A Glimpse into the Day of a Marine Reach DTS Student

If you’ve ever wondered what life as a DTS student was actually like, you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ll go through a typical day for a typical DTS student so you can get a feel for what your days will look like when you get here. Enjoy!

• We have a productive morning routine where we prioritize quick and efficient cleaning, time set aside for Jesus, and if you’re up early enough, a tasty breakfast.
• Start the week off with Whanau time (family in Maori) which includes delicious baked goods, David Cowie’s (one of Marine Reach founders) cheesy jokes and fellowship. Other days at this time are substituted with prayer or worship.
• Every morning we have lectures where speakers from around the world teach on different topics. This time is more than simply sitting in a classroom; lectures are about engaging in discussion and ministry to help you personally grow in your relationship with Jesus.
• Living in community, there are always staff members around for prayer, support or even just hanging out. You will also be assigned a mentor to walk alongside you in the journey. This person will meet with you weekly to check in, help you meet your goals, answer any questions and pray with you.
• Beyond lectures, once a week all students break into their specific streams (whether it be Worship, Wild Heart, Go Pacific, etc.). In this time, you will learn more about your specific focus and the heartbeat behind the stream. For example, if you chose Medical Compassion, this would be a time to dive deeper into what medical missions look like.
• Twice a week students get the chance to serve and dedicate their afternoon to being a part of the base in what we call ministry placements. This includes helping out in the kitchen, hospitality, grounds, transport, registrar, or media. 
• As well, biweekly, we have a time of evangelism where students get to grow and safely step out in their faith. It’s an opportunity to share outside in the community the love of Christ and the truth of the gospel. Good news is, no one is expected to be perfect, and leaders are there to help.
• Ministry Night. Wednesday nights are set aside to give the speaker extra time to teach, pray, worship and answer any questions we might have. It allows a space to reflect and process the things we’ve been learning throughout the week.
• There are places in the schedule to provide personal time with the Lord and free time in the afternoons to engage in sports, games, building relationships and explore the property (which could include swimming in our glorious waterfall). There is also time for town trips to get necessities, to visit the beach or to go to church on the weekends.