Thomas says the best thing that the Initiative did for his ministry was that “it gave me a framework.” He says that prior to DVULI, he “had a load of experience but couldn’t contextualize it. And the Initiative helped me do that. It helped me put it into perspective, [and] gave me some key things to work on – balance, capacity building, interdependence, empowerment, leverage, accountability, the breakthrough skills. And I said, ‘Just use them’.”
Thomas also says that he has found it valuable to be able to “go back to the program… and just trust the process.

 

“I wouldn’t be here without them.” “I know that God was the architect of my experience.” “Man, this thing [DVULI training] saved my life. Because I’m not so sure I could have stepped into this ministry with the level of confidence, but God orchestrated it. He loved me enough to orchestrate this thing ‘for such a time as this’. So I feel like … God used the DeVos experience to help me become a pastor. And I tell you something – my district superintendent and I have talked and he’s asked me to help him understand urban ministry.”
Thomas also expresses a high level of appreciation for the DeVos staff, saying they were “great, supportive, and helpful.” “They really cared about us.”

“On all that this program gave to me, I believe that the best way to say thank you is to do what they’ve taught me to do. And there’s no reason it can’t be done because they have jump started something in Thomas Walker that I believe is going to change the communities of Foster Place and South Union in Houston, Texas.” “And I look forward to … manifesting this…for the glory of God.”