Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. My name is Kyla and I'm excited
to talk to you about a program that we are relaunching
again this year called the Discipleship Year,
which is a gap year program for students 18 to
25 years old to just come and spend some time
really focusing on their faith and what it is
that God is calling them to do, maybe in the
context of church or just like in their whole
lives as followers of Jesus. And this year Libby
is heading up that program for us, so excited
to see how that goes. Yeah, me too. Me too, very
excited. Yeah. Yeah, I think it's exciting that
we're able to hold this space for this group
and to help them just explore and discover who
they are in Christ. And, you know, as they're
in that stage of putting their own life together
as adults, you know, building their foundation
in the relationship with Jesus is key. So it's
exciting to be able to be there right at the
beginning with them. Yeah. Yeah, totally. Yeah.
So I just sort of give a quick overview, but
like, how would you describe or sort of summarize
the discipleship year program? I mean, sort of
similar to what you said, you know, we're holding
space and we're intentionally being very supportive,
right? So these four students who are going to
be with us for this year, you know, they're going
to have a mentor. They're going to have extra
time with me. We're going to be learning about
spiritual disciplines, just digging deeper into
our faith life. And they'll get to spend time
with you guys in the different areas of ministry
we're offering. time spent in the worship ministry,
time spent with Alex in tech, time with you doing
online and outreach stuff, and also time with
Megan in kids ministry. So they'll get like a
fulsome experience, right? And to be able to
sort of discover where their gifts maybe lie
as far as their church service goes, but then
all of a sudden just discovering who they are.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. Yeah.
So what is that program going to sort of look
like? Like on a weekly basis, what's the sort
of rhythm? Okay. So, um, we're going to meet,
uh, on Thursdays, uh, regularly, uh, to reconnect,
to have a time of worship and prayer together,
um, to do some learning. There'll be a teaching
time. There'll be time to reflect and discuss,
um, in the morning and then we'll have a lunch.
Then we'll have another time of teaching, learning
another spiritual practice together and fleshing
that out and having lots of fulsome discussion.
And then they will go off and have their ministry
training for whichever area they're in at that
time. And then they'll be with us on Sundays,
on regular Sundays, serving in whatever capacity
that they are that week. Um, the first half of
the year is sort of a rotation for them to get,
get a feel and try on a bunch of different things.
So every three weeks they'll switch and go to
a different ministry. Uh, and then maybe, you
know, at, after Christmas we'll have time of
discernment to decide where they maybe want to
land and dig in a little deeper, you know, and
then they develop their skills further and, you
know, maybe have a ministry project of their
very own, you know, to explore and, and yeah,
I'm just really excited to see where that goes.
It's sort of open -ended because we have to,
you know, get to know them and see where God's
leading each of them, right? They're individuals.
So we'll have to see where that goes. But that's
the general idea, right? To just hold that space
and give them a lot of support. Yeah, totally.
Yeah, I think that's like, it's really crucial.
I think that there's sort of these two components
that were like, journeying alongside these students
just as people, as followers of Jesus, and helping
in that faith formation, and then also supplementing
that with some really practical ministry skills.
This is what it looks like to serve in worship,
in kids' ministry, and all of these different
things. And those skills that then become...
like things that they can use in a church setting,
but also things just like in life, right? Like
that they will learn, you know, how to lead worship,
how to like sing and those sorts of things, or
how to like operate a camera or like whatever,
right? That these are gifts they can use at Trinity,
at whatever sort of faith community that they
land in, but also just like... in life. We need
camera operators and singers and kids' workers
and all of these things. And team players, right?
So they're going to learn how to be a part of
a team. And I love that for them because that's
key, right? Out in the world, we have to be able
to meet new people. If we're going to share Jesus
with new people, we have to be able to reach
out and connect and share experiences too. So
it's a good opportunity in a safe place to explore
those things and get to learn. you know, what
our strengths are, what our weaknesses are and
that sort of stuff in the context of church family,
right? So totally. Yeah, totally. Yeah. So what
are you like passionate about or sort of excited
for in this year ahead? Oh, I am excited just
to see how they grow. And honestly, I don't know
if this is selfish or not. how I'm going to grow.
I feel like we're all going to have a chance
to grow in supporting them, in watching them
discover who they are and in them being empowered
and who they are in Christ. I think Rob talked
last week was talking about us coming back to
our first love. Sometimes the most amazing thing
can be just being close to someone who's who's
coming with fresh eyes to spiritual disciplines
and discussing how it's affecting their life
and how they feel closer to God or that that's
maybe not something that's working for them.
