Backpackers Staff

Leader

Denver - Alberta - CAN

Hey everyone, I’m Denver and I will be your School Leader for BDTS 2010! I grew up in Alberta, Canada and spent most of my youth skateboarding, playing video games and playing hockey in the back yard. I have 3 younger brothers and 1 younger sister and LOVE big families like the one we have here at YWAM Oxford. I did the Backpackers DTS here in 2005, and encountered God in a fresh new way. He healed past hurts, revealed more of who he is, and gave me a great community to grow and be challenged in. I made life long friends at Oxford in 2005, and my relationship with God was revitalized!

I really enjoy playing guitar and singing, and LOVE to be part of music teams that lead people in to a time of worship. I really enjoy sports like ice hockey, football, soccer, rugby, AND also really enjoy the outdoors. I’ve done a LOT of hiking and travelling in New Zealand and feel at home among the trees and mountains and the sea. I like to be around people, and love to see others growing in their relationship with God. In fact, the reason I’m here is because I am passionate to see young people loved and encouraged to the point where they can overcome obstacles in their lives, and discover this wonderful loving God who has brought us all together.

Since my DTS, I’ve staffed the BDTS in 2008, led it in 2009, and am stoked to be your leader for 2010. You can expect to grow in the areas of faith, love for your neighbour, and in passion for the King of Kings during your time here.

Staff

Gabriel - Colorado - USA

Salut! My name is Gabriel. I can’t explain how excited I am to staff this BDTS, but one thing is to be known: I’m not a kiwi! I’m coming from the ripping land of Colorado - but was born and raised in San
Diego, California, USA. After finishing university in So. Cali the Lord called me into ministry and off to France I went. The Spirit revolutionized my perspective on life, talents, possessions, gifts, and most importantly the love of the Father towards His children.

My motivation is to bring the light of Christ into all aspects of life and to encourage you in all that you do. I’m currently loving the gift of life and aim to unite my two passions: sharing what Jesus has done for me and climbing. I pray to see you here on base and at the crag!

Remember to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”. À Bientôt!

Staff

Seth - Texas - USA

I did the backpacks school in 2008 and after staffing last year I knew there was going to be another. I’ve been on base since May working in a variety of different positions, filling whatever gaps I could but growing anxious for October. Now that it’s right around the corner and everything is starting to come together I’m all the more excited to see the things God will do.

I cant put into words how pumped I am for this school: to see what God is going to do not only in the lives of the students but also myself and the other staff. My DTS was a life changing experience and I hope that it will be even more so for you. I’ve always been a fan of coffee but the conversation that can be shared when a good cup is poured is where the real joy is. I enjoy getting lost in a book just as much as getting lost in the woods. Climbing rock walls is a new passion for me but seems to be one that occupies most of my spending cash and luggage space. More then anything though I love enjoying life I see it as worship to a God who created everything and it seems that for this season I will be enjoying it with an amazing staff and the crew of the 2010 BDTS.

Staff

Jordan - Oklahoma - USA

Hello! I come from the incredible rolling hills of Oklahoma, USA. I graduated from Oklahoma State University in May of 2009, then headed to California for the summer before jumping on a plane for New Zealand to do the Backpackers DTS. As anyone who has done a DTS with YWAM can tell you, it changes your life forever. You realize so much about the Lord, people, and yourself. I came home in March and have been making coffee. I have loved getting to know the customers and employees of the shop I work at, they are amazing! I didn’t think I was coming back, but the Lord changed my plans, as He usually does.

I love rock climbing, long boarding, being with good friends, coffee, and seeing the amazing scenes He creates for us to enjoy. I am stoked to come back and be a leader, to grow with you, and hangout! So get ready, let’s go and tell others of how He has changed our lives!

Staff

Ben - Alberta - CAN

Well, to begin with, I was born. I have always thought that is the best manner in which to begin one’s life. Even so, God had plans for me long before the foundation of the world.

I had the privilege of being born into a pretty cool missionary family and grew up on three continents. The depth of God’s grace toward us and the necessity of the great commission were therefore engrained into me at a very young age. One of the defining times in my relationship with God was back in 2006 when I took a three month solo backpacking trip through Europe. Being all alone and so far away from everything I had ever known I was forced to rely on God more heavily and I experienced His presence in more tangible ways than ever before. All of the interesting people I met and unexpected spiritual opportunities I was presented with solidified my love for backpacking and showed me how God can work in even the most unusual circumstances.

