This year from June 4 to 18 in the guest house “Vecmuiža”, Liepupe parish, for the first time in “Youth With A Mission” history mini Discipleship Training School (MDTS) for people with reduced mobility took place; 9 students took part in it. This school that lasted for two weeks was a great challenge for the physical and mental endurance of the students, yet it became an excellent opportunity to experience God’s strength in human weakness.
Lectures were read by speakers both from Latvia and abroad: Kaspars Ezeriņš, Kristīna Ēce, Marika Bērtule, pastors Agris Ginko and Oļegs Jermolajevs, Katie Leatherwood (USA), Helina Voogne (Estonia), and Clarita Agsagani (Philippines, Finland).
On the first evening the students were introduced to MDTS programme and YWAM ministry “Wings for Wheels”. In further days such topics were eagerly and intensely learned as worshipping God, YWAM history in the world and Latvia, Holy Spirit, individual evangelism, Christian worldview, sin and meaning of the Jesus’ cross, God’s character, spiritual warfare, identity in Christ, etc. After Sunday afternoon service led by Ģ. Ašnevics, the pastor of Riga Vīlande Baptist church, the students had an evening off and gradually began to feel themselves at home in the study environment.
Each study day began with the morning exercises and intercession and continued with the lectures and other activities. In their leisure time the students actively made entries into their creatively made journal, by summarising what they have heard in lectures in order to remind themselves the most important insights and be able to grow under God’s guidance.
Three times throughout MDTS small groups took place, offering a heartfelt atmosphere for sharing various interesting topics and getting to know each other better. Every day the students had an opportunity for individual meetings with one of the school’s leaders in order to discuss how they are doing, and so that the leader might assess the ability of the student to learn the study topics and fulfil the requirements of the school. Tea time with the speakers gave the students a chance to receive answers to their questions and share their impressions on what they had heard in classes. The students did not let the weariness take over and with great enthusiasm participated in various sports activities.
Practical application was a time when the students in groups prayed for the government of Latvia, refugees in Europe, churches and the persecuted church. One of the mornings started with the creative worship, and students worshipped God in a way each of them felt it, by expressing their worship with the help of paint and brushes. The students were encouraged to practice one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit each day in order to grow and let the Holy Spirit form them!
During MDTS we learned many useful things, for example: worship is not a specific music style or genre and is not based on emotions but on the Word of God; our worldviews are like a map that we follow in our lives, and it is important that the map be real and the compass would show the right direction. For the Christians this map and compass are God and the Bible.
Unforgettable and exciting was the hike to the sea that was combined with the practical application of the knowledge. Students had a day of outreach as well, when we served at Valmiera Baptist Church. A few students shared their testimony for the first time and spoke in public. Some of them were very nervous, but it was a great experience and an opportunity to minister the church people because many were strengthened by the students’ stories. It was a great joy!
MDTS ended with a Love Feast and testimonies about the insights gained during the studies. By summarising them, it may be concluded that for every student it had been a blessed experience that foundations for further life in Christ were laid or strengthened as they spent time with God. Practical knowledge received through MDTS lectures will let the students acknowledge their spiritual enemies better and fight against them. The main task of the disciples of Christ is to reach other people and do it unobtrusively in order to create interest and desire to follow Jesus.
With the national anthem of Latvia began the graduation of 9 students; each of them received a certificate and two credit points of YWAM’s University of the Nations. The first MDTS for people with reduced mobility has left its mark in history. Thank you to all who supported us both financially and in prayer!
May God bless you!
Wings for Wheels team
Youth With A Mission – Riga
More photos can be viewed here
