LECTURE PHASE

By

student report from July, 2010

As a small class of 4, we became a very close-knit group of friends! We had heaps of fun together which included a team breakfast, many rounds of Dutch Blitz, trips of Subiaco and Fremantle, spontaneous dancing, running barefoot on the beach, and lot of laughter! Of course God also taught us much and really stretched us in our understanding of His character and heart for the nations. Highlights from our lecture phase include holding house church each week, leading a day of prayer and fasting for China and Thailand, interceding outside a Perth Mosque, and visiting immigrant friends each week to share the love of Jesus.

The topics and speakers each week were top-notch! Some of our topics were Strategic Coordination, Storytelling, Adapting to a new Culture, proclaiming truth, Team Dynamics, Church Planting, and Community Development, We also learned other practical skills such as effective language learning, support raising, and using media in missions! Through SOFM, God helps us not only to get more of His heart for the nations that He has called us to, but He's also equipped us with the tools and weapons to reach it!

God spoke into each of our lives during the SOFM. He used different speakers, our school leaders, and even one another as we learned to hear and speak words of life to each other. A lot of the words that God spoke to us were regarding our identity, value, and purpose in Jesus Christ. For most of us, I believe this was very freeing as we learned to let our views be shaped by the TRUTH of God. The SOFM has truly been training ground for our long-term missions calling. God has not only given us tools to use in pioneering ministry but also in learning to personally "stand, and having done all else, to stand"