Connections Groups starting up again

Ben Bolanta’s Connections Group meets every Friday during 5th period to have a time of sharing and talking about life and God. [by Cristina Meier]

by Nathanael Agcaoili

Sao Paulo, Brazil – Pan American Christian School (PACA) started its middle and high school connections groups by the end of the second week of school showing that, PACA places a high importance on not just being a place to study, but a place where students are able to connect with other students, teachers, and most importantly, God. 

According to Lucas Ham Swisher, PACA’s chaplain, this is the exact reason why Connections Groups have been developed at PACA.

Felipe Wilcken is a freshman who is experiencing the high school level of connections group for the first time. 

“It was interesting and new because I had never had Connections with Mr. Flurry before,” said Wilcken. “It was very exciting, I really enjoyed it.”

This opportunity for students, like Wilcken, to be able to be open and sincere with each other is very important to them. 

Wilcken said, “I think my favorite part about Connections is being able to be sincere, talking about God, just having a place to open up, and just having a good time.”

The reason these Connections are so important is because it is one of the few times that the fear of sharing one’s doubts or struggles is lessened or even absent. It is a time where students and teachers can share freely with each other.

As the school’s chaplain, Mr. Ham is also the coordinator of the middle school and high school Connection Groups. As a leader of a high school group himself, he shared the purpose of making weekly Connections meetings.

“The main goal of Connections is in the name, to connect on a personal level,” said Mr. Ham. “We accomplish things that we can’t normally accomplish in chapel, such as being vulnerable in terms of sharing.”

Many students have a hard time sharing their feelings in front of people, so Connections provides a time where students can be sincere and honest with each other.

“Connections is vital, it’s highly valuable because it takes us back to the core of how Jesus changed the world.” Mr. Ham also said, “He invested in a few core people intimately and entrusted them to continue doing the same thing.”

It is hard to connect on a personal level if you only talk to large numbers of people. So Connections gives students the opportunity to do that in small groups as Jesus did. Having a deep personal connection with other students and teachers is essential for growth, according to Mr. Ham.

Middle School Connections officially started on August 8 for middle school students who meet on Fridays and on August 20 for the high school students who meet on Wednesdays. Many are looking forward to being able to have this time to share, open up, and talk about God.