At YWAM Salem, we want to help you discover your passions and gifts and provide channels for you to use those to serve God in the world.
Prerequisite: Completion of a YWAM DTS
Click below to make a school related payment for a DTS or one of our secondary schools. If you are trying to give to one of our students, this is where you go!
Make a Payment
Click below to make a one time donation or set up monthly donations to support one of our YWAM Salem staff member's ministries.
Make a DonationClick below to make a payment for a hospitality room, staff fees, Mission Adventures, or any other misc. payment.
Make a PaymentAs a regular donor, we recommend creating an account. This will keep your year-to-date totals correct, your information will be saved so you will not have to enter it each time you want to make a donation, and you will be able to manage any recurring giving you set up. Hello
Prerequisite: Completion of a YWAM DTS
YWAM's foundational missionary training course. First, you’ll spend 3 months getting to know God alongside a vibrant Christian community and the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Then you’ll embark on a life-changing 2.5 month overseas missions trip, focused on making God known.
→ A new DTS starts every January, June, and September!
What if there is a life of joy and potential you have yet to fully discover? What if God is actually inviting you to come and see more of him and his world? Join an adventure alongside a community to reach the unreached with the gospel message. At YWAM Salem Oregon, We believe that as you step outside of your comfort zone to serve and share your faith with others, that you can discover more about God, your gifts, and your calling. DTS is the program where you do this, all in only half a year! It makes for the perfect gap year opportunity!
Video courtesy of YWAM North Cascades
1) Lecture Phase at the YWAM campus in Salem, Oregon 2) Outreach Phase in a foreign country
What does DTS prepare you for? We believe all are called to live with a missional mindset and serve God wherever you are, whether that is in a foreign country or your workplace at home. Doing a DTS will equip you with passion and practical skills to live and serve in whichever area of society God has called you to.
Our students come from diverse backgrounds and stages of life, but typically range from 18-30 years old. Each DTS is full of vibrant Christian community that leads to lifelong friendship. Don't just take it from us, hear about the DTS experience from a couple of real students at YWAM Salem.
We run 3 DTS's per year. Here are all the start dates you can choose from:
*Note: These dates include arrival day through the date of graduation.
In total the DTS lasts almost 6 months. The lecture phases is 12 weeks in Oregon, and the outreach phases will be 10 weeks in another country. The program ends with a 1 week debrief back at the YWAM Salem campus.
DTS costs $5995 plus plane tickets* overseas, which we estimate to be about $2000 (so thats about $8000 for the WHOLE 6 months)
This pricing includes all lodging, meals, and school materials for the entire 6-month program!
To do a DTS you must be at least 17 years old and have a high school education. Some of our students are freshly graduated from high school or college. Some have been in the workplace for years. The diversity in student backgrounds makes the program wonderful!
A $500 *refundable deposit is due at least a month before the school start date. Starting Week 1, at least $600 dollars will be due every Monday until fees are paid off.
*See Tuition and Refund Policy
You will be staying in dorm style housing on our lovely rural campus of 35 acres. We’re only 15 minutes from downtown Salem and 1 hour from Portland, the coast, and the Cascade mountain range.
Missions is a big decision! Chat with one of our Student Mobilization Specialists via phone or text message to see if this program is a good fit for you! They have all completed a DTS, so they will be able to answer any questions you may have. We want to hear your story! But we get it, some of you may not want to chat, so guess what, you can skip straight to step 2, apply online!
You Can start this step any time, and all applications are commitment-free. If you change your mind or God calls you in a different direction, there are no worries and no consequences. To start our free application, we’ll collect some personal information from you (i.e. where you're from, your birthday, education/work background, etc.) We'll also ask some get to know you questions and hear more from you about your heart behind applying. It only takes 10-15 minutes to apply!
We require a mentor or leader in your life submit one confidential character reference on their behalf. This is someone ideally older than you that you could see yourself grabbing coffee with and asking for advice. You will specify the name and email of this person in your application form and we will automatically send them the form through email! Your part in this step is to let this person know what's up!
Once you have have submitted your online application and we have received your character reference, your DTS leader will review your application within 24-48 hours. We’ll connect with you as soon as we know the status of your application.
Upon acceptance, you'll be given access to our "Get ready for your YWAM DTS" webpage. This digital check list will guide you through all the logistics you need for a successful arrival. Our support and resources aim to make the task of fundraising for DTS less daunting.
Popular Questions and Answers. If you have another question, feel free to contact our admissions team directly!
As soon as you are accepted to the school you should begin fundraising for your tuition. Here are instructions on how to make payments or to point sponsors to give you funds:
Please make check payable to Youth With a Mission or YWAM. Please put the name of the student in the memo of the check.
Send checks to:
Youth With a Mission Salem
Attn: Accounting
7085 Battle Creek Rd. SE
Salem, OR 97317
*Unfortunately due to IRS guidelines, funds given towards a student payment are not tax deductible. Youth With a Mission Salem is registered with the IRS as a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation and all donations towards staff members are tax deductible. However, when giving towards a student in one of our University of the Nations registered courses (such as the Discipleship Training School), your payment will not be eligible for a tax deduction. This is because when you give toward one of our students training, legally it is viewed as a payment towards tuition. Per IRS guidelines and according to Oregon state law, tax deductions are not available for tuition payments.
Yes! We have many married couples do DTS with us. Married couples must take DTS together if neither have done a DTS before.
However, we recommend couples with children attend programs designed just for that. A Crossroads DTS or All Generations DTS at YWAM Chico or YWAM Kona are great options for families looking to do missions.
transportation in country
Not included: Immunizations, personal items, personal day-off recreation
Confirm your school start date. Arrival Day is the day before the scheduled school start date. We typically start bright and early on the first day of the school, so it is best to show up earlier the day before to unpack and get settled. Here are your arrival options:
Plane
If you are arriving by plane, you must fly into PDX (Portland International Airport) our staff will pick you up at baggage claim. We will contact you with the exact pick-up times of the YWAM Salem Shuttle upon your acceptance.
Train or Bus
If you are arriving by train or bus, you must come into the Salem, Oregon Terminal. Our staff will be there to pick you up. Please email us with the itinerary.
Car
If you are driving in, email or call the Student Communications office with your specific arrival information so we can know when to expect you.
Our admissions team will send you an arrival detail form upon acceptance. Make sure to fill it out ASAP so we can plan for your arrival.
The course schedule does not allow time for outside work. In addition to this, we want you to get the most out of your course and advise against anything that would distract you from being fully involved.
DTS is one program with two crucial parts. So yes, both lecture and outreach are required if you're signing up for DTS.
YWAM Salem is a non-profit organization and as such all of our staff and students rely upon the financial support of others in order to be here. Due to this, we are unable to offer a large scholarship program. We do however have a small scholarship fund to offset the cost of our courses for international applicants. Read out to our Student Communications team to inquire about a scholarship application form. Please note that completing the application does not guarantee you any financial assistance.
Yes! Completed applications should be received 4 months prior to the start of the school (Africans at least 6 months.) Each family member, including children, that are coming to the school must have their own passport that is valid up to six months after the end date of the school. We will begin your visa process after you have been accepted.
You will be living in dorm style housing on our beautiful 35 acre rural campus. For secondary schools, we usually fit 3-4 students per room. There's plenty of room for you to study, hang out, and go on walks. Check out our campus tour for a look around.
Get to Know Us
Explore
Join the movement
YWAM Salem, Oregon → We want to help you discover your passions and gifts and provide channels for you to use those to serve God in the world and missions.
Address: 7085 Battle Creek Rd SE Salem, OR 97317 — Phone Number: 1-971-719-1134