The overwhelming gratefulness and the unknown

Hello All.

Hope all is well and thanks for reading. A week has passed by at holmsted. We’ve just finished our second week of staff training before the trainees start arriving from next Wednesday. It’s been great spending more time with some of the guys staffing the DTS with me and also people on the base. Taking time to settle in, which is fair enough, think I’m just a bit impatient but it’s all coming together. We’ve been learning a great deal about leadership, and have been assigned different roles (I’m coordinating worship for the school) and have been taught about planning and leading an outreach team, also dealing with difficult characters/situations.

I’ve really enjoyed listening to alot of the teaching this week, as it’s been given by inspirational folk with admirable amounts of experience. To be honest I’ve had moments where I’ve felt out of my depth here and in my role but I know that God has called me here for this season. It’s good to approach this position with humility and not to take it lightly I’m sure.

We have a few days to pray and prepare before the students arrive next week. On the first week of DTS (week after next) I will be teaching on discipleship which will require some prep and also I’m attempting to compile some kind of song book for worship. When the students get here the work really kicks off! I’m primarily being trained to disciple, so as well as listening in on the students lectures I will be attending staff meetings and receiving training from staff on base and guest speakers. I will be running three small group sessions a week, leading local outreaches and open mics, meeting up with individuals for one on one discussion- mainly to listen to them, encourage and help them process and provide support. Alongside this there is the outreach to organise which will be interesting, things like organising transport, visas and accommodation, arranging ministries with contacts etc. So that’s a summary of some of the things I will be involved in during the school, there’s a fair amount of variation but as far as the regular goes this is what’s going to be keeping me very busy.

This weekend I’m going to try and rest up and enjoy some quiet before things get crazy. I’m heading into Brighton for a stroll around tomorrow and saying goodbye to a team being sent out by holmsted to Poland on Sunday, which is very exciting but sad to say goodbye to friends.

So my prayer points for this week.

-Strength. Please pray for strength to get everything organised well for when the students come, strength for all occasions I guess. That I wouldn’t try to do things in my own strength.

-Unity, relationships.
Please pray for good relationships and unity between staff, also staff and students.

-Confidence.
Please pray that I would continue to grow in confidence and that I’d walk in my true identity.

-Resolve.
Please pray that in my walk with God I’d take hold of the freedom I’ve been given and that I’d continue grow in understanding and maturity.

-For the students yet to come.
Please pray that God would really move, and that travels, transition and settling would be smooth.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading and thank you so much for your encouragement and support in these times. I appreciate it very much.

Jesus said, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will never pass away’

I love that.

Thanks once again

Your brother in Christ

Adam

p.s emails will be coming out shortly, internet here has been a bit slow recently.. my apologies.