YWAM ASHEVILLE
DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL
ready for real?
WHAT IS A YWAM DTS?
The Discipleship Training School (DTS) at YWAM Asheville is an opportunity for you to wholeheartedly pursue Jesus. A YWAM DTS is 5 months of life-changing training and missions. The DTS curriculum is designed to guide students through heart-level transformation while equipping them with practical tools to apply what they’ve learned for the rest of their lives.
You can discover your passions and contribution to God’s plans for the world through a YWAM DTS. A Discipleship Training School provides new perspectives on following Jesus for those who long for innovative ways of following him. Come be a part of this deeply transformational experience by doing a DTS at YWAM Asheville!
A YWAM Asheville DTS is a unique way for you to grow your faith, develop your ministry skills, and gain valuable cross-cultural experiences!
DTS AT A GLIMPSE
IN A YWAM DTS YOU CAN...
•Let Jesus transform every part of your life
•Get outside your comfort zone and really live
•Make intentional and intimate friendships
•Experience worship, prayer, and intercession
•Participate in local ministry and learn to serve the city you’re in
•Travel someplace new to tell and show people about Jesus
•Finally have time set aside to spend in the Bible
•Find a safe place to ask questions
•Get world-class training on things you’ve been craving to know more about
•Experience freedom and growth in ways you never knew possible
•Engage in 24/7 life-changing discipleship
•Have the chance to focus JUST on Jesus for 5 whole months!
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF DTS?
The purpose of the Discipleship Training School is to provide students with a space that is dedicated specifically to deepening their understanding of who God is, challenging and encouraging them to see whom He has created them to be, and equipping young people with tools to share Christ’s love with the world around them wherever they go.
Through a YWAM DTS, you will be immersed in an environment where you will have the opportunity to learn about God and grow in your relationship with Him. The Discipleship Training School at YWAM Asheville will not only teach you to recognize the voice of God speaks, but also empower you to follow Him where He leads!
Our YWAM DTS curriculum and DTS course schedule consist of 2 phases: Lecture and Outreach. As you progress through the lecture phase of YWAM training, you’ll focus on knowing God, His Word, and His world. Besides learning from teachers, you’ll also live in a community and receive practical training. The goal is to be transformed, renew your mind, and grow as a person. Then, during outreach, DTS school students serve God outside the classroom! This cross-cultural experience will allow you to discover more about yourself and the world around you while sharing the good news of Jesus!
WHAT DOES THE DTS AT YWAM ASHEVILLE TEACH?
The lecture phase engages the mind in deeply transformative ways for eleven to twelve weeks in a YWAM Asheville DTS. You will receive powerful teaching and in-depth discipleship from motivating speakers and missionaries, meant to provoke, challenge, and encourage. Issues like hearing the voice of God, identity, sin, and forgiveness, and much more are discussed. As you grow closer to God, the discipleship training school firmly roots you in His word and helps you recognize and experience His love. Classroom time is a chance to build friendships and dig deeper into the questions we all have. The DTS class curriculum includes but is not limited to:
•The Character and Nature of God (His ways, the Trinity, and how we relate with God)
•Bible Overview (understanding the story of Scripture and its relevance to everyday life)
•Relationships (healing, forgiveness, God’s design for family, friendships, and sexuality)
•Evangelism and God’s Heart for The Nations (thinking cross-culturally, apologetics, and worldview)
•The Lordship of Christ (allowing Jesus to be King over every area of life)
•Hearing God’s Voice (through Scripture, prayer, and more)
•The Father Heart of God (how God’s role as Father impacts our everyday life)
DTS IN UNDER 2 MINUTES
INSECURITY IS A LIAR.
You can do amazing and difficult things.
Join us for our next DTS, starting September 29th, 2024.
LECTURE PHASE
During the lecture phase of a YWAM Discipleship Training School, you will receive world-class missions training, participate in intentional discipleship, and cultivate a lifestyle of authentic worship. Each week a speaker will cover a topic crucial to the life of every Jesus follower. In addition to classroom learning, you’ll learn practical skills during local ministry times, community service responsibilities, worship, prayer, intercession, and living in a tight-knit community. You will have time to process what is being learned during small-group, as well as one-on-one discipleship conversations with a designated staff member who is committed to your personal DTS journey.
