Winnipeg Discipleship Training School

Previous Post - Week Two

“Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the triune God.” – John Wesley

The character of God: What comes to mind when one ponders this statement. Fear, love, perfection, mystery?….the list goes on and on. As you can tell, what one knows or thinks of God’s character impacts the way he/she relates to others and themselves. That is why this week at YWAM, we studied what attributes define God. Our week was led by the “say it like it is”, “bear of a man” Randy Parizeau, Director of YWAM Nexia3 in Vancouver, BC and a member of the YWAM North American Leadership team.

One could definitly say it was an interesting and exciting time, characterized by open discussion, sharing, and even “heated debates.” Both the staff and the students voiced their opinions about the topic(s) being covered, which included but not limited to: raised voices, Scripture quoting, Googling, and exaggerated hand gestures. I even recall one of my classmates documenting each stage as follows: “Randy states his point, Jamie objects, someone concurs, and my question to ponder is ‘ Does Randy get to sleep in the house tonight…?’ ” hahaha!

It was great though; conflict (not serious stuff, just good ole’ debate) and open-mindedness has enabled us to learn in greater depth about our life and the enigmatic ways of the Lord. Chatting with my peers, I discovered that certain topics seemed to fascinate and stimulate their growth or understanding more than others. Definitly one of the most helpful discussions was about forgiveness and how to practice it, which included open questioning and Bible supported tips. Another beneficial discussion involved learning about the Trinity, and how since God, in a sense, is a community (three in one), that we as Christians need to be fully aware of the importance of community in our own lives.

Personally I gleaned some new insight concerning Jesus’ character when we analysed 1 Corinthians 13 in pairs. As a list was composed of what love was and was not, I realized that according to what I had just read, that even if one has great knowledge, many talents, or incredible self-discipline, he/she has nothing if him/her do not have love for Christ or for others. Amazing, eh?!

Well, us YWAMees (YWAMers, YWAMas, YWAMinites??!) had an exceptionally ’social’ week. Sharing memories such as playing “Apples to Apples”, wasting a perfectly good evening (in my opinion) by watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and going to the theatre on Wednesday night, I sensed some serious bonding going on. It wasn’t just in organized times, it was more the car rides together, the “all in good fun” taunting of a card game opponent, or just the plain and simple fact that all six of us are forced to share bathrooms and a common living space, it has been a fun ride thus far.

The gears in our brains are “a-turnin” my friends. We experienced the movies “The Last King of Scotland,” and “To End All Wars,” and let me tell you, those are some deep, gritty, and emotional movies. The first movie is an overview on the former ruler of Uganda (our outreach destination) and the terror his reign created. All walked out of that theatre silent, stunned, or in deep thought. It was hard to watch, and honestly, I (and all of us here) am so grateful and blessed to be able to go into a torn and hurting nation, and to show them the love of Christ!

The other movie,”To End All Wars,” directed by the son of YWAM’s founders, was shown so that we would get some new insight on the character of Christ. Again, this movie (which is a true story) not only filled me with inspiration, but shook my sense of reality, love, and suffering. It is amazing how much love can be reflected by others and by the sacrafice we are willing to make for them. Very inspiring to say the least. Here at this base, we like to watch deep and controversial movies that stir us to analyize, ponder, and prompt us to action. I love it! Good stuff! It’s not just spoon fed mush presented to us but instead steak and potatoes, something one really has to chew on in order to digest.

THATS ALL FOLKS! Stop by next week to be “shocked and awed” by the thrilling and wonderful scoop on the topic of “Justice” led by Andy Wood, the students’ riveting lives, and the “guaranteed-to-be-gripping” Missions Fest! I better make like a “tree” and “leaf” (as all collectively cringe in horror!) Bon Voyage!

