dOCTOR OF MINISTRY

NOTE THE NEED TO ARRIVE AT 8AM CENTRAL TIME AT ORD CHICAGO AIRPORT SATURDAY, APRIL 25.

BOARDING AT 10:25AM AND DEPARTING AT 11:25AM (CENTRAL TIME)

exemplary biblical preaching

SPRING 2026

APRIL 25-MAY 5

"ON LOCATION" IN EUROPE

GRECO-ROMAN PREACHING PILGRIMAGE

On Location and At Large in Athens and Rome

(Sat) April 25 - (Tue) May 5, 2026

You are invited by Grace Theological Seminary, our Doctoral Studies Program, and the Proclamation Project to join us to study on location in the heart of the historic Greco-Roman Empire

Dr. Rock LaGioia

Director, Doctoral Studies Program

Dr. Freddy Cardoza

Vice President and Dean

Dr. Trent Lambert

Director, The Proclamation Project

Apply Today for Our Exemplary Biblical Preaching Program

Join Us in Late April and Early May 2026 in Athens, Rome, and Istanbul

Get the Latest Updates at the Bottom of This Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Your Professor | Dr. Kent Edwards

Professor Kent Edwards, Ph.D., D.Min. CrossTalk's Founder and CEO, J. Kent Edwards, also serves as the tenured professor of Preaching and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology. Kent earned a D.Min in preaching from Denver Seminary and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from BIOLA University. He has pastored and church planted across Canada and USA for 35 years and written two award-winning books: Deep Preaching & Effective First-Person Biblical Preaching.

Kent’s purpose in life is to change people’s lives with the Word of God and help others do the same. He has spent his life pastoring God’s people, preaching God’s word, and helping pastors around the world serve their Savior more effectively.

Dr. Edwards is the tenured Professor of Preaching and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology / Biola University (La Mirada, CA). He previously served on the faculty Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (S. Hamilton, MA), and, for 13 years, served as Director of the Doctor of Ministry programs at Gordon-Conwell Seminary and Talbot School of Theology. Kent has earned a Ph.D. in Intercultural Education (BIOLA University), a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (Denver Seminary), a Master of Divinity (Tyndale Seminary), and a Bachelor of Theology (Ambrose University).

He has authored two award-winning books, Deep Preaching (B&H 2009) and Effective First-Person Biblical Preaching (Zondervan, 2005). Kent began pastoral ministry in 1981, was ordained by the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination in 1986, and has successfully pastored churches across Canada and the USA ever since.

doctoral seminar (pm 7230)

"Communicating God's Word"

PM 7230 Communicating God’s Word

Whether in person or via media, excellent sermon content can be hindered by poor delivery. Preachers will increase their effectiveness in sermon delivery through understanding and embracing principles using best practices in the following areas: Spirit-led preaching, multi-sensory aspects, personal style, audience analysis, contextualization, connection,creativity, and theology for digital technology (e.g. multi-cast; live streaming; social media; podcasting, etc.). Three credit hours

On Location Schedule

Travel Itinerary Details

Set your calendars and join us for April 25— May 5, 2026, as we go at large and on location in Europe for our upcoming doctoral seminar. We will begin our trip by the Grace Seminary Vice President and others driving from our Winona Lake, Indiana campus to Chicago, O'Hare Airport (ORD). Those who wish to meet us in Chicago may do so, providing they arrive in time for the flight and have the required Passport.

Chicago (CHGO)

We will depart early on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Students are encouraged to travel with the group, with our flight originating from the Windy City's O'Hare International Airport (ORD). O'Hare is located just over 15 miles from the Downtown Loop in the northwest side of Chicago. Arriving approximately 3 hours prior to our international flight, we will depart to our first of two main destinations. Students living further from Chicago may contact our offices to discuss policies regarding departure to or from another location.

Friday, April 24 (The Day Before Departure from Chicago to Athens)

NOTE: If you are arriving Friday evening, feel free to contact Dr. Cardoza (1-310-779-5224) about where we are staying, if you would like to connect or to stay at the same hotel. Lodging not included in trip cost.

Our flight leaves from Chicago O'Hare on Saturday Morning, April 25. Dr. Cardoza and two others on our trip will be traveling into Chicago, staying at an O'Hare Area Hotel overnight, and going to the airport very early on Saturday, April 25.

