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Training Ministry Update September 4, 2011

Filed under: J's Journey,Updates — GoWests! @ 9:40 pm

Hi all.

How about a little look at the training I’ve been doing over the past few months?   Ok!

This year has been evolving as one where my role as a developer and trainer is broadening.  As you know, our primary sphere of development is within discipleship schools with YWAM. YWAM also has a number of higher level academic training, and a myriad of ministry initiatives, existing to impact every sphere of society. Over the last several months I have been doing training in some of these more specialized audiences, and invitations for others are appearing also.

I tend to divide my training into two target-categories: schools (groups of students), and staff (program staff, leaders, leadership groups, etc). See below for a quick look into some of our time spent over the last few months.

April:

4th-22nd:  For our Sports Ministry department, I ran a 3-week intensive training program called “Pursuit”. This was full-time and targeted identity, leadership, personal discipleship, and discipling skills. This was a first for them and their department. This small group of dedicated staff works hard to mobilize young people into missions using sports and outdoor adventure activities as an open door.

25th-29th: I spoke for a week in a Discipleship Training School in Salem, Oregon. Topic…? “The Cost of Discipleship”

May:

2nd-5th: Although I couldn’t travel there, I was able to accept an invitation to speak to DTS leaders and staff from all over Eastern Europe, in the Ukraine, via Skype video conference. This was a first for me – a week of skype teaching, translated on the other side by someone I couldn’t see!  What a great week, and what wonderful people training and working so hard in difficult pioneering countries.

9th-13th:  I developed and hosted a 1-week seminar for YWAM program leaders called “Enrichment”. This was such a great time of encouragement for many leaders who are working so hard at developing others, empowering missionaries, and propelling mission-work all over the globe. It was a time to pour into them, help refresh and “enrich” them as they gathered as peers, able to talk about “life” together.

June:

May29-June15:  I did 2+ weeks of staff training for a large DTS in Kona. This was wonderful.  We were able to work with old friends – many whom we worked with when they first entered YWAM,  then began staffing, then leading… even if it was work for them, it was a great  encouragement and a little look at some fruit from our lives over the last 15 years.   PLUS… I  was able to take the whole family with me! So sweeeeet. The first time the kids had been back  to their birthplace, friends and my brother’s fam’ too. Such a good working- family vacation.

July-August:

Back to Montana, to run our leadership school, “DTS Equip”. 6 weeks, June 27-August 5. I will send out a separate blog about this shortly. What an incredible time.  (fyi… dtsequip.com)

Aug 15-19: Taught for a week in a new DTS out here, the “Endurance DTS”. It is focused on the outdoor adventure industry, and as well as learning various skills for that arena, their outreach is spent with backpackers an hikers and climbers in the USA, and Spain.  (fyi… endurancedts.org). Topic? You guessed it, “The Cost of Discipleship”

…September?

8th-16th:  On Thursday I head off to Cambodia. Not for DTS, but this time to train Bible teachers in the School of Biblical Studies, in areas of leadership and discipleship. These people are some of my greatest heroes. Their commitment is inspiring, and the fruit of the work, so enviable. This is my privilege.  Please pray for Molly and kids while I’m gone.

Ok, enough for now.  Stay tuned for more “catch-up-communication”!  Love to all!

JW

 

…back from the dark side of the moon September 1, 2011

Filed under: Updates — GoWests! @ 2:32 pm


“Mission Control, can you hear us”?

While perhaps a little hyperbole can be excused here, it sure feels like a long time in the shadows when it comes to communication. We apologize. Even if we aren’t the most prolific blog and newsletter writers out there, this stretch has been a record for us. So we wanted to break the silence with firstly an apology, but even more than that, an explanation of kinds.

