Spiritual Life

As an independent, Christian school, the students and staff at Smithville Christian are blessed to be able to live and learn in a community that seeks the flourishing of all. The magnificent stainless steel collaborative art sculpture in our atrium, entitled “Flourish,” is a tangible testimony that true belonging, believing, and succeeding are possible because we are Christ-followers. In Christ, we can joyfully seek the flourishing of each student and staff member, along with the flourishing of our families and our communities.

Under the leadership of our Spiritual Life Director, Stu Bender, with input from Student Council, a spiritual life theme is chosen for each school year. Daily devotions, weekly chapels, and Spiritual Emphasis Week all contribute to explorations of that theme, in order to help us understand how what we believe informs and affects everything we do. Our faith is something that shapes how and what we learn and shapes the community we create. We are intentional about creating a community that gives life.

Chapels are usually held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday mornings, and you are warmly invited to join us. A student praise team leads in worship, followed by an inspiring, encouraging and challenging chapel message from either an in-house speaker or a guest speaker. Students, staff and alumni sometimes take advantage of chapel to share their testimonies of how God is working in their lives. To read about some recent chapel messages, visit our blog, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. If you plan to join us for chapel, it's best to contact us to confirm that the schedule hasn't been adjusted. We don't want you to be disappointed!

Spiritual Emphasis Week is held every year, usually in the fall, and includes daily chapels (usually led by a guest speaker), daily small group discussions, a prayer room, and special community-building and relationship-deepening activities. The small-group discussions are facilitated by senior students.

The Spiritual Life Director occasionally organizes opportunities for students to serve in off-site ministries, and also acts as a resource for prayer and spiritual development. Other opportunities for students to deepen their spiritual lives include student participation in chapel committee, student leadership of praise teams, student-led Bible study groups, and the annual Grade 12 Retreat.

Want to know more? Contact us to request more info, send us an email, or phone us at (905) 957-3255.