Public School Assemblies
Yes, Dirk speaks at public school assemblies! If you're considering getting him into some of the public schools in your area you will probably need to download the Public School Address information sheet and give it to your principal.
When Dirk does public school assemblies, he doesn't mention Jesus, God, Christianity, the Bible etc. He keeps his message confined to his story and challenges students to do an inventory of their own lives to see what changes they might need to make to be the person they were created to be.
When Dirk communicates, whether it's on a high school or college campus, students listen. Because Dirk was born into a typical dysfunctional family, he knows what many of today's teenagers and young adults are facing with drugs, alcohol, promiscuous sex, low self esteem and not finding purpose in life. As his early high school days approached, Dirk found himself compromising in all areas of his life. He was sexually active by 9th grade, socially drinking at weekend parties and doing his best to hide a severe alcohol abuse problem by 10th grade. By 11th grade he was the poster child for Life Without Purpose. In 1988, Dirk was prepared to graduate from High School and move to New York City to be a street bum.
During the Public School Assembly, Dirk shares his personal story of tragedy and triumph and challenges students to take an inventory of their own lives. He also helps students evaluate whether or not the choices they are making today are helping them or hindering them from becoming the people they want to be tomorrow.
Dirk communicates in a way that is highly effective, relevant, humorous and gut-wrenchingly honest. Because he's intimately acquainted with so many struggles that teenagers are facing today, and because he's fought the battles himself and come out as a victor on the other side, he has what it takes to speak truth in a way that teenagers can appreciate and understand.
If your students are in need of hearing truth without being 'preached to', then Dirk's your guy. He can deliver the goods without compromising the content.
Components of Dirk's Public School Address:
- Dirk shares his personal story and his struggles caused by his parent's alcoholism and divorce. He creates dialogue with the students about peer pressure and self worth.
- He also talks about his own search for meaning and purpose in life as a middle school and high school student and the ultimate consequences from the poor and misguided choices he made during his teenage years.
- Since many teenagers are worried about fitting in and being cool and most often times compromise their character and reputation in the process, Dirk shares the importance of developing personal convictions and living a life based on those convictions.
- Since there's not enough time in a 30 or 40 minute assembly to share everything, and because of the restrictions placed on him on what he can and can't say, Dirk invites those students who are interested in hearing the rest of the story to an evening assembly somewhere off campus. (These assemblies are hosted by a local youth pastor).
Here's what people are saying...
"No one has a greater heart or compassion than Dirk to communicate truth to students. Hen is well equipped to challenge students of this generation."
Josh McDowell- Author and Youth Communicator
"Dirk is a gifted young man who has a wonderful ability to communicate to today's youth."
Barry St. Clair- Executive Director of Reach Out Youth Solutions
If you're planning on bringing Dirk in to do some public school assemblies, be sure to plan for an evening activity/outreach/rally hosted by a local church so Dirk can invite the students to it and so they can hear the rest of the story. As you know, in most cases Dirk will not be allowed to speak about God or Jesus in his address, so he'll share just enough information to leave your 'soon to be Christian' students hanging and then invite them to an event that Dirk will do where they can hear the rest of the story and more importantly the uncensored Truth about Jesus Christ.