Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. My name is Kyla and today I
have a full house of students who are part of
our Discipleship Year program at Trinity, which
is this gap year program for those who are interested
in just taking a year to dive into scripture,
to learn some practical skills and what it means
to work and to volunteer in a church and really
grow in faith and community together. And so
I am excited to hear from all of these students
about their experience so far just started in
september um so we're just a few months into
this and have lots more to look forward to um
but yeah excited to hear about your guys's journey
so far um so maybe we'll start with some introductions
and i'll start over here do you want to just
introduce yourself and say what made you interested
in being part of this program yeah absolutely
so i'm rylan and uh it started back um in the
spring actually i I'm from a different background,
a different church background. And for Ash Wednesday,
my dad and I visited this church and really just
loved the service. And like, I just really experienced
the presence of God here. And meeting Pastor
Robbins, talking to him, basically, I'm actually
not in a gap year. I'm in my second year of Bible
college. And part of my college, we have, these
placements that we do every semester and every
year. So I had asked him, I said, Hey, I'm, I'm
a Pentecostal, but would you have me at your
church to learn from you guys? And, and he was
open to it. We met, we kept talking and yeah,
there were a few things that worked out. And
one of them, I'd say like the main one was this
discipleship year program that he said, like
this, this seems like the perfect thing to just
jump into. So I honestly did not know much of
what to expect, but I'm, I'll save my thoughts
for later, but I'm, I was pleasantly surprised.
Okay. Okay. Awesome. Yeah. You want to go ahead?
Yeah. Um, so my name is Naraya and, um, the first
time actually I entered this church was sometime
in February I was visiting. Uh, and then I came
in because one, uh, one of the members of the
congregation He's known as James here, but I
know him as Richard. He introduced me and he
was like, hey, why don't you go check out this
church? And I was like, OK, cool. And then when
I did, I got to talk to Rob and a few other members
as well. And I remember praying, God, I can feel
your presence here. Like, I would love to be
a part of a church like this. And then a few
months later, Rob reached out saying, hey, there's
a DIY program. Would you like to be part of it?
And one of the main prayers I had was. about
being part of a community and like being able
to serve because ever since I surrendered my
life to Christ, it felt like very alone. I didn't
have anybody to like lean on. And then it just,
well, it became like a domino effect and God
brought me here. Okay. Okay. Very cool. Awesome.
Yeah, go ahead. My name is Daniel. I've been
a member of Trinity Church for about over a year
now. I was taking my year off, a gap year before
starting university. And I was curious to learn
more about Christianity, its customs, practices,
traditions, when Rob recommended me the discipleship
year program. So here I am. Okay, awesome. Yeah.
Hi, my name is Christabel and I've been going
to Trinity for like a year or two now. So actually
Rob reached out and he was like, oh, we have
a DUI program. But beforehand, I already knew
about it because I had some friends or I had
a friend who was already in the program that
year. And she was like, yeah, it's good. I should
definitely go for it because I was planning on
taking a gap year. And yeah, so I ended up signing
up. I talked to my mom about it. I prayed a little
about it. And I was like, yeah. I'm here right
now. Okay, yeah, very cool. Yeah, it's a need
to hear all of these different entry points,
right? Like, you know, whether you're sort of
coming to Trinity for the first time and not
really sure, you know, you've been around a little
while. It's, yeah, this sort of leaning into
faith and community together. That's really cool.
Yeah, so what does the Discipleship Year program
look like? What do you do on a regular basis?
So I know right now you're gathering on Thursdays
together. So what does that look like? Yeah,
it looks like, uh, well, like how Ryland likes
to call it is a mini Sabbath in the mornings.
So we do gather together. We do a little bit
of worship, a little bit of prayer, uh, before
we jump into what we want to learn for the, like,
there's a topic that we cover for the week. Uh,
and it, we do like the, um, uh, what's the course
of practicing the Sabbath, I guess. Yeah. It's
a practicing the way. And then we talk a little
bit of the Sabbath and everything and how, what
that looks like and what, basically kind of disciples
us into understanding how to walk with Christ
and be with Christ. Okay. Yeah. Very cool. Yeah.
