Newcastle DTS Gathering (November 2010)

As well as a week of inspirational and eye-opening teaching on evangelism, one of the features of DTS Gatherings is treasure-hunting, where we ask God for a name or an impression about a person and then to lead us to the right person on the streets so that we can talk/pray with them.

Here are some stories and from the DTS Gathering in Newcastle

"I was so challenged every day throughout the week in Newcastle. I learned so much from the speakers and through conversations with the other DTS students. I'm so thankful that our DTS could be part of this impactful week in Newcastle as we went into the streets and loved the people. I experienced the Holy Spirit in a way I never have before and also witnessed a healing for the first time." (Emily)

"This week has been really great. I've learned a lot about evangelism - how to do it, where to start, who to talk to etc. This week has opened doors in my life I didn't know were there. I thank God for all He has taught me this week. I began this week very shy and not confident about evangelising, but now I am more confident, trusting the Lord, talking to people and seeing how He uses me to speak to others." (Kylie)

“We were out treasure-hunting and I was looking for a girl with red hair and black clothes. Another guy on my team had the location ‘The Monument’.
“When we came there I saw a girl with red hair and black clothes but she was walking in the opposite direction to us, so we ran after her. We stopped her and I asked if her name was Anna, and she said, ‘Yes!’ We were really excited.
“On my location list I had ‘shoe’ and ‘corner’ — and we were standing at a corner with a shoe store called ‘Schuh’. On ‘random stuff’ I had had ‘clock’ and ‘fitness’ and on the corner was a big clock and next to it was a sports store. For ‘prayer requests’ I had had ‘parents’, so we asked her about her parents and she said that she did not have a good relationship with her father because he was an alcoholic.
“We told her that God led us to her and that God really loved her and we could see a little smile on her face. She was open and curious, but she did not have a lot of time to talk because she was trying to catch a movie. It was a very encouraging experience.” (Lina)

“Yesterday afternoon has the first time I did something like treasure hunting. And I was so nervous to talk to people and had a lot of fear of man. The thing I’ve learned form this afternoon is that treasure hunting is a tool, not a goal in itself! We were so focused on trying to find our treasures, that we ended up only talking to one person, who started talking to us because he was handing out a folder of his coffee shop! But the goal should be — talking to people about Jesus, and not finding the person that exactly fits into your treasure map. Of course, this can help and it can be encouraging if you find them, but if you don’t find them, it doesn’t mean that God can’t use you that afternoon. But at first I was very discouraged, until someone told me this.
“The same day I went again for a treasure hunt in the evening. And again we didn’t find our treasures. But instead of that, I was with a person who encouraged me to start conversations with random persons who we met. At first I was so afraid to do this, afraid of being rejected. But we did this a few times, and by doing it more the fear became less big, and those people didn’t really want to talk, were not very interested and didn’t want to pray. But I noticed that it’s not that bed when they reject you. I learned to deal with this and to go on! But the whole night was a bit disappointing, because we did not even have one good conversation.
“The last five minutes made my day! We walked to a guy who seemed to be a bit drunk. I asked him if we could pray for him, and he said, ‘I just want to go home, and I don’t have any money.’ I asked how much he needed, and he said that he needed £3.80. Then I didn’t know what to do, I would love to help him, but I didn’t want to open my wallet in front of him, because I was afraid that he would rob me. So I said, ‘I will walk away, and ask God if He wants me to give you the money. I will come back in five minutes in this place, and give you the money.’
“So we went away but then the leaders of the group told us that we must leave right now! And I panicked a bit, because I felt so sorry to let this person down, and that he could not go home if I would not give him the money. So I asked if we could go to that guy, and two people stayed to wait for us.
“So we went back to that guy, and I said to him, ‘I believe that God wants me to give you the money, but before I give it to you, I want to pray for you. So are there any things that you want us to pray for? Or any needs?’ And he said, ‘I just want to be happy and want to be successful in life.’ So we prayed for him and gave him the money, and he was visibly touched when we finished, and he spread his arms and gave us a hug. It was very encouraging.” (Martine)

“I went treasure–hunting. I had got ‘red coat’, ‘blue coat’ and ‘a hurt hand’. Also ‘a clock’ and ‘jewellery store’.
So we went downtown, and meet the two guys, one wearing a red coat and one wearing a blue coat. And then one of the guys said, ‘My hand’s really hurting.’
“We prayed for him, and he was able to clench his fist, something he hadn’t been able to do for years. Then he says, “What about my two broken fingers?” We prayed, and he felt that it was good.
“He had been in prison for three years, and was released yesterday and came to Newcastle today. He has just met up with his son (the other guy).
“The son said how he’d had his kids taken away, and he was depressed. So we prayed for him too, and then the father hugged his son. It was all very emotional.” (Stephanie)

“We met this guy with a dog, and started conversation. He suffered from epileptic fits, so we prayed for healing.
“Then we met a lady with back pain and a walking stick. We prayed, and I felt five pops in her back.
“Then we met another lady, in a wheelchair. She was also going blind, so we prayed for her blindness, and then she said, ‘Yeh, I can see a little better.’ Then she said, ‘Oh, and I’m in a wheel chair and am paralysed down my right side.’ So we prayed for that.” (Leah and Matt)

“We were walking door-to-door for a church we were working with here.
“I got the chance to meet Ian. Ian has osteoporosis. My prayer partner and I were eager to share that there was a relationship with God waiting for him. He wasn’t interested, but we got to discuss it for about 20 minutes. We learned that he had worked as a guitar technician for The Clash and had travelled around the world working for rock bands. His osteoporosis had crippled him into staying inside. He also shared that both his parents have cancer.
“Before we left him we asked if we could pray for his healing. Hesitantly he declined, but before we walked away we told him we would pray for him and his parents after we left. He was touched that anyone cared.
“Even if he didn’t come to personally know God on that day, I’ll never forget that encounter with him. We told him nicely that if he was healed, God was revealing himself to him but that either way God loves him. And just by knocking on his door, we got to show Ian that someone was thinking of him even when he doesn’t see us doing it.” (Mera)

“We went to the post-clubbing time last night. We met two girls, one of whom was very drunk. I had the privilege of holding her sick bag as she threw up into it. Perhaps holding the sick bag is the modern equivalent of washing feet? We prayed for the girl.”
When we went to leave, the drunk one couldn’t walk in her high-heeled shoes. As it happened, her feet were the same size as mine, so I swapped my trainers for her high-heels. So we were then able to walk her home. Her friend was very touched. We were able to talk to her about church and other things.” (Clare and Harrison)

“I went to a yarn shop, but they didn’t have the yarn I wanted. So I asked two women in the shop if there was another shop nearby. They said, Yes, and we’re going there, so come with us. On the way, I asked them about God, and one of the women, Margaret, said, ‘I don’t believe in God.’ I replied, ‘But God believes in you. God loves you, Margaret. Can I pray for you?’
“So, there in the yarn shop, I prayed for her and her friend, Brenda, who suffers from depression. Brenda commented, ‘Something went through my body when you prayed for me.’ Margaret added that she had felt something in her body too.
“We then talked further, and these two ladies said how friendly we were, and began to consider going to church. And it was Margaret, the one who doesn’t believe in God, who finally came up with a suitable church near where they live.” (Dixie)