TourMagination

01/23/2025

Have you ever travelled with Nelson Kraybill on a TourMagination tour? Nelson has guided many TourMagination groups on Holy Land tours to Israel/Palestine. Last fall he led two groups to Egypt with an extension in Jordan.

We are blessed to people like Nelson leading TourMagination tours. He is a passionate and knowledgeable Biblical scholar and he is fun to be around.

If you have travelled with Nelson, post about your experience in the comments.

In 2025, Nelson will be leading a group on a World of Paul tour in Turkey and Greece.

01/22/2025

We look forward to warmer weather in 4 months as many come together to commemorate the Mennonite World Conference - MWC CMM 500th anniversary of Anabaptism!

Thanks Nina Schroeder-van 't Schip for co-authoring this article post yesterday and for the partnership with us!

https://allardpierson.nl/blog/on-a-cold-winter-night-500-years-ago/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH-PVVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHa_OY7i_fbldUk91w-kqgwKft_E7yAxDuRnH48Zmz26A_0lK7WVPMmZc6w_aem_zeT0d7H4uKVpjhFHMlWU0w

by Nina Schroeder-van ’t Schip & Gwendolyn Verbraak Baptisms at a Bible Study in 1525: 500 years ago, a group of Christians gathered secretly at night on January 21 for a Bible study in Zürich – most likely in the home of...

01/21/2025

Have you travelled on one of TourMagination Faith-based tours?

Maybe you went on a Holy Land tour with Nelson Kraybill.

Or a World of Paul tour with Tom Yoder Neufeld.

Our Sacred Spaces of Ireland Tour and Fresh Perspectives on the History, People, and Church of Cuba tour were a blend of cultural learning and faith.

Travellers loved their experience on the Walking by Faith on the Camino Tour with Fred Redekop & Shirley Redekop.

Post in the comments if you have been on a TourMagination faith-based tour. Tell us what you liked about it.

01/16/2025

The Great Trek to Central Asia is one of the most unique Mennonite stories that our heritage tours explore.

TourMagination collaborated with Hesston College Professor John Sharp to develop the tour.

A professor of history and the Bible, John was captivated by the story of a small group of Mennonites immigrating to Central Asia from Ukraine in 1880.

John gathered facts from first-person accounts of the migration, read books by others on the topic, and visited sites in modern-day Uzbekistan.

Over the years, John has also built relationships with locals, including an Uzbeki scholar with expertise on the Mennonite sojourn in his country.

This tour is a rich cultural learning and heritage experience.

Travellers with ancestors who made the trek find the tour meaningful. But so do people with a more general interest in Mennonite history.

TourMagination offered the first Great Trek to Central Asia tour in 2013.

He will take his 7th group on Silk Road Odyssey: The Great Trek to Central Asia, October 5-18, 2025.

01/14/2025

TourMagination was founded in 1970 to help Anabaptists explore their heritage. Over the past 55 years, our expert tour leaders have guided thousands to explore their roots in Europe, Russia/Ukraine, Mexico, Paraguay, and Central Asia.

This year, we’re excited to gather with hundreds of Anabaptists at the Mennonite World Conference - MWC CMM Courage to Love event on May 29 in Zurich, Switzerland. Our three tours are full and so are the tours we organized for Eastern Mennonite University and Conrad Grebel University College.

If you travel to Zurich on your own, we will see you there!

Visit our website for our heritage tours in Central Asia, Poland, and Western Europe in 2025 and 2026.

www.tourmagination.com

01/09/2025

Are you feeling discouraged by tensions in society and the Church? Polarization is nothing new. Christians in the early church were learning to live in tension with pagan society and the Roman empire.

Join Anabaptist biblical scholar Nelson Kraybill for a webinar on January 30 that will give you hope and wisdom from the lives of St. Paul and St. John.

Webinar: Reconciling Witnesses in a Fractured World: Insights from the Early Church
Thursday, January 30 at 5 pm PT/ 7 pm CT, 8 pm ET

After the presentation, hear about Nelson's upcoming tour in Türkiye and Greece that further explores bridging polarization in the world of Paul and John. Also includes time for Q & A.

The session will be recorded and shared with all who register.

REGISTER ON ZOOM from the link in the comments.

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Are you feeling discouraged by tensions in society and the Church? Join Anabaptist biblical scholar Nelson Kraybill for a webinar that will give you hope and wisdom from the lives of St. Paul and St. John. Polarization is nothing new. Christians in the early church were learning to live in tension w...

01/09/2025

Greetings from Switzerland & Happy New Year!

Richard Bergmann and Diane Bergmann started the New Year doing some tour research, and connecting with local historians and guides all in preparation for the tours that are coming together around the 500 year commemoration event in Zurich.

Their son was able to join them and it was special to visit many Anabaptist heritage sites. Many of these sites will be familiar to our clients - just as peaceful but a little colder now with some snow. Oh, and the snow on the trail leading up to the Anabaptist cave was perfect for a snowball break!

01/07/2025

Have you travelled on a Holy Land Tour or an Egypt Tour with Nelson Kraybill?

If you enjoyed touring with Nelson, join him for the Journey the World of Paul & John in Türkiye & Greece Tour.

On this tour, expect to deepen your faith as you expand your knowledge about the lives of St. Paul and St. John.

View the itinerary
https://www.tourmagination.com/tours/2025-world-of-paul-and-john-tour-in-turkiye-and-greece

01/03/2025

We talked with Nelson Kraybill about a webinar we're planning with him at the end of January. Nelson has an interest in polarization and a passion for peacemaking.

His most recent book is titled, Stuck Together: The Hope of Christian Witness in a Polarized World.

The webinar will explore how to be a "reconciling witness" in a polarized world. This topic is related to Nelson's upcoming tour Journey the World of Paul & John in Türkiye & Greece.

In our conversation, Nelson said that the apostle Paul gave his life to be a reconciling agent between Jews and Gentiles in his day. In contrast, John gave up on the Roman Empire and wanted nothing to do with it.

Stay tuned for more details about the webinar.

01/02/2025

What kind of travel will you do in 2025?
Will you see family?
Travel on your own?
Join a group tour or cruise?

Post your plans in the comments. We would love to hear where you’re going and what you’re doing.

12/23/2024

Watch a heartfelt Christmas greeting from TourMagination owners Richard and Diane Bergmann.

12/23/2024

Merry Christmas from the TourMagination team!

Wishing you peace, joy, and love this holiday season.

- Richard, Diane, Audrey, Preetha, Sandra, and Jass

Curious about the rich history of the beautiful carol Silent Night? Learn more https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/stille-nacht-silent-night

Please note the TourMagination office will be closed from Tuesday, December 24 at noon to Thursday, December 26. We re-open on Friday, December 27.

12/10/2024

Do you have a favourite Christmas tradition?

In some families, members receive a new ornament each year.

Others bake a particular kind of treat--like snickerdoodles or sugar cookies.

In the comments, share one of your Christmas traditions!

Read this week's eMagination to find out about Richard Bergman and Diane Bergmann's favourite holiday activities. Also discover where TourMagination's owners will be travelling in December 2025.

12/06/2024

Where is this Christmas market? We'll give you a hint, it's one of the ports where TourMagination travellers will be next year on their Christmas Treasures of Southeast Europe river cruise from December 1 - 8, 2025! Staterooms are selling fast and discounted by $750/pp until December 31, 2024. We'll be celebrating the joy of Christmas together while enjoying markets, incredible food, culture, history, music, all the while being pampered on a luxury river cruise! Join Audrey Voth Petkau, Richard Bergmann & Diane Bergmann as we celebrate together next year at this time!

11/28/2024