How To Choose A YWAM DTS
October 19, 2020 - January 1, 2030
How To Choose A YWAM DTS
How To Choose A YWAM DTS!
There are a huge number of different locations around the world to do a YWAM DTS. Maybe choosing the best YWAM DTS location for you feels overwhelming or knowing which YWAM base is best is confusing.
If you are unsure about what’s next for you, what you’re called to, or who you’re called to, then we’re here to help!
So how are you supposed to know what YWAM DTS to choose?
To choose a YWAM DTS you need to work out what you are looking for in a DTS, what is important to you, and how God is leading you.
There are hundreds of different YWAM Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) all over the world.
Some are a classic theme, and some have different passion-based themes; some are close to home, while others are on the opposite side of the globe; some are incredibly expensive, and some are very reasonably priced.
Here are 5 helpful suggestions of things to consider that will help you discern where God may be calling you to do your YWAM DTS!
Figure Out What You’re Passionate About
You may have noticed (maybe you’ve searched on ywam.org) that different DTSs around the world sometimes have different passion-based focuses or themes.
At Marine Reach, we call them streams. God has placed unique gifts and passions within you, and it’s on purpose! It’s part of who you are. We have found that it’s helpful to consider this when choosing a DTS, as you’ll likely find other people on a similar journey to you, and possibly be using these tools on your outreach!
You can find which theme, school, or stream best fits you personally by asking yourself: For the next few months, what do I want to focus on? What are my specific interests and passions? Is there something God has gifted me with that He wants to use or develop?
Decide When You Want to Do a DTS
Different YWAM Bases operate on different calendars, but generally, they will run their programs on a quarterly basis (that is, 4 school intakes per year).
Sometimes it’s helpful to consider other commitments or dreams when you’re considering when you would like to do your DTS. For example, you may plan to attend university in January, so you’d be looking for a DTS that finishes with enough time to prepare for your time at university. At Marine Reach, we offer our programs starting every January, April, July, and October.
Check out our blog post about the best season to do a DTS here.
Think About Where You Are Called
Whether you want to stay close to home or go across the world, there are often many opportunities for both. Depending on which YWAM Base and DTS you choose, different bases and schools have locations and/or countries they routinely focus on for their outreaches. What language do you want to speak? Where do you want to go? Is there a region or people group you feel called to?
At Marine Reach, we love to serve the people of Vanuatu and regularly send DTS outreaches to this beautiful Pacific Island. You can find out more about our work in Vanuatu here.
Find Out the History of the Base You’re Looking At
It’s always super helpful to get first-hand perspectives on the base and school you’re considering, so what better way than testimonies?!
Whether it’s videos or stories, finding out what other people are saying about the base you’re interested in attending can contribute to your final decision in choosing a DTS. (We have a whole page of video testimonies from people who have been part of a Marine Reach DTS here if you’re interested.)
Also, consider how long that YWAM Base has been active, and whether the community seems to be thriving (or otherwise). Check out the social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) to get a sense of the community life, and whether you could see yourself being a part of it!
Commit It to God in Prayer
After all the research you’ve done, it’s time to submit it all to God in prayer and trust that He will guide you. God is a communicator!
By praying, we involve God in our plans and invite Him to lead us.
Has God given you peace about any of your options? Has He spoken to you in His “still, small voice”? Has He confirmed it through a scripture? As we grow in learning how to hear God’s voice, we always want to seek His will, because He knows what’s best!
Here at Marine Reach, we have 10 different DTS streams to choose from:
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Wild Heart – People who are ready for the adventure; willing to do anything and go anywhere for Jesus.
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Medical Compassion – People with a heart of compassion wanting to know more about medical missions.
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Leadership and Pioneering – People willing to use ideas and dreams to explore the unknown.
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Worship – People passionately reflecting Jesus in the way they worship.
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Prayer and Passion – People seeking intimacy in their relationship with God through prayer.
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Cover to Cover – People with a hunger for God’s Word and want a deeper understanding of the Bible.
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Justice Movement – People who will be a voice for the voiceless, see the forgotten, justice for the unjust.
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Pilgrimage – People wanting to walk with Jesus while stretching themselves both physically and spiritually.
