Caption: Spiritual Emphasis Week highlighted PACA’s theme verses for the year. [Design by Paulo W. Santos]
by Arthur Silva (Warrior Post Reporter / São Paulo, Brazil)
After barely two days of school underway, students participated in Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) with the purpose of worship, prayer and listening to God’s word apply through dynamic speaking and video game references.
In past years, SEW happened closer to the end of the first semester. This year, school chaplain Lucas Ham Swisher (known as Mr. Ham), together with the secondary principal Josh Stockment, decided to change the tradition by starting the school year with SEW.
Stockment described why having this event at the beginning of the year was so important.
“This is actually a dream that I had for a long time,” said Stockment, “to unite the student body from the very beginning.”
Stockment explained that when SEW happened in previous years, students were tired because of SATs and the Big Eight Tournament taking place at the same time.
SEW happened during school hours, in the school’s gym, during a different morning class period every day. The sermon of each day was based on the books of First Samuel and Proverbs. One Biblical example was Samuel, who was a man of God going through a transition period (as a judge and first prophet). The students were presented with the reality that it is ok to ask questions and pass through moments of uncertainty and doubts. Even so, God remains the same to save those who proclaim His name.
Using video game analogies and sharing specific video game stories drew Swisher’s listeners and students into his messages.
“Mr. Ham was wise to use memes and focusing on the Scripture,” said junior Eduardo Silva, “Because as Jesus said, ‘We are here not only to hear but to practice his Words.’”
When asked about his first experience of Spiritual Emphasis Week, Silva said, “It reminds me that God should be the center of our lives and not only looking for him on the end or the middle of the journey but on the beginning, the middle, and the end.”
Swisher summarized the theme of the year, which is Galatians 6:9-10. He demonstrated how it is important to do good to all people, especially those who are part of our faith community.
Moreover, Swisher emphasized how important it would be for students to participate in connection groups to truly get to know each other as the body of Christ.
Students were presented to connection groups at the end of SEW. High school and middle school students chose their groups of up to eight people. Each group is separated between boys and girls to give them more freedom to talk about .
The teacher was also chosen by the students. High schoolers meet during Wednesday’s lunch, while middle schoolers meet on Thursdays during chapel time.
