Our Son’s DTS

Looking ahead to February 2026, our Eldest Son will embark on his next significant chapter of life by attending YWAM New Zealand’s Discipleship Training School (DTS). He will be attending a DTS that is separate from the rest of the family and will truly be his first time apart from us for any extended period of time (although we will only be a 40-minute drive away).

DTS is a profound five-month Christian experience that combines three months of spiritual growth and formation with two months of outreach, where participants live out their faith by sharing God’s love in practical ways. The Furnace New Zealand DTS, in particular, emphasizes prayer, worship, and equipping passionate believers for missions—a focus that deeply resonates with our son’s own values and aspirations.

The Matriarch and I had the privilege of participating in a DTS ourselves in 2005, with experiences in Honolulu and India that profoundly shaped our lives. Knowing how transformative this next step can be for our Eldest Son brings a sense of hope and anticipation for the ways in which this journey will equip him for the future.

Support from those who feel called to join in this journey plays a crucial role in making it possible. For anyone willing to support our Eldest Son’s DTS fees, donations can be made via the YWAM Furnace New Zealand website by selecting “staff/student” under payment type and entering our Eldest Son’s name, which you should already know (!), as the purpose of the donation. There is also an option for direct bank transfer detailed on the same site. This support is not just an investment in a program but an encouragement for a young man stepping confidently into a future dedicated to service and growth.

After DTS and the rest of the year abroad, our Eldest Son plans to return to Canada to pursue the first steps in a career as a doctor.

The Patriarch