Spiritual Life

Community, Cross, & New Creation:

Understanding the Mission of the LCC Spiritual Life Department

LCC International University understands education to be both intellectual development and character formation. Within this framework the Spiritual Life Department at LCC provides students with opportunities to develop in their understanding of the Christian faith and to experience the transforming nature of Christian community. We accomplish this through intentional programs and discipleship. Foundational to our activities and discipleship programs are three images (metaphors) that we use to articulate the Christian faith: Community, Cross, and New Creation.

Community

In John 17 Jesus prayed that all Christians might experience community with the Trinity and with one another, "so that the world might believe...." The goal of Christian community is the reconciliation of humanity to God and to one another. One program through which we communicate this idea of community is our All Community Dinner where staff, faculty, and students gather for fellowship and a common meal. Other community building activities include small group bible studies and weekly chapel services.

Cross

In Scripture the cross is both the unique means by which Christ redeemed the world and the image that Jesus used to teach discipleship to his followers. And just as Jesus bore the cross to redeem the world, so too when Christians follow Jesus' example by bearing the cross of serving others they communicate God's redeeming love to the world. We teach our students to continue God's work of redemption by sharing His love through their volunteer service in the Klaipėda community. We provide opportunities for students to work with the Sisters of Charity, orphanages, and other agencies that care for the elderly and handicapped. As God sent Christ to redeem those who were weakened by sin, so also we teach our students not to forget those who are physically and emotionally weak in society.

New Creation

Romans 8:19-21 speaks about freedom and hope, a freedom from creation's bondage to sin and a hope in the day when the glory of God's children will be revealed with Jesus Christ. Within this framework, we teach our students to pursue a life that is free from the entanglements of sin and a vocation that promotes Christian hope in the world. We also model this message of freedom and hope for our students by being people of prayer, the Scriptures, the church, and those who use their time, talents, and resources to build the Kingdom of God.