Music Discipleship Training School

Hello!
      Allow me to share with you what God is leading me to pursue this fall! In September, I will be partnering with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), and serving at the Ensenada, Mexico campus and I will be enrolled in YWAM’s Discipleship Training School (DTS): Music and Missions. YWAM’s mission statement, “Know God and Make Him Known,” is the focus of the DTS program, teaching students how to draw close to God and serve and minister to others through music over the course of five months.

The first phase of the school, known as the “lecture” phase, focuses on “knowing God” by leading students to study God’s word in Bible studies and nightly lectures. Along with studying the Bible, I will also be working alongside worship leaders where I will learn how to compose my own worship music and connect with the community through it. YWAM focuses on connecting with the community in Ensenada while using the gifts God has blessed each individual with to share the Gospel. The goal of the lecture phase is to not merely know who God is superficially, as it actively teaches students to draw near to the Lord and form a deep, personal relationship with Him. Through community outreaches and nightly Bible studies, students will be discovering for themselves just what the Holy Spirit desires for each individual.

After three months, the “outreach” phase begins by relocating to a second country in either South America, Africa, the Caribbean, or South Asia. During the lecture phase, students will be praying over the next destination, asking that the Lord would bless the upcoming trip and that He would lead them to the area that is in need of outreach. I will be serving the community by visiting orphanages, soup kitchens, and homeless centers sharing music and the Gospel with those I encounter.

I am praying that the Lord would bless my outreach and that He would use me as His vessel. As He has called me to do His work, I pray that His glory would be made known to all. Humbly, I ask that you would support me through prayer as well. Some of the greatest needs for this mission trip is both safety and unity. With long term mission trips, there is always room for someone to get injured or for an accident to occur. The Lord has called me to join the YWAM team and with your support, I know that the Lord will protect us all. While we are traveling from area to area, many may be easily irritable, allowing for strife to build up between team members. Almost nothing will divide a group more than traveling, so I earnestly request that you would intercede for us all in prayer, asking the Lord that he would unite us all in His presence.

“You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” Matthew 21:22

Another great need, along with prayer, is financial support. The total cost of my DTS is $6,000, covering my food, housing, and travel expenses. While this is a large sum of money, I have faith that the Lord will provide the means for this trip. God does not call one and not provide the necessary funds, so I am taking a step in faith, trusting that the Lord would make a way for me to go. If you feel called to give, I would appreciate any monetary gift, no matter the amount. 

    Thank you so much for your support in prayer and finances! Thank you for your time, and I pray that God blesses you with great joy! For daily updates from Mexico, follow me on Instagram at: rachelgracebrown, where I will be posting about the daily outreach programs our team will be participating in! Again, thank you so much for your generous support!

God bless!
-Rachel