SWCHS Encounter: Recent Episodes
SWCHS Encounter
Join the Southwest Christian High School student body for our weekly Encounter session. New episodes will be uploaded on weeks which the Encounter session has a speaker. We hope you encounter Jesus during these times. Thanks for joining us!
Please note the first minute of Greg's talk was missed in the recording. We apologize for the mistake.
Seniors share about their experience in the DR this year and how God worked while they were in the DR.
Three students shared thoughts on what God has been working on in their lives recently.
Dean of Students Pete Tornquist shared his story and asked us to "live for what lasts."
Director of Spiritual formation kicked off the year of encounters asking us to consider how we at types overplay or underplay our suffering and how we can bear burdens together.
SWCHS Director of Operations helped us process through decision making and how to rely on God while making choices, big or small.
Spiritual life committee leaders share their vision for the year to start off our year in Encounter.
Salt Company staff from the Twin Cities college ministry group were on site encouraging students to make plans for how they will grow spiritually in life after high school.
Head of School, Dan Beckering, shared about how spiritual disciplines have impacted his spiritual journey and encouraged the students to develop fasting and prayer in their lives.
Carter Coughlin shared his testimony of growing up in a Christian environment and then meeting God as he was playing for the NY Giants.
We have been honored to have Dr. Aaron Howard on campus for fall focus this year. Unfortunately the recording from his second message did not record properly and the audio was not captured. We apologize for the frustration and we were looking forward to sharing his message with you. If you have questions about Dr.Howard's message please reach out to Dan Beckering or Brian Goldie.
Dr. Aaron Joshua Howard, professor at Lipscomb University, kicked out Fall Focus with passionate reminder of the unity and power found in Jesus.
Sandhya Oaks shared her story of adoption, growing up and learning her name and identity in Christ.
Hope Academy Head of School, Russ Gregg shared how God moved him to live with radical generosity and how it has affected him and the world around him.
SWCHS receptionist Abbie Johnson shares her story and how Jesus has stayed with her through the challenges of life.
Super Bowl champion, Ben Utecht shared his story of struggle and pursuit of God in his athletic and musical careers.
River Valley lead campus pastor, Terry Parkman, was on campus encouraging us to pursue the dreams that God has given us.
Director of Spiritual Formation, Brian Goldie, shared with the SWCHS community challenging use to purse our identity in the One who names us.
Three of the members of the class of 2025 shared some stories with the student body encourage us to make the most of this year.
SWCHS Social Studies teacher shared about how God has helped him navigate the complicated relationship he has had with work.
Teachers Greg Sayuk and Dan Ehresmann share from their experiences with divorce to encourage students who may be facing divorces in their families.
Tony Lee, the Salt Company director for St.Paul, brought Hope Adebayo and David Ayeni, St.Thomas football players, to SWCHS to talk about living for Christ in college. They encouraged us to make that choice now and not wait for a day in the future.
Grace Church Senior Pastor Troy Dobbs was on campus to provide seven practical tests we can use to see if our faith and relationship with Jesus is growing.
Mr. Haag encouraged us to discipline ourselves when things are good in times so we are ready when things get hard.
Head of school, Dan Beckering, challenged us to take the start of the school year to evaluate where we are with Jesus.
SWCHS dean Shani Johnson showed us what it means to share in each others' suffering by sharing her story.
Jody Goldie sat down where her husband and SWCHS Director of Spiritual Formation, Brian Goldie to talk through questions submitted by the SWCHS student body about this week's discussions on emotions.
Day Two of Fall Focus with Jody Goldie discussing emotions and how our bodies process and communicate them.NOTE: Day One will not be podcasted.
SWCHS student Dalaney Book, shared her testimony of how God brought her to live fully for her and the fulfilment it brought.
Three of the seniors shared some thoughts of what God is doing in their lives in recent months.
Dr. Heinsch returns to share a story that has been challenging and working on him for the past years.
Brian Goldie, director of spiritual formation, examines the function of rules in our lives and encourages us to flourish living according to how we are designed.
Brian Goldie along with three other students shared a vision and hope for our Encounter times this year.
Dan Beckering is talking to our school body about how to use Humor in a way that pleases God!
Caleb continued his discussion of pursuing God by challenging us to become people of passion.
Teacher Mrs. Ivesdal shares her story of grief and how God used worked to help her grow in her faith!
Brian Goldie and Shani Johnson sat down with Billy Russell to ask some questions following up from his message yesterday.
Reverend Billy Russell shared his story of growing up in segregated America and how his faith shaped him during that experience.
Director of Spiritual Formation Brian Goldie sat down with Ellie Harrison to as some follow up questions after her Encounter presentation.
Annalee Tupy, SWCHS receptionist, learning specialist and more shared her story of loss and grief. She encouraged us to be ready for the battles that will come and how to stand when our story doesn't go as we expected.
Writer and producer, Wes Halula shared his family story of forgiveness and how God brings change to our lives.
Wes sat down with Brian Goldie after encounter to go further in to the topics of family, forgiveness and breakfast.
