“Well, obviously being a peer minister is awesome
and all OATS team does is work all weekend. We have found that in the past most applicants would choose Peer Minister if they had their choice. It’s easy to see why: OATS Team Members, or “OATieS” (O.A.T.S. stands for “Our Auxiliary Team Staff”) are mostly behind-the-scenes. Most TAPTsters only see them when they’re working, helping prepare meals, picking up garbage, etc. Meanwhile the peer ministers are on display all weekend long, helping facilitate their small groups. While both roles are crucial to the TAPT retreat, we want to make sure applicants know that being an OATie is so much MORE than just work! They are led through what amounts to be a separate yet connected retreat experience arguably more Spiritual and profound than TAPT itself. The mission of the OATS Team is inspired by Christ: “…whoever
wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
And that’s not all they do! When not serving hands-on, the OATieS are behind-the-scenes praying for the TAPTsters, much like Christ did when he often left the crowds to be alone with his Father.
So while you may still
feel called to serve TAPT as a Peer Minister—and that’s great!—we just ask that
you discern if you might be being called to OATS. Do you have a servant’s heart?
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While Peer Ministers give
talks, perform skits, and witness their faith before both the small and large
groups, OATieS do as Christ did: “washing the feet” of TAPTsters! So the “work”
of the weekend—work that must be done by someone!—is handled gracefully by a
team that isn’t working as much as truly SERVING!
“A
lot of people assume that being a peer minister is the better of the two
positions, but now as I look back on both experiences, I think that, for me,
OATS was better. You get so connected to the people of the group because you
are servants together. Yes, you are still serving Christ as a peer minister,
but being an OATie is so much more in-depth when it comes to serving like
Christ did. To get the chance to serve others is so amazing and very
rewarding. Most probably don’t realize that because during the retreat
OATieS are not seen that much. But that’s okay because being a servant isn’t
about being seen. My OATS experience was awesome. I still talk to most of
the others on my team to this day. If you want to know God better, let it be
His will in choosing peer minister or OATS.”