So what are some of the different topics that
you guys are talking about and learning about
together? Yeah. So as I said, yeah, right now
it's the Sabbath, which is like. One of my favorites.
I love the Sabbath. I'm a strong advocate. Um,
not because I'm super spiritual because it's,
it's literally a lifeline for me. If I don't
rest, it's just, things don't go well. Um, but
yeah, I mean, we, so the first one, yeah, practicing
the way, so there's a book and then there's also
this course that we're doing. Uh, there's like
so much that, uh, John Mark Comer has just for
free. Um, if you don't buy the book or if you
do. Uh, but yeah, then there, we finished with
the scripture practice. So that was just learning.
It's the whole thing is kind of just like learning,
um, in community together, like the basics of,
of what it means to follow Christ from, but from
so many years, like looking from the early church
to today, all these different traditions and
perspectives. So it's like, it feels like just
like a treasure chest of wisdom and, um, like
just, yeah, it's, I'd say most of what it is.
we have this outline, but it's, it's really just
showing up together and doing things together,
which sounds so simple, but it's, it is night
and day difference when you're doing it. Like
I said, like I can just say for the first year
or so of me following Christ, like a lot of these
things I figured out with God, with my dad walked
me through a lot of them, but like, it's so different.
Sure. So different. Even the basics of the faith,
just you start to realize how deep they are and
how rich they are when you have people alongside
you. Sure. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. So that's sort
of what you're doing together Thursday mornings
and then Thursday afternoons and sort of on Sunday
mornings. Like what does that look like for you
folks? In the afternoons, we get our ministry
placements. I think we rotate every four weeks,
right? Sounds about right. Four different ministries,
tech, worship, kids ministry, and online outreach.
Right? Got it right. It's great. Personally,
I get to experience how it feels working in all
these different environments and contributing
to different parts of the church. How this whole...
How these ministries work in synergy to kind
of to make the church work, to sort of make it
alive, if you will. And I'm enjoying that. Yeah,
awesome. Yeah, it's also a pretty nice way to
like help the community or like put yourself
in there. Because along the line, like I just
finished like two. placements now and so far
it's like opened my eyes to see like how actually
the church comes together like the importance
of each role and every person and what they're
doing when they come early in the morning to
church like most of these things we just I just
come to church and like oh it's nice that you're
doing this but now like I really understand like
it takes effort and it's like kind of like a
way of saying like the love for the community,
love for church, love for Jesus. Like we're ready
to put up like our mornings and like just come
and help and like just get to know each other
and follow along and everything. Yeah. Yeah.
You get to see church from a whole other angle,
right? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. So in the midst
of all of this, obviously this is a year for
you to learn and to grow. So what have been some
of your biggest learnings so far? Oh, a lot.
I don't think we can pinpoint one specific thing.
