A Celebrity Sighting: Mark Wilson

Yesterday Margery and I met Mark Wilson, author of “Biblical Turkey, A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor”. In the biblical archeology world (of Turkey), he is the guy! We have read and re-read his book. We have used it daily while on both trips we have taken to Turkey and we keep returning to it as we hear about new places. A frequent shout out on the bus is “Pass the Wilson book up! Can I see your Wilson book? Check the Wilson book!” Our meeting with Mark felt like a celebrity sighting (and yes, we asked him to sign our book, we have no shame!).

So how does one meet a biblical scholar, an expert on biblical sites in Turkey, the director of the Asia Minor Research Center in Antalya Turkey and a professor early Christianity and is living in Turkey, in the north of Minnesota? It turns out his family has deep roots in the Cambridge / Brahm area of Minnesota near where Margery and I live.

Mark was very gracious in giving an hour and a half of his time without hesitation, while on vacation and at a family reunion. It was an enjoyable and enlightening conversation and Mark was easy to talk to (in spite of us clearly being out of our depth). Now we have an additional list of places to visit on our next trip. It was an honor and privilege to “talk Turkey” with him!

After we left, both Margery and I confessed that we each wanted to ask for a picture - but alas we were too embarrassed - I guess we do have some shame!