Hello from sunny California!
The first few days of CrossRoad Southern California have gone by quickly, and participants have already completed Stage 1 of the program: Who Am I?
During Stage 1, participants spent time reflecting on their strengths, talents, interests, and sense of vocation. Through staff-led sessions such as Orthodox Anthropology, Faith & Science, and Pop Culture and Technology, they explored what it means to be created in the image of God and how their unique gifts can be used in service to others. Along the way, they also began building friendships and settling into life together at Vanguard University.
On Thursday morning, we officially entered Stage 2: Who Is God? We were fortunate to welcome two outstanding faculty members, Dr. Michael Legaspi and Dr. Eve Tibbs, whose lectures have given participants plenty to think about as they explore Scripture, theology, and the Orthodox faith. After each lecture, participants gathered in small groups with staff members to discuss what they learned, ask questions, and continue the conversation together.
Of course, CrossRoad isn’t only about lectures and discussion groups. Participants have also been getting to know Southern California and one another through worship, activities, and time spent outdoors. Earlier this week, the group took part in a ropes course challenge, which provided plenty of opportunities for teamwork, encouragement, and a little adventure.
Participants have also visited both Greek Orthodox and Serbian Orthodox parishes, giving them an opportunity to experience the richness of Orthodox life in different communities. Alongside our daily prayers and services, these parish visits help connect what participants are learning in the classroom with the life of the Church.
The week is moving quickly, and it’s been exciting to watch participants engage with the material, ask thoughtful questions, and settle into the rhythm of CrossRoad. With several Southern California excursions still ahead of us, there’s plenty more to look forward to in the days to come.
As always, you can follow along with daily photos on our Flickr page. Thank you for sharing your students with us! We’re enjoying getting to know them and look forward to all that’s ahead this week.