DTS values relations with diverse individuals, cultures, and ideas, that result in acts of evangelism, dialogue, application, and service that are biblical, courageous, and compassionate.
Goals
I aim to continue growing as the demographics change within our communities and remain socially engaged to advocate for the socially disadvantaged.
Strategies
Volunteer for a faith organization or church body to serve the surrounding communities.
Resources
- Sign up as a volunteer for the “Our Call” organization.
- Sign up as a volunteer with a church body or another organization.
Measure
The organization Our Call tracks volunteer hours via its web volunteer portal.
The goal is to complete a minimum of 10 per semester.
Artifacts with Description
- Journal volunteer experience with “Our Call” and/or other volunteer opportunities (via live video, text, or blog post)
Our Calling
Dallas Life Foundation
Overall Reflection Statement
For my competence in cultural engagement, I am submitting selfies of myself during my volunteer training at “Our Calling.” Also, selfies of me serving in the kitchen at “Our Calling” and the warehouse at “Dallas Life Foundation.” Not pictured is when I served in the warehouse at “Our Calling.” I learned there are over 10,000 homeless people in Dallas. It reminded me of an article I wrote several years ago (see below). It was a reminder that it is time to stop living in a vacuum and be conscious of the community around us. I learned volunteering is a selfless act. When everyone was sleeping on Saturdays, it took everything within me to get up and move. I can genuinely say I never regretted the hours I invested. Both organizations’ goals are to improve the lives of others, and the gift of time makes someone else’s life better.
Learning Reflection Statement
As I developed in cultural engagement, I learned we need each other. We were not created to make life’s journey alone. Volunteering benefits everyone. It strengthens our community, and it changes people’s lives and hearts. At the same time, we debate who should do what in the church, and people are suffering. I learned it is essential to keep our eyes turned outward to maintain an outward approach to serving the displaced and less fortunate. Once a single parent, there were many times when I said if I did not have a great community of people supporting me, I could have been homeless. I remember the foreclosure notices, no lights, car repairs, and no money. Reflecting on the past year, I learned that cultural engagement requires teamwork; it is not an individual activity. It takes all of us.
Lifelong Development Statement
As a result of the experiences documented by these artifacts, I will continue to develop in cultural engagement by volunteering my time inside and outside my community. We live in a multi-cultural world, and I must be intentional in my service to others. Our formidable enemy can be complacency when we aren’t challenged. Inadvertently, I could cede territory to the enemy if I neglected to engage in the community. Therefore, I will continue to develop my theology to reflect Jesus in my community, influencing lives one person at a time. I will continue to seek and find points of commonality with all cultures.
Born to Encourage 