Whatever it is. But just having those discussions
and building those relationships and seeing that
blooming and blossoming with them will all benefit,
I think, just by being in proximity to it. I'm
excited for that for us, for all of us. And are
there any challenges that you're anticipating
or things that you're really leaning into, like
prayer and asking for God's help in? Just to
be able to meet people, to meet them where they're
at, right? Totally, yeah. And to, again, I keep
saying this holding space, but that's it. Just
making room and... And I'm just, I'm just hoping
that, that they can do that for each other too.
And we can, you know, they're all, they all have
very different life experiences and they're coming
from different places. And I think they have
a lot to learn from each other and a lot to share.
And so I just, I'm just really hoping and praying
for that openness and that, um, that sort of
flexibility to just truly see and, and, um, and
listen and and really care for one another, develop
a real relationship with one another, right?
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I, you know, we're all people.
It's messy. We all have things that come up.
But I think, you know, just this intentional
community that we're surrounding them with, I
think is going to be key for that. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. And the community is one of those things
that is like a blessing and a challenge in the
living of it. Right. Like, there is so much goodness
that comes from. being with other people, walking
with other people through all of life. But also
that's super hard. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's
just like family, right? Yeah. Yeah. You know,
we call it church family for a reason. It's like
family, right? You don't necessarily get to pick
everybody you're in a family with and it is what
it is, right? We wrestle with things and we go
through it together, you know, and we decided
we're going to just stand by one another. So
yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I think especially,
like I'll be praying for you in the first few
weeks, because that formation of community can
be a really sort of tricky part where you're
bringing together this group of people who are
all in a similar life stage, but other than that,
maybe they have nothing in common. Right? I mean,
we have Jesus in common, so let's just start
there and dig deep into that. That's the plan.
It's a loose plan, but we're depending on God
and I really believe that he's going to be faithful
in this. I think this is a really good thing
for us to prioritize as a congregation. I'm looking
forward to us coming together as a whole church
to support them and to keep them in prayer and
to show them hospitality and love and welcome.
Yeah, that's awesome. You mentioned you're going
to spend some time doing some teaching and digging
into spiritual disciplines and things like that.
What are some of those topics? What are some
of those things? For those of you who've been
with the Church for a while, this past year we
dug into some teaching from a group called Practicing
the Way, or Following the Way. unpacking all
the ancient spiritual disciplines. Like last
year we did the Sabbath practice and we did the
fasting practice. And so those sorts of things,
we're going to be digging into that sort of stuff
together and we're going to be running those
courses together. And then we're also going to
have members of the congregation come and contribute
and help them to find healthy ways of dealing
with stress. What does stewardship look like
as a Christian and how to deal with your finances
and all those practical parts of becoming an
adult, too? That stuff, too. But I'm really looking
forward to exploring these rhythms with them
and to developing that. I'm looking forward to
getting into that with them, too, and discovering
to really be incorporating those things on a...
consistent basis and really being intentional
about that and yeah and flushing it out and talking
about it and you know I'm really looking forward
to that with them yeah yeah yeah I mean like
as you were describing that what sort of stands
out to me is like it's such a gift to be able
to like take that time yes for the students who
are doing yeah right like I think there there
are probably people outside of that age range
who are like oh I would love to take six months
or a year and be like, let's just focus on how
do I create a rhythm of life? How do I like do
all of life with Jesus? Yeah. And I mean, it's,
it's a long game, right? We're not saying that
we're gonna, they're gonna be set up for life
and that's it. But we're gonna, you know, we're
making room to, to to try this stuff, to step
into it, to try to just be emulating Jesus, doing
the practices that he did, and sharing the experience
with one another and building community that
way. I mean, it's a good starting point. Totally,
totally. So it's, you know, yeah, I'm just, I'm
excited for that, for all of us, right? And if,
you know, and yeah, if... If this makes people
think, hey, I'd like to do that, there's nothing
stopping you. I believe we're going to be exploring
some more of these disciplines and spiritual
practices as a whole church as well. I think
there's a generosity course coming up soon. These
are the same people, right? This is the same
stuff that we're using and that we're digging
into. So yeah, dig in. Yeah. Get in it, right?
Yeah, yeah. Totally. It's never too late. No.
And like, the discipleship year is this really
sort of unique opportunity for folks who are
in a particular stage of life. But yeah, that
process of like developing a whole rhythm, developing
like, what does it look like to live my whole
life with Jesus? Yeah, it is something that we
all just keep doing. Yeah. It's a forever thing,
right? We're lifelong learners in that regard,
for sure. For sure. Yeah. And so for yourself,
as you've been sort of preparing for this program,
like what are some of the things that God has
been teaching you? God has been saying loud and
clear to me, slow down. Let me go ahead of you.