TELL ME MORE
Joining DTS at YWAM Asheville means being part of a community that teaches teamwork and dedication while keeping the Youth With A Mission community functioning. You'll develop new skills, and character, and become an integral part of the YWAM community around you. One-on-one and small group discipleship are crucial aspects of DTS that allow you to process what you're learning in a safe environment while witnessing others' transformation. The lecture phase is where you discover your purpose, explore your identity, and develop your relationship with God through teaching, study, community, and the breathtaking surroundings of Asheville, the perfect location for a YWAM DTS.
OUTREACH PHASE
Take it to the nations! During the Outreach Phase, you and your team will go to another nation to share the Gospel. You will learn about diverse cultures and participate in fulfilling God's purposes, applying all that you've learned in a cross-cultural, immersive, missional experience. Outreach is about sharing God's truth and love as an ambassador of the Gospel to different locations with your DTS teammates. The goal is to know God and make Him known on all the earth. Get ready for countless opportunities to demonstrate and act upon all that you've learned about God, yourself, and the world during this incredible adventure.
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This may include acts of physical mercy, such as providing medical supplies or fixing a leaking roof…it may be playing volleyball with at-risk children…it may be painting a portrait of someone while speaking truth and identity over them…it may be meeting locals for coffee each day to explain the Gospel.
There is no limit to the ways God meets people with His love, and it is our passion to create with God to innovatively reach the world with the light of the Good News.
Every outreach is different, and we rely on God to lead us in unique expressions to creatively share the love of Jesus with those we encounter.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER OUTREACH?
After outreach, you will return to YWAM Asheville for a few days of much-needed debriefing time and re-entry training. You’ll get to reflect on everything the Lord has done, together with your classmates and close DTS with a graduation celebration! (You are welcome to invite family and friends to your graduation.)
After graduation, you are free to pursue whatever Jesus is calling you to do next! Many of our students begin preparing for our secondary school, the Foundational Leadership Course, and pursue a staffing position with YWAM Asheville.
WHAT HEATHER LEARNED DURING LECTURE PHASE→
READY TO DO A YWAM DTS?
Fill out the initial portion of your YWAM DTS application in just minutes! Once that’s submitted, we will review it and contact you within 2 business days.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do my DTS at YWAM Asheville. Every day they made an effort to be like family to us. They constantly supported and encouraged us and gave it their all to make sure our time there was special.
In DTS I learned a lot about God's character and nature, and how that applies to me. I was able to apply that and communicate it on outreach to make God known to others. DTS was very helpful in establishing a good foundation for practicing a Christian life practically.
DTS provided an opportunity for me to further explore my faith, and challenge my beliefs in a safe space. It reshaped my foundation and taught me what true intimacy with Jesus looks like. I learned to be dependent on hearing His voice, and be willing to sacrifice everything to know Jesus as Lord in every area of my life.
WHY CHOOSE TO DO DTS AT YWAM ASHEVILLE?
In a DTS at YWAM Asheville, you will get to know God, learn to hear and recognize God’s voice, and begin to uncover His purposes for your life. You’re probably searching for the best YWAM DTS locations, or maybe the cheapest YWAM DTS. There are tons of YWAM DTS locations in the USA alone, and hundreds around the world. We believe that the Lord will lead you to the best YWAM location for you through prayer. We urge you to choose your YWAM DTS location based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit alone. That being said, here are just a few reasons we are proud of our YWAM base and the DTS we run here!
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Our base size allows us to be a close-knit community of friends. Because our YWAM DTS sizes are more intimate, we have a greater staff-to-student ratio, meaning more available and accessible leadership/discipleship. You will know all of your classmates and staff by name, and will be able to create deep friendships with each other. You will have ample access to base leadership, lecture speakers, elective leaders, school staff, and your one-on-one.
