Experience the sights, flavors of Egypt with international luncheon April 14

Event: Afternoon Sabbatical – "International Meal and Egypt Tour"
Date and time: Tuesday, April 14 at noon
Location: College Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall
Cost: $20; the reservation deadline is April 3
For more information or to make reservations: call College Relations (574) 535-7565 or e-mail edutravel@goshen.edu

GOSHEN, Ind. – The international luncheon, which has been an annual part of Goshen College Afternoon Sabbaticals, will introduce Egypt this year. On Tuesday, April 14, at noon in the College Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall, President James Brenneman, Dr. Terri Plank Brenneman, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Will Jones and Director of Major Gifts Jim Caskey will introduce a nation at the crossroads of historic and modern developments. The meal registration deadline is April 3.

The presenters experienced Egypt in 2008 during a tour of Goshen College board members and supporters as they traveled as ambassadors at the invitation of Moustapha Sarhank, an Egyptian scholar in the interdisciplinary field of leadership, psychology and religion and the honorary chairman of Sarhank Group for Investments. This group packed everything from classical pharaonic sites to modern day political leaders into a whirlwind visit.

"Our theme for the trip was 'From Goshen to Goshen,' in which we used the biblical story of Joseph's sojourn in Egypt as a metaphor for our own journey to this ancient land of pharaohs and sheikdoms," Brenneman said.

Following a traditional Egyptian meal with kebabs, hummus, baba ghanoush and other Middle Eastern foods, the presentation will include stories, photos, videos and cultural artifacts. President Brenneman will call for greater dialogue and exchanges between Christians and Muslims. "In this day and age when some have tried to articulate a 'war between civilizations' as it pertains to Christian and Muslim belief systems, it's an opportune time for Goshen College to begin to take small steps into open doors," said Brenneman, who is an Old Testament scholar. "I feel deeply about what Goshen College has to offer and learn from having a presence in the Middle East."

The meal and program cost $20; registration deadline is April 3 with a late fee of $5 added after that date. To register for the event, call College Relations at (574) 535-7565 or e-mail edutravel@goshen.edu.

Future programs in the Afternoon Sabbatical series:
• May 6 – Spring bus trip: Holland Tulip Festival. Cost: $95. To register, call (574) 535-7565.

For Afternoon Sabbaticals, acommittee of area representatives and college personnel consider the knowledge and talent at Goshen College and among Elkhart County citizens and aim to select programs that will appeal to a wide variety of interests. The program began and continues from the idea that people can use a sabbatical from their daily lives to refresh their minds and spirits.

Editors: For more information about this release, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.