Do this Final Check prior to heading to the airport

note luggage limits

Pre-Paid Luggage Allowance

44 LBS on Checked Luggage (1 Bag)

Personal Item (Regular Backpack, Purse, Satchel)

Note: Our Turkish flight allows a second checked bag, but a second bag on our other flight To/From Rome would be at your expense. The above limits are included in the price of your trip. If your personal item is too heavy, you may need to put items on your person or in your pockets to avoid additional fees. That is the nature of international travel.

bring your passport

Triple-Check for Your "Packed Passport"

It may sound impossible, but even seasoned travelers forget things. This includes the all-important passport.

Each person is expected to bring and maintain control over their passport(s) throughout the duration of the trip. If you are a dual passport holder, that can be helpful for some travelers with dual citizenship or residencies. You are urged not only to stash your passport cover into a bag, but to actually lay eyes on your actual passport, ensuring it is yours and an unexpired version of your valid passport.

Power Requirements and adapters for US electrical Devices

Multi-Adapter

in one unit

Amazon Purchase Link

Europe Equipment

Voltage Converter

Amazon Purchase Link

About Voltage & Frequency (general information to assist, but not advice that fits all devices). Generally, these are what you will need.

If your device’s label says 100–240 V, it’s dual‑voltage and only needs a plug adapter (above left image). This will work in Italy, Greece, and Turkiye in nearly all occasions.
Many people travel to Europe and around the world without this final item, depending on what devices you may bring. This electrical item has adapters for some 150 countries, including power converters for those nations included. Who might need this third item? Some US hair appliances are different voltage and hertz as compared to the US 120 V / 60 Hz standard. If it’s 110–120 V only, you’ll need a voltage converter in addition to an adapter for high‑wattage appliances like hair dryers, curlers, and hair irons (above right image)

MONEY & MEALS: What You'll NEED to cover

While we are in the Eurozone, we will use Euro currency. That includes our entire trip except an hour of transition in Istanbul on the morning of April 26 and three-quarters of a day on May 4 (a full evening in Türkiye). The first email that went out for our trip explained that the trip cost includes two meals daily (so you should plan on paying for your breakfast, which is a small expense daily and the cheapest meal). You will also need spending money for incidentals (snacks, pharmacy items, etc.) and souvenirs. You can use a credit card and should also have some EUROs, preferably in smaller denominations (.50, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 euros). You will use these in Rome and Greece. Türkiye uses "Lira" but we will only be there briefly, so you can likely get away with your credit card. If needed, you can quickly change a small amount of money for Lira at various places, though exchange rates vary, and we won't have the ability to "shop around" to save a few dollars on exchange. A good recommendation will be to go to your own local bank and exchange some US Dollars (USD) for Euros. Note that many places in Europe, including Greece and Rome charge money for bathroom use. It is common and you will need from .50 to 1 or even 2 euros possibly for the WC (Water Closet/bathroom) when we are in many public areas.

Power BANKS FOR DEVICES

POWER BANKS: Power Banks for charging your devices are important on trips like this. Though we don't anticipate it, if there are delays or power issues in a particular region, or you (God forbid) get separated from our group, it is crucial that you have a way to keep your handheld device/smartphone charged and accessible. Recommendation: Here's one that will exceed your needs, though this level of capacity is a little heavier than some might want. You can go to this link and look for others that will meet your needs, but this is one like I use (Power Bank Option).

The main thing to avoid is to keep power at or BELOW 40800 mAh and under 100 watt-hours (Wh). This and similar ones with smaller mAh capacities remain within those limits. That should be all the technical advice you need, but for more information, see these additional details for TSA.

