Via de Cristo finds its roots in “Cursillo”, a spiritual method and movement
that started in the Roman Catholic Church in Spain during the 1940’s and spread
to the United States in the late 1950’s. Via de Cristo is the Lutheran
expression of Cursillo, which has now grown to include Episcopalians,
Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and Christians of many other denominations.
The first Lutheran weekends were held in 1972 in Iowa and Florida and have since
been held in many states throughout the United States. Today, Cursillo and its
various expressions comprise a worldwide movement with an active presence
throughout North, South and Central America, Australia, Europe, Asia and Africa.
In November 1997, Bishop Floyd Schoenhals met with representatives in the
Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod regarding interest in Via de Cristo. As a result, the
interest was “sparked” – initial mailings invited future participants to attend
North Texas Via de Cristo Weekends, and persons from both Arkansas and Oklahoma
responded. The North Texas community opened their arms, their hearts, their
homes and their Via de Cristo Weekends to us. They also opened their Staff
School and Weekend Training Meetings to include some of the Arkansas-Oklahoma
people, inviting them to serve on the NTLS Weekends.
During this time, an Organization Team was formed to lay the groundwork and
preparations for our own Via de Cristo Weekends, and people from the NTLS
continued to mentor us through our first Weekends until enough people were
experienced and equipped to entirely staff our A-OK Weekends. Also, the A-OK
Lutheran Secretariat (A-OKLS) was established to oversee the Via de Cristo
Weekends and ministry within the synod.
After two years of preparation, the first A-OK Weekend was held April 5-8, 2000,
at the St. Scholastica Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Since that time,three weekends are held each year (spring,
summer and fall). Currently, we alternate locations
between Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Those attending Via de Cristo from the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod have experienced
a new awareness of God’s presence and grace in their daily lives, their churches
and their communities.
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