FTA 2017 Routes of Faith I | Page 6

INSPIRATION

A MOVEMENT THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
500th anniversary of Protestant Reformation highlighted in FTA-member tours
Rowena Drinkhouse Wittenberg , Germany
ADOBE STOCK by Kendall Fletcher
The 500th anniversary of Martin Luther ’ s Reformation is the pinnacle of faith-based travel this year .
Celebrations abound , particularly in Wittenberg , Germany , where Luther nailed his “ 95 Theses ” to the door of the Castle Church , spurring a reformation that infinitely changed the world .
Luther was born in 1483 , and after defying his father ’ s wishes to become a lawyer , he entered an Augustinian monastery . He continued his studies , received a doctorate and became a professor of biblical studies . He shared his views with the early philosopher Augustine , who believed in two central ideals crucial to Luther ’ s Reformation : the Bible held the ultimate religious authority over the Roman Catholic Church ’ s officials , and that humans received God ’ s grace through faith , not through works of righteousness as the Church believed .
The selling of indulgences , which the Catholic Church thought provided absolution to sinners , was strongly objected by Luther and led to his writing of the “ 95 Theses ,” a list of propositions for debate . After famously posting them in 1517 , the document was widely distributed throughout Germany and made its way to Rome .
He refused to recant his stance , and the pope condemned his writings and excommunicated him from the Catholic Church . When the Holy Roman emperor ordered his writings to be burned , Luther fled and , while in hiding , worked on translating the New Testament into German , another of his most profound feats . Other leaders stepped up to carry on his beliefs and lead the reform , which he found upon his return . His writings led to the Protestant Reformation , a movement so bold and controversial that the changes it made are being commemorated five centuries later .
Reformation Tours , a tour operator and Faith Travel Association member based in Belleville , Illinois , has packaged a 12-day tour designed to explore Luther ’ s life and commemorate his movements that restructured Christianity . Company owners Rowena and Frank Drinkhouse started Reformation Tours in 2003 after many years of organizing Christian tours in Turkey .
The Luther tour isn ’ t just allowing travelers to dive into history . Finding inspiration , interacting with fellow Christians and connecting deeper with their faith is on the itinerary , too .
“ Our tours are specifically designed for Christians , and so there ’ s fellowship with other tour members , as well as opportunities to meet
local believers ,” Rowena said . “ We have devotions during the trip , which is always a highlight .”
As a tour operator , she loves seeing travelers get excited about touring Europe .
“ It ’ s something they ’ ve dreamed about and arrive full of anticipation . By the end of the trip there ’ s such a bond of friendship between the travelers through their shared experiences .”
Tracing Luther ’ s footsteps , especially in this anniversary year , is on many faith-travelers ’ bucket list . But for the Drinkhouses , it ’ s not all Luther all the time . Rowena and Frank design tours to introduce their travelers to the local culture and to learn about the people who inhabit the places they visit .
“ These aren ’ t just vacations that include gorgeous cathedrals and stunning scenery , it ’ s an opportunity to learn more about our Christian heritage and be inspired to make our lives count ,” Rowena said .

It ’ s something they ’ ve dreamed about and arrive full of anticipation . By the end of the trip there ’ s such a bond of friendship between travelers .
— Rowena Drinkhouse
Luther ’ s Reformation changed many aspects of Christianity that continue to take effect today , which is why Rowena says it ’ s important for modern-day Christians to know the history .
“ Christians tend to take so much for granted , such as reading the Bible in our own language , singing in church rather than just listening to a choir , seeing our job as a vocation even if we ’ re not in full-time ministry , girls having the same educational opportunity as boys , clergy being able to marry . These are all the results of the Reformation , although the most important aspect was the understanding that we
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