Sincerely in Christ!
SJ

Previous Post - Reflections on Week One

-by Stacie Lund, DTS Correspondent

Good afternoon/morning/evening to you very fine and wonderful readers! WOW! I can’t believe it has already been two weeks here at the base. This first week of teaching has been incredibly insightful. Prayer was the topic of discussion, which was led by the outgoing and spunky Dan King from 24-7 Prayer Canada. He was an interactive teacher, incorporating scripture, mini-outreaches, and exercises to give us insight into the subject of prayer. First we discussed what the definition of prayer was. Discovery was made by all about certain aspects of ministering through prayer, the ways we can pray, how to listen to God’s voice, etc. One very unique exercise for practicing listening to the Lord’s voice was when we took a trip to the Portage Place mall, being instructed to observe those around us, and then waiting for the Lord to give us either information or a word to pray for certain individuals. Luckily, God was faithful when we asked, not to mention Dan provided a “cheat sheet” of prayers that we could use “just in case”. It was good stuff!

Teaching was presented on how to test if what we were hearing was indeed God’s voice by asking questions, referring to Scripture, and so on. Such topics as spiritual warfare, how Jesus prayed, fear vs. faith when approaching God, and unanswered prayer were analyzed. Pondering the following week, I have realized that all around me have been impacted by Dan’s teaching in a significant way, which compelled me to ask each student, “How about that prayer week (aka What was the highlight of your week?)” To insert a creative twist on the grilling of my fellow classmates, it was concluded that a question pertaining somehow to one of Dan’s teachings, which is how our spiritual growth should be organic like a garden, should be asked. In light of this information, I was compelled to ask the imperative question…”What type of fruit describes your personality?” Hahaha! Who said that we should take life too seriously….preposterous I say! SO here you are….LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…the deep, moving, and somewhat “fruity” responses of the YWAM DTS class of ‘07!

Lindsey

“Probably the highlight of this week was learning about listening to God. I’ve been thinking about it lately, so it was really cool to hear some tips for listening better!”

“A papaya-flavored mango because I am indecisive!”

J.P.

“The highlight of my week was intercession and working on and learning about inward prayer (which is defined as listening, contemplating, and meditating).”

“Probably a strawberry…”

Robin

“The highlight for me would have to be praying for our classmate (practicing personal prayer) this morning. It is one thing learning about prayer, but actually practicing/doing it is what makes a difference!”

“An orange because I am sweet and full of flavor!”

Ed

” Practicing listening to God’s voice in the mall was a very unique experience. Watching the peoples’ expressions and praying for them as they walked by was cool”.”

“I am an apple because I bruise easily!”

Brenden

“The whole idea that as we become more mature Christians, God speaks less clear to us because He trusts us more to discern/hear/understand his calling and voice.”

“I am a dragon fruit because it looks weird, but once you cut it open, you find it is a lot different than you would expect.”

Stacie

“The highlight of my week would have to be the fact that God has confirmed my daily prayers/reading through Dan’s lectures. It was great to know that I am on the right track. Also, learning how to discern God’s voice was extremely helpful because I struggle with the thought, ‘Is that really you God?’ “

” I gotta be a guava because I am unique, kinda odd, and overall enjoyable.”

Previous Post - Jan. DTS Begins

HEY HEY HEY, what’s up everybody! Well before I become too wound up gushing about our wonderful first week, I would like to introduce myself. Hi! My name is Stacie Lund, you can call me Stace. I am a first time YWAMer and fellow student here at the Winnipeg base. Let’s begin with an overview of my life: Scene 1; Act 7: Stacie exits the building in a cautious manner….hahaha..okay…No, just kidding, but seriously, I’ll try not to be that specific, soooo here it goes.

I was born in a rural community called Roosevelt, Minnesota.I lived a pretty average life; that is until Jesus Christ became my Lord when I was fourteen. Ever since then I have been experiencing life in a way that is overflowing with energy, love, and an abundance of God’s grace. Even though this is true, I am still hungry for more; for a deeper relationship with my heavenly Father, for a clear-cut calling upon my life, and for greater obedience and commitment.

