Structure of the BLS

1 Before the DTS Starts
The BLS will start one week before the DTS in order to have a minimum of one week training together for all the BLS.

2 During the Lecture Phase of the DTS
The normal daily programme of the DTS involves two hours of lectures followed by a session in small groups where the students learn to apply the teaching. BLS students will be responsible for these groups, either as a leader or assistant leader. Each day through discussion, ministry, and prayer; the BLS leader will help the DTS students understand and apply the truth that will change their lives. The context of learning in a small group is key. One of the major goals in the small group time is to help the DTS students take over as quickly as possible so they too can effectively run the small group. They will also be responsible to lead weekly evangelistic outreach in the local community. They may also meet regularly with the small group members individually.

A typical small group might follow an outline based on a hierarchy of questions like the following:


 * what did the speaker say?
 * what did it mean?
 * what does it mean to me? (What is God trying to pinpoint in my life?)
 * and how can we help one another. (And that would generally include praying for one another at the very least.

The BLS will meet together for five one and a half hour periods during the week. These will be on week days and normally in the afternoon. The BLS leader, the DTS school leader (if different to the BLS leader), the assistant DTS leaders and BLS students meet together. These times are for:


 * Teaching
 * Discussion
 * Role play, games,
 * Prayer for the DTS
 * Fellowship
 * Openness in sharing needs with one another

These afternoon meetings will have different formats, depending on the specific goals of the day. Over a long period of time we have found they tend to average a day each for the folllowing --- prayer and concern for one another; prayer for the DTS; general administrative and planning matters; and two days for teaching.

Weekly Outreaches
The group leaders will normally take their small groups on outreach weekly and to take the lead in discipling the students in evangelism. Again, it is an opportunity to sniff out the leadership potential of the DTS students and give them opportunity to develop their own leadership ability it a safe, monitored environment.

One-to-One Discipling of BLS Students
The BLS leader may meet with each BLS member once a week. It is likely that the BLS leader will need other people to help with this aspect of discipling of the BLS students. During these times they may wish to talk about the following areas:


 * small group
 * relationship with their co-leader
 * outreach preparation
 * future plans and how to achieve their goals
 * their own relationship with God
 * any personal difficulties, struggles etc
 * the course content indicates which topics should be dealt with on the one-to-one basis

However, because of the value of small group learning, the emphasis would be placed on dealing with issues in humility within the BLS group meeting. That would allow them to get the greater contribution of the group and help develop the community caring supporting inspiring encouraging aspect of the group for one another. I would always tend to ask the question; "Is that something you could share with the group and get their response and prayers?"

3 The Outreach
In addition to being a small group leader during the lecture phase of the DTS, the BLS member will also take leadership responsibility during the DTS outreach. The BLS member will lead a small group of DTS students for 12 weeks of outreach. They will do the planning, preparation and recruiting. The planning of this outreach will include a process whereby the young leader incorporates their outreach into the targets and strategy of their base or district.

The BLS is incomplete without leading an appropriate outreach phase.