlights when he gets back and we've uploaded the photos from this year's trip.

Farewell to Ruth Graham

Mrs. Ruth Bell Graham, beloved wife of world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham, died at 5:05 p.m. on June 14, 2007, at her home at Little Piney Cove in Montreat, N.C., surrounded by her husband and all five children. She was 87.

She was born in China, on June 10, 1920. Her parents were medical missionaries and as a young girl Ruth first sensed the great calling to abandon all for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the fall of 1937, she enrolled at Wheaton College and three years later was introduced to “Preacher,” the nickname other students gave the strapping Billy Graham from Charlotte, North Carolina.


In late April 1941 after much struggling in prayer, Ruth realized her life’s mission was to be bound up in Billy’s passion for evangelism. Shortly after their graduation from Wheaton, the two were married in Montreat on August 13, 1943.

Ruth treasured her role as the strong woman behind “America’s Pastor” and was Billy’s closest confidant, most trusted advisor, and dearest friend. She loved to move behind the scenes, away from the spotlight, and helped him craft and research sermons and even books.


To read more about this remarkable woman, click here

Congratulations to the Reformation Museum in Geneva

Congratulations to the Reformation Museum in Geneva for winning the prestigious 2007 Council of Europe Museum Prize! When I visited the Museum last month I was able to see the

statue and hear more about this award.

Housed on the spot where the people of Geneva voted to adopt Reformation in 1536, the museum features displays on the Bible, the work of Calvin, religious controversy with other Christian traditions, the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Protestant resistance to fascism, missionary work and the role of women in the ministry.

It is now planning a special exhibition in 2009 to mark the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth, a commemoration also to be celebrated by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, a grouping of 216 churches with roots in Calvin's Reformation. The alliance has brought together 50 representatives of Reformed churches for a 15-19 April meeting in Geneva to plan for the Calvin Jubilee worldwide.

"People might expect such a museum to be deadly serious, demanding and dogmatic," noted one judge, Mikhail Gnedovsky from Russia. "But this is far from being the case. In fact, the atmosphere of the museum is very relaxed and free," he said, noting touches such as cartoons of Calvinists and a picture of Calvin on a vending machine in the Geneva museum café.

If you are interested in visiting the museum, contact us about joining one of our scheduled tours or let us design a custom tour for you.

Calvin's College in Geneva

Calvin's Academy in Geneva
Originally uploaded by Reformation Tours, LLC.

Calvin College was founded in 1559 by John Calvin. Boys as young as seven were able to learn Latin, Greek, logic, rhetoric and Calvin's catechism. With the huge influx of French Huguenots after the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, Calvin's College played a vital role in their training as pastors, as well as many other young men who flocked to Geneva to receive tutelage there. At the time of the Calvin's death it boasted fifteen hundred students. It's still used for education today.

Zurich's Police Station

Zurich's Police Station
Originally uploaded by Reformation Tours, LLC.

You don't really expect to see flowers decorating a Police Station! While I was on a guided city tour of Zurich a week or two ago, we were able to see some of the colorful murals painted by local artists. Personally I preferred the medieval colors of the side chapel in St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva and it's lovely to see some restoration work going on. We've still got some room on our Reformation Trails tour leaving in June and in September, so if you'd like to see Geneva and Zurich yourself, let us know!

Lausanne Free Church

100_6124
Originally uploaded by Reformation Tours, LLC.

Last Sunday I was delighted to visit Lausanne Free Church, which is a delightful congregation serving the English-speaking population in the Lausanne area. Pastor Derrick and his wife Ann invited me to a fabulous home-cooked lunch with the family, along with two other British couples. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and I look forward to my next visit there. If you are in Lausanne, the fellowship meets on Sunday morning and also has a coffee morning on Wednesdays. The web address is www.lausanne-english-church.com.

The Queen visits Jamestown and Williamsburg

As a Brit living in the States, I'm excited about the Queen of England being on a visit to Virginia to help celebrate the 400 year anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

"My visits to Jamestown and Williamsburg, separated by 50 years, symbolize for me the warmth and welcome Prince Philip and I have always received during our many visits to the United States over the years," the queen said during a private luncheon Friday in Colonial Williamsburg, the restored 18th-century capital of Virginia.

If you've not been to the Jamestown/Williamsburg/Yorktown area in awhile, it's definitely the year to visit! We'll be hosting a clergy retreat there in August called "Reclaiming the Joy of Ministry" and would love to welcome you there. If you'd like to do a family or group tour, just let us know and we'll be happy to arrange it.

