For nearly 800 delegates it was one of those unique moments in time - the ability to look forward and back in the same instant!

On the shores of the Mediterranean and surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Taurus Mountains, Canadian Alliance representatives were able to understand, in dramatic fashion, the challenges facing the Apostle Paul and Barnabas as they arrived in the Antalya region and prepared to preach and teach the gospel in Asia Minor. The size of the mountains was and is daunting; and the apostles did not have modern luxury coaches to help them cruise over to Pisidian Antioch and the towns and cities of the interior plains.

At the same time, delegates looked ahead?considering new strategies for global outreach and church planting in Canada through the Sea to Sea initiative. In all, the first General Assembly ever held outside the country brought together 778 delegates?approximately 678 from Canada and 100 from international fields.

More than 160 of them also engaged in road trips to meet with their cluster International Workers across the Desert Sand, Silk Road and Asian Spice regions to experience, first-hand, the challenges and potential of closer linkages between local churches and field workers.

For numerous delegates, stepping into Turkey was, in many ways, stepping outside their comfort zone. 'Awesome' was a word heard frequently as delegates interacted in a fresh manner with International Workers and experienced the challenges of living and working in a country that was in many ways 'different' from home.

One delegate said the experience "exceeded my expectations 100-fold." Another shared that the opportunity gave a fresh appreciation for international ministries.

While business occupied the days, evenings were replete with rich worship services. The integration of global work, personal spiritual growth and communitymindedness was all woven into the fabric created by the evening services.

The imperative of continuing international work was highlighted during a stirring message from Rev. Sami Dagher, president of the Alliance church in Lebanon on Wednesday evening. His evident passion for introducing people to Jesus set the backdrop for the week and the road trips that followed.

Formalities were not forgotten either. During the Friday evening healing and communion service, Mr. Cemel Tekkanat of the Ministry of Culture brought greetings and a welcome to Assembly from the Turkish government. Mr. Mark Bailey, Canadian Ambassador to Turkey, also welcomed delegates with wishes for a good meeting from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Outreach and justice and compassion took a very real and practical turn during the Assembly when a special cash offering was collected for victims of the earthquake in eastern Turkey that hit just before Assembly began. In all, some $7,500 was donated during the offering and Ambassador Bailey was asked to receive the gift and ensure that it was given to the Turkish people on behalf of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.

Highlighting the Assembly for many was the opportunity to visit the ruins of the Roman city of Perge, where Paul first landed for his missionary journey. As they walked the ruins of the colonnaded streets and visited the Agora, or marketplace, where Paul interacted with the citizens, the freshness of Paul's vision to reach the unreached became real.

In less than one week, the Assembly theme had become reality. The opportunity to 'retrace' led delegates down the main marble-covered road leading out of Perge toward the mountains and the unreached peoples; together delegates were able, through worship and stirring messages, to renew' their passion for worldwide ministry; and through information-filled seminars and presentations they were able to 'rebuild' some of the roads to global outreach and set foundations for even more.

The imperative now is to ?move beyond Antalya' and bring the power and impact of Assembly 2010 back to the local church and into the pews.