What an incredible year at Schweitzer 2024 was, with more opportunities for people to connect than ever! I’ve been so blessed to have a front-row seat to see what God’s been doing in the lives of his people.
One of the year’s highlights was the introduction of Practicing the Way. This invitation into a life of apprenticeship with Jesus has resonated with folks at all stages of their faith journey, many of whom have engaged with their faith on a new level through being in a Practicing the Way group. Whether it’s someone experiencing deep spiritual community for the first time or perhaps receiving a spark of new energy to jumpstart a faith that’s gone stagnant, God is truly moving in powerful ways!
Another highlight was Alpha. After a long period of discerning where God was leading us next, we took a leap and moved Alpha away from the Schweitzer building and into the Springfield community. This has genuinely been a match made in heaven (quite literally)! Hosting Alpha in a more neutral space has created more opportunities to do exactly what Alpha is designed for: facilitating safe, non-judgemental discussions about life’s biggest questions, especially with those who wouldn’t call themselves Christians.
Both of these have been instrumental in introducing our Discipleship Tree, which is a unifying vision for what discipleship looks like at Schweitzer. As we step into 2025, we will continue to offer more opportunities to Explore faith and develop deep roots of belief, Engage with Jesus through spiritual practices to grow in maturity, and bear fruit as we Empower others to experience spiritual flourishing in their own lives. Keep an eye out for new Practicing the Way groups, Alpha groups, and all kinds of other brand-new opportunities to connect! Most of all, I remain firmly convinced that you need a community to support and uplift you if you want to experience spiritual growth and vibrancy.
If you haven’t yet found your community, let’s talk! You can email me at cory@schweitzer.church. I’d love to help you find your next step!