Immersive Spiritual Learning Experience

 

We provide experiences for young people where faith intersects meaningfully and missionally to provide opportunities for vocational discipleship and theological reflection.

An I.SL.E. is...

  • Immersive - providing, involving, or characterized by deep absorption in something. 

  • Spiritual - The Spirit is all around us, and not just in a pew or Sunday School Room

  • Learning - We actively involve students in a wide range of experiences, which often benefit others and the community, while also advancing the goals of a given curriculum.

  • Experience - practical contact with and observation of facts or events

    • Experience is a unique Wesleyan component to theology. John Wesley emphasized experience as a source to discern questions of faith and life in the Christian tradition.

  • Small, (3-5 day) stand alone educational pilgrimage that serves to enhance and enrich the discipleship programs and ministries of the local church, specifically confirmation. 

    • Learning and discussions will be designed to connect our vows of our Baptismal Covenant, with our Methodist Heritage and our Social Principals, using Scripture, tradition, reason and experience.

    • Designed for groups of 20 or less either from one church or many. 

    • Serves as a means to connect local churches with our Methodist heritage in real and tangible ways to bring black and white text and history to life. 

  • Each pilgrimage include preparation and debriefing materials, conversations with trusted partners, holistic engagement in these communities, & investment in your young people. 

  • Each experience will have required reading of relevant cultural material to help pilgrims gain insight and perspective from an individual or individuals who have dealt personally with part of the experience. 

  • Provide mentally and spiritually challenging experiences for young people which require personal reflection and allow for deeper spiritual formation.

 

Current ISLE Pilgrimages we are able to offer:


Spiritual Formation/Education

  • Systemic Injustice & Institutional Poverty through Chicago & Evanston

  • Civil Rights & Social Justice through Birmingham, Atlanta, Montgomery, & Selma

  • American Methodism through Baltimore, Philadelphia, & the District of Columbia

  • Segregation & Social Holiness through Tulsa & Tahlequah

Spiritual Growth/Renewal 

  • Sacred Songs & Spaces through New York City

  • Art & Theology: A Faith that Creates through St. Louis

  • Creation Care: Land, Water, Soil, Table through Asheville