But what's the first thing that comes out to
you? The importance of rest, I guess, because
right now we're in the middle of the topic. But
it's only because we're in such a culture and
a pace of work lifestyle where it's like everything's
so fast. And we're all just trying to chase that
dopamine kind of thing. and right now we're like
okay we're understanding how we can implement
that and like navigate our day -to -day and like
make sure that we do have that rest or like look
forward to that how do we prepare for that and
that that has like really made me understand
the importance of slowing down and intentionality
and and of course even like the joy and the delight
of being in that dress sure yeah this is like
so many parts also for me it's like um i started
like habits now like meditation like scripture
reading it's like most of these things i wouldn't
normally do but now that i've seen like oh it's
like a fun it's like a good way to like apprenticeship
with god in a way and see like you can like normal
lives i've seen like my life improving like i'm
doing better at some things now like i'm actually
finding strength to do some things and like the
days i take off rest and like i have my sabbath
it's also nice to like just feel connected with
one and like just you and god in your own space
and you're talking to him and it's fun to like
also like we also learned importance of like
community how it's important to gather as one
and like just God is one talk is talk all together
and like just understand where our faith is leading
us to at the end of the day yeah yeah for sure
uh my big learning was even the mere fact that
there are so many different practices in Christianity
that I uh previously was not even aware of for
example the many times mentioned Sabbath um the
scripture practice how many how many of them
are in total like about nine yeah about nine
okay um so that's definitely quite eye -opening
for me that i was totally not aware of that and
i think it for me personally it's very curious
to dive in deeper into the christianity and learn
about that as opposed to um just you know just
checking things off the checks like i'm going
to church check um i do something else check
right this is a more of a of an opportunity to
um open the heart more to to the christianity
and to um to the practices that underlie it sure
yeah and like bring your whole self into it right
not just yeah like you said not just like oh
i did it done but like seeing yeah how it it
requires more of you and and like you said christabel
that it sort of transforms in your relationship
with God and yourself as well. Yeah. Yeah. If
I could, I would love to add on to that. That's,
it's so, there's so many good points, but yeah,
like the checklist thing is a big one for me.
Um, I think I'm very prone to like kind of seeing
my relationship with God as these things that
we have, I have to do to like, um, yeah, to,
to measure up. But it's like, um, it, it, it's
something I've really learned from this program.
It's not treating these disciplines as the end,
but like a means to an end that the point is
always God. I'm loving God. I'm loving others
is like basically, basically it. And it's just,
it's been for me and I'm sure for many others,
it's, it's helped me. be less intimidated with
the idea of these disciplines and habits and
yeah instead of seeing them as this whole list
like this overwhelming it's actually breaking
them down and seeing like look some of these
are gonna work better for some people sure less
for others um but yeah that's been big and just
just one other thing has been on my mind it's
like I've really really learned how much I have
to learn from other people. Like, and I, I know
it's like, it's the right thing to say like,
Oh yeah, we all got to learn from each other.
But like, like really it's, it's been humbling.
Like honestly, we're, we're all at a relatively
the same like stage of life. Um, and like, yeah,
just, yeah, just our different perspectives and
where we're coming from. Like it's, it's, it's
mind blowing when we, we catch ourself in our
pride and just say like, Hey, I'm actually going
to humble myself and listen. And like, pretend
maybe this person has something helpful to say
and then it's like wow that's that's literally
what i've been that's answered a question i've
had for months like sure i think yeah that's
been big for me yeah yeah yeah for sure yeah
yeah that's a lot of really good really cool
learning lots of new sort of life transforming
i think in some ways right yeah because it's
like i mean we've all come from such different
um walks right and so to like finally like be
together and like kind of reprogram our brains
to understanding oh this is how it is it's not
what we thought it was sure right which is which
is very like it changes a lot of things for all
of us personally yeah for sure yeah and it's
kind of like a big thing for me too because i'm
normally a person who like i like being by myself
like i really didn't think that oh i'd need to
like talk to people or something like that because
i'm more of like a i want to say inverted person
like kind of like just in me and then just going
through all this i kind of say like the importance
of like meeting other people it's important it's
just as important as listening to yourself too
and like it kind of helps me in that position
of like oh i'm now feeling a little more better
when i'm with a group of people sure so yeah
that's amazing yeah totally So when you think
about your relationship with God, how has being
part of this program for the last few months
transformed that or enriched that in some ways?
Yeah, what has that looked like for you folks?
I know, Christabel, you already sort of talked
about this idea of like apprenticing with God
and just thinking about that relationship differently.
Yeah. Also, it kind of like my relationship with
God now, it's more of a, it's not more of a,
oh, I have to do this thing because, oh, I'm
Christian. I just have to do it. Like it's an
obligation. But now it feels more like something
I want to do. Like I naturally feel like I should
do, like I should at least get time to like talk
to him, meditate, pray, you know, as like. me
alone or with a group of people it's also like
held me in like knowing what's important and
having like a stronger faith in like god it's
god himself and it's just great all around because
i feel more connected spiritually physically
emotionally and it's keep like it keeps me grounded
especially now and like i'm about to go to university
it's like this is going to be a little big change
for everything so it's like i needed this relationship
to be like to grow stronger in me yeah yeah for
sure I think it's also like, I did mention that
most of my Christian journey was very alone.
