Youth With A Mission

The DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL (DTS) is a prerequisite for all other YWAM schools, and is a requirement for becoming staff anywhere in YWAM.

The following was approved by YWAM's Global Leadership Team (GLT) on August 25, 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The purpose of the DTS is:

1. 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.
2. To INSPIRE and CULTIVATE growth in one's 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.
3. To SHARPEN one's ability to relate to, learn from and work with people, including those of different cultures, personalities and perspectives.
4. To further EQUIP each one 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.
5. To IMPART the vision and foundational values of Youth With A Mission International as well as that of the host operating location and to provide information regarding a variety of opportunities for service.

The DTS aims to graduate Students

1. With a growing understanding of the breadth and depth of God’s character and ways
2. Who are becoming more like Jesus in the way they relate to God and people
3. Who increasingly cooperate with the empowering presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit
4. Who listen to and obey God as the result of God’s enabling Grace
5. Who search the Scripture in such a way that transforms beliefs, values and behaviors
6. With strengthened lifestyles of worship, intercession and spiritual warfare
7. With a greater ability to work with others, especially those different to themselves
8. Who can share the Gospel with the lost and have a life long commitment to do so
9. With a commitment to continue to be involved in some way with God’s work among the nations, including unreached people, the poor and needy and in spheres of society
10. Who understand the calling and values of YWAM and are aware of a variety of opportunities available to them throughout YWAM
11. With a clearer understanding of God’s purposes for their life and a sense of their life direction
12. Who either
a. Go on to serve God in either a context familiar or foreign to them.
b. Pursue further training (in or outside of YWAM) to equip them for further service.

Discipleship Training School Course Curriculum (major themes):

1. God's Nature and Character (Encountering God)
2. God's Intention for Individuals, Peoples and Creation (Seeing all of life from God's perspective)
3. God's Redemption: Sin and Cross (Recognizing Jesus as Lord)
4. God's Family: His children and His Church (Becoming more like Jesus)
5. God's World: His call and His Commission (Doing the works of Jesus)
6. YWAM: A response to God (Knowing God and Making Him Known)

Discipleship Training School (Lecture Phase)
Course Descriptions:

The Discipleship Training School (DTS) is an intensive Christian training course beginning with an 11 or 12 week lecture/teaching phase followed by a typically 12 week practical field assignment. The DTS is designed to encourage students in personal character development, cultivating a living relationship with God and identifying their unique individual gifts and callings in God. Cross-cultural exposure and global awareness are special emphases throughout the course, preparing the students to reach current and future generations and answer the call to "Go into all the world and disciple all nations" Matthew 28:19.

Discipleship Training School Field Assignment (Outreach)

As a second phase of the DTS, specially organized teams are sent out typically for twelve weeks (minimum eight) of evangelism in cross-cultural situations. The emphasis is on the application of principles taught in the DTS lecture phase coupled with teaching on evangelism concepts and practices equipping students to share their faith using a variety of means. Special assignments are given during this course.

Crossroads Discipleship Training School (Lecture Phase)

This twelve-week course (minimum eleven) is a special discipleship-training program for people who may be at a "crossroads" in life. Many are established Christians seeking spiritual renewal and/or new direction and vision for a second career in missions. Most Crossroads Students are over 35 years of age and many have children. The program is adapted to meet their particular needs. The curriculum is basically the same as in the DTS.
Crossroads Discipleship Training School Field Assignment (Outreach)
An eight to twelve-week evangelism outreach similar to DTS above. It emphasizes the application of principles learned in the lecture phases and the equipping of students to share their faith using a variety of means. Special assignments are given during this course as well.