Alumnus Chris Dirks shares his stories of hearing God's voice and encouraged us to listen for God to speak to us and be bold enough to follow His voice.
SWCHS Director of Spiritual formation uses a reading to challenge us to think about our identity the way Jesus challenged the rich, young ruler.
Assistant Dean, Lindsay Johnson shared part of her faith story with SWCHS. Recounting the way Jesus changed her life and gave her a passion for sharing the good news of the joy and freedom we have in Him.
Head of School, Dan Beckering shared about the freedom we have in Christ because Christ knows us entirely. All of our lives our in the light of Christ and it is freedom.
Each house sent one representative to join a panel on community at SWCHS. Brian Goldie moderated.
Greg Speck closed out our Spiritual Life Emphasis Week by challenging us to love and encourage those around us even when it might not be the easiest to do.
Greg gave the community ideas on how we can improve our family relationships to grow into the men and women God has made us to be.
Greg Speck opened our three day Spiritual Life Emphasis Week. He will be speaking Wednesday and Thursday as well.
Alumnus Liz Fronze was back on campus to share with us her story of graduating from SWCHS and God's call on her life working and loving in her community in Minneapolis. Liz worked with us to see how God moves us in places where we don't feel equipped or prepared but where the community needs care.
SWCHS alumnus Chris Rasmussen was back on campus to share some wisdom from life in college. Chris encouraged us to foster real relationships with God and those around us through some brotherly advice.
John Smith came to share his life story and challenge us to surround ourselves with good people and to be ok with God's plan for our lives.
Science teacher Dr.Ehresmann and alumnus Hunter Brown shared about their missions trip to Africa. Hunter also talked about God's calling in his life to pursue missions after high school.
Sammy Wanyonyi shared his story of meeting God in Kenya as a boy, hearing God's call and going out to do God's work in the world. He challenged us to See, Repent and Go!
A group of SWCHS teachers sat down to discuss the benefits and challenges to setting resolutions and goals.
Levi the Poet and Brian Goldie sat down to discuss poetry, Levi's testimony and the power of the God's incarnation.
Dr.Thor Benson shared the legacy of faith his grandfather left and challenged us to live in such a way as to make Christ attractive to those around us.
Stefan Van Voorst, director of one2one Minneapolis shared his experience of mentoring and living in Minneapolis during times of insecurity and turmoil. He challenged us to see how God is calling us to be willing to give up safety in order to help those around us.
Students and staff assembled to discuss how the jobs, school work and activities we engage in can both give life and create chaos for us. Hear from a variety of voices on how to better glorify God with our labors.
SWCHS Director of Spiritual Formation, Brian Goldie, challenges us to examine ideas in our lives we mistake for Christianity. Asking what is real Christianity?
In anticipation of the end of the year, Annebett Pettit talks about how to handle life changes from a Christian perspective.
Caden Winters shared God's faithfulness in the midst of the insecurities he has faced in his life. Caden is a senior at SWCHS and serves as the chaplain's teacher's assistant.
Cassie Charles gives insight into living with a disability and shares ways in which Christians can care for and interact with those with disabilities.
Brian Goldie sat down with Corey Magstadt after Encounter today to ask a few follow-up questions about his ministry and work with the homeless.
Corey Magstadt speaks on his own experience breaking down boundaries and biases within his faith and gives light to the importance of doing so in our own lives.
Brian Goldie sat down with Britton to ask questions sent in by the student body. Britton has been sharing with us during Spiritual Life Emphasis Week.
Britton Bishop is with SWCHS for our Spiritual Life Emphasis Week. He challenged us today to make God's word enough and to live our faith and not just talk about it.
Mr. Goldie explores why it is that those things that once gave us so much pleasure seem to diminish in their effects and what can be done about it. Perhaps while we lose sensitivity and grow old our Father has the eternal appetite for infancy and can rejuvenate our delight in his simple gifts.
Mark Bell shares some of the dark moments in his own life and talks about the people who have helped him through it all.
Donna Baklund shares her experience with anxiety and depression and how her faith walk has given her hope for a brighter future.
Terrence Talley speaks about God's love and our worth in His eyes while telling stories from his own childhood and his experience ministering.
Will Hines, personal friend of Peter Welle, shared his family's story of adopting a daughter from an abortion minded mother. The families story is an amazing story of redemption of his daughter, the birth mother and all involved.
Joe Rigney from Bethlehem College and Seminary joined us on campus and discussed being in God's presence.
SWCHS English teacher Annebet Pettit's father Jim McEliece joined us for Veteran's Day to share his experience serving both God and country.
SWCHS alumnus Colin Provart came back to challenge us to live in our new identity in Christ. Colin shared his story of rooting himself is academics, relationships, dreams and ultimately the journey Jesus took him on to find his true identity.
In the second half of Fall Focus, Keith Ferrin gives additional tips on reading your Bible and the difference between memorizing and internalizing scripture.
Keith Ferrin shared his personal story about learning to read and love the Bible. Keith encouraged us to change the way we approach Bible reading so that we can learn to enjoy reading the Word more.