And so being finally like vulnerable with others
who also want to grow and enjoy God and the Christian
walk, right, has been super enriching, super
enriching. And I feel like I'm finally somewhere
like I can belong, right? Uh, and also definitely
a place where I can finally serve because I have
all this, this inept need to serve and like love
and be growing together. And so now that it's
there, I'm like, okay, I want to enjoy it a lot
more. And I am a lot more grateful than before.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want to sound like
a broken record, but like the, the community
thing that it's just like. the idea in the Bible
of the body of Christ has become more and more
alive to me. And I feel like for so long, I just
didn't see, uh, I didn't see community done super,
super well in the church. Like, um, this is not
one particular church's fault. It's just like
kind of the age where, and they were so individualistic
and like my faith, my spirituality. But, uh,
I, I don't know how exactly to explain it, but,
um, there's a lot of things like, obviously the
Lord will teach us on our own learning with him,
just reading his word and stuff. But, um, there
is a big difference when we come together as
the body of Christ, that whatever it means, like
the, he's just here in the, in a unique way.
It's like, this is how it's meant to be. Like
Jesus taught, he, he taught 12 disciples. Like
he did this in a group. And I just think it's,
it's just something about it feels so right.
And it's, it's something. Yeah. I don't know.
I, I can't exactly explain it, but another thing
it's like the difference between, um, something
my dad taught me, but it's really come alive
in this, this, this program. It's like the difference
between when Jesus says, come to me, you who
are weary and burdened. He says, um, he said,
come learn from me. It's like the difference
between learning about, you know, you can show
up on Sunday at a sermon, you learn about him,
but. I think when we come together, we learn
from him and I don't know why that is, but I
don't know if you guys know what I mean. It's
different. And, and a lot of that goes to Libby's
leadership. She's done a great job. And through
her, like, I think we are learning from her,
but also from, from the Lord. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. There's something about creating that space.
Like Christ comes and fills in the space in between
all of you. Right. Like, like in the, like, okay,
we're going to come together and like talk about
Jesus, but. through our worship, through our
prayer, through our conversation, we're also
inviting Jesus into it, right? Sorry, but it
reminds me of this one passage that says, when
two or more are gathered in my presence, I am
there. So it kind of like emphasizes that when
you come to learn, not just about him, but you're
like, your intention is, oh, I'm going to open
my heart to him. It's like, and that moment in
that presence, it's like, he's there, you're
learning from him. And like, he's using like
our teacher Libby, she's amazing. He's using
her to like, talk to each and every one of us
like we all here we're all hearing the same things
but in our heart we're all feeling it differently
like it's filling up spot like different spots
for us like where we needed to be and so yeah
it's like really amazing yeah yeah true and every
like thursday somehow we always feel like the
holy spirit just kind of like leading us through
it and then we're all like sitting there going
like wow god just did that which is really nice
yeah that's awesome Yeah. What about for you,
Daniel, when you think about like your relationship
with God, how has that been impacted through
this program so far? Oh, it definitely made me
know more about God. Um, we naturally want to
know more about people who loves us, who love
us and God loves us. So why wouldn't we want
to learn more about him? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For
sure. For sure. What about your other relationships,
like relationships with friends or family or
even like your own relationship with yourself?
How has that been impacted through this program
so far? You think about what that looks like?
I know that there's probably this sense of being
in community together that obviously like you
four didn't know each other before this, really.
So there's that introduction of new relationships.
Yeah. What's, what's that been like? I think
it was family specifically, like once they got
to know that, okay, I made the decision to join
the DY program, they were like, oh, okay, you
have a community, you'll be fine. Right. But
as the weeks progressed and I would talk to them
about like, hey, this is what I learned. Oh,
then, you know, we kind of like share scripture
together. And I can see that, you know, with
the DY program pouring into me a lot, it's been
I'm able to pour out a lot more to my family,
my friends, and even my coworkers at my work.
