Highlights from Lecture Phase 2019
Hello friends! I wanted to share with you all a deeper look into what staffing a Surfers DTS looks like! I put together a summary of the first three months, Lecture Phase. This is just the minor details of this amazing three months! Please take your time to see how God has been moving, speaking, and loving on His people!
Every week we were given a topic to study, along with an awesome speaker to teach on it! I wanted to share the main highlight for myself, or for what I saw in the students over each week! I hope you enjoy reading about the little wonders of our Father!
Week one, Hearing Gods voice:
This topic is most always the first one that the students will go through.
The students were challenged in how they spend their time and how important it is to take time to listen for God and just spend quality time with Him. My favorite part of this week was getting to see everyone hear specifically from God on the application of the week. That Friday they were all told to leave for 30 mins and go into a time of worship, and then ask God a specific question, “What do you have for me in his next 6 months?” They were also told to ask God to give them instructions on what to read out of Matthew 5, 6, or 7. It was so encouraging to see everyone get such personal and relatable answers straight from God.
The students were challenged in how they spend their time and how important it is to take time to listen for God and just spend quality time with Him. My favorite part of this week was getting to see everyone hear specifically from God on the application of the week. That Friday they were all told to leave for 30 mins and go into a time of worship, and then ask God a specific question, “What do you have for me in his next 6 months?” They were also told to ask God to give them instructions on what to read out of Matthew 5, 6, or 7. It was so encouraging to see everyone get such personal and relatable answers straight from God.
Week two, Nature and Character of God:
We spent most of this week looking deeply into the first three chapters of Genesis. Picking out aspects of our Father. For example; He is a redeemer, preserver, full of grace, awesome, worthy, compassionate, soft, patient, tender, active, mindful, relational, and so much more. The biggest thing for me this week was to see how he loves. When He asked Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” after they had sinned, this was purely for the preservation of their relationship between each other. Because God is all knowing, He knew exactly how they were doing, and the exact place they were hiding. Yet he wanted so badly for Adam and Eve to feel His love and affection for them. He wanted to give them the opportunity to run to their Father. That’s our God!
Another highlight for me was to see and experience God moving in the classroom. As our speaker took us through these chapters in Genesis, we all were overwhelmed with excitement and awe of the father. It once came to the point of shouting out of excitement, sorry to our neighboring classroom... Truly our Father is alive and moving in all of us!
Another highlight for me was to see and experience God moving in the classroom. As our speaker took us through these chapters in Genesis, we all were overwhelmed with excitement and awe of the father. It once came to the point of shouting out of excitement, sorry to our neighboring classroom... Truly our Father is alive and moving in all of us!
Week three, intercession and worship:
This week the staff had a “retreat” or a week to get our thoughts straight. We had sermons twice a day for 5 days. In between sermons we ate good food, and had great fellowship. We even snuck in surfs before breakfast all week.
The take away for this week can be summed up by simply saying, DEPEND ON YOUR FATHER. As we surrender He is able to use us in amazing ways. Our job is to lean on him and remain in unity with our surrounding family (whatever that looks like for you), and to be completely dependent on Him everyday.
The take away for this week can be summed up by simply saying, DEPEND ON YOUR FATHER. As we surrender He is able to use us in amazing ways. Our job is to lean on him and remain in unity with our surrounding family (whatever that looks like for you), and to be completely dependent on Him everyday.
Week four, Relationships:
This week we migrated from the main base in Perth to Margaret River for 6 weeks.We targeted every relationship from friends, family, and our Heavenly Father. The phrase, “There can not be true fulfillment outside of right relationship with God”, this has stuck with me throughout the entire 3 months. The truth is we will not ever be able to love others until we know (experience) Gods love. We need Gods perfect love to be able to enjoy peoples imperfect love.
Week five, Repentance and Forgiveness:
This week is one of the most powerful weeks on lecture phase. It’s about taking a look further into why we are called into repentance, and the importance of forgiving the people around us. Holiness (living out the truth that you know) is the word that sticks out for me in this week. It’s Gods kindness that leads us into repentance. This week the verse Romans 6:13 screamed at me,
“Do not let any part of your body become and instrument of evil to serve sin, instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”
“Do not let any part of your body become and instrument of evil to serve sin, instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”
Week six, Spiritual Warfare:
This one is a bit hard to summarize. The best way I could think of was through this verse, Ephesians 6:10
“A final word: Be strong in the LORD and in His mighty power.”
