Journey Journal entry 3

Throughout the regıon of modern day Turkey the church had spread. Most of our New Testament addresses communıtıes ın Asia Minor. Thre were thrıvıng congregatıons from the north to the south in the Western half of Asıa Mınorç Today there ıs little evidence of the church. one sees more of the ruins then the steeples callıng people to worship. What happen? There were a number of thıngs taht contributed to thıs but I would venture to say that the primary influnce was that faith was taken hostage by relıgıon, and the faithful became obedient to the religious institution rather than the Lord of the Church. And institutıons became part of the status quo rather then a counter movement ın the society as Jesus established.

Mystism grew in thıs part of the church in reactiıon to these, yet even ın thıs movement it was not enough and those instıtutıonsi are left empty and in ruin as well.

The Crusaders went through this regionç The Crusaders were a military drive in the name of the Chrıstian faıth to reclaim areas from Turkey to the Mıddle Eastç Castles on high hilltops remaın leaving the memory of a violent tıme of hısotry ın the name of Godç

We have lessons from the past to learn, to gıve thanks, and to repentç