Take a Christian TourWOX with Turning Point • Reformation Tour • June 5-17, 2010

Join this unforgettable Christian Reformation Tour to Europe with Dr. David Jeremiah and Turning Point Ministries

More Media · Oberammergau Story · Oberammergau Overview

David Jeremiah
Charles Billingsley

Over the years Donna and I have had the rare pleasure to travel to many beautiful and relaxing places and share the experience of meeting new friends and believers while enjoying quality time with one another and our Lord. I am excited to share with you this European tour where we’ll be tracing significant steps in church history.

Beginning our adventure in the great city of Prague, expect to have the same wonderful time laughing and growing with like–minded travelers as we explore some of the best sights of Europe. We’ll visit breathtaking German and Switzerland towns, discover ancient churches, private homes, candle-lit studios and cobblestone streets, where men of faith walked hundreds of years ago. Stand in giant cathedrals, walk the steps of stone castles, and look out over ancient towns as we retrace the steps of belief that ignited a whole continent to new Faith.

In each city and every stop along the way, we’ll share the story of great men of passion and belief who fanned into flame ideas that would become the foundation for the Protestant faith. Hear of Martin Luther’s passionate pounding on the church door, of Calvin and Zwingli’s efforts in Switzerland, and of John Huss and John Wycliffe, who took radical steps toward new thought and dared to stand on the Bible as their source for belief. Inevitably, the story of the Reformation is a story of these men and their great vision—one that will encourage and transform your faith as you hear it retold.

While tracing the story of the Reformation, we’ll stop in Oberammergau, Germany in perfect time to see the famous Passion Play, a special event performed every 10 years. This five hour play tells the story of Jesus’ last days on earth in a compelling way that will also stir your faith to action. Throughout the tour I will lead you in special teaching times of praise and worship along with our special guest, Charles Billingsley.

I can’t imagine a better opportunity to get away or learn more about the history of our Faith. Fulfill your dream of seeing Europe by coming with us on this wonderful tour. Donna and I would consider it a privilege to host you for this exciting Turning Point tour, and hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Visit the David Jeremiah website

Join this unforgettable Christian Reformation Tour to Europe with Dr. David Jeremiah and Turning Point Ministries

Charles Billingsley

Billingsley’s desire to share the gospel is what propels his busy life. A husband and father of two young sons, Charles not only serves as worship leader at Thomas Road, appearing weekly on their nationally televised Live from Liberty TV program, he is also the Artist-in-Residence at Liberty University, the largest evangelical university in the world. Billingsley also serves as senior adviser to more than 600 students in Liberty’s Center for Worship. A former lead vocalist of the veteran group, NewSong, Billingsley continues to be much in demand as a solo artist, performing over a 100 concerts a year, including church dates and numerous conferences.

After many vibrant years in music ministry, Billingsley experienced a soul-shaking challenge in 2008. “For the first time in my life, I was facing the prospect of not being able to sing and that was just the weirdest feeling ever.” He traveled to New York for laser surgery, and in the aftermath had to be totally silent for five days.

On that silent Sunday, unable to lead worship, unable to utter a word, Billingsley decided to take a drive in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. “It became the single greatest worship experience of my life, ‘What am I going to do? What if I never sing again?’ and I rediscovered that morning what it means to worship the Lord and I discovered that I could worship God without a note, without a song, and without a voice. God brought this little bend in the road to my life so I could re-focus and I am so thankful for that time.”

The experience has affected not only his spirit of worship, but you can hear it in his singing. It comes from the soul of a man who has experienced every word he’s singing.

It’s that ability to be transparent in his struggles that endears Billingsley to other believers and prompts people everywhere to seek the peace he’s so obviously found in his relationship with the Lord.

June 5 (Depart U.S.)

June 6 (Arrive and Overnight in Prague)

June 7 (Prague, Czech Republic)

Statue of John Huss, Bethlehem Chapel, Old Town Square, Clock of the Apostles (Astronomical Clock), Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square & Hradcany Castle

June 8 (Leipzig, Germany)

St. Thomas Church, Bach Museum, St. Nicolas Church & Explore Leipzig

June 9 (Erfurt, Germany)

Augustinian Monastery, Drive by St. Mary’s Cathedral, Church of St. Severus & Explore Erfurt

June 10 (Wittenberg, Germany)

Castle Church—Ninety-five Theses Doors, Town Square Q&A, Lutherhalle Museum and Statue, Melanchthon House & St. Mary’s Church

June 11 (Eisenach, Germany)

St. George’s Church, Luther Haus, Bach Haus and Museum, Bach Statue & the Wartburg Castle

June 12 (Mainz/Worms, Germany)

Gutenberg Museum and Theater, Luther “Here I Stand” Plaque & the Reformation Monument

June 13 (Oberammergau, Germany)

Passion Play

June 14 (Bavarian Region, Germany/Zurich, Switzerland)

Neuschwanstein Castle

June 15 (Zurich, Switzerland)

Grossmunster Church, Reformation Bells, Zwingli Monument & St. Peter’s Church

June 16 (Geneva, Switzerland)

Reformation Wall, Knox Auditorium, St-Pierre Cathedral, City drive to view United Nations & the World Council of Churches

June 17 (Depart for U.S.)

The History of the Protestant Reformation

Wander from city to city on a European tour that visits the homes, churches, and important sites associated with Huss, Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli and the early Protestant church. Investigate little Bavarian towns, grab an afternoon latte along the streets and byways of ancient cities, and stand in awe-inspiring castles and cathedrals that bend the heart toward devotion of our Lord and Savior—all as you learn the history and see the places that shaped centuries of new faith.

Once every 10 years, at the start of a new decade, local residents of the small German town of Oberammergau perform the Passionsspiele (Passion Play), a dramatic recreation of the last days of Christ. Gathering over 2000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and technicians, residents of the village participate in bringing the story of Jesus of Nazareth to the ears and eyes of the audience in a five-hour presentation on the impressive open-air stage.

One of Germany’s oldest festivals, the Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634 as a result of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village that if God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague, they would perform a play in dedication to Him every ten years. When death rates subsided, the inhabitants of the village believed they were spared—and have been performing the Passion Play since with few interruptions.

The Oberammergau play has a running time of approximately five hours and a meal is served during the intermission of the play. Audiences come from all over the world, in numbers ranging in the hundreds of thousands, to watch and participate in giving glory to God. The play comprises spoken dramatic text, musical and choral accompaniment and scenes from the Old Testament depicted for the audience by actors accompanied by verbal description.

Come, join us in 2010 to see the village perform the play for the 41st time, and share this world-famous event with believers from all around the globe!