As I have observed in this brief amount of time, every one of the YWAM students this DTS has come to seek God in a greater way. Whether it is to learn how to share in others’ oppression to lift them up (one of the reasons I am here), to learn how to hear and discern the voice of their Maker , or to pursue the vast multitudes of heart desires that God has imparted upon him/her, all strive for one goal; to please, love, and serve others and God. This is why we are here. We did not come seeking ourselves; we came to help others and to serve Jesus Christ, not to mention have a little bit of fun in the process. Everyone needs some joy in his/her life after all.

I hope that anyone reading this will know that his/her prayers, sponsorship and support are vital to us as learners here! And in advance; Thanks bunches! We really appreciate you guys! Back on track though; even in the short amount of time we have lived here, we have tasted the richness of community life, friendship, and open mindedness. Not saying that we will not or have not at some point become “irked” by, for example, our night-owl roommate who at first was tolerable but after the first month becomes “uberly” frustrating, or at the fact that “somebody took the last dinner roll…sheesh how rude!!” haha…the point is that we are all the body of Christ, each functions in his/her own unique yet equally important way, and we are pushing through our sometimes “not so wonderful” tendencies and learning how to work together for a greater cause. Now can I get an AMEN! okay seriously..that was some pretty sweet stuff!!!!

Hesitantly I pulled over my beastly Chrysler Lebaron next to the restored house on Furby Street and carefully scrutinized the building…was this really the place?! Immediately, almost to my horror/astonishment, a slew of staff came stampeding through the doors and surrounded my car. I cautiously rolled down my window and said, “Umm…hi?!” Anyways, I was welcomed by a seemingly “overly” eager staff who helped me carry in my luggage. It was nice though! I didn’t even have time to carry in a single thing! I know that every student who arrived received just as warm and eager of a greeting as I had that day. It was pretty amazing.

After everyone settled in, we all strolled through the chilly Winnipeg night to our dinner location. The first meal we had gave us an opportunity to become acquainted with where we would be dining: the Ellice Cafe. This resturant has an amazing history behind it. It was established by a local church to provide a nice dining experience for inner city Winnipegers which creates community while offering decently priced and quality food. It truly is a place where all feel comfortable. The next day we walked two blocks to our YWAM classroom, a store front on Sargant Ave. Getting settled in, we started off with a game called, “I have never”. One would have to stand in the middle of the circle while he/she proceeded to share something that they had never experianced. If someone else had, then they would have to frantically get up and dash to an available seat. It was interesting to learn that some of our fellow staff and students have, “blowed bubbles under water,” “eaten bugs on purpose,” and/or, “have killed a kangaroo with his/her bare hands”…ahem Kim.

We then went over our binders with YWAM’s goals, rules, and objectives. Over the week, we proceeded to become better aquianted with each other and with YWAM as a school. A basic history of the Bible was offered by Matt, while an activety with twelve prayer/reflection ideas were demonstrated by Michelle (totally awesome by the way; it gave ideas of how to pray/meditate/grow during our quiet times with God). Amazing worship was also provided by Doug Sadler, who works with Kings Kids, another ministry of YWAM in Winnipeg.

One afternoon we spent cleaning up, which was a good experience. Everyone received a task in order to keep the house nice and tidy. I enjoyed it since the Bible says we should find joy in working with our hands, so that was good. We had activity nights and fun nights, such as playing the “eat the chocolate game” where if someone rolled a specific number he/she would have to eat a piece of chocolate (mind you while putting on a hat, oven mitts, and using fork and knife, for manners of course!) as fast as he/she could to gain points for his/her team. We also played a game of strategy which involved one team trying to “dominate the couch”…hehe that one took forever… yet it was fun.

A supply run was held Thursday night, meaning we all went to the mall to pick up some necessities, or to rummage through a sales bin of course! We also watched “Finding Nemo” Friday night and enjoyed some good laughs. Saturday, we all went either “Value Village” shopping or to a movie. It was a great week of bonding. It is crazy how I can feel so close to everyone in such a short amount of time. I believe that everyone has bonded very quickly. It helps that we are sharing close quarters, not to mention the love of Christ. It is hard to attempt to explain all that has occured within this week. We have laughed, maybe even cried a little. We have teased and encouraged, but most importantly, we have established the fact that this DTS will be Christ centered and great!

