Neville Callam and I travelled to Izmir in Turkey on the afternoon of Saturday, March 21, after a hectic week in Jordan. The highlight of the week in Jordan was the official opening and dedication of the Baptism Center by the Jordan River. The Baptism Center is closely approximate to the place where it is believed John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
Asia Minor, mentioned in scripture, is roughly equivalent to modern western Turkey, where Ephesus, Pergamum, Sardis, Miletus, and other towns and cities mentioned in the Bible can be found. Izmir is biblical Smyrna, one of the seven cities referred to in Revelation chapters two and three.
The trip to Izmir is a pastoral visit with Baptists in Turkey.
Baptist World Alliance Associate Director of Communications, Eron Henry, blogs about the BWA visit to Jordan and Turkey, including the dedication of the Baptism Center in Bethany beyond Jordan.
The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of 214 Baptist conventions and unions comprising a membership of more than 37 million baptized believers and a community of 105 million.
