Connect gives students three new Sabbath school options

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Dan Olson and Marcel Schwantes discuss Biblical topics in one of the new Connect Sabbath Schools. Photo By Marlin Thorman

Dan Olson and Marcel Schwantes discuss Biblical topics in one of the new Connect Sabbath Schools. Photo By Marlin Thorman

Yvonne Saint-Villiers | Staff Writer

The Connect leadership team will offer three new Sabbath school classes — an all-men’s group, a prayer warrior class and a class studying identity. “Our leadership team wanted to build more community at Connect, and the best way to do this is through smaller groups and classes,” said Andy Nash, leader of Connect and an associate professor in the School of Journalism & Communication. “We’ve tried to choose classes that would offer something different to Collegedale.” The team started the classes, which are held at 10:15 a.m. every Saturday at Collegedale Academy, to build stronger relationships within the church as well as the community.

The men-only Sabbath school class provides a place for men to discuss current issues.
“My Sabbath school class is unique in the sense that it uses the practical best-selling book, “Wild at Heart,” by John Eldredge as the foundation for discussion, sharing and Bible study for a 10 week period,” said Marcel Schwantes, the men-only worship leader. “Men will explore what God designed them to be, recapture their masculine heart as created and defined in the image of a passionate God.”

The second class studies prayer designed for coming together and praying for the Connect worship service and community. “[It] is sort of an un-Sabbath School. We’re more of a prayer group,” said Carol Lee, prayer group worship leader. “Our purpose is to ask God to display His presence and His power in our Connect community. The prayer meeting was inspired by Jim Cymbala’s book, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire,” where he tells how God transformed the Brooklyn Tabernacle when the members started praying.” The third class is focused on the topic of identity, based on a book called “Searching for God Knows What” by Donald Miller.

The worship leaders have high hopes for the new Sabbath school classes.  Currently, these are the only Sabbath school classes offered by Connect, but there are plans to add more as needed.
“Depending on the success the current classes, we may begin a new series for everyone on topics of emotional health, Christian leadership and spiritual development,” Schwantes said. “The small-group setting helps us to build trust with one another, share opinions and learn from each other’s spiritual walk in a safe and open setting.”

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