Keep it simple. Yeah. You know, I think sometimes
when we're, you know, doing a program or setting
up something, we think, oh, it's got to be complicated.
I have to have all of this needs to be flashy.
Yeah, I mean, I'm initially when when I was asked
to do the program was like, well, I, you know,
sure, we're gonna have, you know, is Justin and
Rob gonna come and do the teaching away? I'm
not a professor, like, you know, right, you know,
but, but in in you know, God sort of showed me,
we have all we need here. You can explore this
with the students, do it together, learn together,
go, you know, dig into this stuff with them,
beside them, right? Like I'm, I've been a Christian
for a long time. So there will be experience
that I'm bringing to the table with that as we
go together, you know, but I'm going to learn
from them too. And, and, and, you know, I just,
I just have to just trust in putting him first,
and everything else will fall into place. So
that's it, I know. That's the plan. And so I'm
just trying to listen to that. It's easy to kind
of jump ahead, but I'm trying to, you know, slow
myself down and just take it one day at a time,
plan what we can, and just remain flexible to
see what God's going to do with it, right? Leave
space, too. That's the other thing. Totally.
My team can attest that I do like to nail things
down, right? I'd like to have a big, long plan
ahead of time, right? And so it's been counterintuitive
for me to just leave open space, right? But it's
required here, right? We've got four different
lives that we're trying to come alongside and
we've got to listen. And so we can't jump and
respond before we have something to respond to.
Yeah, that's it's been a learn. I've learned
a lot already and we haven't even started. Sure.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, no, that's
that's yeah, that's slowing down that leaving
space. It's one of those things that I think
is it sounds so right and it is so hard. Yeah,
it is. It is because we live in a world that
says no. Yeah, right. In a world that says you
have to have the next five. questions answered
ahead of time. Right. You know, we have to be
way ahead. So it's nice. It's actually been nice
to just slowly, you know, prayerfully come through
these things and planning these things and just
feeling affirmed in that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Totally.
Totally. Yeah. It's so good that that that's
slowing down I think is something like I guess
I just keep coming back to as I'm hearing you
describe it feeling like the program is a gift
that it like is this space that like I wish we
could all have yeah and you know what I think
I think uh we can and I'm excited to learn how
with them to actually walk this out with them
to make to intentionally make the space um You
know, and who knows what it develops into, but
I'm just, I'm excited right now for this with
them to discover how much time I have I didn't
think I had. Sure. You know, devoting this time
with them, pouring over these things with them,
journeying through it alongside them, taking
the time and doing all these things with them
in real time and experiencing that with them.
You know, I think, um, you know, who knows. Yeah.
who knows what we could discover as a church
about these things, right? About what we can
do for all of us, because why not all of us,
right? Totally. But I do love that right now
in this season that we're doing this for this
age group. I just have a heart for this age group.
I vaguely remember my twenties, but they were
hard. Totally, but not as hard as I feel like
it is for these guys, you know It's a really
difficult time to be in that age range of 18
to 25. The world is changing so fast. It's just
like and You know, they hardly have time to respond
to anything and now it's different and and the
job market is difficult and they know that you
know what jobs are is even changing you start
a job and five years later that job doesn't exist
anymore and like yeah, you know, like it's it's
so panic inducing and so anxiety inducing and
so like leaving the space for them and, you know,
really supporting them. Like, I'm really excited
about the mentors, actually, too, right? Like,
that extra layer of support and prayer and, you
know, a listening ear to come alongside them,
I think, is just gonna make all the difference,
you know? And just letting them... Before they
make decisions, you know? Just, you know, giving
them that gift. I'm excited about that. I'm really
excited, apparently. I just keep saying I'm excited.
It is a really cool thing that we're taking the
time to do. I'm really honored that I get to
do it. I'm really looking forward to getting
to know each of them. I'm just excited to share
this with them. It's such a cool opportunity
to build a relationship in such a... like rooted
in real way, right? Like it's not, it's not in
any way a superficial relationship. We're like
diving into the deep end together right away.
You know? And so, yeah, I'm just, I'm, I'm happy
that I'm getting to be there with them in this
and just experience God with them in that way.
Yeah. In some ways it's like a little, microcosm
of what the kingdom of God is like. I feel like
we're hyping it up. That doesn't mean it's going
to be perfect. That doesn't mean that you'll
never experience conflict or heartbreak or any
of those hard things. That's also part of life.
