The week (or four days) at the DiscipleMakers Staff conference was especially great. There was a lot of time to absorb great teaching from the senior staff members. We did some highlights from the first 11 chapters of the Book of Acts. We had several strategic presentations. The systems team updated us on what they have been working on with updating the servers and internet capabilities of the group. The Board is working diligently on creating an Alumni Network and they taught us all about the ins and outs of it. The Presidents Team is working on increasing their fundraising capabilities by using the President to garner support from bodies other than families. And the President himself did a wonderful job casting vision for the future of the group. The resolve is to pursue excellence in campus ministry – not seeking width as much as depth (although hopefully both are to come). They are seeing the inherent value in investing in people’s lives andhow a real attention to one-on-one discipleship can change lives. They are seeking to invest in students on smaller campuses (other than PSU DM is at Bucknell, Bloomsburg, Shippensburg, Gettysburg, East Stroudsburg, Lafayette, Kutztown, and Muhlenberg) where there notably is a absence of a Christian presence.
It was a family oriented conference and many of the families (and especially children) in DiscipleMakers look forward to it as something of a vacation. There was free time in the afternoons for swimming in pool, riding a huge waterslide into a lake, board games, bocce tournament (Josh, another intern, and I lost to last year’s reigning Champions in the first round) and catching up with people from all across the staff, etc. The worship times were great! One night we watched “Disney’s Enchanted” and discussed it; seeing it’s strengths, weaknesses, and what kind of messages it sends, and what we can learn from it. Another night there was a family “talent show” and it ended in a big dance party (see pictures below) which was a lot of fun.
While there I found myself worried about spending my free time and breaks “properly”. We would have 15 minutes in between talks or presentations and I would stand up in a room full of people who have committed their lives to relational heart ministry, who have all read my growth plan of examining my own heart and sharing it, and I actually worried because, in my sinful flesh, I do not desire excellence in my struggles against sin or aspirations for the future. I began doubting my adeptness at even the most basic of social interactions and wondering just how awkward of a person I am to interact with. I found myself putting expectations on myself and assuming things of others, such as the necessity of affections for others. I think I felt guilty that being around all of these people didn’t excite me, but felt like burdensome expectations. I felt out of place or as if I was supposed to be feeling certain emotions or connections to people. What shocked me, later, was how much I was blowing things out of proportion in my own mind. It really wasn’t so bad at all and I really enjoyed my time. Loving people is a choice we make; not just an emotion.
I was surrouned by people who cared about me. They took the time to draw me out, ask me how I was doing, give me space when I needed it, and wanted to know what was going on with me. It was a great conference.