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Here at YWAM Asheville, we believe that every Christian is called into a life-long apprenticeship of Jesus. This involves learning from those who have gone before us, those who are walking alongside us, and those who are following after us. We believe that love-filled, intentional, and committed discipleship allows Believers to grow into the person God has made them to be. During a YWAM DTS at YWAM Asheville, you will be called higher, loved deeply, and purposefully guided in the ways of Jesus.
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A DTS elective is a chance for DTS students to gain skills in particular areas that, enabling them to extend God’s Kingdom in creative ways. For a few hours each week, DTS students break up into smaller groups and spend time in one of three focuses: Anti-Trafficking, Fitness, or Art & Design.
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Asheville, North Carolina is one of the most beautiful, energetic, and adventurous cities in the region. It’s the perfect blend of upbeat urban & mountain town. The arts, innovation, and tourism create a vibrant downtown, and YWAM Asheville’s DTS classroom and office is located right in the middle of it.
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The Great Smokies, The Blue Ridge, The Appalachian Trail…whether you’re a hiking enthusiast or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, you’ll love it here. Asheville is one of the most stunning landscapes in America’s Southeast.
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When you do a DTS at YWAM Asheville, ministry isn’t just something you learn about intellectually, you’ll be doing it (sometimes multiple times a week) on the colorful streets of Asheville. You’ll be given training, insight, and tons of opportunities to extend the love of Jesus to those around you during the lecture phase.
DATES
September 29th, 2024 - March 1st, 2025
TUITION
Lecture Phase: 8 payments of $487
Outreach Phase: 8 Payments of $487
*Payments are not due all at once. You can pay as you go and come as you are! These payments cover your entire YWAM DTS.
Looking for the cheapest YWAM DTS? We get it. It can be tempting to want to go to the cheapest YWAM DTS you can find. But we deeply urge you to decide which DTS to attend through prayer and intentionally seeking God’s will. The best YWAM DTS location for you is the one God calls you to.
OUTREACH LOCATIONS
Outreach locations vary for every DTS! Students in the application process will be made aware of locations being considered for their school before arrival. If you want more info about the different locations we take our teams, fill out the message form at the bottom of the page.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The only YWAM DTS requirement prior to applying is a High School diploma or equivalent. Once you’ve completed the initial portion of your YWAM DTS application, we will send you an email with a few other forms we’ll need to complete your acceptance. This includes 3 references and a medical evaluation. NO APPLICATION FEE is required! Once we’ve gotten all that from you, it’ll just take us 1-2 days to pray over and process your application. Simple! Click HERE to start!
ELECTIVES
Electives are kind of like a DTS extra-curricular. Each week students will break up into their chosen elective groups and have structured times focusing on those topics. The goal of electives is to engage with the Holy Spirit, worship in new ways, cultivate and strengthen skills, and generate avenues for creative evangelism.
2024 DTS Electives:
TBA
WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT
- Weekly one-on-ones & discipleship
- Practical tools that empower you to process what you’re learning
- Ministry & evangelism
- Engage with Scripture in new ways
- Enter into an existing culture of respect, gratitude, joy, and healthy boundaries
- Learn and practice life-giving communication
- Join in tending to community property and tasks
- Enjoy community meals that lay a foundation for celebration and connection
- Homework & reading assignments
- Experience community worship & intercession
- Rhythms of rest and personal time with God
- Be challenged and stretched almost every day
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
- To be whole-heartedly present
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A desire to grow, take risks, & learn
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Humility towards God & others
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Readiness to practice vulnerability
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To embrace the gift of friendship
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Punctuality & respect
WHAT TO DO AFTER DTS
After you have graduated from a YWAM DTS, you are welcome to continue your journey with Youth With A Mission by taking secondary training courses and/or joining staff. YWAM Asheville offers a secondary course, the School of Ministry Development (SOMD), for YWAM DTS graduates that will exponentially increase your capacity for Christlike and Spirit-led leadership. In this course, YWAM DTS graduates are empowered with a deeper look at Biblical principles, practical methods, and real-life experience. Upon completing the Discipleship Training School and the SOMD, you will feel equipped to take on a leadership role in whatever mission field the Lord takes you!
