What is VIA de CRISTO?

VIA de CRISTO is a Spanish phrase meaning "Way of Christ."  VIA de CRISTO is a highly structured three day weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people and bring them to a new awareness of living in God's grace. It is a combined effort of lay people and clergy toward renewal of the church

The movement originated as "Cursillo" in the late 1940's in the Spanish Catholic church and moved to the United States in the late 1950's. It began in the Lutheran church when lay people and clergy attended a Catholic Cursillo in 1971, both in Iowa and Florida. The first Lutheran sponsored weekends were held in 1972 in Iowa and Florida and have now been held in over 25 states and some foreign countries. VIA de CRISTO is the Lutheran expression of this method which is currently being used in many denominations including: Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Reformed churches.

The purpose of VIA de CRISTO VIA de CRISTO is based on the fundamentals of Christianity, concentrating on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. The focus is not on VIA de CRISTO itself, but on the local church. The objective of the movement is to inspire, challenge and equip local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches and communities.

Bringing It Back to Tennessee
The Tennessee Lutheran Via de Cristo movement started when volunteers from Western North Carolina movement joined with folks from Tennessee to provide a joint weekend in the Fall of 1997. Separate men's and women's weekends were held two weeks apart in the Spring of 1998, and the first Tennessee Lutheran Via de Cristo Mixed weekend was held in Fall 1998 at Carson Springs Baptist Camp in Newport, Tennessee.
The Tennessee Lutheran VdC Secretariat was formed in November 1999.

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