And that joy is kind of contagious. Sure. And
that, that need to like learn and grow is also
very contagious. And like, Oh, okay. We want
to like learn a little more. We want to know
what you learned this week. Right. And so, and
then, and then like my parents, for instance,
they've kind of had that seep into their own
spiritual life as well. And it's kind of like
the butterfly effect, right? And I can see it
happen to my best friends as well because I'm
being poured into spiritually. And I see that
even with my parents. So it's very fulfilling
and enriching. Yeah, that's awesome. I think
one of the biggest things I think I'm learning
that's helped a lot of my relationships is just
learning the power of confession. And I don't
just mean like, Like we're not coming here confessing
our deepest, darkest secrets or anything, but
you know, there's, there's, as we're talking
about Jesus, I mean, we're always going to be
like, oh yeah, I'm not him. You know, we see
all the ways we fall short inevitably, but just,
you know, confessing kind of regular sin and,
and also, but also, I mean like confessing weakness
and just confessing like this is where I'm at.
Um, it's not always just about confessing sin.
It's like this, just being vulnerable with each
other. Yeah, exactly. Just sharing, like, exactly.
Um, sharing like who you are and where you're
at. Um, it's really powerful. And it's, it, I
think it's, it's often like we, there's maybe
some pressure to either not speak up about where
we're at or. not maybe not ask questions that
we might think like they're dumb questions, but
like, I just think again, going back to some
of the foundations of the faith and we're all
having these things come up and like, we're just,
I just feel like, I don't know if you guys would
agree. Like it feels just so like real, like
we're not trying to put on an act for anybody.
That idea has really helped. Like it's important.
It's overflowed into my other relationships where
like I'm trying more and more to just, Just realize,
yeah, like I can just be honest with where I'm
at and encourage others to do the same, like
almost take the lead. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Because
I think there's a lot of spaces, a lot of people
who are afraid to be vulnerable and like feel
like they can't be honest or authentic. And so
when someone takes that step and it it opens
up space for other people to be like, oh. Yeah.
Nobody shot Ryland down. So I guess, I guess
it's okay for us to like be real here. I see
it as like a, a bridge almost. Cause you know,
Jesus says like, come like that's the phrase,
like come, come as you are. Like a lot, I think
a lot of people, especially outside of the church,
but even sometimes maybe who are a part of the
church, but feel outcasted. It's like, they just
don't know how to get from where they are to
like. the ideal spiritual like sure you know
we're never gonna reach that in this life but
like still I I see it yeah exactly like you said
it's it's kind of like a welcoming hand to say
hey like there's more for you like there's more
there is this abundant life and and freedom yeah
yeah also for me like I'd like to say like relationship
wise it's like me personally it's like helped
me like most days feels like filler days like
you're just going by and then everything feels
slow and drowsy but recently like i've been like
every day feels like something important has
happened like just me being there like even if
nothing greatly important happened i just feel
like each day has so much value to it now now
that like relationship with myself it's like
i can feel like i'm being more like mentally
healthy like i'm more healthy with myself now
sure i know how to like value my emotions now
and i know when to like just stop for a minute
i know when to take a breather when like i should
know when things are getting a little bit overwhelming
i know how to handle situations with that i could
just stop you know talk or like read or something
and then it's like it's brought me to a place
where i'm like wow life is actually great guys
it's amazing actually yeah yeah yeah yeah for
sure yeah anything you wanted to add to that
to neil i would agree with christabel that um
emotions have definitely become much more structured
and managed personally for me um i think that's
great yeah yeah for sure Um, so we've talked
about all of this learning, like for yourselves
and for like your, your faith and your spirituality.
