We're happy to announce the dates for our
next two DTS schools. They are:

JANUARY 11, 2010

SEPTEMBER, 2010

Many people ask: What is a Discipleship Training School?  Most importantly it is more than just a school.  It is an encounter - with God, with different cultures, different people, and possibly, an encounter with yourself and your future.  To know God and make Him known to others, to know His love, His purpose for your life and His call to the nations, this is what Discipleship Training School is all about.

YWAM's Discipleship Training School

Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) aim to prepare messengers of the gospel, helping students to know God in depth. The goal is to form Christian character and establish Biblical relationships while developing or deepening your daily walk with God. This intensive Biblical training course begins with an 11 or 12 week classroom phase typically followed by a 12 week outreach.

The DTS is designed to encourage students to develop their character, to cultivate a living relationship with God, and to identify their unique God-given gifts and callings. Cross-cultural exposure and global awareness are emphasized throughout the course, preparing students to reach current and future generations and to answer the call to "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).

Not everyone completing a DTS joins YWAM. Many participate in a DTS to concentrate on God, deepen their relationship with Him, and/ or decide if God is calling them to Christian ministry. For those who choose to go on into a career with YWAM, successful completion of the DTS qualifies them to apply for hundreds of staff opportunities all over the world. Graduating from DTS also qualifies students to participate in YWAM's other training programs, offered by YWAM's University of the Nations (UofN).

The goal 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.

 
Some of the topics covered in the DTS include:

I. God's Nature and Character

• Encountering God

II. God's Intention for Individuals, Peoples and Creation

• Seeing all of Life from God's Perspective

III. God's Redemption: Sin and The Cross

• Recognizing Jesus as Lord

IV. God's Family: His Children & His Church

• Becoming More Like Jesus

V. God's World: His Call and His Commission

• Doing the Works of Jesus

VI. YWAM: A Response to God

• Knowing God; Making Him Known
  
  

The Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a prerequisite for all other courses and is the gateway into the seven Colleges/Faculties and various Centers of the University of the Nations.  The DTS also serves to orient and prepare all new YWAM and UofN staff.

Meet the DTS staff

James and Valya Hopkins
Oksana Ruskevych
Natasha Sneetzer
Meike Gfrarer
Sasha Yukhymchuk
Alyona Yukhymchuk - part time
Hilary Lind - part time

How can you help…the DTS?