SMARTPHONE SIM CARDS and DATA/CALLING PLANS

SIM CARDS AND DATA or CALLING PLANS: Don't miss this. Many modern phones have sim cards that can switch between international standards (there are two major ones) and can bounce between cell towers and panels. Even so, some phones and in particular, phone carriers we use, may or may not have you on a plan that covers international data, calling, or both. That is a question you can ask your carrier. Generally speaking, you can contact customer service and ask if they provide these things (telling them where you are going), and asking them if you can either purchase some high speed data or talk time manually... OR if you can simply ADD IT FOR A MONTH. Lots of carriers allow that and for a very modest price can add it to your bill for one month, which would really be a help. You can "survive" without it, as we'll be together, but most people will want and will benefit from having it, and it can enhance your safety prospects as well. It gives you the opportunity to contact people, and search for information, directions, and locations if you get into a situation. If this sounds technical, don't worry... it isn't particularly hard to figure this out by simply asking the questions I've mentioned above. But you will want to ask and ensure that you're ready to go, and all that can be done with just a call to your provider.

DAY OF DEPARTURE FROM CHICAGO (ORD)

Saturday, April 25 (Day 1 of 11) NOTE: Be at Airport at 8am Central in Chicago

Before Leaving: Ask Yourself Again: "Where is my Passport?" Place eyes on it and put it on your person for the trip.

8 am - Arrive at Chicago O'Hare International Airport to check in. Beforehand, you can use the information sent by Laura (also listed in update section below) to attempt to check in to your flight (Turkish Air).

10:25 am - Board Flight

11:25 am - Depart from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Athens.

Athina (Athens)

We will arrive into Athens on Sunday, April 26, 2026. In the heart of the Mediterranean, the Great Sea, we will land in the ancient land of Hellas (Ἑλλάς), which is the ancient and modern Greek name for "Greece." The city-state of Athens was founded just after the Bronze Age, in the 12th-9th centuries before Christ (B.C.) and continued through the end of classical antiquity (AD 600), the Dark Ages. The The Greek Archipelago is a series of some 2000 islands just off the Western Coast of Turkey, scattered along the Aegean Sea. This will be our first home away from home, as we learn and experience biblical preaching in the cradle of Western Civilization.

About Our Time in Athens: The Cradle of Western Civilization

The first leg of our trip will include four days in Athens, Greece. During this time, we will engage in doctoral program studies in the classroom, along with visit numerous biblical and historical sites where God shook the earth with preaching from the likes of the Apostle Paul.

Sunday, April 26 (Day 2 of 11)

8:55 am - Arrive in Athens, Greece

11:00 am - Check into hotel

12:00 pm - Lunch

3:00 pm - Tour/walk around Ancient Athens

5:00 pm - Visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon (entry tickets 5 pm)

7:30 pm - Dinner at the Plaka and Welcome from Dr. Edwards

10:00 pm - Free Time/Head back to hotel

Monday, April 27 (Day 3 of 11)

8:15 - 9:00 am - Breakfast

9 am - First lecture session

1:00 pm - Break for lunch

2:00 - 5:00 pm - Second lecture

5:30 pm - Activity: (Roman Agora 5-6 pm entry ticket, then Hadrian's Library 6-7 pm entry ticket)

8:00 pm - Dinner at Monastiraki Square then shopping or celebrating

9:30 pm - Head back to hotel

Tuesday, April 28 (Day 4 of 11)

8:15 - 9:00 am - Breakfast

9:00 am - Lecture

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 - 4:00 pm - Second lecture

4:30 - Acropolis Museum (4-5 pm entry ticket)

8:30 pm - Break and Dinner

9:30 pm - Head back to hotel

Wednesday, April 29 (Day 5 of 11)

8:00 - 9:00 am - Breakfast/Check out of hotel

9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Lecture

12:00 pm - Lunch

12:45 pm - Monastiraki Station Train to ATH Airport

2:00 pm - Arrive at Airport

3:30 pm - Board Flight

4:25 pm - Fly to the Eternal City, Rome

Roma (Rome)

We will arrive in Rome on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Rome, the Eternal City, succeeded Athens as the dominant world power as it vanquished Greece in 146 BC, then mercilessly destroyed it in 86 BC. Following periods of conquest and recovery, Imperial Rome ultimately formed in 27 BC. This is when Rome officially became an empire, entering its long season of global dominance. Today, Rome is a vibrant city that has deep historic roots in polytheistic state religion, but one that is now also plays host to the so-called Roman Catholic Bishop of Rome, the "Pope." But long before the Vatican began stunning visitors with its marvelous architecture, it stunned people with the Pantheon, a building which still stands but once housed the center of the Roman religious cult.

