(Clockwise from left) The veteran "Sailing Acts" crew, Linford and Janet Stutzman, plotting the next leg. Sailing into the ancient Roman harbor of Knidos this spring, the Stutzmans discovered that the Admiral, the gulet they reserved for the 鈥淥n the Face of the Deep鈥� tour in October 2025, was also anchored there. Last year's "Alumni and Friends" group in the old Olympic Stadium in Athens.

Longtime cross-cultural leaders plan final voyage

by Ryan Cornell

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water.

Genesis 1:2 (New King James Version)
Dr. Linford Stutzman with students during an intercultural trip to the Middle East. He and his wife Janet are leading an “Alumni and Friends” sailing trip to the Mediterranean in October 2025.

After leading groups of students and alumni to the Mediterranean for more than two decades, Dr. Linford Stutzman 鈥�84, SEM 鈥�90, and his wife Janet Stutzman SEM 鈥�91 are putting together a 鈥済rand finale鈥� of a trip. And they鈥檙e pulling out all the stops for this one. 

The trip, named 鈥淥n the Face of the Deep鈥� after a verse from Genesis, will take travelers on a voyage that follows parts of Paul鈥檚 mission journeys in the book of Acts, October 4-13, 2025. Passengers aboard two gulets (a traditional Turkish wooden sailing vessel) will explore the archeological sites of Ephesus and Perge, take in the Aegean islands of Samos, Patmos, Kos and Rhodes, and immerse themselves in the rich culture and history of the Mediterranean. 

鈥淲hen you see the Mediterranean Sea in person, it blows your mind,鈥� Janet Stutzman said. 鈥淧eople can鈥檛 believe how blue the water is. They鈥檝e never seen anything like it.鈥�

Take of the gulets!

Guests on the 10-day tour will spend each night on the gulet in private suites. They鈥檒l savor Mediterranean cuisine each day, learn stories of the sea from history and from Scripture, enjoy performances of original sea shanties by alumni a cappella group Cantore, and engage in spirited discussions. 

鈥淧eople will be sharing their own life stories and observations,鈥� Linford Stutzman said. 鈥淭hose conversations can go on for hours after a meal is done because they鈥檙e so fascinating. That鈥檚 what makes this more than a tour.鈥�

The gulets sail from the port of Kusadasi, Turkey, on Oct. 6, ending in Fethiye, Turkey, on Oct. 11.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my favorite time of the year to visit,鈥� said Linford Stutzman. 鈥淭he water is warm and the days aren鈥檛 hot.鈥�

The trip is part of 91短视频鈥檚 鈥淎lumni and Friends鈥� series of cross-cultural tours and is open to alumni, current and former parents, and friends of alumni. There is space aboard the gulets for 60 guests who will travel together. The total cost of the trip is $5,500 per traveler plus airfare. The first payment of $2,500 is due Sept. 1, 2024.

All proceeds from the trip go directly to current 91短视频 students in need of financial support on their intercultural semester.

Learn more about the trip and register here!

91短视频 the leaders

Linford Stutzman spent more than 25 years as a professor at 91短视频 teaching culture, religion and mission courses. Janet Stutzman served as director of alumni and parent relations for 13 years.

The globe-trotting couple is well-known in the 91短视频 community for their decades of experience leading intercultural programs and Alumni and Friends tours. This tour is one that Linford and Janet Stutzman say they鈥檝e dreamt of sharing with others since a sabbatical trip 20 years ago.

From 2004 to 2005, the Stutzmans sailed 4,000 miles over 16 months to visit every port linked to Paul鈥檚 travels in Acts. Their journey is detailed in Linford Stutzman鈥檚 book, published by Good Books. 

Students from a 2011 intercultural trip to the Mediterranean Sea sail out of a small port in Greece.

The couple has led similar sailing trips in the Mediterranean since then, but not to this scale. It will also mark the first to feature the sea shanties sung by Cantore, Linford Stutzman said. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e never done anything of this magnitude before,鈥� he said.

Lyrics to the shanties were written by the 91短视频 professor emeritus and are based on biblical stories involving the sea.

Listen to clips of the album of sea shanties .

Through their years of leading tours in the region, Linford and Janet Stutzman have built up a network of connections. They鈥檝e tapped into that network to reserve the top gulets and travel guides. 

Those who have taken trips with the Stutzmans form lifelong friendships with one another and meet for reunions years after their trips end. They say their experience forever changed the way they read the Bible and the stories of Paul in Acts, Linford Stutzman said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a story you can鈥檛 fully appreciate unless you experience it yourself and immerse yourself in it,鈥� he said.

For more information, contact the alumni office at 540-432-4206.

Discussion on “Longtime cross-cultural leaders plan final voyage”

  1. I鈥檓 not sure if my registration went through for the Acts October 2025 trip.

  2. Did you contact the 91短视频 Alumni Office? They are handling the registrations. Linford

    1. I would like to know if persons in wheelchairs could take part. I am not wheelchair bound but for distance traveling I need the chair.

  3. Ellen, if you can walk up the gangplank, and on the boat walk the deck and up and down steps, you would be okay on the boat. For land excursions, longer distances would be challenging as there are often places that are not wheelchair friendly or accessible at all. So participation would likely be possible for some, but not all of the options. L

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