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN A DAY OF DTS?
An average day during the YWAM DTS Lecture phase begins with a time of individual morning devotionals. After breakfast, DTS students will begin their classroom time with worship or prayer, followed by lecture, which is typically 3 hours each day. There are snack and coffee breaks throughout lectures. After lecture, students may join in a time of local ministry, study time, or community responsibilities. Here at YWAM Asheville, we also offer electives, that allows students to experience Jesus in unique ways throughout the week. After all of that, it’s home for dinner, maybe some homework, and fun with friends. During Outreach Phase, the schedule changes quite a bit. But there will still be regular times of worship, prayer, ministry, and fun!
FUNDRAISING TIPS
There are so many ways to creatively cover your YWAM DTS cost! Here are 7 ideas:
NEED THE DTS PACKING LIST?
MAKE AN INQUIRY ABOUT DTS
Send us a message here regarding anything you might want to know about DTS at YWAM Asheville and someone from our team will be in touch with you soon!
FAQ
WHAT IS A DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL?
The Discipleship Training School (YWAM DTS) allows you to discover your passions and your part in God’s purposes for the world in 5 months. It is for those who long to follow Jesus in new ways with a different perspective. The DTS class curriculum is designed to get young missionaries closer to the heart of God, equipped with a foundational Biblical worldview, and ready to serve the world around them.
WHAT ARE THE YWAM DTS REQUIREMENTS?
The only YWAM DTS requirement is that you are between the ages of 17 and 27, and that you have high school diploma or equivalent at the time of DTS.
WHY IS THE DTS IMPORTANT?
We believe training young people to do missions is what the Lord has called us to do as an organization. The Discipleship Training Course gives young missionaries the tools they need to make the Good News of Jesus tangible and relevant in any place or capacity the Lord calls them.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF DISCIPLESHIP?
Discipleship is a concept that simply means Christians building up, edifying, and sharpening other Christians. Spiritual formation and discipleship allow us to grow in our understanding of truth and expands our ability to love those around us well. Discipleship is vital to the life of any believer to grow in spiritual maturity, sanctification, reconciliation, healing, and wholeness.
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT FOR DTS?
Age requirements for the DTS depend on the location. Regardless of which base you attend, a High School diploma or equivalent is required. Most DTS programs are designed for students ages 17-30, but many locations offer DTS programs for older students, most often called a “Crossroads DTS”. Here at YWAM Asheville, we require that DTS students be between the ages of 17 and 27.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DO A YWAM DTS?
Trying to find the cheapest DTS? We get it. The cost of a YWAM DTS is different at every YWAM location. Keep in mind that the cheapest DTS is not necessarily where the Lord is calling you. It can be tempting to choose a DTS location based on cost, but we strongly urge you to choose your DTS location in prayer and seeking the voice of God. You can see the cost of DTS at YWAM Asheville under the “TUITION” tab above.
CAN I GET THE DTS CURRICULUM?
A YWAM Discipleship Training School class curriculum includes classroom and academic work, prayer and worship, team building, community responsibilities that help keep the YWAM base running smoothly, local outreach and ministry, small groups, one-on-one’s, and of course, outreach. The Lecture Phase is a minimum of 11 weeks, and Outreach Phase is a minimum of 8 weeks. Check out this page for a more in-depth understanding. To get a very detailed look at a YWAM DTS curriculum, look through pages 233-255 of the University of the Nations Reference Guide.
HOW CAN I APPLY FOR YWAM TRAINING?
If you are ready to begin your journey with YWAM, you will need to begin with a Discipleship Training School (DTS). Once you have graduated from a YWAM DTS, you are free to pursue further YWAM training. Secondary schools, short-term internships, and staffing opportunities are available to anyone who has completed a DTS. You can apply for a DTS here.
READY TO DO A YWAM DTS?
Fill out the initial portion of your YWAM DTS application in just minutes! Once that’s submitted, we will review it and contact you within 2 business days.
MAKE AN INQUIRY ABOUT DTS
Send us a message here regarding anything you might want to know about DTS at YWAM Asheville and someone from our team will be in touch with you soon!