Walking in the Footsteps of Faith: SLA's 2026 Reformation Tour
“I survived a concentration camp.”
Those chilling words took on new meaning for recent South Lancaster Academy (SLA) graduate, Paulo Santos, just weeks after returning from Europe.
While visiting a local nursing home, Paulo was speaking with a resident and casually shared about his recent trip to Europe with SLA’s Reformation Tour. When he mentioned that the group had visited a concentration camp, the resident’s expression shifted dramatically. He quietly revealed that he was a survivor of a concentration camp.
In that brief conversation, history was no longer something Paolo and his classmates had simply read about or seen in a museum. They had walked through it. They had stood in places where people experienced unimaginable suffering, courage, and loss. And now, they were sitting across from someone who had lived through the very history they had just encountered.
In April 2026, SLA students, parents, teachers, and community members embarked on a life-changing Reformation Tour across six countries: Italy, Vatican City, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Led by Pan de Vida Tours, the journey invited participants to walk where faithful men and women boldly stood for God's truth, often at great personal cost.
From the streets of Rome to the quiet Waldensian Valleys, history came alive as travelers visited the places where the Protestant Reformation unfolded. Along the way, they experienced each country's unique culture and cuisine while gaining a deeper appreciation for the unwavering faith of those who preserved God's Word for future generations.
"Although it was great seeing some of Europe's great cities, eating tasty food, and experiencing new cultures and countries, the best part of the Reformation Tour was that it reminds us that obedience to Christ comes with consequences,” reflected Roger Prather, a tour participant. “Even though we benefit from freedom today, that freedom came at a cost—a cost the martyrs of the Reformation paid—and is not guaranteed in the future."
"One of the most emotional moments of the trip was visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, where [we] learned about the millions of Jews who were killed during the Holocaust, which deeply affected [us],” shared Angel and Evelyn Santana, tremendous SLA supporters who joined the tour. “Overall, the journey broadened [our] understanding of the world and created unforgettable memories that will stay with [us] forever."
Another highlight of the trip was the ministry of Il Voce, South Lancaster Academy's touring choir. Through performances in churches and historic venues across Europe, the students shared the gift of music that God had entrusted to them, praising Him in places where generations of believers had faithfully proclaimed His truth. The words the students sang throughout the tour—“God is with us, God is for us, who can be afraid”—took on an even deeper meaning as they visited the sites of many dark moments in history. These lyrics from Dan Forrest’s “No Night There,” along with the haunting melody, deeply moved their audience and choir members alike.
"My favorite memory was spending Sabbath in a small church in the Waldensian Valleys near the French Alps,” SLA principal Ollyce Gardner recalled. “There we participated in foot washing and communion, and our choir sang 'No Night There.' In that simple church, surrounded by the stories of those who faithfully preserved God's Word, we truly felt the presence of the Lord. It is a memory I will cherish forever."
The Reformation Tour was far more than a journey through Europe. It was a journey of faith. As students walked where reformers, martyrs, and faithful believers once stood, they were reminded that God has always guided His people through every generation. They returned home with more than unforgettable memories. They came back with a renewed commitment to serve boldly for Christ, share His love with others, and faithfully prepare for the day when He comes again.
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