All of my life God has been relentlessly pursuing deeper intimacy with me and challenging me to get further out of my comfort zone, especially in the last several years. In 2009 He led me to the BDTS in Oxford. I cannot thank my Saviour enough for all the love that He showed me during that time. He healed me in areas that I didn’t even know I was broken. By so powerfully demonstrating His own love for me He changed my heart and gave me greater love for Him, His people and the lost.

I’m sick of the pattern of this world and how it ensnares and entangles. I have a passion for seeing people freed from the bondage of sin and self-righteousness and transformed by the power of the Living God Almighty. I am super excited to staff this upcoming BDTS and see how God moves in people’s hearts. I am not worthy. I have nothing to offer. I am reminded however that God chose “the foolish things of this world to shame the wise”. I am weak and broken and hopelessly in love with my Lord Jesus.

Come join us. Together we can be “fools for Christ” and turn this world on it’s head.

Staff

Deni - Alberta - CAN

My name is Deni (not short for anything) & I’m from Alberta, Canada (whoo hoo). I did my DTS in 2001 in Brisbane, Australia & have been involved with YWAM on & off since then.

I’m thankful & excited to return to New Zealand to experience more of the Lord & His love through this YWAM family. My vision for this DTS is that as we seek the Lord together, we will find Him & discover more of who He is (Jeremiah 33:3), His love for us & His love for those beyond us. I hope that as we allow the Lord to move among us, He will change us to be more like Him! Oh, and of course, I hope to see the amazing beauty of New Zealand too!

Staff

Katie - Wyoming - USA

Hey! My name is Katie and I’m from a small town in the foothills of the Wyoming Rocky Mountains. I love camping, hiking, and spending a lot of time in the mountains… although I’ve always used horses to get around and had never backpacked a day in my life before doing the BDTS last year. I have since learned to love going on foot as well, but horses are in my blood. I also love to travel, try new things, and be adventurous but most of all I love God. Jesus has changed my life in so many ways and I love living for Him.

One of the most exciting things for me is sharing my God with other people and seeing them discover another part of God’s character or see their relationship with Him deepening. My outreach was in Nepal and India and the only thing we did was travel and tell people about God.

Backpacking ministry can be tough because often you can’t see the results, there are no houses going up or orphans being fed, but it really taught me to do the most important thing a missionary can do… listen and talk. Reach out to people, befriend them, talk to them, listen to them, and instead of seeing to their physical needs and never telling them about Jesus (which I have done on mission trips in the past) backpacking ministry reaches to the heart of their need, Jesus. It can be tough, but there is nothing better than seeing someone find God or even begin their search for Him.

Being a BDTS student changed my life and I’m super stoked to come back and be staff! Hope to see you there!

Staff

Matt - Saskatchewan - CAN

My name is Matt Isaac. I was raised on the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada but I now live in the city of Saskatoon. I love to be outside in the wilderness doing something that gets your heart pumping if possible. This passion was part of the reason why I decided to do my DTS here in Oxford last year. It was during my DTS that I discovered that I wanted to pursue God even more. Only through trials can you can you be strengthened and shaped. It’s my opinion that it is better to go and experience than to sit back and watch.

Staff

Kent - Illinois - USA

Hey, my name is Kent; I live in a suburb just outside Chicago. Not wanting to just plug myself into college because that’s what was expected of me, I started asking what God wanted me to do. I happily ended up doing my DTS, which was life changing. I did my backpackers school (BDTS) in 2009 in Oxford, New Zealand and couldn’t get enough of the God inspired people or the beautiful landscape!

Before DTS, God was always in my life, but more as a hobby then anything else. I went to Him when I wanted to, and didn’t when I wasn’t up to it. The leaders and students at Oxford helped me mature in my relationship with God leaps and bounds, and that is my prayer for all of you. No matter where you are in your relationship, I pray that it will only get stronger and more real in your life. I’m excited not only to see how the students will grow and mature in the Lord, but also the staff and the people we meet.

Since I’ve been home I have gone back to Hazmat cleanup (Hazardous waste), I wasn’t sure what to do next, but i knew it wasn’t staying there for too long. The more I prayed and asked for advice; the only decision I really felt at peace with was jumping back into YWAM. Im looking forward to being a leader and can’t wait to meet you and to get to know you.

I love being in Creation and getting my breath taken away turn after turn (welcome to New Zealand), playing sports, talking with friends and making people laugh. Climbing is something my staff got me into last year, and while I’m still pretty new to it, a health addiction is growing. But more than anything I love to worship the Lord with others and to grow and see others grow closer to Him.