It's the doing of that together. And hopefully
the working, like when those things come up,
like working towards some sort of reconciliation
and working towards like wholeness again. Like
all of that is part of life. It's not unlike
a small group, right? So, I mean, you gotta give
credit where credit's due. Yeah, we're hyping
it because it's small. Small is great, like,
as far as digging in deep, right? And we have
life groups here and... No, that's an opportunity
to do this, right? And I mean, we're all in different
parts in our journey and we're all coming together
and having our messy lives, interact with each
other. And I mean, that's another place, right?
So, I mean... Actually, if, you know, we were
talking earlier about, you know, other people
at different age groups and different ages and
stages are looking at this and going, well, this
would be great. Well, hey, get in a small group.
Totally. Yeah. That's this. Right. I mean, this
is like, you know, it's a little more intensive
and specific. But I mean, as far as like, you
know, having that kind of support and that, you
know, discovery. Yeah. discovering God with different
people and with their different experiences and
yours and holding that space for each other,
like that happens in a small group. And that's,
again, an amazing place where really cool stuff
happens, right? So there is that opportunity
too. I mean, if this sounds good to you, you
know, I mean, if you're between 18 and 25, join
the program next year. But but if if you're not,
you know, join a small group, get plugged in,
you know, dig in, dig in deep with with other
people in your church family. Right. Yeah, totally.
You know, these four didn't know each other.
They're coming together. This is going to be
a surprise. Right. And just like small group
can be a surprise, but can be a great surprise.
Totally. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We'll have to come
back at the end of this and sort of see reflections
on how this is all gone. So, this is the Disciples
Sleep Here program. In some ways, it's its own
sort of community, but it's a community of Trinity.
And so, as a church family here, how can we be
supporting and praying for you in this program?
pray for us to be open to learning new things,
to being challenged. And then also, you know,
just come say hi. I also do want to incorporate
opportunities for us to get together and share
food with different members of the congregation.
So if like hospitality is your thing, connect
with me. I'd love to be able to to organize,
you know, some different opportunities for us
to get together in people's homes and meet with
them and get to know them a little better, too.
And maybe visit small groups and things like
that. Because I want I want our students to get
to know this group of people who's loving on
them and praying for them and and, you know,
supporting them. Yeah. So, yeah. And and when,
you know, if and when, you know, the students
have their special projects, you know. Pay attention
and show up for those and, you know, give them
a word of encouragement and, you know, just like
we do here. I mean, that's how we are here. People
are wonderful. But yeah, take the time to talk
to the students and to, you know, to share encouraging
words with them. Yeah. Yeah. And so in our service,
we, the kid, I call them kids, but the students,
they're going to get up on the stage, introduce
themselves a little bit. So we'll get to put
faces and names and yeah. So just like committing
those things to memory, writing them down, praying
for each of these students by name, praying for
you and for the community that you're forming
together. Yeah. Yeah. That feels really important,
I think. Yeah. And then also following that up
with that encouragement, with that saying hi
to people. If we have a bake sale to raise money
for them to go on a trip, show up and buy a cookie.
All things still naturally do. All those natural
loving ways that we already have here at Trinity.
slow down to pay attention and recognize them,
just like you do newcomers that show up and need,
you know, need some special attention and some
and to be loved into the community. Right. Just
same old things. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The
same loving Jesus, living like Jesus, leading
others to Jesus. That's right. All of that. Yeah,
totally. Yeah. Long obedience in the same direction.
Yes. Just keep doing what you're doing. Yeah,
you know, but see them just and remember them,
right? Yeah, totally. Yeah. Was there anything
else you wanted to sort of share about the program
or any sort of last thoughts that you had? I'm
just really thankful. So I just I just want to
say thanks to to the whole church community just
for, you know, letting this be something that
we do. that we're trying, that we're able to
do this thing and explore this and what the benefits
of this might be. Giving us room for stuff like
this to pour into people and to do the counter
-cultural thing of making space and slowing down.
I really appreciate that this is a church that
prioritizes that and lets us do this. Totally.
Totally. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, thank you
so much, Libby. Thanks for having me. Yeah. And
thank you for tuning in to this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. If you are between 18 to 25,
and this sounds really interesting to you, I
would love for you to check out our website trinitystreetsfield
.org and you can find more information about
the Discipleship Year program. But even if you're
not in that particular group, I hope that you
can find some ways to make space. to slow down
and pour into Christian community, whether that
is here at Trinity or wherever you might find
yourself. And we'll see you again next week.