YWAM DTS
The Discipleship Training School, most often called “DTS”, is an intensive course of 5 to 6 months, offered by YWAM for over 30 years now, in many countries of the world. The DTS program aims at helping “to know God and make Him known” in depth, with the perspective of being transformed in character and relationships in the image of Jesus, as you develop your daily walk with God.
The DTS is made of two phases: Lecture and Outreach Lecture: 12 (or more) weeks of quality teaching, offered by speakers from various countries and backgrounds, on key Biblical topics. Followed by outreach: a 8 to 12-week outreach often in the “developing world”, to provide relief, education and a demonstration of the love of God. There are over 500 DTS courses in the world, some with a classic curriculum and others with a special focus, such as music, sports, children ministry, relief work, reconciliation, etc.
The DTS is a microcosm of this model in that we cover topics for an entire week, rather than having several short teachings on various subjects. For example, you will spend an entire week covering prayer, while another week will cover evangelism, and another will cover relationships. Each week of the 12 week lecture phase is its own subject. All students are required to be a part of a live-learn environment. In this setting we attend lectures, eat, have small groups, prepare for outreach and have work duties together. The DTS is an intensive course, typically beginning with the 12-week lecture phase followed by the 2 to 3 month practical cross-cultural outreach. The course is designed to encourage your personal character development while cultivating a living relationship with God.
The purpose of the DTS
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. To challenge Christian men and women to become active in service to their local church, their local community and in world missions and evangelism.
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, and how to apply his truth and wisdom in everyday life.
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 Awaken in our students a burden for the world's lost and hurting people, showing them how they can be an influence for redemptive change in whatever job or country or sphere of society God may call them to serve in.
5. 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.
DTS Course Curriculum
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)
Topics such as:
The Father Heart of God
Integrity
The Character of God
Relationships
Worship and Intercession
Being Relevant in a Post-Modern Culture
The Arts in Ministry
Missions- God's heart for the lost Evangelism
Destiny
Leadership
Passion
Biblical World View
The course is also designed to seek God’s vision and direction for your life and has a huge emphasis on personal application. http://ywam.org Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international Christian volunteer movement dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world, that began in 1960. From the beginning, their main focus was giving young people opportunities to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the whole world.
Today, YWAM has many different ministries, both long and short term for all age groups. Their purpose is simply to know God and to make Him known. YWAM is currently operating in more than 1000 locations in over 150 countries, with a staff of nearly 16,000.