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Discipleship Training School (DTS)
Overview
The DTS is the primary discipleship program of Youth With A Mission. The goal of the DTS is to "know God and make Him known." It is a 20 week program of which the Lecture Phase is the first 12 weeks. This time is devoted to classes on topics that are critical to the formation of a disciple of Christ. Each week a different topic is addressed by a visiting teacher or YWAM Antigua staff member. Students are given assignments to complete during the class and are required to keep a journal of their experiences. Our DTS is conducted in English and Spanish. Staff members meet with individual students each week to pray with them and help them with any specific needs they have. In addition small group meetings are scheduled to meet at least one time during the week.
Another part of the Lecture phase is learning to work together as a team through daily work assignments. Intercessory prayer sessions as well as times of worship, preparation and training for outreach ministries and group activities are also part of the intial DTS experience. It is a challenging time of learning and applying the revelation God gives to the students as they dedicate this time to spiritual development. We also schedule time each week for physical exercise at a fitness center where the students can take advantage of all the equipment and programs offered.
The final 8 weeks, the Outreach Phase, of the DTS are dedicated to cross-cultural ministry. This is the "hands on" time of the DTS in which the students are actively involved in ministering. A variety of ministry expressions will be used on the outreach and can include: dramas, children's ministry, puppets, music, dance, art, preaching, open air evangelism, personal testimonies and music videos. Evangelism is a major focus of the outreach but there are also times of intercession, worship, mercy ministry and discipleship training. The Outreach Phase is the application phase of the DTS that is challenging and at times very stretching but very rewarding.
Requirements to attend the DTS: Students must be high school graduates or be at least 18 years of age to attend the DTS. All students must have a passport that will be valid for the duration of the DTS. A complete application must be submitted to YWAM Antigua to be considered for participation in the DTS.
2011 DTS Student Comments about their DTS Experiences
DTS Lecture Phase Topics Include:
- The Nature and Character of God
- Intimacy with God
- Spiritual Warfare
- Supernatural Ministry
- Evangelism
- Missions/Cross Cultural Communication
- Intercession
- Bible Study Methods
- Restoring the Foundations
- World View
- The Father Heart of God
As part of our DTS we go to a local health club three times each week for physical exercise.
Typical Daily Schedule of the DTS Lecture Phase
Monday-Friday
600-645 a.m. Breakfast Preparation
645-715 a.m. Breakfast
715-745 a.m. Cleanup
745-815 a.m. Quiet time
830 a.m.-1230 p.m. Class
1230-100 p.m. Lunch and cleanup
115-315 p.m. Work duty
330-500 p.m. Ministry training and Exercise
530-600 p.m. Dinner and cleanup
700-1000 p.m. Study time, mission movies, group activities, English worship service, intercession
Saturday and Sunday
Weekends are usually kept free from many activities to allow the students to work on their assignments. We also schedule some group ministry activities and tourist trips to nearby attractions. One of our tourist trips will be to the Zipline in Panajachel. You can watch a video of this adventure
All students attend the church of their choice on Sunday.
DTS Outreach Phase
The second phase of the DTS is dedicated to, “Making Him Known” and involves 8 weeks of outreach. During this time students live out what they have learned in the classroom session as they minister to each other as well as to those who have not met Christ in a personal relationship. The disciple of Christ becomes both the message and the messenger of the gospel to the lost. A variety of ministry expressions are used to communicate the gospel in a variety of settings such as schools, prisons, hospitals, orphanages, open air meetings, coffee house ministry, and church settings. Students will have opportunities to present dramas, human videos, puppets, testimonies, preaching and teaching and conduct intercessory prayer sessions and prayer walks. Mercy ministries such as home construction projects, feeding programs, and medical assistance are also used to demonstrate the love of Christ to a needy world.
You can watch a compilation of photos from our DTS 2011 Outreach
Our next DTS will start on July 29, 2012 and will end on December 14, 2012. We are calling our DTS the "Compassion DTS" will the goal of conducting the outreach phase in a country with great physical and spiritual needs.
The costs of the DTS
$1800 (USD) for the lecture phase (12 weeks), this include room, board and tuition. This must be paid in advance of the starting date of the Lecture Phase.
$1200(USD) plus transportation and visa fees for the outreach phase (8 weeks). All fees for the outreach must be paid prior to departure.
Application: Download PDF Application
