By Dwayne Dueck, School Of Ministry Graduate 2020
I am almost finished my semester of doing the Heart Module and it’s been one of the most life-changing experiences. Here are three reasons to consider attending:
Spiritual Transformation
There’s something to get out of the school for everyone whether you’re a new Christian or a pastor, whether you just graduated or are established in your career. I’ve been a Christian since I was six years old and have been growing in my journey with God for the last 15 years, but this school was a great season of expedited spiritual growth and knowledge.
Almost every week, I end up having a new revelation on different things in Scripture simply from topics being approached at a different angle than I’m used to, or additional context being supplied. It’s incredibly valuable to hear a new perspective and to think about why you believe what you believe. The speakers have incredible knowledge of the Scriptures and are passionate about the subjects they teach on. I can’t recall a single speaker that didn’t seem to care a lot about the subject they were speaking on.
The school challenges you and gives you opportunities to step out. With the pandemic happening we won’t be having a mission trip, but we did do a weekend of online outreach and that was an incredibly powerful experience. I got to do a ten-minute mini-sermon for a church in France which was a new experience for me since I had never spoken for a church or ever done anything remotely close to a sermon before. Over the course of the weekend, we spent five to six hours prophesying spread out over two sessions. Having not prophesied much in my life previously that stretched me and definitely made me a lot more confident in my abilities to prophecy. For those who love music, there are many opportunities to lead worship and grow in that area.
2. Personal Transformation
One of the things I’m the most thankful for from my time here at School of Ministry is how I’ve changed as a person and how I’ve learned to deal with situations in and around me that come up. I gained to use to help myself and those around me grow.
The foundation of how to address things is laid during Healing Life’s Hurts week during the first four weeks of the school where we learn the core values. Healing Life’s Hurts definitely is a heavy week with a lot to process and to address. Most people found it painful when they were in it, but as time passed, I became incredibly grateful that I learned how to address issues when they come up and to figure out what’s really going on at that core, rather than simply looking at the surface level problems.
Most often our painful reactions to a scenario stem from a deeper issue, wound, or belief and it’s really valuable to learn to identify the heart issue and to be able to work on it. Throughout School Of Ministry, we are given new tools to help us live healthier lives, to approach situations and set boundaries.
When I first came to school I had barely cried in years, even if I wanted to I couldn’t cry. Some of it may have been that I regularly just tried to ignore my emotions. I definitely can cry now, which I’m so thankful for. The real value the school has added to this is that now after I feel hurt. I know how to look at the issue and can try to see why that actually hurt me. This is a very valuable thing to recognize, especially when you are in a relationship and there’s bound to be things said that will hurt. I’ve also grown to be a more confident person.
3. Atmosphere & Culture
The final reason for attending School of Ministry is the atmosphere and culture. There is an incredible atmosphere at the school that many people can feel the second they step into the building. The leaders of the School Of Ministry are powerful people that carry God’s anointing and that’s a huge reason why the atmosphere is so strong and pleasant at the school. The speakers all carry the presence of God noticeably and their presence helps create an atmosphere.
The culture here at the School of Ministry is one of acceptance, vulnerability, growth, and safety. People of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles attend this school, helping to create a diverse community. The school is a safe place to be vulnerable and to grow through small groups and the friends you form. You are given an incredible amount of opportunities to step out, practice, and grow in a safe environment. You are given opportunities to be involved with worship, to prophecy, to pray over others, to preach and to lead among other things.
This place is absolutely incredible and no matter how hard it has been at times, I have no regrets about coming here. It was worth the money and time it took for me to be able to attend. I’ve created valuable friendships, gained connections to incredible leaders and teachers, and have grown an incredible amount in both my emotional and spiritual life.
I’m now able to better process and handle things that are thrown my way, which is an huge boost to my overall confidence. It’s a lot easier to operate in confidence when you’re not always lost or trying to escape, and you know that you’re loved by God.
Hopefully, these three short blogs give you an exciting taste for what the School of Ministry looks like!
Learn more about our programs and apply to the next School Of Ministry here!