Tune in next week for a report on the first week of teaching on Prayer from Dan King of 24-7 Prayer Canada.

The day has finally arrived. Starting around noon today, the students in our January 2007 Discipleship Training School (DTS) will begin to arrive. Today marks the beginning of a five month journey for all of us- three here in the great city of Winnipeg (specifically, our amazing inner city neighbourhood in the West End), followed by two months of missional service and outreach in Uganda.

We thought we would start by introducing you to the students:

I am Stacie Jean Lund, a servant of Jesus Christ called to bring hope to all of the world. I always wanted to introduce myself like that becuase, hey, its so true! I geuss what you need to know is that I am really only five years old; that is when I gave my life to Jesus. Ever since then life’s been an adventure. I have been able to be used for great things, and sometimes I have stumbled, but it is crystal clear who is ever present with me. For the general information, here it goes; I am a 19 going on 20 year old, home-grown in Warroad, Minnesota (yes, I am American). I have a passion for Jesus, I absolutley adore singing, I love people, I enjoy the outdoors, yet I like the city as well…I guess you could say I am easy to please. Working with youth, doing missions, leading others in worship, and changing the world for his Kingdom are some of the top priorities on my life goal list. So one may be asking now, “How did this lady end up in Winnipeg, Canada.” Well, to be honest, it’s just the pure and simple fact that God is putting me where there is the greatest need for Him. I know this is a time when God wants to stretch me and mold me even more into the woman he desires for his kingdom. In general, I really just desire what God wants me to desire. The end!

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My name is Ed Harms. I am 33 years old and have lived in Winnipeg my whole life. I taught Grade 4 for couple of years but I have been doing seasonal work for the last 2 years. I enjoy playing sports like ice hockey,football and baseball; listening to music, taking photographs, travelling and hanging out with friends. Through this DTS I am hoping to learn more about knowing God, hearing his voice and discerning his will for me at this stage of my life and beyond. I am also looking forward to meeting new people, gaining valuable life skills as well as experiencing a new culture.

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My name is Lindsey Ainsworth, and I am an 18-year-old Canadian. I enjoy reading, playing the flute, travelling, and drawing. I don’t really know what to expect from the DTS, but I am hoping to make some new friends, gain some life experience, learn more about God’s plan for my life, and grow in my relationship with Christ.

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My name is Brenden Knight and I am from Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. I am 19 years old. I enjoy singing and acting, as well as baking and reading. On the YWAM Discipleship Training School, I hope to grow closer in my relationship with God.

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My name is Robin Frost. I am a 26 yrs old Canadian, born and raised in BC, moved to Manitoba when I was 19. The past 3 yrs. I have been living and working in Brandon MB. I love worship (music and dance), working with children, walking/jogging and reading. I expect to get to know and trust God in a deeper way and develop skills in missions.

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My name is John Paul Marynewich and I live in Winnipeg, MB. I have volunteered with YWAM’s Mission Adventures program in the past. I really enjoy hanging out, watching movies, playing games and karaoke. My main purpose for attending DTS is to get more ministry experience. I’m presently seeking God on how to share with people what he is doing in my life and how he can help them in their lives.

By sure to bookmark us and come back weekly for new posts, pictures and news!

Previous Post - DTS Coming Soon

Well, in four days our January 2007 Discipleship Training School (DTS) begins. We are excited to have a great group of six students (see the sidebar for pics and Click Here for brief bios), with an even mix of three guys and three girls. Along with our six YWAM staff, the school has six Canadians, three Americans, one Canadian/American dual citizen and an Australian. What a great mix!

Keep us in prayer over this next week as we prepare for and welcome the new students and get started in this exciting adventure in faith. We will be posting a minimum of once a week throughout the school at this blog, so please keep coming back to read about what’s happening, as well as viewing some pictures.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to use the comment section below each post. You can also email us at winnipegdts@gmail.com or call at (204) 774-7072. God bless!