What about like practical learnings? Like the
things that you're doing in your ministry, what,
what have you been doing? What have you been
learning in, in those ministry placements? Each
ministry has like a lot. And I know like I've
throughout my walk of like through education
and stuff, I've learned a lot of things. but
to finally kind of implement them, use them and
then kind of like nurture it into getting something
out of it. It's so nice. So for instance, my
first placement was with the children's ministry
and I've worked with kids before, but to finally
talk to them about God's love and then sit down
and make it like. understandable and as simple
as it is because the gospel is just that simple
it's so nice and then they're like oh okay we
understand and like you know they're also trying
to pay attention and like play the games whatever
it is but we're also like understanding the bible
together in the simplest forms it's so nice and
then the same thing with the tech team and i
know with the tech team it was like i got to
learn like a lot of um the production side of
it because I've always done post -production.
Okay. So to finally like be behind the camera
and be like, okay, this is how I could do it.
And like, you know, what's keen? How is this?
That's so cool. And then the last one right now,
I'm on the worship team. I did get to do like
a lot of readings. I did get to be in the practice
with them as well. Like they have Thursday evenings
as practice. And seeing the amount of effort
and then the quality that they're trying to bring
back into the church and show it to God because
they're like, okay, God gave us this. So we're
giving this quality back. I love that. I love
that so much. Yeah. I think you were also doing
some camera stuff. Yeah, for me, like each placement
has like taught me something valuable, like for
like the tech, because I started off with the
tech. It kind of taught me like the importance
of each person and how it's important that as
each person is walking together, like every how
everything comes together, like the importance
of like teamwork, the importance of like just
being there and like having better communication
because communication is important. We have to
tell each other what to do. We have to like receive
back feedback. And it's like. that's taught me
like basically community teamwork, how that's
important. Then for like, cause I just finished,
like I was doing the outreach too. Kind of showed
me like how it's important, like getting information
out there to like other people and how it's like,
not just in the church where we have to think
outside too. We have to know, like understand
that, Oh, we're trying to reach out to like everyone,
the gospels for everyone. Right. And it's like,
It's just amazing to see that and like to participate
in that. It's like truly amazing. And now I'm
with the kids, learned like patience. For sure.
We'll do that. Exactly. And it's just. so much
how you can see this little kids and when they're
teaching about god and how like they're so into
the lesson like into the lesson like you can
see like the pure innocence in them and how they're
like really excited to like know more about god
they're like asking questions they're like oh
he did this he did that and it's like they're
so happy it's like trying to meet up with like
it's trying to like show them how important god
is and in that moment you also remember what
it was like as a kid sure like hearing about
this great miracles god did and like the stories
and you're like oh this was the importance back
then now that i'm teaching it i fully understand
what i'm teaching sure so like yeah all together
it's like amazing really yeah yeah for sure yeah
what about for you daniel what's you've been
learning and doing um from reading the scripture
to hang out with the kids and teaching them lessons
uh we're doing pretty much Everything. The technical
side of the things, the production part, as Naraya
mentioned, teaching the children, spreading the
gospel, connecting with people outside of the
church and those who watch us online. Every ministry
has its own thing. And as I mentioned previously,
the four ministries work synergetically to...
to bring life into the church. And the discipleship
here has shown me and keeps showing me all these
different parts of the church system and how
we can contribute in each part to keep it working.
Yeah, yeah. And I like that, like synergistically,
like they all work together and build on each
other. Yeah. Yeah. Well, for you, Riley, I know
you've been doing a lot of work in youth ministry,
right? Yeah. So I'm a bit of a outsider here.
No, not an outsider. So I got to do two placements,
one with Kyla and then one with Libby as well,
who does the music. But then I actually kind
of opted out of this portion just because I'm
also, yeah, like I said, I'm also a full -time
student. So that's a lot. And I'm also, yeah,
I am also a co -youth director here. So I, Mia
and I, we lead youth every Friday evening and
then Sundays as well. After service, we, well,
after the message, we talk about it with the
youth. Yeah. But I, it's, it really is. Yeah.
