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Via de Cristo retreat weekends
A highly structured weekend retreat experience for pilgrims who can be lay people or pastors. It is designed as an interactive, introductory course to Christianity.
Talks given by team members include talks on ideal, laity, piety, study, apostolic action, leaders, environment, and Christian community. Talks given by spiritual directors include talks on God's Grace, Actual Grace, Grace filled Days, Obstacles to Grace, and Life in Grace. Usually the Atlanta Via de Cristo chapter sponsors two or three retreat weekends each year. Lutheran version of this lay renewal movement is called Via de Cristo. The Roman Catholic version is Cursillio. The Methodist version is Walk to Emmaus. These retreat experiences are powerful emotional experiences which are spiritual turning points for many congregational leaders. Pr. Ted Coleman
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Comments on this Entry:
What people under 50 are looking for is an experience of God. "Don't tell me about God, I want to see him at work in your life." Bill Easum says the unchurched just want the answer to one simple question, "What is it about your relationship with Jesus Christ that I can't live without?"
Cursillo/Via de Christo weekends are indeed an experience of God. I went in 1982, and for the first time I knew Jesus was real, that He is alive. It can be a powerful experience of the Holy Spirit.
However, it, too, can be a movement turned inward on itself. As Rick Warren says, God wants more than faithfulness, He wants us to be fruitful as well. The purpose of the weekend is to help develop spiritual leaders who will put their energy into growing a healthy church.
Posted by: Gregg Burch at September 24, 2004 02:59 PM
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