SWCHS Encounter

SWCHS Director of Spiritual formation uses a reading to challenge us to think about our identity the way Jesus challenged the rich, young ruler.

Assistant Dean, Lindsay Johnson shared part of her faith story with SWCHS. Recounting the way Jesus changed her life and gave her a passion for sharing the good news of the joy and freedom we have in Him.

Head of School, Dan Beckering shared about the freedom we have in Christ because Christ knows us entirely. All of our lives our in the light of Christ and it is freedom.

Each house sent one representative to join a panel on community at SWCHS. Brian Goldie moderated.

Manny Mills shared his testimony with us as God rescued Him from sin and prison.

Greg Speck closed out our Spiritual Life Emphasis Week by challenging us to love and encourage those around us even when it might not be the easiest to do.

Greg gave the community ideas on how we can improve our family relationships to grow into the men and women God has made us to be.

Greg Speck opened our three day Spiritual Life Emphasis Week. He will be speaking Wednesday and Thursday as well.

Alumnus Liz Fronze was back on campus to share with us her story of graduating from SWCHS and God's call on her life working and loving in her community in Minneapolis. Liz worked with us to see how God moves us in places where we don't feel equipped or prepared but where the community needs care.

SWCHS alumnus Chris Rasmussen was back on campus to share some wisdom from life in college. Chris encouraged us to foster real relationships with God and those around us through some brotherly advice.

John Smith came to share his life story and challenge us to surround ourselves with good people and to be ok with God's plan for our lives.

Science teacher Dr.Ehresmann and alumnus Hunter Brown shared about their missions trip to Africa. Hunter also talked about God's calling in his life to pursue missions after high school.

Sammy Wanyonyi shared his story of meeting God in Kenya as a boy, hearing God's call and going out to do God's work in the world. He challenged us to See, Repent and Go!

A group of SWCHS teachers sat down to discuss the benefits and challenges to setting resolutions and goals.

Levi the Poet and Brian Goldie sat down to discuss poetry, Levi's testimony and the power of the God's incarnation.

Levi the Poet shared his testimony in poetry to start of Fall Focus.

Dr.Thor Benson shared the legacy of faith his grandfather left and challenged us to live in such a way as to make Christ attractive to those around us.

Stefan Van Voorst, director of one2one Minneapolis shared his experience of mentoring and living in Minneapolis during times of insecurity and turmoil. He challenged us to see how God is calling us to be willing to give up safety in order to help those around us.

Students and staff assembled to discuss how the jobs, school work and activities we engage in can both give life and create chaos for us. Hear from a variety of voices on how to better glorify God with our labors.

SWCHS Director of Spiritual Formation, Brian Goldie, challenges us to examine ideas in our lives we mistake for Christianity. Asking what is real Christianity?

In anticipation of the end of the year, Annebett Pettit talks about how to handle life changes from a Christian perspective.

Caden Winters shared God's faithfulness in the midst of the insecurities he has faced in his life. Caden is a senior at SWCHS and serves as the chaplain's teacher's assistant.

Cassie Charles gives insight into living with a disability and shares ways in which Christians can care for and interact with those with disabilities.

Brian Goldie sat down with Corey Magstadt after Encounter today to ask a few follow-up questions about his ministry and work with the homeless.

Corey Magstadt speaks on his own experience breaking down boundaries and biases within his faith and gives light to the importance of doing so in our own lives.

Brian Goldie sat down with Britton to ask questions sent in by the student body. Britton has been sharing with us during Spiritual Life Emphasis Week.

Britton Bishop is with SWCHS for our Spiritual Life Emphasis Week. He challenged us today to make God's word enough and to live our faith and not just talk about it.

Mr. Goldie explores why it is that those things that once gave us so much pleasure seem to diminish in their effects and what can be done about it. Perhaps while we lose sensitivity and grow old our Father has the eternal appetite for infancy and can rejuvenate our delight in his simple gifts.

Mark Bell shares some of the dark moments in his own life and talks about the people who have helped him through it all.

Donna Baklund shares her experience with anxiety and depression and how her faith walk has given her hope for a brighter future.

Terrence Talley speaks about God's love and our worth in His eyes while telling stories from his own childhood and his experience ministering.

A panel of SWCHS students and faculty tackle the subject of approaching disagreements in a God-honoring way, and how empathy and grace are as important as ever in times like these.

Will Hines, personal friend of Peter Welle, shared his family's story of adopting a daughter from an abortion minded mother. The families story is an amazing story of redemption of his daughter, the birth mother and all involved.

Joe Rigney from Bethlehem College and Seminary joined us on campus and discussed being in God's presence.

SWCHS English teacher Annebet Pettit's father Jim McEliece joined us for Veteran's Day to share his experience serving both God and country.

SWCHS alumnus Colin Provart came back to challenge us to live in our new identity in Christ. Colin shared his story of rooting himself is academics, relationships, dreams and ultimately the journey Jesus took him on to find his true identity.

In the second half of Fall Focus, Keith Ferrin gives additional tips on reading your Bible and the difference between memorizing and internalizing scripture.

Keith Ferrin shared his personal story about learning to read and love the Bible. Keith encouraged us to change the way we approach Bible reading so that we can learn to enjoy reading the Word more.

Bill Kuhn from Crown College speaks on the unconditionality of God's love and encourages us to remind ourselves of this truth when we feel unloved.

Micah used his own story and the story of Lazarus to encourage us to move from Fear to Faith.

SWCHS teacher Brian Goldie speaks on the importance of friendship and the hindrances that Christians can face when forming intimate friendships with one another.

Dan Beckering had parent and board member Clifton Ross on campus last Friday to lead a discussion with our community about Race at SWCHS. Listen in as Dan and Clifton talk about how we can love like Christ in these times of hurting.

Artist, speaker and brother-in-Christ Eric Samuel Timm challenged us to move from living in fear to revering and fearing the Lord. Eric shared a painting with the students as he spoke, this work can be found on-site at SWCHS.

Paul concluded our Spiritual Life Emphasis Week reminding us that Jesus is looking for workers because the harvest is ready. He encouraged us that we all have kingdom work to do in our own sphere of influence through the power of Christ.

During the second day of Spiritual Life Emphasis Week, Paul walked our students through the work Christ did for us on the cross. Reminding us the of the amazing power in this story and it's practical power combating anxiety and stressors.

Paul Epperson opened Spiritual Life Emphasis Week sharing his story of anxiety and fear when God felt distant and how God brought him through. He encouraged us to actively pray for one another to help us refocus on the God not ourselves during times of despair.

2010 Alum Jimmy Austin shares his journey of how God called him to, equipped him for and blessed him through a life in ministry. Jimmy's story demonstrates how we are all called to ministry.

Scott Hagen, President of North Central University in Minneapolis, was on site challenging us to have grit in the face life's challenges. He presented four key questions to help measure our character.

Kari Maloney, Dean of Students, and her husband Jason shared how God has transformed them through trials.

David Hoffner, director of faith formation at Minnehaha Academy and friend of Thor Benson, shared the value of deep friendships as we walk with God and others.

Brian Goldie and David Hoffner sit down to talk deeper about creating and building deep friendships.