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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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More like this one in | Basic Tools , Group Experience Tools , Sharpening Tools
Comments on this Entry:
I have been involved in the Via De Christo movement for many years and yes, it is a spiritual awakening for many. I have seen the transformational power of Jesus open up men's hearts to the Gospel and do a 180 degree turn around in their lives.
The weekend or retreat as it has been called, originated in Minorca Spain by a Catholic priest who wondered how he could get the men of his village more involved in church. So a core group was formed, training talks called rollos were written and men were invited to attend. The success rate of of getting men to get more involved in spiritual matters and the church was phenomenal. It soon spread to the U.S. and the Catholic church improved on the talks and methodology. Some folks began noticing this ministry and it was brought over to the protestant side and started in Miami, FL. Since then it has grown to be an international movement. It has gone into the prison system with the first one starting at the maximum security facily at Raiford in Starke, FL. The prison ministry is known as Kairos and it too is now all over the U.S.
The Via De Christo is open to men and women alike. So, if you want to have another tool to help transform your church, I highly suggest utilizing the Via De Christo weekend.
Posted by: jameskovach at June 24, 2006 06:46 PM
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