About Our Time in Rome: the Eternal City

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (Day 5 of 11) through Saturday, May 2, 2026 | Day 8

ADD COPY/1 paragraph about the stay in Rome, as a summary of how this fits into our class and trip.

The second leg of our trip will include three full days in Rome, Italy. During this time, we will engage in doctoral program studies in the classroom, along with visit numerous biblical and historical sites in Rome, the home of the then-Roman Empire in the days of Christ and the Apostles.

Wednesday, April 29 (Day 5 of 11)

4:25 pm - Fly to Rome

7:00 pm - Check into hotel

8:00 pm - Dinner at the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain area, TBA

9:30pm - Free Time/Head back to hotel

Thursday, April 30 (Day 6 of 11)

8:15 am - Travel to the Vatican

9:15 am - Breakfast

10:00 am - St Peter's Basilica

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:30 pm - Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums (1:30 pm entry ticket)

5:15 pm - Castel San Angelo Tickets (5:15 pm entry ticket)

7:30 pm - Photos at Pont Angelo Bridge

8:00 pm - Dinner

10:00 pm - Head back to hotel

Friday, May 1 (Day 7 of 11)

8:15 - 9:00 am - Breakfast

9:00 am - Lecture at hotel

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 pm - Travel to the Ancient Roman Forum (tickets purchased) - additional activites TBA - time permitting

6:00 - 7:00 pm - Dinner/Circus Maximus

7:00 pm - Head back to hotel

7:30 - 10:00 pm - Lecture at hotel

Saturday, May 2 (Day 8 of 11)

9:15 - 10 am - Breakfast

10 am - TBA - numerous options (Ostia Antiqua, Capitoline Hill, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Mamertine Museum, other)

12:30 pm - Lunch

1:30 - 5 pm - *Continue above activites*

5:00 pm - Leave for Airport (FCO airport)

7:35 pm - Board Flight to Athens

8:35 pm - Fly to Athens

Athina (Athens)

We will arrive into Athens on Sunday, April 26, 2026. In the heart of the Mediterranean, the Great Sea, we will land in the ancient land of Hellas (Ἑλλάς), which is the ancient and modern Greek name for "Greece." The city-state of Athens was founded just after the Bronze Age, in the 12th-9th centuries before Christ (B.C.) and continued through the end of classical antiquity (AD 600), the Dark Ages. The The Greek Archipelago is a series of some 2000 islands just off the Western Coast of Turkey, scattered along the Aegean Sea. This will be our first home away from home, as we learn and experience biblical preaching in the cradle of Western Civilization.

About Our Time in Athens: The Cradle of Western Civilization

The third leg of our trip will include two and a half additional days in Athens, Greece, prior to departing. Once again,we will engage in remaining doctoral studies in the field and the classroom, along with visiting other historic sites central to the time of the New Testament epistles.

Saturday, May 2 (Day 8 of 11)

11:35 pm - Arrive in Athens

12:00 am (Midnight) - Train to Downtown Hellas (Athens)

1 am - Check into hotel

Sunday, May 3 (Day 9 of 11)

Morning - Sleep In

11:00 am - Brunch

12:00 pm - Ancient Athens and Stoa Museum (Stoa of Attalos) (entry ticket 12 pm)

2:30 pm - Options: Socrates' Prison, Lyceum, Plato's Academy-Gymnasium, Syntagma Square

5:15 pm - Lycabettus Hill with Funicular and Early Dinner

8:00 pm - Head back to hotel

Monday, May 4 (Day 10 of 11)

6:30 - 7:15 am - Breakfast

7:15 am - Leave for ATH Airport

8:30 am - Reach Airport

9:30 am - Board Plane

10:25 am - Fly to Istanbul

12:00pm - Arrive in Istanbul

About THE CITY OF Istanbul: the Former Ottoman Empire

The final leg of our trip will include a layover with an evening at the land bridge of Euroasia: Istanbul, ancient Constantinople. Here in the headquarters of the Byzantine Church of the Eastern Hemisphere, the city of Constantinople fell to the marauding Islamists of the 11th Century, leading to the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. Time will not allow visits to each of these locations, but this is to give you an overview of the mysterious city that connects East and West and that played such a unique role in the Dark Ages.

