Fellowship happens best when we share the journey. There is a unique power in stepping outside the sanctuary walls and exploring the roots of your faith together. Whether it is walking the shores of Galilee, tracing the steps of the Reformers, or simply retreating to a quiet place to pray and reconnect, travel offers a context for discipleship that a Sunday sermon simply cannot match. We handle the complexities of the journey so you can focus on shepherding the flock.
Your Ministry, Our Logistics
We know that you are the spiritual leader, not a travel coordinator. Your calling is to teach, to comfort, and to guide—not to manage bus schedules or negotiate hotel contracts. We partner with Pastors and Ministry Leaders to graft professional travel logistics onto your ministry vision. We build the infrastructure that allows you to lead a pilgrimage or retreat with confidence, knowing that the details of safety, comfort, and timing are in expert hands. You bring the Word; we prepare the way.
How We Help Your Congregation
Organizing a trip for a church family requires a specific touch—one that balances stewardship, accessibility, and community. Here is how we support your vision:
Ministry-Aligned Design
We start with your intent. Are you seeking historical education? Deep spiritual renewal? Is it simply a time of joy and bonding for your couples or singles ministry? Or do you need creative ways to fundraise for a capital campaign? We curate the itinerary to match that purpose, ensuring there are spaces for daily devotionals, private worship, and reflection amidst the sightseeing.
Congregation Engagement & Information
We understand that a church trip is a significant commitment for your members. We support your announcement efforts by creating professional brochures and information packets. We can even host a "Q&A Sunday" (virtually or in-person) to answer questions about safety, mobility, and costs, taking the administrative burden off the church office.
Accessible & Inclusive Travel
A church family includes every generation, from the youth group to the elders. We specialize in managing the diverse needs of a congregation, ensuring that our hotels have elevators, our buses are accessible, and that dietary restrictions are handled with care. We ensure that the 80-year-old member feels just as comfortable and included as the 20-year-old.
Stewardship & Fundraising
We respect that cost is a factor. We work to provide maximum value, leveraging our industry connections to secure competitive group rates. Additionally, we can structure the trip pricing to include a fundraising margin—turning the journey into a way to support a specific mission project or the church building fund seamlessly.
A Note From Our Founder & Principal Travel Advisor
I grew up in the church, and in fact my passion for traveling the world was nurtured year after year on short-term missions trips. I've served in a variety of roles from volunteering with kids as a AWANA Leader, to serving as Moderator (aka Board President) for my home UCC congregation. I have a deep understanding of and respect for all Communities of Faith, and am passionate about helping yours deepen your connection with each other and the world through travel. While we may share different backgrounds or creeds, we are all in pursuit of a more faithful and loving life, and that's the passion that drives Outward Travel.
Ideas for Faith-Forward Journeys
Travel brings the Bible and church history to living color. Here are a few ways we have helped congregations deepen their faith through travel:
The Early Church
Greece & Turkey
Trace the missionary journeys of Paul through the ancient world. Often best experienced via Ocean Cruise, this itinerary allows your group to visit Ephesus, Corinth, and Athens with ease. The ship provides a consistent, comfortable home base for fellowship and evening devotionals, while the days are spent exploring the very stones where the early church was built.
Sacred Sounds
Choir & Worship Tours
For music ministries, the acoustics of a modern building cannot compare to the soaring stone arches of Europe’s great cathedrals. We can arrange performance opportunities for your choir in historic venues across Britain, France, or Germany. Picture your worship team’s voices filling a 12th-century nave, connecting your present-day praise with centuries of believers who have sung in that same space.
The Reformation Route
Along the Rivers of Europe
For congregations with a deep appreciation for theology and history, a River Cruise down the Rhine or Elbe offers a front-row seat to the Reformation. Visit the doors where Luther posted his theses in Wittenberg or the home of Calvin in Geneva. The intimate setting of a river ship allows for nightly lectures and theological discussions, turning the voyage into a floating seminary.
The "Koinonia" Retreat
Fellowship & Marriage
Sometimes, the goal is simply to disconnect from the world and reconnect with each other. For marriage ministries or leadership teams, a takeover of a Shared Villa or a retreat at a quiet All-Inclusive Resort offers the perfect container. We find the spaces that offer no distractions—just beautiful creation, good food, and the time to pour into relationships and pray together without the noise of daily life.
