Capitalizing on Strengths

Last week in SOMDville, we took two assessments to determine our strengths as leaders. These tests help us to better understand how we interact with people, so we can serve them more effectively.

The first assessment was a general personality profile, called the DISC test, used more commonly in the workplace. It basically helps you figure out if your leadership style is more task-orientated, or people-oriented.

Surprisingly, my categories were almost equal:

The photo might be a little blurry, but this chart basically demonstrates that I lean toward task-oriented thinking, but am also capable of relating fairly well.

The second assessment we did was Strengths Finder, a more in-depth look at what your top five areas of strength are. 

For those of you that are familiar with the test, these were my highest areas of strength:

1. Intellection

2. Empathy

3. Achieving

4. Adaptability

5. Input

Once again, it looks like I have strengths in both strategizing and relationship- building. It's nice to have some more insight into what I have to offer to any team environment in which I may find myself.

While it's useful to have more insight into my own personality and the talents God has given me, the most important thing I took away from last week's teaching is that we should develop our areas of strength so we can capitalize on them.

Think about it - if you already have a talent in one particular area, practicing that talent or strength will result in more growth than an area that you consider one of your weaknesses. So in order to be better leaders, we were challenged to focus on areas in which we already exhibit strength.

Of course it isn't possible to only work on your strengths, especially in the workplace, but there is definitely a lot to gain from building where you have a foundation already. It definitely builds personal confidence, to say the least.

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On the weekend, we went out in the surrounding community to do acts of service and ministry. 

My group partnered with a community house for women downtown. They were a part of an organization called Open Door Ministries. We spent the morning painting and priming their house. 

We will be doing more of these inner city missions projects, called Service Saturday, next month. Check out a few photos below!

That's all for now..thanks for reading!

Refined by fire

Week 3 at School of Ministry Development just wrapped up, and dang, was this a heavy week! Our speaker, Doug Toller, addressed the "pitfalls" one encounters in both life and ministry.

We spent extensive time learning about Biblical characters who suffered various trials and also learned a great deal from our speaker's personal experiences as a pastor. While there are many joys to be found in ministry, there can be many hardships, too.

But we also learned about how God uses various trials and sufferings to teach us perseverance and to develop our character. Being under a state of pressure or stress is rarely fun, but it is in fact true that these times shape us more than comfortable situations.

The teaching reminded me of when I studied voice in college. One week, I told my vocal instructor that I felt crazy stressed and anxious and she told me, "Good."

She not only told me that being stressed is good and challenges one to grow, she also compared such a process to a caterpillar. In order to become a full-fledged butterfly, the caterpillar must first confront the darkness of transforming in its cocoon.

At our small group meeting on Friday, we painted with watercolors to process what The Lord revealed to us this past week, and I reflected on how I have grown as a result of the challenges He's enabled me to overcome. Here's what I came up with:

While I know I still face some staggering challenges, I know my God will never leave me, nor forsake me. And so, as I continue to stay true and to seek Him in all things, including my sufferings, I know He will continue to refine my character and set me free from the ashes left behind.

The freedom in defining relational boundaries

Our second week here in the School of Ministry Development felt more grounded than the first. We had our first week of teachings and a more regular schedule than Week 1. It's nice to feel more "settled" here at the base again.

As a student in the leadership school, I am allotted more opportunities to lead other students, alongside listening to daily teachings. These opportunities include leading small groups and book discussions, leading an intercessory prayer group, and teaching newer students how to clean toilets. (Woo!)

This past week, I was thrown back into Housekeeping duties. Personally, I love cleaning the base, as this was my work duty during my Discipleship Training School. However, this quarter I will only be cleaning 3 days a week, as I have also been selected to babysit for one of the families on staff one night every week. I'm excited to have the variety and chance to have fun playing video games with kids!