New D-Day Center at the Normandy American Cemetery in France

Sixty-three years after Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to turn the tide of World War II in Europe, a new visitor center at the Normandy American Cemetery in France will open on June 6 to tell the story of the 9,387 Americans buried there and put the D-Day landings and follow-on battle in Europe in perspective. The $30 million visitor center will be dedicated and opened to the public on June 6, 2007, during the annual D-Day commemorations. The center is sited in a wooded area of the cemetery approximately 100 yards east of the Garden of the Missing. Normandy is the American Battle Monuments Commission's most visited cemetery, receiving approximately one million visitors each year. By relating the global significance and meaning of Operation OVERLORD, the center will pay tribute to the values and sacrifices of the World War II generation. Visit http://www.abmc.gov/ or http://www.franceguide.com/.

Noah's ark replica sets sail in Holland

What a wonderful way to bring the Bible to life! Dutchman Johan Huibers has built a replica ark in the town of Schagen in the Netherlands. The ark is 150 cubits long - half the length of Noah's - and three storeys high. A cubit was about 45cm (18in) long.

When you enter the ark, you'll see life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras and bison. Johan will also have a live petting zoo, including a camel. The ark includes a 50-seat theatre showing a segment of the Disney film Fantasia retelling the story of Noah's Ark.

Johan plans to sail around the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany using the ark as a tool to renew interest in the Bible and Christianity. It's certainly a conversation starter!

Corrie's Ten Boom's "Hiding Place" in need of help

I'm a big fan of Corrie Ten Boom and her family, who put faith into action during a very difficult time in Europe's history. The film "The Hiding Place" is a classic and one that never fails to move me.

I got an e-mail about the house in Haarlem, Holland this morning and thought it deserved to be copied in full. We were happy to send a donation to help preserve this important museum and we thought you might be interested to do the same.

This is Holocaust Remembrance Month. It is a time to pause and remember the millions of Jews that died at the hands of Adolf Hitler during World War II.

Corrie and her family were dedicated to serving others. Their home was a haven for anyone with a need. The spread of World War II into Holland did not deter the ten Boom family. Their home became a sanctuary for those Jewish families and resistance workers sought by the Gestapo. The ten Boom family (Casper and his daughters Corrie and Betsie) risked their lives daily to hide their Jewish neighbors and others who refused to aid the Nazis.
Often there were a half-dozen or more men, women and/or children packed into "The Hiding Place," a small room tucked away behind a false wall in Corrie's bedroom. On February 28, 1944, someone betrayed this courageous family, and the Gestapo invaded their small home. Systematically, they searched the house, but God made seeing eyes blind, and they missed the secret place hidden away in Corrie's room, as well as the six individuals crouched there.
Because underground materials were found in the home, the ten Boom family was arrested. Casper ten Boom, Corrie's 84-year-old father, died after ten days in captivity. Betsie died in Ravensbruck; nephew Christiaan perished at Bergen Belsen; brother Willem survived the concentration camps, but died shortly after his release.

Corrie spent a year in prison in ill-health and persecuted by her captors simply for loving the House of Israel. God blessed her for her faithfulness.

Corrie survived the death camp determined to share the reality of God's love. Armed with her realization that "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still" and "God will give us the love to forgive our enemies," Corrie began a ministry that would last 33 years and take her to sixty countries.

Dr. Billy Graham made the American public aware of the story of Corrie ten Boom and the sacrifices of her family to aid the Jewish people during the Second World War through her book and the movie, "The Hiding Place." The dedicated prayer life of her family is less well-known. Corrie's grandfather founded a prayer fellowship in 1849. It was dedicated to praying for the "peace of Jerusalem and the rebirth of the nation of Israel." The 100-year long prayer meeting at the ten Boom home ended when the family was arrested and imprisoned.

Twenty years ago, the ten Boom family home and clock shop in Haarlem, Holland were purchased. It was lovingly restored, and is open today as a Holocaust museum, and as a beacon and a testimony of the courage, dedication and faithfulness of one family who, like Moses, chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God," than to escape the wrath of the Holocaust.

In 2002, in order to keep the 100-year prayer meeting alive (1844-1944) by the tradition of the ten Boom family, the Jerusalem Prayer Team was founded. This organization is dedicated to praying for the peace of Jerusalem according to Psalm 122:6. The prayer meeting was stopped the day the ten Booms were taken to the concentration camps.

