Training Overview

The Training Phase has been described as a waterfall. This metaphor works on a number of levels. Essentially, it is a time of God pouring into you before you head out into the field. It is also a time of refreshment, drinking deeply of the spring of living water and letting burdens from the past be washed away. Training can also be overwhelming at times, due the the volume of information being dumped on you. The beauty of the program is that you then have the next 3-1/2 or 7 months to digest and process it all, and the Holy Spirit brings it back to mind when you need it.  

Our two-month training phase is based out of the MARK Centre in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Single TREKers stay in beautiful new dorm-type rooms of three to four people; couples and families stay in suites.

During training, we have our regular curriculum, as well as a few special events, like a week-end silent retreat where it is just you, God, your Bible, and your journal for forty-eight hours. This is a highlight for many people, and extremely difficult for others! There are also other team-building trips, like casual hikes and a bit of sight-seeing, since many TREKers are from out of town.

Two weeks into the training, TREK leadership spend an evening discerning the team groupings, team leaders, and assignment locations. We consider things such as gift mix, experience, and where participants want to grow.  It is our desire that we would always follow our Lord's leading as he directs us in deciding a TREK assignment location. There are a number of factors that feed into these decisions, but ultimately we are seeking locations where God is moving, where the missionary hosts are excellent disciplers and leaders and where TREK participants will grow and learn as they serve, disciple, and evangelize.

At the end of the two months, there is a commissioning evening where friends, family, and alumni are invited to celebrate what God's already been pouring into you, and to cover you in prayer as you are sent out to your respective assignments.