Istanbul (IST)

12:00 pm - Arrive in Istanbul/Quick lunch

1:15 pm - Drop off Bags at Hotel

1:15 pm - *(Day Trip into Istanbul - Optional) or stay at hotel*

1:45 pm - Taxi to Istanbul

2:45 pm - Options: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace time-permitting, Blue Mosque, Ancient Bazaar

6:00 pm - Dinner

7:00 pm - Return to Hotel for *early flight*

Tuesday, May 5 (Day 11 of 11)

2:30 am - Check out of hotel

5:00 am - Complete Customs

5:30 am - Board Flight

6:30 am - Fly out of Istanbul to Chicago O'Hare International Airport

9:40 am - Arrive in Chicago, Get Bags and Say Goodbye

Chicago (CHGO)

Arrive in Chicago: Tuesday, May 5.

9:40 am - Arrive in Chicago, Get Bags and Say Goodbye

11:00 am - Winona Lake Group return to Campus

12:00 pm - Lunch

4:00 pm - Drop off car rental in Winona Lake

Pricing

(On Location Students Must Pay 3-Credit-Hour Doctoral Tuition plus Trip Costs

Trip Cost (Seating Limited)

$3700 Student Trip Cost (with subsidy) provided by Grace Seminary's Center for Thriving Leaders' "Proclamation Project." This includes two daily meals, lodging, transfers, transportation, entrance fees, etc. (Excludes 1 meal daily and spending money). Trip flights departing from Chicago and returning to Chicago not to exceed $3700 after subsidy. Students meeting in Winona Lake, IN or Chicago, IL will have no additional transportation fees. Those requiring travel to Chicago O'Hare Airport will need to cover the costs to-from Chicago.
$5700 Non-Student Trip Cost without subsidy (for pilgrims who want to attend sessions, but without taking the doctoral seminar)
Limited seating: 8 students max (student is put on waiting list if above max)
Waitlist students that could not join for trip will have first dibs on next trip
Travel insurance is included in the cost of the trip
Upon enrollment, the total amount gets added to your school account. If you cancel your trip, the school does not cover refunds to pay student account charges. The responsibility for seeking reimbursement from the travel insurance company is that of the student. No guarantee for reimbursement by the Doctoral Program or Grace Seminary is implied.

Up to the Minute Updates

Needed:

March 18, 2026 Update: We need this right away. Send our office (sanderlr@grace.edu) a photo of your current passport information (a clear image or photocopy of your Passport #, Legal Passport Names with suffixes, etc., Issue Date, Expiration Date, Date of Birth, Nationality (your country of citizenship), Passport Country of Issue if different than Nationality, and Sex. Note that we do not only want this "information," but we want the actual image so we can confirm its accuracy and not only have your typed version of the information, which could include a misspell, etc. This is the point of no return, as firm reservations are being made in the coming days and large amounts of financial resources are being obligated by each of us (you and Grace), so the trip is on and moving forward.
April 22, 2026 Update: Here is your flight information (also sent in email).

Flights:

All time zones are local.

Turkish Airlines

April 25th - Saturday → April 26th - Sunday

11:25am ORD - 5:45am IST (TK186) → 7:25am IST - 8:55am ATH (TK1843)

Ryanair

April 29th - Wednesday → May 2nd - Saturday

4:25pm ATH - 5:35pm FCO (FR1199) → 8:35pm FCO - 11:35pm ATH (FR1298)

Turkish Airlines

May 4th - Monday → May 5th - Tuesday

10:25am ATH - 12:00pm IST (TK1844) → 6:30am IST - 9:40am ORD (TK185)

Flight Confirmation Codes/Numbers:

Ryanair is KUJGFC - for Murthlene and Marcelle

Turkish Airlines is RWNTUW - for Murthlene and Marcelle

Ryanair is NUDY4P - for Paulus

Turkish Airlines is WD2I8Z - for Paulus

Ryanair is GRPW2V - for Dr. Cardoza, Christian, Rex, and Bertram

Turkish Airlines is S5UX3A - for Dr. Cardoza, Christian, Rex, and Bertram

Need more information? Contact Dr. Rob Neufer, Director of Admissions at seminary@grace.edu