Trust us when we say that it’s good to be approaching some sort of normalcy that allows us a more consistent schedule, and therefore communication. We have been through a rather “stretching” time over the last 4 months. Molly and I are now on the leadership team of our YWAM training campus (a.k.a. “The Council”). This has meant more responsibility and of course, meetings. But the stretching began a little while ago when one of our DTS students almost died on outreach in Calcutta India. He was freakishly hit by a train while moving through a “train station slum”. It was an absolute miracle that he survived. Unfortunately he lost a leg in the process. All Council members spent many hours and meetings following, dealing with the team’s needs on the ground, sending trauma debriefing and leadership teams, medical assistance, family issues, and more. Follow this link to see the “Pray For David” Facebook page his sister created at the time, and/or here for a news article written about the incident. (FYI, the team “finished strong” in India and saw some amazing miracles, salvations and ministry partnerships formed as a result of their faithfulness. David is currently in good shape at home, while continuing treatment.)

Shortly after this we entered perhaps the hardest season we have ever faced in leadership. I cannot give details here, but let me say that as a leader I have dealt with everything [or so I thought] from the death of a student to disciplinary issues, but this has been the hardest and most heart-breaking situation we have ever been part of dealing with.  We are only now beginning to emerge from the dust.

During all of this time I was running a leadership school, as well as trying our best to host family visitors from 2 countries!  (That was a highlight for us, though!). Oh, did I forget our new puppy…?

We want to thank you for your faithful emotional, prayer, verbal, and financial support. In the midst of all of these trials we have been running very successful leadership training, discipleship training, international outreaches, local evangelism, and various teaching opportunities in other locations.  People are being developed, workers are being sent out, people are being physically healed, and the lost ARE getting saved!  Thank you team. Even if you are simply reading this, it is an encouragement to us to know that you are following what we are doing, and more importantly hearing about how a loving God is turning the tide in a pretty messed-up world.

Over the next  couple of weeks you will see some posts about the specifics of the last several months: DTS Equip, leadership training, DTS teaching, a new family member, family visiting, the Montana summer, future gigs and events, and more. In the meantime, I’ll start writing, and then pack for Cambodia. I leave in a week, to train Bible teachers in foundations of discipling and leadership skills.

Thanks for following!

J & M

 

Tasty Fruit in Cambodia March 22, 2011

Filed under: DTS Equip,Photos — GoWests! @ 9:19 am

Ever wondered if something that you did, something time-consuming and costly (even if rewarding at the time) would produce fruit later on? While we knew that our time in Cambodia last year was both rewarding and successful, it was such a pleasant surprise to receive this post below, sent to Molly’s Facebook account recently.

It comes from Cambodia, from one of the leaders there that was in our training program, “DTS Equip”. If you have been following our blogs, you will remember the video from the slum ministry we did during that time (look in October archives). At that slum we ministered, fed people, had prayer times when people were healed, and just loved on the families there.

Many of you are our ministry partners through prayer and financial support. Many of you helped us get to Cambodia last year. You deserve this little bite of yummy fruit. Read on below…

(ps. I put a couple of pics below)

Subject: Hello from Cambodia
Dear Jeremy and Molly,
Hello! Hope you guys are doing great. So, I am wondering what you guys are doing right now? DTS has been going for one month already. It is so good. We have 21 students, including 3 international students. I just want to say thank you so much for your obedience to God to have Equip in Battambang, Cambodia last fall. It was really helpful. It helped me and other staff to be better leaders, we were very impacted. And, especially I want to tell you about the slum church that we started during Equip outreach time. Do you remember about that? It is still going really well, we meet every Sunday. We baptized 8 people a few weeks ago. I love my church and am so thankful that God blessed them to have church and to study the Bible. I just thought about you guys and wanted to let you know what is going on in DTS and to say thank you. May God bless you. Miss you guys.
Love from,
Channoeun

Channoeun

 

Jeremy’s Latest Journey – Panama, Taiwan, and a Tsunami March 17, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 11:20 pm

Hi all.

Just back from a trip which took me to Panama, then on to Taiwan.

Panama:

As a member of YWAM’s International Discipleship Training Centre (IDTSC), we meet globally once a year. This year we met in regions, the Americas rep’s meeting in Panama. We had around 20 members gather, representing DTS oversight from Canada down to Argentina.