This is where the students are shown that we have been given everything we need to hold the dominion God gave us over the Earth, spiritually and physically. By knowing that Everything you do effects the spirit world, so we are encouraged to take up this authority and learn to let God flow His power through me to conquer death and live as a spirit woman (Rom8)
A final verse that stood out to me, Ephesians 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Don’t forget who you are fighting!
“A final word: Be strong in the LORD and in His mighty power.”
This is where the students are shown that we have been given everything we need to hold the dominion God gave us over the Earth, spiritually and physically. By knowing that Everything you do effects the spirit world, so we are encouraged to take up this authority and learn to let God flow His power through me to conquer death and live as a spirit woman (Rom8)
A final verse that stood out to me, Ephesians 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Don’t forget who you are fighting!
Week Seven, Lordship:
This week is a very beautiful week in my eyes. It’s a week to understand why you would give up anything and everything for closeness with Jesus. It’s a week to discover all of the lies we’ve placed over God, and it gives us a chance to lay it all before His beautiful feet.
I loved getting to recommit everything over to Father and re-check my life for things I was putting in His thrown. After the application I wrote a short paragraph that read,
“Again I’m singing your freedom song, and again I’m released from the burdens of the world. Keep me in this moment forever, and convict me when I start to stray from this truth. I love you and I love only you. So I’ll stand with my arms high and my heart abandoned for you. Completely covered in your truth. Fully accepting the bride that I am.”
I loved getting to recommit everything over to Father and re-check my life for things I was putting in His thrown. After the application I wrote a short paragraph that read,
“Again I’m singing your freedom song, and again I’m released from the burdens of the world. Keep me in this moment forever, and convict me when I start to stray from this truth. I love you and I love only you. So I’ll stand with my arms high and my heart abandoned for you. Completely covered in your truth. Fully accepting the bride that I am.”
Week Eight, Authority and Submission:
Authority and Submission is a week of realizing your place with God, and what it looks like to submit and how through submission to God you actually become free to be completely you. The highlight of this week for myself was accepting the certain things I have authority over, and seeing the students receive that as well. Being younger than most of the students, it’s been easy to doubt the authority God gave me to lead them well. This week I came to a greater realization that through my submission to God, the students will submit to me because they are also under Gods authority!
For application we had a Holy Spirit led encouragement time. During this time our oldest student had a time of praying out her submission to me which was very powerful for all of us!
For application we had a Holy Spirit led encouragement time. During this time our oldest student had a time of praying out her submission to me which was very powerful for all of us!
Week Nine, Fear of the Lord
This week is yet another week of bomb dropping truth.
What is it to Fear the Lord?
Why is it that this phrase comes up heaps of times in the Bible, yet it’s hardly ever spoken about in our church community? To fear the Lord is to have a deep reverence and respect for God our creator and Savior. Our teacher for this week gave us surfers a great example of what this may look like,
What is it to Fear the Lord?
Why is it that this phrase comes up heaps of times in the Bible, yet it’s hardly ever spoken about in our church community? To fear the Lord is to have a deep reverence and respect for God our creator and Savior. Our teacher for this week gave us surfers a great example of what this may look like,
“It’s like surfing in big waves, you really want it but you’re afraid of it. If we come to God with this mindset of awe and respect by letting Him call the shots, that’s Fear of the Lord.”
With that, a verse that stood out to me was, Hebrews 12:2
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endures the cross, disregarding it’s shame. Now He is seared in the place of honor beside Gods throne.”
I had the privilege to watch the students gain a lot of revelation of the importance of relationship with our savior. It’s all about knowing who we are, knowing who are savior is, and knowing how much he cares for us.
With that, a verse that stood out to me was, Hebrews 12:2
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endures the cross, disregarding it’s shame. Now He is seared in the place of honor beside Gods throne.”
I had the privilege to watch the students gain a lot of revelation of the importance of relationship with our savior. It’s all about knowing who we are, knowing who are savior is, and knowing how much he cares for us.
Week Ten, Evangelism:
This week we had legendary Tom Bauer, Surfing The Nations founder, join us to share his experiential knowledge on evangelism. It’s quite humors to me to see this crazy guy living under such righteous success. Both years I’ve heard him speak he hasn’t failed to mention that evangelism is just making friends. Ultimately, our lives as Christians should be a living testimony of our Father. So whether you walk straight up to a person and ask them if they know Jesus, or you go to the same coffee shop to talk to the barista everyday, you are evangelizing!
My favorite part about this week is getting to spend time with Tom. His heart for Jesus is shown by the way he loves people. It’s truly inspiring! All of the students have loads of fun with him as well. It’s a week of fun and fellowship for the team.
