DTS Workshop Participants Speak Out!
Haiti: It has enabled me to think through and resolve several situations and frustrations and to have concrete tools to change the future of the DTS by returning to the foundations. It has birthed a new passion and respect, awe for the entity we call the DTS. It is valid and it is our future.
Poland: It has caused me to look up to God to be refreshed and gain a fresh perspective and energy for the future challenges ahead. It was rejuvenating as well and very helpful to be around others who have vision for similar ministry in discipleship. I was encouraged, built up and refocused on what is most important in discipling others and leading an affective DTS.
India: I was challenged to dream more and not let fear hold back the dreams.
Australia: I know that God has turned my heart around about the DTS and staffing and leading the DTS.
Africa: Before I came, my feeling was that I couldn't go on, any longer, staying on staff of DTS when I fell I have no impact in the school anymore. I was worn out. I was wondering what to do next, but my coming here has changed all I was thinking to do next. I am ready to take a challenge again.
Africa: When we prayed for Africa I was so encouraged. I know now that I am not alone, the Lord is with me in all I have to do.
Alaska, USA: I have tools and new Ideas.
Colorado, USA: I felt a deepening desire to pour myself into discipling and raising up students.
Hawaii, USA: The reaffirmation of the calling and purpose of the DTS and the importance of it to the mission. It is the future and lifeblood of this mission.
India: It was very helpful to talk things trough with people and hear what others are doing and thinking.
USA: The networking and meeting of others to share ideas within the YWAM world is critical.
Pacific: A DTS Director shared about the U of N Workshop....He said it changed his life. Many things were imparted to him and affected him....but key things are....a need to get back to foundations in the DTS...teaching on intercession and more importantly getting the students doing it often. He is also changing the schedule around beginning with this Fall school so that there is more time for application with the students...and they are not just hearing a speaker and then rushing off to lunch. The night at the conference when Dean Sherman challenged us to ask for prayer of impartation...he ran from the balcony to the front to get one of the DTS Centre leaders to pray for him and it is obvious....but he even says that he has come back here with a greater authority to lead the school and greater confidence ...he is even feeling challenged to teach in the school for a week himself.@
North Carolina, USA: It has meant a lot to me to know that YWAM as a mission doesn't=t want its bases and DTSs to sink or swim. We are committed to seeing growth, sharing information and trying new things.
USA: I got to see the workshop leadership styles of leading and glean from their models as well as from the information and handouts and all.
Africa: It would be good to have time like this every year.
USA: Getting away from my base and having times of worship
USA: Hearing and learning that DTS is and should be Apostolic
Unknown: I am personally challenged to work and help pioneer new DTSs outside of my base.
USA: I hope that we could have more often this kind d of meetings. I would love to bring more DTS staff to this workshop.
USA: This is the first time I have heard of the Apostolic calling on the DTS in particular.
USA: I have a better understanding of what actually is and is not required to qualify the DTS as a U of N registered school.
Australia: It has reinforced my calling and recharged my vision for the task of reaching the world. It helped to feel more a part of the family of YWAM. It has given me a more complete picture of YWAM and the Global DTS World.
Australia: faith has been imparted and vision strengthened for our ministry calling
Unknown: I will be looking more to trust the Spirit of God in the students - take more risks.
Unknown: It encouraged me to meet some women school leaders.
USA: It clearly opened my eyes and has given me a renewed excitement for DTS. Seeing other DTS leaders with a heart for DTS was exciting and encouraging.
USA: My love and vision for YWAM has been extended.
Unknown: Opened my eyes - a new passion was birthed out of receiving God=s heart. I feel as if I have come to life again and been reborn to something; it has been a very significant time in my life and the Lord.
Unknown: I was given many practical tools to use to amend the structure of our school. I feel because I was able to tap into the bloodstream of the source Foundations@ that I will be able to pass on the DNA as well.
Australia: It sharpened the focus for the work ahead in Australia and beyond.
Unknown: Highlights: the importance of focusing on the potential of the student and what God has deposited in them, rather than on what may be visible. The most valuable resource they bring is the Holy Spirit that lives in them. We need to draw out what God has placed in them and is doing in them. That is enough for maturity and for them to stand firm and be successful. The real teacher for each student is the Holy Spirit--that if they are Christians they come fully equipped to receive all they need. Example of the Apostle Paul's leadership in the Thessalonian churches. He was only able to be with them a few weeks after their conversion, but the Spirit led them and enabled them to mature as Godly people and as a body. For a DTS, methods and tools may change--they should be pliable to the particular DTS in question. The job of the DTS leader is assisting the students in allowing God to do His work in them. It is not the DTS's job to apply continued strategies to "fix" the students. Just as children grow at a particular rate, so do disciples and if they are at a particular level of maturity, we can't force a higher level of maturity on them, but rather cooperate with the level God has them at.
