Will you join my story?

“Robyn, God has an amazing plan for you.” This was a phrase my youth pastor used often to remind me of God’s promise of a hope and a future. Sometimes it’s hard to see the plan, so we forget to believe, we forget to seek. My story started five years ago when I moved to Chico to attend Chico State. God began to remind me of His promise and teach me how to seek Him. While studying business, I began working in the office of Bidwell Presbyterian Church. In my interview, I was asked how the job would fit into my personal ministry. I can’t remember how I answered, but it must have been creative because I simply didn’t have a ministry…...and I got the job. I thought that my faith was for me and the people with a ministry were called “pastors”. Soon after I was hired, I was invited to join the youth ministry team and I began to learn that God wanted to use me to serve others. I learned what complete faith is and began to see a new chapter unfold.
The summer before my last semester I found myself at a crossroad. I had been studying entrepreneurship and could pursue a job in the business world, but I sense that God’s plan for me in this chapter is to use my skills to pursue a life in ministry. I prayed through my options and decided a Discipleship Training School (DTS) would be a great opportunity to gain theological training, missions experience, and a time set apart to seek God’s story for the rest of my life. I looked closely at Australia, and was drawn to Perth. I met with a staff member at the Richardson Springs base in Chico. She had done her DTS in Australia and knew that the Perth base has quality teaching, is one of the largest in people and types of ministry, and after hearing my goal, recommended it for me. I was accepted into the October DTS in YWAM Perth in March, and I purchased my plane ticket two weeks ago! I’m making my way to Perth, and into the next chapter!
The Discipleship Training School is divided into two halves. The first half, the lecture phase, takes place on the YWAM campus in Perth. A typical day starts off with an hour of quiet time to pray, read scripture, and journal. Lectures follow with topics ranging from “The Character and Nature of God” to “Repentance and Forgiveness”. Our small groups meet in the afternoon, followed by training for the second half of the school, a three month outreach. The location of our outreach hasn’t been decided but YWAM Perth has built relationships in amazing countries like Vanuatu, Indonesia, India, and China! This chapter of my story is going to be good!
If you would like to join my story, there are a few things you can do. I’d love your support through prayer! Please thank God for what he’s doing in my life and in Perth, and ask Him to bless this chapter in my life. You can also support me financially with a one time gift or a monthly pledge that will go directly to my DTS fees which total $11,000. I’ve included a support card that you can use to help me stay organized. If you have any questions or just want to keep in touch, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to hear your story as well!