As for the lecture times, we spent last week discussing Comparitive Religions/Worldview. We spent time learning about and dissecting other ways to view the world around us. While it's impossible to truly be objective when learning these world views, it does help broaden our perspectives so we can better empathize with others.

While I will not spend a ton of time posting info about world religions, as I am sure you can look that up for yourself, I will share two of the main "Take Home" points I picked up. Both of these points stem from studying Judaism/Christianity.

First, both of these religions assume the foundation that God's love for mankind is unconditional. We never had to work to make God choose us.

Because we are given this unconditional love, we also have infinite value in His sight. This is a huge comfort to those that struggle to receive this love.

But the point that really struck me is this - that while God's love for us is unconditional, relationship with Him is conditional.

In order for us to have relationship, with God or with others, there has to be some semblance of parameters in order to define these relationships. Hence, for God to have relationship with us, He defined the simple requirement of going through His son, Jesus.

And so, by extension, we are restored to right relationship with God by entering into reciprocity. For while we are not required to do anything to be loved by God, we are required to do our part within the context of relationship.

I find this profound because it demonstrates the importance of participation in the Christian life. For while I can stand on the fact that God has always loved me and always will, I choose to love Him back, as evidenced by lifestyle habits.

The second insight presented revolves around the laws outlined in the Old Testament. Our speaker this week stated that these laws were put in place by God to protect relationship.

Because man and woman are made in God's image and hold inherent value, laws, rules, and regulations exist as a system to protect that value.

Think about it - the Ten Commandments include a regulation to not steal because stealing from someone breaks relationship with that person. It indicates a lack of respect for the boundary between what belongs to one person and what does NOT belong to him or her.

While stealing is not something I struggle with much, there are in fact other laws and regulations of which I am not a fan. Sometimes these rules are even blatantly ignored. Traffic laws, for example.

But choosing to adhere to a rule or law system does not necessarily have to mean subservience to a totalitarian dictatorship or method of control. Rather, it is a reflection of valuing the sanctity of others, within a defined system.

These are just a few of the concepts we are learning. I hope you also will strive to continue learning about the world around you and about the God who loves and forms you!

SOMD (Phase II) Week 1

Well, it seems I am back at Youth With A Mission!

(And by "seems," of course this means I am back at the Denver base.)

It feels strange moving back here. While the basic setup is the same, many variables have changed. Hence, life is an odd mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar.

The first week in a YWAM program typically involves lots of ice breakers, meet n' greets, and "mixers," as my sister would call them, to encourage new relationships to form.

As an introvert, I've, naturally, spent a lot of time reading in my room. ;)

But I am trusting it will get easier, and I am confident that I will make new friends in time. 

So far, my favorite "group bonding" activity was a Scavenger Hunt with my classmates. My team won, and we all received $5 gift cards to Starbucks! (Score!)

(That's us, winning.)

This particular training program that I'm enrolled in reminds me the most of college, out of all the YWAM schools I've done. The course itself involves a lot of reading, some quizzes, and public speaking.

I'm excited for an opportunity to hone my skills and to apply them to ministry opportunities both now and in the future.

As for week one, we spent a lot of time reviewing teachings on worship, intercession, and fundraising, as these are all integral aspects of YWAM life. 

One thing I took away from our initial teaching on worship is that God reveals Himself through how He's made us. Because we were formed in His image, we reflect aspects of His character.

Similarly, we were made relational because God Himself is a relational being.

And so, we reflect the character of God when we are simply ourselves, as He created us to be.

Living and relating well can even be considered a form of worship.

I know these concepts may seem elementary to some, but it is good to be reminded of simple truths in order to re-find our footing from time to time.

And so, in the Name of Jesus, and for the sake of His glory, this season at YWAM Denver, I'ma do me.

And I hope, you learn to do you, as He's designed you, too.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

-Psalms 139:13-14

(Another Scavenger Hunt photo. We are..um..seeking more knowledge and to bear fruit? Haha this is NOT an open door for an Apple vs. PC debate!)