It's over. We have just finished yet another Discipleship Training School (DTS) here at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Kyiv in Ukraine. We had the graduation tonight and it was a great time of honoring God for everything he has done in and through the students the past six months.
We have been extremely blessed with a wonderful group of students. Very different people. From countries as different as Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and the United States. Students between the ages of 18 and 40. A wonderful group that came here to Kyiv with one purpose in mind: they really wanted to know God more! And God answered their prayer. They grew and changed. Some more than others. But that's life in discipleship training. It's a process for all of us. And we as leaders celebrate all growth whether it's a tiny little step or a gigantic one. All growth is positive.
We have focused a lot on Truth in this school. "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free", Jesus said in John 8:31-32.
And that's the essence of growing as a disciple. Four steps are involved, but too many Christians stop at step 1. Step 1: knowledge of what Jesus has said and done, 2: OBEDIENCE to what Jesus said, 3. Know the TRUTH, and when you know the TRUTH, 4. The TRUTH will set you FREE! If you know and live by the Truth (and Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life) in any area in your life, you can live in freedom. If you follow a lie, you won't live in freedom.
It's been an honor for me to lead these precious students these past six months. I'm proud of them, and I'm looking forward to seeing the positive history they'll be making for God and his kingdom!
Torben "And now, with God's help, I shall become myself" /Søren Kierkegaard (Danish Christian philosopher) - this quote became our school quote. Growing with God as his disciple is not about becoming somebody else. It's about becoming more of who God has created you to be. It's about discovering all the gifts and talents God has put in you. It's about knowing how you, in a unique way, can make a difference in this world.
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5 comments:
I know (almost) all there is to say about "step 1". But wow, when it comes to step 2, 3, and 4, I've not really started yet. I have a lot ideas about how "it works" but how to truly live it - that's certainly another thing ...
I kind of feel that you and you're team are doing some amazing teaching in this field. Would it be possible - at some time - to broadcast some of it? Maybe as audio files? Just an idea that may be realized some day...
Well done with the new template :)
Congratulations on getting through another one =)
I'm sure you were blessed as much as you were a blessing to those on the school!
thanks for swinging by the blog ...
well at the moment its looking like September I'll be going back to Thailamd, still praying about it, but by then I will have the dowry needed to get engaged with my lovely girl =)
we're still praying about where God wants us, it will be in Thailand, but exactly where and what we'll be doing is yet to be confirmed =)
I'll let you know when I know.
Would love to work with DTS's again, but we may end up somewhere where there needs a DTS started afer God reaps his harvest there... and of course you'd be invited to speak at that DTS =)
God bless ya
I've been thinking about you guys lately and just wanted to say hey!
hey great job keep it up!!
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