Our discussions vary from recent inititiaves in discipleship, program multiplication and integrity, as well as what the Lord is speaking to us as a mission globally: where we should be focusing, contributing, and heading. For me personally two highlights of these meetings are:

IDTSC Americas Regional Members, Panama

1. the human connection. It always amazes me how personal and close this group of international and cross cultural volunteers is. Some of our best times are sharing what we are going through in work, life, heart, …successes and challenges.  Prayer for one another is always great, and God speaks through our relationships.

2. training and discipleship development. This element of our gatherings is priceless, and essential. We are able to learn from each other, hear what is working and what isn’t, and learn what other discipleship issues are being dealt with in their region’s programs and if any themes are emerging that we can recognize within the generations globally.

One more thing for me; it allows me to spread the word about the training I can offer others, such as DTS Equip, and other leadership development work.

From Panama, it was directly to Taiwan…

Taiwan:

It was such a privilege  to be invited to address the entire (35) DTS and SBS (School of Biblical Studies) staff in Taipei, Taiwan, on discipleship and leadership. It was a great week of coming back to our roots as disciples first, as sons and daughters of God, before we attempt to lead and disciple others. With some fantastic translation, I think we had a profound time of learning and growing, individually and corporately.

I also spent time with some of their training leaders talking about some extended, more specialized leadership development in the future.  This is very exciting to me, and I would like to think very beneficial for everyone. I look forward to more time in Taiwan, teaching both within, and outside of, the DTS program, such as the SBS.

On a much sadder note, I was in Taiwan when the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. Taiwan soon received a tsunami warning and it wasn’t long before we were on our way to higher ground. Thankfully there was no tsunami of any significance to hit Taiwan.  On a better note, I was able to immediately contact my brother in law in Tokyo and talk to him and his family. They are fine, although they have just now relocated to his wifes family’s home further south in Japan, due to rolling blackouts, food issues, and approaching radiation.

PLEASE pray for the beautiful people of Japan. I have been there several times and love it. Seeing this lifetime-tragedy for so many people, from the comfort of my living room or office, makes us feel so helpless, inadequate, and hopeless. But God is still good! And reports of miracles are just now starting to emerge from a shattered nation. Reports of amazing rescues, inexplicable survival, selfless giving, and of course a global force of intercession and prayer. As I hear of things through our network of contacts in Asia and Japan, I will pass them on to you also.

One small miracle for me and my family… after being away for 2 weeks, I was looking at more days stranded in Taiwan as my flights home were heading back through Tokyo airport, which was promptly forced to close. At the last minute I was able to call my airline in the USA, and actually find a seat on a flight that night directly out of Taiwan, which was previously sold out (as all were for two days). Sweeeet.

Thanks for following me, and for your prayers and support.

JW

 

Calender Updated February 27, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 2:11 pm

Hi All.

FYI, I just finished updating our calendar for the year.

As projects and commitments come up I update this calendar so people can get a glimpse of our ministry schedule.  Just click on “Calendar” on the right.

Thanks for looking!

JW

 

Tragedy in Kenya February 25, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 4:28 pm

Hey all. Just got this, this morning.
While I don’t like to be the bearer of bad news, I couldn’t help but pass this one on. Please send out a prayer.  Thanks,

JW

 

Tragedy in Kenya
25/02/2011 2:32 pm
ShareThis

YWAM is devasted to report that around 1am on Friday, 25th February,
armed robbers broke into an orphanage operated by a YWAM team in Athi
River, Kenya, 50 km outside of Nairobi. A Dutch couple, Ebel and Lora
Kremer, managed the orphanage. In the attack, Ebel was shot and killed
in front of his wife and their two small children. A night watchman
was also injured in the shooting.

The orphanage shares a property with a YWAM community which is
preparing to host a Discipleship Training School graduation this
evening and has recently received students for a new DTS. Member care
professionals from YWAM Africa’s trauma team and other YWAM leaders
are on the scene to provide support and care.

Your prayers are requested for the family, staff and students of YWAM
Athi River.

