Internship Report - Whitney Drury
I heard about The Lost Glory School while attending Morning Star's Harvest Fest 2003. The School had a stand there. I was really open to anything artistic at that point because I knew I needed healing in my life and I really felt that God was telling me I would find the next step at the conference. So I applied. When the May school was postponed for revision I still felt that I should come to the UK (the ticket I had already purchased was also telling me to go) so I emailed Pat and Graham to see if I could come and do an internship of sorts. None of us really knew what it would look like, and normally this would have really unnerved me because I tend to be a control freak, but of course God was on the case and He had already begun to break those issues down. Beginning with my crazy spring break road trip from Minnesota to California and back. If being with people in a car for six days straight doesn't start to bring up issues I don't know what will. This breaking down of my control issues was also compounded by the fact I was the Technical director for a show, my Uncle had just died (meaning I made another mad dash car trip from Minn to FL), I was trying to complete my final exams, and move out of my apartment all in a span of two weeks. They happened to be the two weeks before I came. So by the time I got to England I was dead to caring about anything. God had me right where He wanted me.
The internship taught me a lot! I have a new understanding about the Father Heart of God and how much He really does love me. I think I never really fully realized that God is a good God. Christianity doesn't have to be heavy and weighted down - it's not supposed to be at all. Christ's burden is easy and His yoke is light. This, like Paul said, does not mean I go around doing whatever I want because God loves me but because of His immense love I am drawn to Him and what should follow from me is obedience. Obedience can come because I am more confident in the fact that I do hear God in a very personal way everyday. He speaks through all sorts of things, some which are so simple that I am surprised to see Him there and others that are so profound I am left thinking, "Why me Lord?" A lot of this revelation has come through sourcing/soaking times and dreams that I have had.
These times of soaking and dreams were only able to happen because early on in my internship God healed my imagination and the way my creative mind works. I had had horrible experiences as far as dreams were concerned and didn't trust God to use my creative imagination as a way of speaking to me. I really believe that this healing has led to greater creative ingenuity and communion with God. I have never had so many ideas about stories to write and collages to create. I am very excited about what God is going to be doing with the Arts!!! Get ready because a new wave is coming of artist who will be "vessels of God's glory and not touch it (the glory)". This is a phrase I heard at a Heidi Baker meeting I attended here in England. It really spoke to me about the character development that the new army of artists need to function. Another lesson I am learning is that I have authority in Christ. Fear no longer controls my life. Isn't it interesting that when you learn about love all of a sudden fear has to be dealt with?
Basically while being here I have begun to be reshaped with Christ's love as the foundation out of which I operate, and realizing that this is the way it should be for the rest of my life. To summarize, the experiences I've had with Christ and others at the Lost Glory School has led me to have greater freedom, love, and joy.
For the last four years I have been attending North Central University in efforts to obtain my BA in Theatre. As of this fall I will have finally succeeded. North Central is a Bible College affiliated with the Assemblies of God, the denomination that I grew up in. My father is an AG minister and so I have definite Bible belt roots. However, those roots needed an updated experience and a deeper experience. (I am saying this in reference to my roots not the movement of the AG). God also needed to heal me of wounds that I had accumulated through dealing with people in the Church and at North Central. God wants whole artists not hurt defensive ones.
He likes me a lot. He wants me, absolutely all of me. And it is OK to trust Him.
While at the church this summer I attended a weekly cell group, School of Worship meetings, youth intercession nights and vocal sessions taught by Lynieve. I also helped do reception work and generate interest in a drama team at church. Then, when I had my own time, I wrote three new songs, poetry, worked on my senior project (a theological basis for acting complete with curriculum) and made cards. The songs were probably the best to come out of that lot. One of which I hope to record someday. It sounds very Disney-esque, which fits my voice well.
I am going to finish University then move back home with my parents while I save money to move back to London where I hope to pursue an acting career. I am also going to be working on some screenplays that I feel the Lord has given me as well as probably speaking about the arts at local churches and just being an encouragement to them. I may be given the opportunity to share the teaching I have received during my internship on a corporate level. If not, I will definitely be sharing it with my friends and family. I am really looking forward to this time of closure on an era of my life. It will be the first time of rest in about five years. I am really becoming an advocate of seasons of life that are determined by God and not ourselves because God desires us to rest too!!!
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