My favorite part about this week is getting to spend time with Tom. His heart for Jesus is shown by the way he loves people. It’s truly inspiring! All of the students have loads of fun with him as well. It’s a week of fun and fellowship for the team.
Week Eleven, Missions:
During week 11, we had multiple people from the Perth YWAM base come and speak. Seeing as we are all missionaries in YWAM, loads of people are qualified to speak on this topic!
I loved watching all of the students hearts grow for missions. After this week I could see a shift in the students from a self focus, to a outward focus. It’s amazing to see Gods hand on people’s hearts. God truly loves EVERYONE, and until we go and share that love, other religions will be sharing their false truth. The importance of evangelism is monumental!
I loved watching all of the students hearts grow for missions. After this week I could see a shift in the students from a self focus, to a outward focus. It’s amazing to see Gods hand on people’s hearts. God truly loves EVERYONE, and until we go and share that love, other religions will be sharing their false truth. The importance of evangelism is monumental!
Week Twelve, Father Heart:
Father heart, a week to tie the whole lecture phase together. If I could share each detail of this week with all of you, I would, but it can summed up by two separate passages from Ephesians.
Ephesians 3:14-21
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:14-21
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 1:3-8
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”
Truly our Father is in love with us. His hearts desire is for us to fully know our identity, and experience his love in a deep and meaningful way. For me, this weeks application was the thing that’s highlighted in my heart. The application looked like all of us sitting in an open room with worship music playing softly. One at a time, when the students/staff were ready, they made their way to the back of the room where a seat awaited them next to that weeks speaker, and their mentor. They then prayed out everything that God had placed on their heart over the week. Their prayers mainly surrounded the point of moving on from things that are keeping them from fully accepting themselves, or things holding them back from a deeper relationship with the Father. After that, the students were prayed over by the speaker and their mentor. Being a mentor of two of the students, I got to sit by them while they spoke out. It was such an honor to walk through the process with them. I loved getting to pray for my girls. During this time I felt so overwhelmed by the spirit. To be used by God is to feel his presence in extreme ways. When he comes over you and uses your mouth as a way to speak to his children, it’s an unforgettable experience.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”
Truly our Father is in love with us. His hearts desire is for us to fully know our identity, and experience his love in a deep and meaningful way. For me, this weeks application was the thing that’s highlighted in my heart. The application looked like all of us sitting in an open room with worship music playing softly. One at a time, when the students/staff were ready, they made their way to the back of the room where a seat awaited them next to that weeks speaker, and their mentor. They then prayed out everything that God had placed on their heart over the week. Their prayers mainly surrounded the point of moving on from things that are keeping them from fully accepting themselves, or things holding them back from a deeper relationship with the Father. After that, the students were prayed over by the speaker and their mentor. Being a mentor of two of the students, I got to sit by them while they spoke out. It was such an honor to walk through the process with them. I loved getting to pray for my girls. During this time I felt so overwhelmed by the spirit. To be used by God is to feel his presence in extreme ways. When he comes over you and uses your mouth as a way to speak to his children, it’s an unforgettable experience.
Overall, the lecture phase in this DTS brought so many new things in my life. From learning to mentor, to coming closer to God than I ever have before. Although I was faced with many challenges, I was also able to experience so many good times. I love seeing growth in my own life! I love watching my relationship with God, and the people around me flourish. It’s such a blessing getting to work with YWAM!
Right now, we are on outreach in Margaret River. Our main focus for this place is setting a foundation of prayer for the base that will be started in January next year. We have been covering all of the main towns with intercession, while also spreading Gods love through evangelism and mercy ministries. I will share very soon this experience in detail!
Thank you so much for supporting the journey that my Heavenly Father is taking me on. I want you all to know that there has been so much spiritual breakthrough here in Australia. YWAM focuses so much on equipping people with the knowledge and experience of bringing God’s kingdom on earth.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers and always feel free to message me on Facebook or send me an email if you just want to chat! I’d be very stoked to chat with you all!
Right now, we are on outreach in Margaret River. Our main focus for this place is setting a foundation of prayer for the base that will be started in January next year. We have been covering all of the main towns with intercession, while also spreading Gods love through evangelism and mercy ministries. I will share very soon this experience in detail!
Thank you so much for supporting the journey that my Heavenly Father is taking me on. I want you all to know that there has been so much spiritual breakthrough here in Australia. YWAM focuses so much on equipping people with the knowledge and experience of bringing God’s kingdom on earth.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers and always feel free to message me on Facebook or send me an email if you just want to chat! I’d be very stoked to chat with you all!
Blessing to you, my family!
Cate
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