That's been like amazing. I mean, talk about
like, I guess, nostalgia. I'm talking to them
and I'm just like, wow. Like I was once. like
you guys. And it's just, yeah, it's, it's crazy
how much we have, like how much opportunity we
have to, to love them and push them in the right
direction when they're so young, right. Their
minds are in hearts are so malleable and, and,
um, there's so many, the world is working in
the opposite direction, but yeah, it's, so there's
that. And it's also, I, I really. I love that
we've done this. Um, even, even if I only got
to do about half of it because it's, it, it's
totally like you guys are saying it's, it's all
works together to make like you show up on a
Sunday morning. Um, and you'll see, you know,
the, the production, everything, and then the
message and we take communion, but to see all
the stuff that goes into that, that sure hours,
the hours and the, the heart and the soul that's,
that's poured into it. Um, it just helps you
realize like, yeah, it's, you know, what's the
scripture say? Like the hand can't save the foot.
I don't need you. Like it, it actually, we actually
need each other and we need every single member.
So I hope like what it's been for me is an encouragement
and I hope it is for, for all of us that like
every member of the body is so precious and every
person who maybe does show up on a Sunday and
feels like, Oh, I want to serve, but I, I don't
have anything to give. It's like, that's a lie
from the enemy. Like come forward and, Like you,
you've been given a gift to give back to the
church, right. To build up. So it's really beautiful
how, um, we had a ministry fair like a month
or two ago where there's just, there's so many
different ways that you can serve. Yeah. Um,
which I love. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For
sure. Yeah. So when you think about these last
few months, is there one highlight that stands
out to you? And one thing that's like, ah, this
has been my favorite part of this program so
far. One favorite part? Okay, let's start with
one. See where we go. Anyone else can answer.
I have to think about where I can go. Well, for
me, I'd probably say the whole teaching about
Sabbath. Because I've heard about it before.
I've heard what it is. I know what it is. But
now that I'm actually... They're teaching us
about it and its importance. And they're going
into such a great depth where it shows you that...
This isn't just spiritually beneficial, which
is nice, but it's also physically beneficial.
Like if you do this, it's like you're finding
something in yourself that you're like, oh, this
is amazing. I like this. I like the feeling of
like finally taking a break. And sometimes you
don't even realize you actually need a break.
And then when you do it, you're like, oh, I guess
I was only feeling anxious and stressed because
of like I had so much going on. But now like
I have. I've started to take a day to like not
do anything and just be where I am. It's like,
oh, now I know what I did wrong. I know where
like this emotion is coming from. I know how
to regulate it properly. And it's like, it shows
you just how much, because even God himself had
a Sabbath, like after he created the word and
everything, like it shows you like. I just needed
to take a break with God. I just need to take
a break with my family. I just need to take a
break with community, with myself. Like it's
just so important. And I think that's a very
good key for me now and like a good highlight
for me, especially most of us are like about
to be students or we are students. It's like
hard to like navigate resting and then study
and everything. So it's really just nice to know
that you should take a break. it's important
like for you physically mentally emotionally
just take that break speak to god speak to yourself
know what you really want to do know where the
problem is and then just let it go from there
yeah for sure the learning environment and the
environment the environment of practicing all
the christianity customs in uh in a small group
is certainly unmatched um it is we are Certainly
becoming more vulnerable with each other as we
progress throughout our studies, our ministry
placements. We become closer to ourselves and
to God and to each other. And that's certainly
one of the biggest advantages I find of doing
this. As small groups are kind of more, what's
the word for it? Close -knit? Yeah, that's certainly
more of a closed -knit community rather than
a big stage and a big crowd of people. Yeah,
for sure. You ready? Go ahead, Ryland. Go ahead,
go ahead. I'm going to go very specific. Like,
yeah, I mean, I keep talking all day about this,
but the scripture practice, the first, like,
spiritual discipline. Um, we did, it's weird
even calling it that it's, it was such a, such
a gift to me. Um, we, we talked about, it was
read, um, meditate, study and memorize. So for
memorize, um, like I'm someone, I, I, I have
a good memory when I'm interested in something.
