When you think about mission work, Oregon is probably one of the last places that comes to mind. In addition to beautiful landscapes, great hikes and even better coffee, Oregon is home to YWAM Salem, one of Youth With a Mission’s many campuses all over the world. The Pacific Northwest might just be the perfect place to commit 6 months to God, growing in your relationship with him and receiving ministry training through our Discipleship Training School (DTS). What is God calling you into this season? What if YWAM Salem could be part of that? DTS is a powerful tool that engages students with three months of training from missionaries, pastors, and scholars from all around the world combined with the opportunity to put all of that training into action with a three-month outreach in another country. Are you ready?
Real Discipleship in a Community
Most of my life, I wanted to take my faith and understanding of God to the next level, but I didn’t know how to do that. Being a part of a strong community plays a huge role in that. DTS is not only the opportunity to get three months of incredible lecture topics and training but also the opportunity to learn and grow in a community full of missionaries from different countries, with different experiences and different ages. There is such a wealth of experience and perspectives represented at the YWAM Salem campus. Chances are you could meet someone with a similar vision or who has worked in a country that you are passionate about. Do you have a desire to share God’s love to unreached people groups? Awesome, so do a few of our staff members! Want to dig deeper into the word of God? We have programs for that! Want to serve God alongside passionate people? Great, there’s 60 committed, full-time staff here! We are a community committed to helping you discover God’s calling on your life and give you the experience to walk that calling out in your life.
Figure Out Where God is Leading You
What I love about a YWAM DTS is that it's a stepping stone towards where God is directing your life. Whether you want to prepare for long-term missions work, church ministry, or a career, DTS can give you practical skills and experience that serve as a foundation for wherever God takes you in your life. It’s not that we, at YWAM Salem, believe in a one size fits all approach to training, but rather we believe in giving you a unique training and discipleship experience where God can radically change your life as an individual. DTS took my church experience and personal relationship with God to a place where I could truly understand what my calling in God is and have the confidence to pursue it.
Hands-on Experience
DTS is not just a classroom experience. We believe that one key area of learning is by doing. Even here in Salem, Oregon you’ll not only get to hear great lectures but also have the opportunity to put it into practice through helping with our ministries here on campus. Every DTS works with our local outreach ministry which works to share the Gospel with more of our city. By the time you arrive in another country to begin your outreach, you’ll already have practical tools to draw on. In addition to that, students get to be fully immersed in the culture of their outreach location. More than the great food and thrilling adventures is the opportunity to get to know the people of another culture and truly invest in the community. Because there over 1,500 YWAM locations across the world, outreach teams often get to partner with established ministries who’s work is ongoing.
The benefits of doing a YWAM DTS can last a lifetime. I started my own DTS almost six years ago and the experience and insight I gained have stayed with me and given me a foundation to continue on as a missionary with YWAM. Missionary William Carey said, “expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” Without YWAM, I wouldn’t have known how to see the greatness of God. Today, that greatness empowers me as I continue to serve in his Kingdom.