The Corrie ten Boom Holocaust Center in Haarlem, Holland, is open to the public. It is run solely by volunteers, and is funded through donations. In its twenty year history, no one has been charged to see "The Hiding Place." Over 800 Jews bound for Palestine were saved by the ten Booms. Corrie told me that God gave her Psalm 91 while she was in prison as her promise on her 51st birthday. (Corrie lived to be 91 years old.)

Would you make a donation today to help us keep the Corrie ten Boom Holocaust Center open?
There are no paid employees at Corrie ten Boom House. Volunteers willingly and joyfully give their time and talents to keep Corrie's family story alive for another generation. The final verse of Psalm 91 says, “With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (91:16)

Sadly, we see a growing anti-Semitism in Europe. The horrors of WW II are pushed into the background and the suffering of the Jews is minimized. For this reason, it is important that the Corrie ten Boom House stays open and that the story of the Ten Boom family continues to be told, especially the story of Corrie. This house is a place where God touches the hearts of people.

We mourn with those who mourn

Our hearts go out to those who are affected by the sad recent events in Virginia. We join with those praying for the bereaved families and the students who had to go through that ordeal.

Our hearts are also heavy today with the news that three wonderful men of God ministering in Malatya, Turkey have been brutally murdered. Brothers Necati Aydin ('nedjati', father of 2), Ugur Yuksel and Tilman Geske (father of 3, and a German citizen) were working in a publishing house in a city that has seen way more than its share of martyrs. Ten young men have been arrested for this brutal attack.

Aydin was the pastor of the 30-strong Protestant community of Malatya. Tilman is pictured left with his wife and his 3 children. Ugur was due to be married very soon and was a new believer.

Let's pray for their families and the church in Malatya and that Christians in Turkey would not be fearful, but would seek the Lord in this difficult time.

Need a new passport?

A passport is the first step to exploring the world. We have occasionally had to send ours in for extra pages!

The US Postal Service makes obtaining a passport easy and you can go online to www.usps.com/passport for more information. The National Passport Information Center has a toll-free number 1-877-487-2778 and a website for more information.

We always recommend making two photocopies of your passport photo page. Leave one at home with your emergency contact and pack the other one in your luggage. If you go on any of our tours, we'll also keep a copy of this page and will assist if anything happens to your passport while on tour.

A passport costs $97 for age 16 and older and $82 for age 15 and under, which includes the fees to the U.S. Department of State and the acceptance fee. You can pay extra to have your passport processed more quickly, which is an extra $60.

Need some ideas of where to travel with your shiny new passport??

Katie Luther: The Morning Star of Wittenberg

We have the longer version of this video, but this short clip is excellent. It's a good introduction to Luther's wife, Katherine von Bora. She entered a convent as a child, escaped in a fish barrel and went on to be one of the most influential wives in the Reformation.

Erfurt - the Heart of Germany

We love Erfurt. This ancient Thuringian town is right at the center of Germany and on the "must see" for anyone on the Reformation trail. We've compiled some information about Erfurt on our website and always include it on our tours.

Each month (or so) we produce a newsletter and we had an Erfurt theme this month. We also have an Erfurt themed quiz and you can click here to try it yourself! It's an easy quiz and you are entered for the prize whether you get the answers right or not.

Courage and Conviction - a great read for all ages

Our kids love to read, so I'm often ordering books that I think they'll enjoy and find that I love them too. Mindy and Brandon Withrow have authored a wonderful series of books aiming for the 9-14 year old market, but equally enjoyable for all ages.

Meet the German monk, the French scholar, and the Scottish tutor who protested corruption in the church. Get to know the queens and explorers who risked everything for the freedom to worship according to their consciences.

It was a time of war and upheaval, but also a time of promise and hope. From Erasmus and Luther to Katherine Parr and William Bradford, God used different personalities in different places to bring sweeping changes to church government and the way we worship.

Learn from their mistakes and be encouraged by their amazing strengths and gifts.
Extra features throughout this book look deeper into issues such as the Scientific Revolution, wars of religion, the Puritans, and the settling of the Americas.

This is the third book in a series intended to cover the history of the Christian church through its people and key events. They are written with 9-14 year olds in mind but the modern, relaxed and enthusiastic style is infectious. This is history without the wooliness – and with all the wonder.

By the way, this book will be our giveaway for our latest quiz - click here to enter. You don't have to get the answers right to win, we just pick from the entrants.

Headed to Europe this summer?

In Wartburg Castle
Originally uploaded by Reformation Tours, LLC.

