Reflecting on the 2025 Forge Turkey Trip

Editor’s Note: The following story was shared by Kyndra “Crusty” Samaniego, a current student of Pine Cove’s Forge program. 

The Forge Class of 2025 is back from Turkey! A once-in-a-lifetime trip like this is not easy to put into words, but we’re going to try our best to recap all the incredible experiences we had for you!

Day 1: Antalya Harbor, Antalya Museum, Roman Road

Our first day in Turkey, we hit the ground running! We began our trip by sitting at the harbor of Antalya, a harbor that Paul sailed out of at the end of his first missionary journey! As we sat on the rocks of the harbor, Forge Director Jared Schuler led our group in discussion about the person of Paul and the significance of God choosing him to spread the Gospel. Next, we visited a museum that housed Perga artifacts, some of which were 2,000 years old. Our last stop of Day 1 was hiking a Roman road. Here, Forge Men’s Director Tyler Arnold reminded us that while Rome used these roads to increase their power and display their own glory, God used these roads for His own purpose and to bring glory to Himself.

Day 2: Aspendos, Perga

Day 2 marked the end of our time in Antalya. As we said goodbye to this beautiful city, we made our way to a theatre in Aspendos! Jared explained how entertainment played a key role in Roman culture, often serving as propaganda. Roman actors wore masks to portray specific characters, and Jared challenged us to consider how we do the same. Sitting in the theatre, we reflected on how culture sells a false Gospel of “the good life” and our need for Jesus to tune our hearts to His truth so we can be a theatre for the Gospel! After our time in Aspendos, we headed to Perga to learn about Paul and his traveling companions during his missionary journeys. We learned about Barnabas and how his credibility within the church likely paved the way for Paul to take the gospel as far as he did. Jared then posed a thought-provoking question: How different would the church be if we celebrated others’ gifts instead of comparing ourselves?

Day 3: Pisidian Antioch

We loaded up the bus for Day 3 and headed to Pisidian, Antioch! We began our day at an ancient theatre where Jared taught us about the inter-testimonial period or, the period of 400 years of silence in the Bible between the book of Malachi and Matthew. We were reminded that though the Bible was silent, the world and history was not, and we gained a deeper understanding of the events leading up to Christ’s coming. We then walked to the place where Paul preached his first sermon! How crazy! We talked about Acts 13 and how Paul, a Roman citizen, was preaching a Christian Gospel rooted in Judaism to a gentile world. In this location, Paul boldly declared the Gospel and paved the way for us to be able to do the same.

Day 4: Hierapolis, Laodicea, Colossae

Day 4 began with an unforgettable sunrise hot air balloon ride—what a blessing! Following this experience, we headed to our next destination, the city of Hierapolis. We had a conversation about Philip and his pursuit of the good life in Christ. Sitting in a martyrium built in his honor, Jared shared about Philip’s unwavering commitment to the Gospel, despite trials. After this time of reflection, we visited Pamukkale, a series of natural hot pools known for their healing properties, which beautifully cascade over the cliffs. We then travelled on to the city of Colossea, a city that is completely unexcavated. Forge Women’s Director Jacqueline Schrock taught us about the book of Philemon. Philemon was a man who lived in Colossae and through him, we learned that the good life is letting the character of Christ set the terms of your own. We ended the day in Laodicea, a city known for its great wealth, influence and ingenuity. This city was ultimately called out by Jesus for letting the presumed “good life” of their culture strangle their faith. But Jesus, in His kindness, wanted to restore their relationship with Him, reminding us that the true good life is abiding in Him, even when the world says otherwise.

Day 5: Aphrodisias, Philadelphia 

This morning, we began by traveling to Aphrodisias. We visited one of the most preserved stadiums in the area where Jacqueline taught us about the sixth aspect of the Roman world: sport. This stadium allowed us to see the imagery Paul had in mind when he would remind his letter recipients about what it means to not run the race of life in vain. Afterwards, we walked to the temple of Aphrodite where Jared taught us about the seventh aspect of the Roman world: sex. We talked about 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 and how the key to fleeing lustful passions is walking with Christ and letting Him lead. Next, we visited a Sebasteion in Aphrodisias. This structure depicted many different images but when looked at from a distance, portrayed one cohesive story. This reminded us that when the Church comes together, we create something amazing. Our last stop of Day 5 was a hill overlooking some incredible vineyards. Here, Tyler taught us about the church in Philadelphia. He told us that despite the pressures that Rome pushed on the church to conform, the church here stood firm… and praise God!

