SHANTI WEEK

A Hindu immersion experience exploring how Christ uniquely speaks to the longing for peace and power among our Hindu friends and neighbors. This initial offering is formatted to run Saturday morning through Tuesday evening. Travel days for those not local to the Midwest should be planned for Friday-Wednesday (or late Tuesday possible but may miss some events).

(Pilot experience: This initial Shanti Week will serve as a pilot offering. Those who participate will not only experience the weekend, but will help shape its future. Through guided feedback and reflection, participants will be contributing to refining and strengthening this experience for the broader church.)

Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength—and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In today’s world, many of our neighbors come from Hindu backgrounds shaped by rich traditions, deep spirituality, and longings for both peace and power. Shanti Week invites followers of Christ to grow in spiritual maturity while learning how to thoughtfully and respectfully engage Hindu friends and neighbors with humility, curiosity, and gospel clarity.

“Shanti” means peace in Hindi. Throughout this immersive experience, we explore how Christ speaks to the deep longing for peace and ultimate hope—and how we can build meaningful relationships grounded in love and truth.

This extended weekend (Sat-Tue) blends intentional learning with meaningful interaction. The experience culminates with an overnight trip to Chicago’s Little India, offering firsthand exposure to Hindu culture, community life, and places of worship.

What You’ll Experience

During Shanti Week, participants will:

Deepen their spiritual foundation

• Guided reflection, Scripture, and prayer woven throughout the weekend

• Exploring how Christ fulfills humanity’s deepest longing for peace and lasting hope

• Space to reflect on how abiding in Christ shapes the way we love across worldview differences

Engage in immersive cultural experiences

• Visiting Chicago’s Little India with guided cultural insight

• Observing or visiting a Hindu temple with explanation and respectful orientation

• Exploring Indian markets, shops, and restaurants

• Participating in shared meals and cultural conversations

Learn from experienced cross-cultural workers

• Hearing from believers with long-term experience serving among Hindu communities

• Understanding core elements of Hindu worldview and common spiritual questions

• Learning practical pathways for building trust and meaningful relationships

Practice thoughtful engagement

• Listening before speaking

• Asking sincere questions with humility

• Learning how to communicate Christ clearly while honoring culture

This experience is designed not only to increase understanding of Hindu culture and worldview, but to form followers of Christ who love wisely, speak graciously, and engage confidently—without fear or hostility.

Who Should Attend

Whether you have Hindu neighbors, classmates, coworkers, or simply desire to better understand one of the world’s largest religious communities, this week is for you. No prior cross-cultural experience is required—just a heart willing to listen, learn, and grow.

Due to the pilot nature of this first Shanti Week we encourage those with experience living among and serving cross-culturally among Hindus to participate and help provide good feedback on how we can strengthen this experience for greatest effectiveness. But we also want feedback from those with limited knowledge and experience with Hindu culture to participate so everyone who is interested is encouraged to apply. Spaces will be limited and may prioritize strategic participation for this first programming.