Remember for a moment your most moving travel experience. If you have ever visited a place or imagined a destination that, for you, stimulated questions of your purpose on this beautiful orb and the meaning of this life, you already have a sense of the power of faith travel.
Theologians recognize questions of who we are and why we occupy space on this planet temporarily as ontological questions. Rather than exploring abstract theological concepts, this article endeavors to provide clarity in the definition of faith travel while also offering pragmatic advice on how to begin planning an effective faith travel experience.
Faith leaders lovingly invest much of their creative energy in seeking words to illuminate answers to fundamental questions of life’s meaning. No sermon illustration, no matter how clear or potent, can physically transport a hearer to a destination. Likewise, no picture, video, or other media can truly substitute for being present in a place where we can recognize a continued influence on who we are today.
Faith travel intentionally brings people into conversation around fundamental questions of life through common experiences with the power of place. Faith travel, then, may be defined as encounters with the power of place to enrich, enliven, and embolden the faith of fellow travelers in ways that can lead to the blessing of others. The power of faith travel offers the ability to grow a ministry numerically and spiritually.
Effective communication from a pulpit or the front of a classroom requires relating to the hearer or student. Likewise, the most effective faith travel journeys are formed and shaped as narratives that tell a story. The effectiveness of a faith travel experience also depends upon a balance of deep spiritual, intellectual experiences with the space to process those experiences individually and as a group.
While a faith leader may be tempted to an unceasing theological immersion of a group on a journey, an effective faith travel experience depends on downtime and activities that are just plain fun. Planning a well-crafted faith travel experience creates the conditions for the potency of a faith travel experience to emerge naturally and organically among fellow travelers.
Dining experiences on a journey can be as important as the sights on an itinerary. Hotel accommodations, with spaces that invite discussion among fellow travelers, can create the conditions for life-changing conversations. Sights and tour experiences in an itinerary that complement the sights selected to speak directly to the faith of fellow travelers can contribute substantially to the faith travel experience. Above all, a well-crafted group travel experience correlates to a clear purpose in the story experienced by fellow travelers on a journey.
How does one begin planning an effective faith travel experience?
An effective faith travel experience begins with three closely related considerations of purpose, destination, and dates. While the most important of these considerations will be the purpose of the journey, the dates and destination are best considered alongside the purpose of a journey. The desire to travel to a particular destination may determine the decision to embark upon a faith travel experience, but it is clarity in the purpose of the journey that unlocks the power of a faith travel experience.