Day 6: Sardis, Pergamum Acropolis (upper)

We started Day 6 by visiting the city of Sardis which was separated into two locations due to an earthquake. At the first location, Jared taught us about security at the temple of Artemis. At the second location of Sardis, we learned about the righteous remnant that was left in the city of that time. Sardis was known for its white wool, a metaphor Jesus uses in Revelation 3:4-5 to describe those clothed in unsoiled white garments—reminding us that our security must be in Christ alone. The last site of this day was the acropolis in Pergamum. Jared walked us around this windy city and taught us about the copious amounts of pagan worship that took place. At Trajan’s temple, Jared taught us about the connection between the Roman Triumph and Mark’s account of the crucifixion. Though the Romans sought to humiliate Jesus, Peter saw Jesus’s crucifixion as the coronation of the true Son of God.

Day 7: Lower Pergamum, Smyrna

Day 7 began with us finishing our time in the lower half of Pergamum! We started at what used to be a hospital where people would come not only seeking health from their sicknesses but also baths, massages and even physical therapy. What was crazy about this was that these treatments were never free, but required payment via sacrifices to Asclepius. Next, we walked to a tunnel where Jared described the mental tension early Christians faced as they struggled against compromising their faith for relief through sacrifices to Asclepius. Our journey continued in Desen at the Carpet Weavers Association, where we learned all about Turkish rugs and even watched them being made—such a unique experience! We then traveled to Smyrna, a wealthy port city where the church endured intense persecution. Tyler shared how, though Jesus didn’t promise deliverance, He called them to remain faithful in the fire. This led to a challenging question: When we face trials, do we seek their removal, or do we embrace them? We ended the day at the beach, taking our infamous class photo—a memory that will live on the wall of the Mahalo for years to come!

Day 8: Ephesus, Ephesus Museum

On Day 8, we explored Ephesus, the fourth-largest city in the Roman Empire. Walking the same streets as Paul and other biblical figures, we reflected on Acts 19—how one man and one message flipped the city’s economy and social order upside down. Ephesus was known for its strong doctrine and rejection of evil, a legacy shaped by Paul’s two years of preaching there. After Ephesus, we toured a museum and visited a Turkish leather shop before spending the evening strolling through the city’s streets, wrapping up another incredible day.

Day 9: Priene, Didyma, Miletus

On our last full day in Turkey, we stood among the ruins of a church in Priene, reflecting on what it means to stand firm in God’s grace and how He uses that to transform the world around us. After this, we visited Didyma, a city known for its Temple to Apollo. Here, we learned about the lengthy process of receiving an oracle, involving the need to cleanse oneself before entering with holy water, making a sacrificial offering before a priest, and then waiting for the priest to intercede. What a powerful reminder that, as Christians, we are already cleansed, Christ is our sacrifice, and we have direct access to God’s presence. Our final site of the trip was Miletus. We learned about Paul’s desire for God’s work to be done on earth as it is in heaven, which meant encouraging the elders of Ephesus to continue in faithfulness.

Our trip ended in a way only the Lord could ordain! While staying at our hotel, we met another group from the States also traveling Paul’s missionary journey. One conversation led to another, and soon, one of their members was leading us in hymns around the hotel lobby piano. We sang for hours, even drawing in curious hotel guests. It was the most beautiful gift and reminder of the Gospel’s power—alive and at work in a country where 98% of the population is Muslim. The Lord used this moment to show us that His Kingdom is at hand!

The Forge Class of 2025 is deeply grateful for this incredible trip. We pray that what we’ve learned in Turkey deepens our adoration of Christ and our gratitude for the Gospel.