Discipleship Training School, weeks 2-3

Well its update time again! It has been quite a big two weeks since the last update. We spent a week with Joanne Blaik, a teacher who covered the topic "Identity in Christ." This last week Ken Mulligan came in and shared about what it means to have a "Clear Conscience" before God and man. This time I thought I would get some of the students to talk briefly about what God did specifically in their lives. Sometimes it is so hard to encompass what a week of DTS looks like; but I think that by seeing the fruit of the week you can see that God is definitely moving. So without further ado, listen to some of our students.

Control Freak?!

Prior to coming to DTS there were about four big things I know I needed to work on. One was the issue of "control". It was brought to my attention before coming that I have control issues in relationships. There were so many people I had hurt and I was determined to fix it. So, I knew that I would have to face this issue, and conquer it. Identity Week brought refreshing points of view- reminders of who I am in Christ.

As a part of ministry time we were encouraged to participate in an exercise where we had to stand before everyone stating truths that contradicted the lies that we believed about ourselves. My list included statements referring to my struggle with control. This was my chance! God was going to fix my control issues! I spoke the statements and was prayed for. But then ... a leader suggested that I don't experience freedom in my walk with God because I try to control my relationship with Him. What?! I'd never even considered this to be an issue but it made so much sense. That would explain a lot of my frustration with the Lord.

Although it was something so simple, I was blinded to the truth which was revealed during Identity Week. I feel so free just being aware of this now. Even though it's hard to just give up my need to control my relationship with God, I have time to work on it. I am so grateful for God's patience and help during this. It's only my second week here at Reef-to-Outback, and I'm extremely excited to see how the Lord helps me give my life over to Him.

-Shauna Snyder

Freedom

Clear conscience week for me was a big, beautiful, shiny gift from God. I was given the opportunity to walk in freedom from the sins of my past and I took it. Actually, I ran for it!

I have spent much of my life walking in rejection, pride, shame and despair. I had dark places inside of me that I just figured would be with me for life. But as the week began, I felt God begin to convict me to reveal the dark places, so that the enemy could not use them to blackmail me any longer.

During our ministry time this week, I confessed all my deepest, darkest sins and the prideful behavior that created those dark places inside of me. I did this in front of a group of people that I only met three weeks ago! But more importantly, I did it in front of my Lord Jesus Christ.

I walk away from this week as a new woman. A woman who, for the first time in her life, feels genuinely clean and pure and free. The heavy burdens that I carried for so many years are gone. Finished! As I write this, I realize that the freedom I now feel cannot be described by words. Yet I can say that Jesus has given me a clear conscience to walk forward in the destiny that He has called me to! Jesus is Lord!

-Jennifer Perry

It is so amazing to me to see God move in radical ways. I am continually blown away when at the end of each week the students show this incredible desire to respond to God. Well, please continue to pray for us as we head into a week with Andrew Dutton covering the topic of "Christian Disciplines." This topic should be quite challenging as we start to discuss what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus.

Jonathan Spainhour, DTS staff

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