This summer and fall I was able to take part in my first DTS, or Discipleship Training School. This is a big part of our ministry, as it is an opportunity to invest deeply into the lives of individuals, challenging and deepening their faith and walk with Jesus.
I was in a bit of a unique position, as I was both student and staff. Normal requirement to be on staff is to complete a DTS first. Since our school last year was cancelled, I was allowed to join staff in 2020, anticipating completion of a future DTS.
DTS has 2 main components, 3 months of in class lectures and activities at our base, followed by 2 months of outreach. Each week of lectures involves a different speaker and a different focus. Some of our topics include hearing the voice of God, worship, reading and understanding the Bible, cultural spotlights, principles of redeeming cultures and more. A big part of this time is also spending time in spiritual disciplines, with daily prayer, devotion, and worship times. Community is also an important part of being together during this time, and supporting each other.
Two things stand out for me from our lecture phase. The first is the week we spent with
Peter Yellowquill, former chief of Longplain First Nation. He spent a week sharing from his experiences both in residential school and as a leader in his community. He shared the struggles of his people, and his heart for the First Nations of Canada. He knows better than most the cultural, economic and political struggles which affect many of our First Nations people. He also believes deeply that the road to healing is rooted firmly in Jesus Christ. It has been a hot topic this year, and there are many ideas and attempts to bring reconciliation and healing, but we believe that without a personal relationship with Christ, and the forgiveness of sins, that these attempts will continue to fall short.
The second highlight of DTS was my relationship with one of our students. He is First Nations, and like so many, grew up in the foster system. He's a newer Christian, excited to learn the word and grow his faith. While I tend to be analytical, he is a deeply emotional person, and this is the lens he views the world through. While we clearly have very different ways of thinking, we also connected in many ways, including over music. DTS was a struggle for him, as it can be an intense experience for a young person, especially when they are living in a dorm environment. Because of many of his experiences, he also has a number of mental health struggles, include anxiety, depression and panic attacks. It was over this that I was able to share my own experiences, struggles, and how I began the process of healing. This is one of the most important things that I want to continue to do, to share openly with young men dealing with mental illness, and who often slip through the gaps in care.
November and December will be our outreach phase. Normally this involves a trip to Fiji, but this year will consist of local outreach. We will be looking for opportunities to serve locally at helping hands, Steinbach Community Outreach, Siloam Mission and elsewhere.
Comentarios