The YWAM Discipleship Training School (DTS) offers a unique time in your life to focus on who God made you to be, and what He wants you to do. But YWAM offers a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing your DTS. How do you narrow down your choices?
Here are some questions to ask yourself, to pray over and discuss with your parents, pastor, and trusted counselors. These tips will help you find the YWAM location that is right for you!
1) What kind of cultural experience do you want? Do you want to stay in your own nation? Are you open to go totally cross-cultural?
The DTS normally consists of a three-month lecture phase in one location, and then a two or three-month outreach somewhere else. You can choose to do the DTS lecture phase close to home, or on the other side of the world. If you decide to apply for a DTS in a different culture, keep in mind that it can be stressful living in a totally foreign environment, with unfamiliar food, sleeping arrangements and cultural expectations. Some people will thrive on that. Others may find that the challenge of the DTS lecture teachings is enough and prefer to stay in a more familiar culture.
2) Do you prefer to join a large, YWAM community, or be part of a smaller effort?
Some DTSes have 100+ students. Others have less than 10. What would you prefer? Larger training centers may have bigger facilities and more people to get to know, but smaller locations might have more one-on-one time, with staff and students all living and learning together having a more family feel. You can be part of a center that is already doing lots of different things, or one that is pioneering new ministries and initiatives.
3) Are you looking for specialized training?
Some DTS programs incorporate a focus on a particular type of activity alongside the curriculum. This could be sports, the arts, a focus on a particular geographic region, or a particular kind of cause. Are you passionate about justice or preventing human trafficking? Snowboarding, surfing or football? Photography or dancing? There might be a DTS that specializes in your passion.
4) Talk to others!
Many YWAM locations have a Facebook page or Instagram. Social media is a great tool to utilize for exploring a particular YWAM location.
You can also call or email most locations and chat to staff there, they will be happy to answer your questions. Just remember time zones and working hours may be different! You can send an email or find a phone number by searching for a DTS and then clicking on the city name of the DTS you’re interested in.
For more information on a DTS at YWAM Nanaimo click here.
Blog Sourced from: www.ywam.org