If I'm not interested, it's hard to remember
things. But so I, I, I've never struggled too
much with, um, memorizing scripture, but I, I,
most of the time it's just, I remember something
I read, but trying to stop and memorize something
has, to me, it's just always felt like, oh, that's
just, that's so like, it's just felt off to me.
Like, I'm just going to sit here and say something
over. But the way that we've been taught to do
it is like, he describes it as like, John Mark
Homer describes it as, as like chewing on something,
like slowly, as opposed to just like, like I
do when I eat, I just eat so fast. But taking
your time. So I this just a specific practice
I'll share briefly. It was to pick a passage
of scripture to memorize. And then week by week,
you choose two verses per week. And like, I just
need to say this. I was so like, I was almost
like insulted. I can memorize more than that.
But it's actually so beautiful what God has done.
I chose Psalm 139 to try to do the whole thing.
But like just these, like you're just memorizing
a few verses at a time and like just saying them
over and over again, the amount that God has
shown me and just that, like just saying those
over and over in my head and throughout the day,
it's been like the most enriching thing in my
life, in my spiritual life in general, like in
so long. So, yeah. And there's a lot of stuff
like that that we're learning here where we're
just, it's very practical, but you have no idea
what's waiting on the other side until you just
like, just go for it. Yeah. Jump on in. To add
on kind of like about the chewing scripture in
a way, it just made me think about a passage,
which will help me concise everything that I
want to say. you know, the part where Jesus goes
like, Oh, if a son asked the father for bread,
which father would give them a stone? Right.
Right. And so it's like, I'm in this DIY program.
I'm finally understanding how to not like his
perspective, like father's perspective. but also
how to delight in the fact that he wants to bless
us so much. Yeah. And also like how to enjoy
his presence a lot more and just, yeah, just
that part. I'm just going to leave that as that.
That's the passage in that. No, that's beautiful.
Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, this is so great to like
hear all of these different thoughts and like
glean all of these little bits of learning and
like, yeah, just to see how God is obviously
at work in each of your lives and in this ministry.
So if there's folks who are watching or listening
and thinking, well, I want to do that or. Maybe
there's folks who are listening and thinking,
well, that sounds cool for that. What would you
want to say to folks to sort of encourage them
to think about this a little more? Just do it.
Yeah, Nike. I feel like at first it might seem,
oh, it feels, oh, it's nice. I'm sure it's nice
to have people to communicate with. And they're
probably like, oh, but maybe I don't have time
for it. My advice would be like, it's worth it
trust me like there's this thing we learned um
anamkara something like that called a soul friend
where i feel like if you just do it you will
find your soul friend you will find your soul
people actually where you can just like this
like they're going to lead you through a lot
of things like they're going to help you out
through like maybe it's something you're going
through financially emotionally like something
you just want you just need to get it out there
they're like these people are going to help you
like they're going to be there they're going
to have your back when you stumble a little bit
they're going to tell you oh you stumbled we're
going to push you back up again and it's just
a great way to like find faith because in a in
the world we're leaving it now it's like so easy
to like have your fate like wither away slowly
but like in this setting group setting we're
in right now it's like kind of like watering
that plant to like help you grow more and it's
just really nice like just do it like just come
do it try it out and see for yourself like it's
amazing yeah give it a try you miss all the shots
you don't take well there you go just go for
it there you go see for yourself Cool. Well,
thank you so much, folks. This has been a really
encouraging conversation and really great to
just sort of get to know each of you a little
bit better. Yeah, and so grateful for your stories,
for your authenticity and vulnerability here.
And thank you for tuning in to this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. I hope that you are also able
to find spaces of community where you can learn
to follow Christ together. And I would love if
you find that here with us at Trinity, whether
you are part of a life group here, part of our
congregation, or if you are 18 to 25 and want
to try this program as well, you can check out
the Discipleship Year program on our website.
And we'd love to get in touch with you about
that. And we will see you again next week.