Poland: I want to look at the DTS student, to see the potential in them, to see what God has done in them and what they bring with them to the school. I've looked at obvious weaknesses in the past and sometimes put them in a box. I want to look at them not as "immature" because they aren't acting in all they know, but in such a way as to help draw out of them what God has invested in them and see that as a good and positive thing.
Unknown: For my self this means not focusing on strategy and methodology so much. It means not concentrating too far ahead, but allowing God to put together people, tools, timing, etc in His way to best disciple others (whether that's for a DTS or other situations where followers are growing). To think through the framework of a school but be more adaptable to change as I and others sense the Holy Spirit is doing. It also means being more discerning in seeing which particular issue the Holy Spirit is working on in a person at that time--not trying to fix one thing, which, although it may be a big problem, is not the thing GOD is working on in that person.
Hungary: I want to change my focus where previously I may have thought that I was supposed to have all the answers as the DTS leader. When designing a school, I want to make sure the truth is presented and students have opportunity to let Truth transform them. I also want to be cautious about structuring everything myself and giving room for the students to express themselves and design the school from what God puts in them (outreach, etc.). I want to listen for God in them for direction.
Unknown: Highlight: Analogies and parables like Pete's gardening illustration rocks! (Even though he got it from Ted Ward! Smile) The illustration of DTS staff being like a gardener beautifully showed how a gardener viewed his work and what that work was. Each disciple/student is his or her own unique type of plant. A gardener's job is to cultivate the garden, creating an environment for growth. He knows the life and purpose of seeds are within; he doesn't try to change that. The beauty of the plant comes out as it matures. Each will have different colored blossoms and their own unique fruit. As a leader you don't want to over fertilize (and remember 12 solid weeks of teaching can be like too much manure in a short span of time--smile). The gardener prunes only as necessary and only in the right season, not too heavily or at the wrong time. But ultimately the glory for how they turn out doesn't belong to the gardener. He just facilitated the growth. Glory goes to God, the real source of the plants.
South Africa: I want to let God be God in my students and encourage them to grow to their full potential. Pray for them before they arrive, but seek God's guidance once they arrive on how to let them break through the soil and grow. Make the necessary adjustments for them to grow. Allow them to go through different natural seasons of growth--winter, spring and just stand back and give God the honor and glory when they come info full bloom.
Unknown: In the team setting, I am asking the Lord to cause me to see more of the beauty in each of the plants and to "ooh and ah" more often over the beauty I see being revealed. This would involve more affirmation by me when Christ like character emerges. In the school setting, I want to provide a good soil-bed for the plants to be transplanted into. I'll do this by starting schools off with a bonding event, like a NICO camp of sailing a small boat together--whatever is appropriate to the unique students God sends. I need to do more "weeding" at the gardening, removing obstacles to people's growth, first of all through prayer. And when the Lord directs me, I need to from time-to-time, pull stubborn weeds through loving confrontation. And lastly, I want to take less credit when something good comes out--give all glory to Jesus.
Romania/Hungary: I want to be more sensitive and discerning to know what support and care I tend to give and I want to be aware continually of the wonderful potential of each student. Not to impose my ideas and my own vision upon them, but to call forth Jesus in them so they can grow into maturity. As well, I want to humble myself more, not to take any credit because it is God at work and His Spirit bringing growth and beauty to His own creation.
Albania: I learned to see the role of a discipler as one to create
and atmosphere for growth through believing what God wants for them is already
within them. I don't need to have a list of things to put into them or watch
for bad things to pull out of them. I just need to cooperate with the Holy
Spirit if He's pinpointing something to them. Although it's tempting, when
I look around Albania and see our DTS graduates leading churches and ministries,
I can't boast that we caused this. We prayed, fasted, did spiritual warfare,
loved, cried over the; but God watered His seed and gave growth. I want to
REALLY see God in people and work with Him in people's lives. I don't want
to feel or act responsible for their development or destiny. One change I
want to make is to pray positive goals over our staff, not just pray about
their problems. I want to pray God will establish in my heart the truth of
His being powerfully at work within them and to be sensitive to what He is
doing. I want to believe in God in them.