The weather is more-or-less getting warmer, and it's a great time to be thinking of a trip to Europe. We'll be heading for Switzerland, France and Germany this summer, as well as Colonial Williamsburg and Georgia. We'd love to hear about your trips too and we welcome guest bloggers.

By the way, if you have a travel question or need help with any part of your itinerary, just give us a call at either 1-800-303-5534 or 1-800-303-2415. We will be happy to assist.

The Wittenberg English Ministry gets ready for worship

The Wittenberg English Ministry gets ready for worship
Originally uploaded by Reformation Tours, LLC.

If you're planning a trip to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg (between Berlin and Leipzig in Germany) this summer, than we'd like to recommend the services run by the Wittenberg English Ministry. Beginning on May 2 and running through October, you can fellowship with other Christians in the historic Wittenberg churches. There are services on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (new time 6-7pm) and they are often available at other times too. We always include a service with them on our group tours and their ministry is a blessing!

Switzerland trip!

Yesterday whilst arranging flights for a number of clients, I was also able to arrange flights for myself and I'm excited! in May I will be going to the Swiss Travel Mart, plus visiting Zurich and Geneva and hopefully Chillon Castle(see left) as well. It's always wonderful to be in these historic cities and meet up with friends there.

We were recently involved in a project by the Swiss Tourist Office to create booklets about the religious significance of many Swiss cities and we have a stock of these if you would be interested in receiving a copy. If you are going on one of our tours to Switzerland, it will be part of your pre-travel pack. By the way, if you are looking for a tour of Switzerland this year, we have space available on the "Reformation Trails" tours in June and September and on the "Footsteps of Martin Luther" tour with Lilian Scott-Baer who is originally from Zurich. We can also arrange travel for small groups.

Looking for great Christian Videos?

Let me introduce you to one of our favorite Christian websites for quality videos: Vision Video. It's a wonderful place to find Christian DVDs and videos for the whole family, including some of our favorite Christian heritage titles. If you order directly from the website, you get a reduced rate and their clearance items are even better value.

The joys of airports

I know that sounds rather odd, as we often see airports as stressful, busy and inconvenient. They are often though, a place of real joy and expectation. Take last night as an example. We were there to meet my father who was flying in from England, so we were definitely excited. We weren't the only ones. Two little German boys had their hand-painted signs "Opa" for their grandfather and could hardly contain their excitement. We shared their joy when he finally arrived and was bombarded with full-speed hugs from two small boys. A Russian lady was waiting for her Mother and chatted about the Ukraine. A couple were expecting their daughter and grandson from Germany...everyone had their joyful reason to be at the gate with great expectation. Imagine for a moment the welcome we will receive when we make our final journey to be with Jesus. He has made lavish preparations for us and can't wait to shower us with love and attention. Just like the arriving passengers last night who instantly forgot the long journey as they laughed and hugged their relatives, so we'll forget any of the stresses of this life, as we look forward to an eternity with him.

Breakfast in Ireland

100_4592, originally uploaded by Reformation Tours, LLC.

As my brother and sister-in-law are about to head to Ireland tomorrow and one of our tours is set to go there on the 14th, it reminded me of our family trip there last year. One of the highlights of our trip was the opportunity to return to my grandparent's house in Bangor, which is now a B&B. I used to love looking out of the bay windows and see the rain coming in from County Antrim. The colors were amazing. Although I hadn't been back since age 11, it was all remarkably familiar. Rosie and Josh enjoyed tucking into the enormous breakfast!

About our links

Christianity is all about community and that's one of the highlights for me of all international travel. It's usually the highlight for people on our tours too, which is why we also have a list of English-speaking churches in several countries on our website. We've done Germany, France, Switzerland and the Czech republic so far and we intend on doing more.

One of the links on our site is to Professor Dave Black, who is always such an inspiration. He teaches New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological College. He and his wife Becky also have a real heart for Ethiopia and often go on trips to see their beloved friends there, taking practical and spiritual help. They are a blessing to all that know them.

Amazing Grace

We had the privilege of seeing this movie recently and we were impressed. Although I grew up in England, I wasn't very familiar with William Wilberforce's achievements, so I was fascinated.

Last week while I was teaching Sunday School to the 4-Kindergarten class, I was really surprised when one of the children suggested that we sing Amazing Grace and many of them knew the words!

Welcome

Welcome to our new blog! My husband and I are Christian Travel enthusiasts and love to chat about the Lord and travel. We own two travel companies: Reformation Tours, LLC and Christian World Travel and we also have a Christian travel club open to anyone in the St. Louis region. We also have two wonderful children, Rosie and Josh, who also love to travel.