 

God moving in Cambodia – a short blurb February 4, 2011

Filed under: DTS,DTS Equip,Updates — GoWests! @ 4:41 pm

So, Cambodia DTS Equip came, progressed quickly, and now seems so far in my memory. Life travels too quickly.

I recently received this email from my Khmer co-leader, Dina, and his new bride Malis. Forgive the written “Cambo-English”, but because he is such a good verbal communicator, I know exactly what he is saying! (I have taken the liberty of adjusting some of the really bad grammatical and spelling errors!). It’s short, but powerful and refreshing. The work goes forward in Cambodia!

JW

Dina

Dear Friend.

How are you doing? Hope you doing good. Yesterday I just return back from the village with DTS team from Sweden. My leg muscle was hurt, the team pray for me, then I got heal after two hour when I translate for their teaching,  praise God.

The church in village kind of dry-out, people not excited about God, but during these 5 day, God has use the team to encourage the church and preach the gospel to the unbelievers. We see the church was encourage by that, and just bring them excitement back.

One story:

There is one family the wife was processing (possessed) by evil spirite , they using all their money and what they have try to get free from evil spirit by going to the witch doctor but it not help, they feel hopeless. When the team come team tell them God love, and want to heal her so they fast and prayer for her, Praise God now she free  and the whole family gave their live to the Lord,Amen

Thank you for being a part of this week with us in Cambodia and praying for us

In his love, Dina & Malis

Cambodia team ministry

More village ministry

 

Haiti – a little of what YWAM’s been up to

Filed under: Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 4:28 pm

Hello everyone. As I travel and talk to people I am sometimes asked what YWAM is doing in Haiti. We have a permanent work in Haiti, and has been there for many years.  Since the earthquake YWAM has been involved in virtually every sphere of the recovery of that nation, from day 1. We also lost people in the tragedy, and almost every local YWAM worker lost freinds and family. YWAM teams flooded in from [literally] all over the globe. Last month this email went tout as a general update. I thought I would also forward it to you. It will simply show you some of what has been happening through YWAM, but most of all, the goodness and faithfulness of God.

January 12th 2011 marked one year since the earthquake shook the nation of Haiti! On January 12th there was a large gathering. YWAM partneried with the Protestant churches of Haiti in an act of unity, recognizing the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ for those of us who survived the disaster! The event was called “Célébration de la vie” or “Celebration of Life!” We will be reflecting on what happened one year ago but with the motivation to give God thanks for what He has done in sustaining so many and the provision He has produced through so many organizations, churches and individuals!

Currently YWAM has various teams doing outreach in and around Port-au-Prince. Our newest YWAM Center operated by Director Peterson and Lucy Georges is gearing up to host their first Discipleship Training School this year as well as facilitate the teams they can. A YWAM team from Montana is on the island of la Gonave doing outreach with WISH Ministries and another team from YWAM Kona partnering with various ministries and orphanages in Montrouis. In St. Marc we continue building homes through the YWAM Ministry called Homes of Hope!

YWAM has closely followed 84 families since they were displaced and fled to St. Marc days following the earthquake. Since January we have been able to nurse back to physical health 62 injured people with their families, built permanent homes for 24 of these families and built semi permanent metal structured homes with concrete foundations for an additional 22 families. We have already received funding for the building of cement block homes for an additional 16 families in which these homes should be completed by the 1st week of Feb. 2011. This will bring the total of relocated families to 40 in permanent cement block homes and 22 in semi permanent metal homes. I know you will enjoy praising God with us on this accomplishment.

