Catching Up - Weeks 4 & 5
Alas, our busy schedule got the best of us recently, tying up our roving student report, Stacie. She will be returning next week to her regular duties as your faithful insider in the world discipleship & missions. Until then, I thought I would step in and bring you up to speed.
Week four of the DTS saw former YWAMer, now Winnipeg Centre Vineyard pastoral staffer, Andy Wood join us as the weeks lecturer. Here’s a quick bio:
Andy & Beckie lead a mixed up life. They love to mix up people of different social and economic stratas, people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and people of various ages. To them this mixing is a picture of the kingdom of God. It is a drawing together of different people to worship together, to serve each other and to learn from each other. They want to see everyone to find their place and become passionate, productive and well equipped disciples. Andy & Beckie have a passion for interacting with the poor both locally and globally and are involved in Mercy In Action, a branch of the Vineyard College of Mission. They have been part of WCV since 1998 and have three kids, Grace, Elijah and Asher. www.mercyinaction.com
Given this engagement in urban missions and justice issues, Andy was well suited to guide our students through a deeply Biblical and practical theology and missiology of justice. Living and studying in one of Winnipeg’s inner city communities, the teaching seemed to connect with the students hearts. As they prepare for their months in Uganda, I believe Andy’s teaching will further help them understand what it means to proclaim the Good News of Christ in word and deed. It was an excellent week.
On the heels of Andy’s teaching came MissionFest Manitoba, a weekend event dedicated to inform, inspire and involved believers in God’s global call to missions. We felt this was an ideal experience for the students to have, allowing them to see many different models, opportunities and ideas about missions around the world. We challenged them to be open to new ideas, while critically engaging what they saw and heard. While not exploring the booths, they sat in on sessions and worships, including the keynote speaker Steve Saint, son of the martyred missionary pilot, Nate Saint, and author of the book turned film, The End Of The Spear.
After taking Monday off to catch up on their rest, the students enter week five with great enthusiasm. Unique to other weeks, the remaining four days were broken into one day sessions led by YWAM staff. Highly interactive, the teaching and activities included an inspiration young missionary video biography, teaching on spiritual warfare, personality/temperament & team dynamics teaching, team building games and more. A group of YWAM staff from various Western Canada ministry centres were visiting throughout the week, so they sat in on a panel discussion about questions about faith and theology.
This week the school is participating in our Mission Adventures program, emersing them into the urban context. Simulating an outreach experience (in part for preparation for the Uganda trip), they are staying in a local church for the week, thus my corresponding on Stacie’s behalf. I am sure she will have many exciting stories for you next week. Keep us in your prayers!
In His Peace,
Jamie Arpin-Ricci - Co-Director
YWAM Urban Ministries Winnipeg
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