A few words about Gordon Matties: In 1977 Gordon traveled through Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Greece. He spent seven weeks in Israel, studying at the American Institute of Holy Land Studies (now Jerusalem University College) and working on an archaeological dig (Lachish). After teaching at Concord College (then Mennonite Brethren Bible College) for seven years, he took his family to Jerusalem for eight months (1991-92). They lived on the border between Jerusalem and the West Bank, within walking distance of Bethlehem. They got to know shopkeepers in Bethlehem and explored the nooks and crannies of Jerusalem's Old City. Today Gordon is a Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at Canadian Mennonite University. This will be his seventh tour to the Middle East since 1993.