Growing by serving- A Story of A DTS Staff 

By Sung-Bin Kim / YG DTS

Training someone takes courage and responsibility. For me who has no other qualifications except for DTS graduation certificate, standing as a DTS staff training many students are very difficult hard positions. However, because of the grace that we experience, serving as staff beats my heart harder than any other position.

It was John 15. 

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. 
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

In the spring of 2018, just as I was wrapping up my times as YG DTS student, God gave this verse to me. Now that I look back this verse taught me how to enjoy fullness and peace in the presence of God’s love during year-long staffing.

Life as a staff: days of the wilderness

Serving as a staff for the first time, God taught me how to communicate with others. There was a time when I had to distribute goods to students, and there was a lack of communication which complicated the situation. Through this episode, God showed me that I have hardship in forming a relationship. Especially that I have difficulty with the person with authority and that I have wrongfully set my priority. God taught me through situations, showed me my issues, and learned to be thankful to God who leads me through these hardships. I have learned to look beyond just mere situations and problems, and to focus on Jesus Christ.

Life as a staff: days of Discipleship 

During my time as a DTS student, I was able to realize the truths, but I never was able to fully understand them. However, as I spent time as a staff truth started to meltdown to my daily life and I was able to fully understand them through my heart. Theme of my first school was ‘Incredible’. God promised to do new and incredible things among our school. At one end I had high hopes for His promise, but at the other end I was at constant doubt. I often thought this school might end without the ‘incredible’ things.

However outreach to Philippines was time of fulfilling God’s promise. He raised the next generations in the Philippines through our team. DTS during a DTS outreach. Through those times not only the staffs, but even the students had opportunity to serve and experience work of God. Incredible works were done through us. Then I was assured; God eventually kept His promise through us. So now I can testify God who keeps his promise. 12th YWAM value: Do first, then Teach. Without experiencing first, no one can truly teach. That is why living as a staff, and through many experiences, God teaches me various lessons, and when I guide students to Jesus those experiences provides my words power and energy.

Life as a staff: days of clay jar

As I serve as a staff here, I came to realize that I have many hardened frames in me. God showed me my frames of worship and frames of prayer. I always thought that there was certain ways and method of worship and prayer in order for us to experience the presence of God. My old world view is being constantly shattered. However, thankfully God is building new world view on top of the broken ones. He constantly touches and molds my jar so that He may pour his oil.

Life as a staff: days of cultivation

I am a person who struggles with loneliness. When I was young, there was an absence of my parents too often which lead me to struggle with loneliness until now. That is why I always had to be with someone else. If I was alone, I felt as if I was being separated which often came to me as a fear. On top of that, there was always the false message, “I am not worthy of being loved”.

However through my times as a staff, God completely unrooted my fears and wound and I felt his presence and love in my heart. Moreover there is Holy Spirit who plants new seed of truth in my barren heart. When I live my life based on the truths, God waters the seed and eventually it blossoms and provides fruits. My times as a staff helped me to know God better and better. I was able to build better understanding of my creator, father, good shepherd, and a friend. Through these times, He allowed me to enjoy His great love and for me to flow down what I enjoyed. He also prepared me as a mighty warrior.

 Again I breathe and live on because there is my complete God who guides me with perfect ways and infallible love and grace.