Travel Changes Us by Dr. Tony Evans

Those who have traveled to other countries will tell you that it can be a life-changing experience. I know, because I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to visit places all over the globe, including Israel, Ephesus, Greece and China, and several sites closer to home, such as Alaska. And wherever I go, traveling teaches me to see things in a different way.

Most of my travels have been connected with my ministry, the Urban Alternative. We’ve hosted travelers in locations around the world, helping them discover the difference travel can make in their lives. There is something powerful about the opportunity to get away from the stresses and distractions of your daily life so that you can see things in a fresh way.

On the trips we’ve hosted, we explore new places and different cultures and provide opportunities to focus anew on God and His Word. Along with relaxation and exploration, we always include times of preaching, teaching and worshiping in our journeys. Let me tell you, there is nothing like worshiping with other believers in the pristine beauty of the Alaska wilderness or studying God’s Word in the very locations where biblical events unfolded.

As we praise God in some of the most beautiful places He created, we get a fresh understanding of His glory and grandeur. Searching the Scriptures while walking where Jesus walked gives us a new and deeper understanding of the Bible. Scripture comes to life before our very eyes—and the visual sights and sounds of the Holy Land will forever change our experience of reading God’s Word.

Trailer of the documentary Tony Evans produced in Israel, Journey with Jesus

When you travel, you’ll find yourself transformed as you come into contact with unique places around the globe and rub shoulders with a variety of cultures, customs and communities. Traveling can broaden your perspective of the world and deepen your understanding of the unique ways that God works with His people everywhere. On a trip that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of your normal everyday life, you’ll also experience four powerful R’s: Rest, Rejuvenation, Renewal and Relationship. 

We all need:

• Rest to detach ourselves from the pressures of life and the stresses of our jobs and responsibilities. 
• Rejuvenation to reconnect with God and draw from His strength. 
• Renewal to refocus our lives and recommit ourselves to God’s service.
• Relationships to meet new people and make new connections. One of the things that people enjoy most about our travel experiences is making new friendships with others who share the same passion for God and His Kingdom.

This is why we have made travel experiences one of the opportunities we regularly offer through our ministry. In the majestic splendor of God’s creation, we learn and grow, relax and refresh and remember that this glory is but a reflection of the glory of God Himself.

We’ve found that travel makes a difference in the lives of those who’ve joined us on our journeys by providing new and unique experiences, new and deepened friendships and new levels of commitment to God. Each of these is the fruit of the travels we sponsor. I hope you’ll join us on one of our journeys.