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Go Pacific – People ready to dive deep into culture and God’s love for others.
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Kingdom Come – People with epic faith expecting God to move.
Remember this experience is unique to every individual, and will look different for us all ! God will meet you just where you are!!
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“In the Kingdom Come stream, we really focused on what the kingdom of God is and how to live that out on earth. The most impactful aspect of this was walking out a miraculous lifestyle and being in an intimate relationship with God, where you can expect miracles to happen.”
Peter Seip, 25, Virginia, USA
“Before DBS the Bible was a bit overwhelming to me and I wasn’t sure if I was capable of receiving understanding for myself; especially when it comes to the hard questions or more complex passages. After DBS, that questioning was stripped away and my relationship with my Heavenly Father has gone deeper than ever before.
DBS taught me how to see the Father heart of God. I learned to see God’s justice, faithfulness, and consistency from Genesis to Revelation. My life and relationship with Jesus will never be the same. When I read God’s Word it speaks loudly to me in full color. I cannot get enough of my Father’s words!! DBS equipped me to search out the scriptures for myself and empower me to share what I’ve learned with those around me. DBS was the sweetest time of my entire life.”
Amy Hulehan, 26, USA
“Prayer and Passion completely changed my outlook on the true power that prayer has. It had always been something that I knew worked and I did, but it was boring. Being a part of this stream gave me new understanding of how prayer is worship and fuels the power of heaven connecting with earth. It will move you to a place of praying out of your relationship with the Lord rather than giving him a list of things you want. You will gain a newfound intimacy with God as your prayer life is propelled.”
Tilly Logan, 21, Australia
“Coming into DTS I already loved and had a heart for worship but over the course of the worship stream I discovered more and more who God was and what HE was and the impact worship has. Finishing DTS my love for God and my heart for worship is bigger than ever before and I found new and deeper intimacy with HIM.”
Andrea Wenger, 24, Switzerland
“My life used to be run by my fears, my struggles, and my failures. I had no way of fighting them because I didn’t know the truth. Over my time with YWAM and beyond, I have encountered so much freedom as God has shown me the truth of who He is in His Word. Dive into the Bible on Cover to Cover and watch God transform you as He begins to show you who He really is and who you were really made to be.”
David Souter, 22, England
“The Medical Compassion DTS magnified my love for those in need. It stressed the importance of the power of prayer and how I can go to God in all the medical and daily situations in my life and the lives of those I minister to.”
Noah Armbruster, 20, Michigan, USA
“SPHC is such an incredible gateway to seeing the world with God’s eyes. To see how His heart breaks at the brokenness of this world, and to see how the lack of education about little things such as germs and washing hands causes so much illness and suffering in the world, to then be equipped and sent to BRING THAT CHANGE! It is such a life changing/ perspective shifting program that has really changed my life!”
Antonio Wolfe, 20, Alberta, Canada
“The Medical Compassion DTS gave me a glimpse into the medical side or missions. The compassion part was what caught me. I saw that when we see with Jesus’ eyes of genuine compassion, we must get our hands dirty.”
Brady Picking, 21, Pennsylvania, USA
“For the past two years God has called me to go deeper in the word and not just let it be a surface level experience with Him. However I didn’t really have the tools, knowledge or understanding for how to go about this. God spoke to me months before I knew I would be able to do the DBS, during lockdown, that those who get into the word would see the face of Jesus. I am realizing that as I get into the word for hours a day with really helpful teachings to go alongside the readings, that is exactly what is happening. I am gaining such a deeper understanding of who God is and who I am, in relation to Him. There have been weeks where doing the homework assignments just completely wrecked me by seeing the love of God and in the moments of reflecting how God has moved so radically in my life. Even when I wasn’t walking closely with Him, He has always been drawing me back into a close relationship with Him by His love and mercy and grace.”
Anika Hochstedler, 26, New York
“The Pilgrimage DTS allowed me to take the time I needed to get to know God more and grow closer to Him while spending lots of time in His beautiful creation. God also used the hikes to challenge and encourage me to rely on Him more.”
Colin Berkley, 24. B.C. Canada
