Why the Need for Clarification?
1) The number of DTSs around the world as well as the high turnover rate in DTS necessitates the need for more written materials to ensure the DTS stays on track.
Written materials agreed upon by the GLT-ILT ensures:
- That the growing network stay true to the Mission’s expectations for DTS.
- That the DTS Centre when presenting the curriculum is able to represent the whole mission with our wide range of perspectives and callings.
2) Many of the present DTS world do not understand the meaning behind key phrases, such as “the Character and Ways of God”, or the original curriculum categories.
- The clarified document expresses the concepts behind key statements so the content cannot be missed.
- The clarified curriculum also documents key concepts not expressly mentioned within the original, for example, Jesus was never mentioned nor ‘fear of the Lord’.
3) The need for more detail to help with DTS Curriculum Design.
The curriculum was never intended to dictate a format for the DTS, rather the DTS leader is to co-create each DTS with God. Lack of detail led to:
- Overemphasis of some topics to the neglect of others.
- Leaders duplicating their own school’s speaker topics rather than developing a unique school.
- Other voices setting standards in the midst of vagueness.
More detail ensures that:
- In the absence of qualified speakers, staff would be able to cover basic principles through simple Bible study and discussion.
4) The need for improving the Biblical content of the DTS.
A growing number of young people (both in and out of the church) have little to no Biblical foundation. Within the DTS, Biblical foundations have sometimes also been neglected. Lack of Biblical understanding of the DTS curriculum has resulted in:
- Activities like hearing God's voice, intercession etc....being practiced less due to a reduced Biblical understanding of why we do them. For example, “Why pray?"
- Certain topics have been neglected.
- Experience has sometimes been emphasized over Biblical truth.
- DTS staff themselves need to be discipled into the Biblical principles of the DTS. Many have not had a DTS themselves that adequately equips them Biblically to lead a DTS for others. The result is that the DTS continues to move further away from its intended quality and purpose. These written materials would help in the discipleship of DTS staff so they can disciple others.