Bill Kuhn from Crown College speaks on the unconditionality of God's love and encourages us to remind ourselves of this truth when we feel unloved.
Micah used his own story and the story of Lazarus to encourage us to move from Fear to Faith.
SWCHS teacher Brian Goldie speaks on the importance of friendship and the hindrances that Christians can face when forming intimate friendships with one another.
Dan Beckering had parent and board member Clifton Ross on campus last Friday to lead a discussion with our community about Race at SWCHS. Listen in as Dan and Clifton talk about how we can love like Christ in these times of hurting.
Artist, speaker and brother-in-Christ Eric Samuel Timm challenged us to move from living in fear to revering and fearing the Lord. Eric shared a painting with the students as he spoke, this work can be found on-site at SWCHS.
Paul concluded our Spiritual Life Emphasis Week reminding us that Jesus is looking for workers because the harvest is ready. He encouraged us that we all have kingdom work to do in our own sphere of influence through the power of Christ.
During the second day of Spiritual Life Emphasis Week, Paul walked our students through the work Christ did for us on the cross. Reminding us the of the amazing power in this story and it's practical power combating anxiety and stressors.
Paul Epperson opened Spiritual Life Emphasis Week sharing his story of anxiety and fear when God felt distant and how God brought him through. He encouraged us to actively pray for one another to help us refocus on the God not ourselves during times of despair.
2010 Alum Jimmy Austin shares his journey of how God called him to, equipped him for and blessed him through a life in ministry. Jimmy's story demonstrates how we are all called to ministry.
Scott Hagen, President of North Central University in Minneapolis, was on site challenging us to have grit in the face life's challenges. He presented four key questions to help measure our character.
Kari Maloney, Dean of Students, and her husband Jason shared how God has transformed them through trials.
David Hoffner, director of faith formation at Minnehaha Academy and friend of Thor Benson, shared the value of deep friendships as we walk with God and others.
Brian Goldie and David Hoffner sit down to talk deeper about creating and building deep friendships.
Missionary and former SWCHS teacher, Zach Anderson, reminded us to lean into the suffering we face as it is often the means God uses to bring about His work in this broken world. Zach was sharing specifically with our seniors in mind as they are heading on their Dominican Republic trip next week.
Dr.Christopher Yuan shared a message of clarity, hope and love on the topic of sexuality. Dr.Yuan is a professor at Moody Bible College, a published author and speaker who engages audiences on the topic of love, sexuality and the gospel.
Christopher Yuan answered questions from the student body after his presentation during Encounter.
Chaplain Brian Goldie sat down with Michael Furchert to discuss a bit more about the differences between Berlin Wall German church and spirituality and American churches.
Pianist, public speaker and lover of Jesus, Micahel Furchert shared his families journey through WWII Germany and life behind the Berlin Wall. Michael's family held fast to their love for Jesus and time and time again saw His faithfulness as they held closely to Jesus in the face of persecution.
The music played at the start and end of the podcast is Michael's own compositions played by Michael during our Encounter service.
Dr. Johanson closed out Fall Focus with a discussion on identity, both the lies culture tells us and the truth Christ tells us.
Dr.Johanson kicked off our 2019 Fall Focus by discussing the importance and impact our family story has on our lives. Dr.Johanson shared his own story and encouraged us to take the time to listen and understand the stories of others around us.
Musician, author, father, husband and bike enthusiast Terry Esau shared about his experience putting aside personal and spiritual goals instead asking God to surprise him with God's goals and wishes. God did not disappoint!
Jason Wipf sat down with Terry Esau after Encounter to talk more about what "Surprise me, God" looks like in our day-to-day life.
Chaplain Brian Goldie sits down with Clifton Ross with some follow up questions after today's Encounter service.
SWCHS father and board member Clifton Ross shares his story, encouraging us to love neighbors by listening and knowing those around us, regardless of their cultural backgrounds.
Our own Dr.Ehresmann shared his story of God taking him beyond his comfort zone to grow deeper in Christ through missions trips to Uganda.
Chaplin Brian Goldie encouraged us to evaluate our habits and establish new rhythms to meet with God in our daily lives.
SWCHS Chaplin Brian Goldie leads a discussion on the similarities and differences between branches of Christianity with guest speakers Father Andrew Morbey (representing Christian Orthodoxy), Father Paul Haverstock (representing Roman Catholicism) and Dr. Paul Helseth (representing Protestantism).
David continued his series on bold faith with a challenge to pray big. He encourage SWCHS to view prayer not as a passive ritual but an active seeking of Jesus.
More information about David's ministry of Steiger International can be found at their website: www.steiger.org.
As part of SWCHS Spiritual Life Emphasis Week, David Pierce of Steiger International began a three part series concerning True Faith in the life of Christian. The 2nd and 3rd parts will be released Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Stacey Ingraham shared her riveting life story as a testament to the resolve Christ offers those who love Him. Her story tells of Jesus working through sorrow and joy, tragedy and triumph.