“Umutla bekleme” (Turkish); “αναμονη” (Greek); “viva attesa” (Italian); “anticipation” (English). Anticipation, it’s the same in every language. “The act of placing something before the proper time.” The old advertising jingle is right. “Anticipation—it’s making me wait.”

Our six year absence from Turkey, part of the Biblical lands of the New Testament, ended December 28, 2006, when our 39 member family boarded British Air flight 268. In every trip there is an expectation of the unexpected. None of us could have anticipated the unexpected to be the first to greet us in Istanbul (“Not Constantinople. Why? That’s nobody’s business but the Turks,” according to that infamous song). We made the connecting flight at Heathrow but our luggage went off on a four day world tour all its own. “Günaydin,” our guide, Tulu, reassured, “good day, everyone” (a greeting as well as a prayer for well-being).

Thus began our crash course, whirlwind introduction in the city where Asia and Europe intersect, where East meets West. Just across the Marmara Sea was a whole new old world. The Hagia Sophia, now a museum that was converted from a mosque in 1935, that was converted from a domed Eastern Orthodox Church in 1453, was rebuilt in 537 under Emperor Justinian’s supervision because the original 4th century structure was destroyed. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (popularly known as the Blue Mosque because of its blue interior or exterior, depending on who you read or listen to) has only been around since 1616. Time prevented us from enjoying other culturally rich icons of Istanbul like the Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and a boat ride to the Bosphorus Strait (which leads into the Black Sea). The Archaeological Museum was our priority—and open! Our most significant find, after Alexander the Great’s sarcophagus, was the lost student of Talbot, c. 2006. The legend says he was rediscovered via a search and rescue device called “cell phone.”

Our flight from Istanbul to Adana, Turkey, was routine and uneventful. Our luggage might have been skiing in the Alps, cruising the Mediterranean, or spanning the globe, who knows?

At year’s end Antioch-on-the-Orontes gave us a glimpse into the great faith of an often overlooked, yet visionary, church in the New Testament. What do we know about the great faith of the Antioch church?

1. The Antioch church was birthed and strengthened in persecution (Acts 11:19).
2. The Antioch church was the first recorded church to prove the faith of a former murderer-persecutor turned pastor-teacher-evangelist to be genuine as well as to participate in the development of his spiritual gift and ministry. Of course, I am referring to Paul (Acts 11:25-26).
3. The Antioch church is the first known to reach out cross-culturally to the (despised by the Jews) Hellenists (Acts 11:20-21).
4. Antioch believers were the first to be called “Christian.” We don’t know whether the name was intended to mock them. However, this title identifies that others recognized a significant distinction in their faith and practice (Acts 11:26).
5. The Antioch church was the first to be recognized for their social work, collecting funds to aid believers suffering in Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30).
6. The Antioch church became the home church and sending church of the first foreign missionaries, commissioning Barnabas and Paul to plant churches. Each of Paul’s three journeys began and ended in Antioch (Acts 13:2-3).
7. The Antioch church was the first to encounter and successfully refute doctrinal error, with the assistance of the Jerusalem church (Acts 14:26-15:2).

Since our visit in Antioch was on the Lord’s Day, we also made our way to Seleucia, the same harbor from which Barnabas and Paul set sail. There we bowed in worship, recalling our Savior’s sacrificial substitution on our behalf and His call to also proclaim the Gospel “to the uttermost part of the earth.”

“Umutla bekleme,” it was worth the wait to return to Turkey. Our anticipation that the Church today resembles the great faith at Antioch and reflects the image of Christ, even in this, it will be worth it all.