In addition we have acquired and paid for 35 acres of land in Timonette, St. Marc. Our goal is to develop a village called the New Beginnings Village for January 12th victims. This village will contain land for Resident homes, Church, Market and School. We have an additional 3 acres in Timonette where we have 30 hoop tents. These tents are acting as a temp housing for victims as we rotate families through into permanent homes. We require each family seeking a new home through the Homes of Hope Project be a victim of the earthquake, former renter in Port-au-Prince (With no intention to return),  participate in building at least three other homes beside their own, pay for the land the home is built and they must not sale or rent the home for a minimum of five years after entry. (For more info on Homes of Hope  www.ywamhaiti.org)

It has been so great to partner with so many this past year. Let me say once more a big thank you for the many volunteers that worked with us. I would like to take special not of those that help with the hoop tents through Espanshades Greenhouses. These tents became a model tent. The Commander for the UN in Haiti did a surprise visit to our camp in Timonette where we had the hoop tents erected. He observed the tents and the design of the camp. His comments were very positive as he shared that YWAM was a head of the curve with tent style, camp design and recovery strategy. It was a big encouragement for all of us and the efforts of so many that came as volunteers and the good people of Lancaster, PA area that sacrificed their time and resources in the design and implementation of the hoop tents. As we have relocated families we have disassembled many of the tents, storing them for quick response in case of future disasters.

Much to say and much has happened and we do not know how to thank you, your family and all those who have been involved thus far. Keep us in prayer through the day as we pray for a new foundation for new beginnings in Haiti! Zechariah 8:9-13.

Taking the High Places!

Terry W. Snow

Director St. Marc

www.ywamhaiti.org

 

 

West’s Christmas in Montana – Video January 17, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 12:31 am

A little late, but worth a peek.  A short little look at our Christmas in Montana.  A few video clips, …a few photos. It all starts with the West’s Christmas tree hunt…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EINzDzXne2w

 

Seasonal Change: a bird’s-eye-view from the Westside January 14, 2011

Filed under: J's Journey,Updates — GoWests! @ 4:55 pm

No surprise to anyone, time flies. It feels like we had just returned from Cambodia when I took the photo on the left, when all of a sudden a month later, I took the photo on the right (that’s how it looks now, too)! I had only just become accustomed to writing “2010” and now, 2011 is here!  With that being said, I had already been “living”  in 2011 for some time: schedules, making plans, ministry commitments, …communicating about upcoming events and projects. Looking at my wall calendar, open space begins… in September.

With so much to do, are we doing the “good” things, or the “God” things?  It has been said more than once that, “it is the good which gets in the way of the best”.  So what does a God-directed 2011 look like for the Wests?  As we move into 2011 we wanted to give you a bird’s eye view of the upcoming year, but from the perspective of “why” rather than simply “What”. We are moving into new territory for us; trying to pioneer some work, branch out into other areas, while increase effectiveness in proven ones. We invite you all to be a part of that.

Our focus is continuing to move toward leadership training and discipleship. Opportunities are opening up for us, and we are taking steps to solidify our vision, as well as commitments in that direction.

DTS Equip, our leadership program designed specifically for leaders of YWAM’s Discipleship Training School is moving forward. We are now focusing most of our time running, and developing this program, both locally and internationally. While we run one DTS Equip every year in Montana, USA, we have also pioneered this school in other locations in the Caribbean, and South East Asia. I am currently in conversation about future programs in Eastern Europe, Central America, and East Asia.

Leadership and Staff Training. I am receiving and responding to invitations to train various staff groups (outside of DTS) in discipling and leadership skills. Some of these are international opportunities, some local.

DTS Leadership Consultation. I have been invited to aid in the development, and strategic implementation of vision for a large DTS program. I have already begun these consultations and really enjoy them.

Local (and remote) mentoring. Both molly and I regularly meet with different individuals with the express purpose of mentoring. As we expand our roles and schedules this year, we can see these relationships expanding too. Some of these are within our work context, and some outside.

“Personal” ministry projects. There is a major project which I have been pondering for some time now, and last year I sensed the Lord tell me to begin. Without going into any detail, I simply ask that you would pray for me in this area. It is something new, …and challenging for me!

Overall we feel ourselves continuing in the “familiar” while making intentional moves into some newer unchartered areas.  Is 2011 a year of pioneering for the Wests?  We’ll see. Please keep us in prayer.  For a more detailed look at the ministry and teaching plan for the next few months, check out our calendar page on our site. As always, feel free to post comments, email, call… stay in touch!

Blessings,

Jeremy and Molly