DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL
In a YWAM DTS you will learn more of who God is and travel the world on a journey to make His love known.
5-MONTHS OF PERSONAL GROWTH AND MISSIONS
YWAM’s Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a life-changing five-month program that builds a solid foundation of personal growth and relationship with Jesus. It starts with twelve weeks of biblical teaching, real-life application, and ongoing discipleship, all geared towards helping you know God better at our YWAM Louisville Campus. Then you’ll take your growing love for Jesus and share it with others on an eight-week overseas mission trip.
KNOW GOD BETTER
You’ll not only explore new places with people who feel like family—you’ll also experience the adventure of knowing Him more deeply and seeing Him work through you to reach others.
JOIN Like-Minded People
Encounter God’s love for you in deep, personal ways. Learn about your identity in Christ. Discover more of your purpose. Grow alongside others in our missionary community and create lifelong friendships. Gain confidence and real cross-cultural experience as you step out of your comfort zone and introduce others to the life-changing hope of who Jesus is.
DTS Explained:
DTS hAS two parts:
DTS TRAINING
In DTS’s training phase, your focus will be on knowing God, His Word, and His kingdom. There will be the opportunity to seek transformation, a renewed mind, and personal growth. You’ll also get to learn not only from teachers, but also from community living and practical training.
You will have the opportunity to receive teaching from speakers and missionaries. Our class times are interactive and challenging, focusing on real-life applications. Our goal is for the truth to sink deep into our hearts, changing us from the inside out.
Accountability is crucial to discipleship, so you’ll meet twice a week with four to seven people of your same gender. You’ll process what God’s doing, pray for one another, and spur each other on in living out what you’re learning. The YWAM staff who’s leading your small group will help you get all you can out of DTS, meeting with you one-on-one every week to listen, encourage, and pray for you.
The time we set aside to spend with Jesus is the most valuable part of our day. We often call it “quiet time” but the reality is, God speaks to us and we speak to Him! As we listen and respond to His Spirit and His Word, quiet time becomes the place where our growth is most personal.
We love Louisville! We think you’ll love it, too. Each week we scatter throughout the city, building friendships and sharing Jesus through things like after-school mentoring, homeless ministry, service projects, and more. Not only is this a great way to bless our city, it’s key to helping you discover the unique ways God has shaped you for life-long impact.
Regular times of gathering to worship Jesus are central to the rhythm of DTS. In addition, the whole YWAM Louisville family gathers on Wednesday mornings to worship and hear what God has to say to us. (First, we drink coffee and hang out, because that’s important, too.) Our Friday morning worship gatherings include a time of prayer for a specific nation, need, or injustice.
TOPICS WE WILL EXPLORE
KNOWING AND TRUSTING GOD'S CHARACTERHow to study and understand the BibleGOD-HONORING RELATIONSHIPSIDENTITY IN CHRISTPRAYER & INTERCESSION
INTIMACY WITH JESUSHOW TO SHARE THE GOSPELHOW TO HEARD GOD'S VOICEGODS HEART FOR THE NATIONS
TRAINING SCHEDULE
Learn, grow, and build friendships that will last a lifetime through class, homework, group outings, and downtime.
DTS OUTREACH
After twelve weeks of experiencing God’s heart in an entirely new way, you’ll be itching to get out and do something for Him. The eight-week mission trip portion of DTS continues the impact on your own life as God draws you out of your comfort zone and works through you to bring His love to others.
I didn’t understand the power of God’s love for me and that I get to choose to accept it and then return it to him.
I’ve learned so much about God’s fatherly character and how personal He is with me, and how much grace and patience He has with me.
God has been speaking incredible things to me through intercession.
I’ve been realizing how much God loves me.
WHAT PAST STUDENTS ARE SAYING
Pleasure is not a sin. Music, alone time, etc. are not sin, but we can be more conscious of how to glorify God through these things.
Quiet time has been revolutionary for me. I’ve learned so much about God’s character through spending time with Him.
I didn’t understand the extent of God’s grace before I came. One of the speakers we had opened my eyes to how you don’t have to earn your place at God’s table.
I’ve been learning how important it is to be truly humble and not have inferior pride.
UPCOMING DTS DATES
FALL DTS
September 20, 2026 - February 27, 2027
$3690
- Tuition covers all training, food, books, and transportation to and from official DTS functions. Housing is provided
- Outreach costs vary depending on the location, airfare, and time of year. This costs will be determined once locations have been selected.
WINTER DTS
January 3, 2027 – May 29, 2027
$3690
- Tuition covers all training, food, books, and transportation to and from official DTS functions. Housing is provided
- Outreach costs vary depending on the location, airfare, and time of year. This costs will be determined once locations have been selected.
OUR DTS ELECTIVES
What Can You Do After DTS?
How Do I Pay For My DTS?
Do not know how to raise the funds for tuition? Here are some of the ways you can raise the money to come to DTS.