What is a YWAM DTS?
The YWAM Discipleship Training School is a 5-6 month course. People, aged 18 and older, from all over the world, representing different denominations and cultures, come together for in-depth teaching and training in Christian living and evangelism, with a view to be involved in missions either short or long term. The course is divided into two parts: the lecture phase and the outreach phase.
Your YWAM DTS is also the introductory course for obtaining a degree through YWAM's University of the Nations (www.uofn.edu) and is the prerequisite to serving as staff with Youth With a Mission.
The purpose of the DTS is:
- To GATHER and CHALLENGE people to worship, listen to and obey God, releasing them (in the context of the DTS) to serve through evangelism, intercession, acts of compassion and other expressions of God's heart for the world, possibly even pioneering new ministries.
- To INSPIRE and CULTIVATE growth in your relationship with God resulting in Christ like character, which is based on a solid Biblical foundation, the work of the Holy Spirit and the personal application of Biblical truth, especially concerning God's Character, the Cross and empowering Grace.
- To SHARPEN your ability to relate to, learn from and work with people, including those of different cultures, personalities and perspectives.
- To further EQUIP you to serve God's purposes either in or outside of YWAM Family of Ministries, strengthening a commitment to reach the lost, especially the unreached, to care for the poor, and to influence all areas of society.
- To IMPART the vision and foundational values of Youth With A Mission International and Seamill and to provide information regarding a variety of opportunities for service.
Lecture Phase
Following the YWAM DTS curriculum, each week of the lecture phase is dedicated to a specific DTS subject, taught by speakers from around the world. A typical lecture phase week also includes:
Personal Devotions: Time is given daily to encourage development of a personal walk with God.
Worship: Students and staff come together in times of group praise and thanksgiving.
Practical Work Ministry: Each student is given specific responsibilities in such areas as cleaning, cooking, gardening, etc.
Community Life: Opportunity is given for development of social relationships through leisure time activities.
Study and Research: A small cassette and book library is available.
Creative Ministry: Music, drama and other creative ministry workshops are held in preparation for outreaches.
Personal Discipling: Individual help is given via personal relationships of small group leaders with each student.
Intercessory Prayer: World vision is developed through involvement in prayer for world evangelisation.
Evangelism: Students are involved in evangelism/outreach opportunities in the local area.
Small Groups
Much of the effectiveness of the DTS depends on participation in small groups. The objectives of the small group are:
- To help you understand and apply the teaching to your life through group discussion.
- To help you learn to share yourself with others.
- To help you learn to share others’ needs with loving understanding and prayerful concern.
- To provide each leader with the opportunity to get to know you on an individual basis.
- To help you learn intercessory prayer.
- To teach the value of small group life, especially by encouraging group participation and use of spiritual gifts.
Outreach is exciting!!! At the end of lecture phase students are commissioned and sent out in a number of small outreach teams. One team always goes to Scotland and usually the rest go overseas. Outreach lasts 8-12 weeks. Follow this link for some outreach pics from a recent DTS.
These outreaches provide a practical follow-up to the teaching, establishing a balanced understanding of evangelism and an opportunity for you to experience the transforming power of God working in the lives of people to whom you minister. Opportunities for evangelism may include such areas as coffee bars; door-to-door visitation; street preaching; drama/music; church renewal work; literature distribution; child evangelism; school and college presentations.
All students are required to attend the outreach phase of the school unless prior exceptions have been arranged, in writing, with the DTS Leader. For each DTS the leadership prays and seeks God as to which of our target nations to send teams to.
Consequently the composition and number of outreach locations differ with each school, and usually is not confirmed until just prior to the school.
What do we learn?
God's Nature & Character:
Covering God’s nature (i.e. 3 in 1, personal, infinite, all powerful, all knowing, all present, creator, etc.), character (i.e. loving, just, holy, gracious, compassionate, etc.) and how He relates to His creation.
God's Perspective of Humankind & Creation:
Covers humankind’s purpose, the value of creation, and how this all affects us individually in who we are and what we do with our lives.
God's Redemption: The Fall & the Cross
Covers victory of Christ over Satan, dealing with sin, why Jesus came, died and rose again, commissioning of the disciples, and spiritual warfare.
God's Family: His Children and His Church
Covers salvation, sanctification, living in Christ's righteousness, grace-empowered living, and relationships with God, with ourselves, with family and friends and with the world.
God's World: His Call and His Commission
Covers our role as Christians: General calling [Great Commission] and specific calling (discerning life direction as a Christian). Also covers specifically, evangelism, frontier missions, training, mercy ministries, etc...
Youth With a Mission (YWAM): A Response to God
Covers the history of Youth With a Mission and YWAM's history, vision, purpose and values.
What about money?
The DTS is a self-financing programme; therefore, it is expected that you will have the course fees before your arrival at the school. God's provision of finances should be considered as a seal of His approval - an indication of His will for you to attend the DTS.
The Fees for the DTS have two parts:
- The fee for the lecture phase in Scotland is £1870. The
lecture phase fee includes the following non-refundable fees:
£20 registration fee and £150 room reservation fee. (For married
couples, two registration fees and two reservation fees are
required).
- The fee for the outreach phase depends on which team you join, as costs for travel, accommodation, food, visas and travel/medical insurance, vary according to location and time of year.
On your arrival at the DTS, you will be expected to be able to pay the full fees for the lecture phase of £1870, and a minimum deposit for your outreach costs of £700 so that we can proceed with arranging flight tickets.
This makes a total of £2570 to be paid before or on arrival at the DTS. We would appreciate receiving your DTS fees in full (or at least 50%) one month before the DTS starts. Broken down, the fees look like this:
DTS Lecture phase: £1870
DTS Outreach deposit: £700
Amount to be paid on arrival: £2570
Life after a YWAM DTS
Your DTS is only the beginning! Beyond the DTS, we believe there is much more. DTS is a transformational beginning that we pray furthers you in your God-given destiny. During the DTS you will learn more about specific ways you can continue to serve and grow.
Further training at the Seamill Centre includes 2-year internship tracks, a School of Intercessory Prayer, and summer outreach opportunities.
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