Christian Gap Year Programs Abroad: Healing and Hope in South Asia

During every Discipleship Training School with YWAM Salem, students have the opportunity to embark on an international mission trip. Here, they challenge themselves to step out of their comfort zone and act as powerful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Whether you are seeking Christian gap year programs abroad or a deeper understanding of God's plan for your life, you can find it at YWAM Salem's DTS. But don't just take our word for it. Hear from one of our former students about how a cross-cultural experience during one of their missions trips, became a powerful cause of transformation.

Ready to seek out Christian gap year opportunities and immerse yourself in a Christian community? Apply for a DTS today!

The following is a testimony from one of our graduated Discipleship Training School students about her time on outreach in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Feeling God's Heart in Your Heart

It was coming to the end of the last day of outreach at the local university when, through prayer, I got the sense that there was someone whose knees were injured.

My team and I had jumped into a cab to head back to the local Mipex Mall in Hanoi, Vietnam, which was about a five-minute walk from our house. As we were getting out, I noticed there was an older woman sitting on the wall in front of the mall.

It was the hottest day we’d experienced yet in Hanoi. I immediately recognized that she needed help and sprinted into the lower cafe to get her some water. While I was waiting to make the purchase, I looked through the window and saw the woman get up. When I saw her move, I realized that she had injured her knees. God wanted to meet this woman!

Putting Cross-Cultural Differences Aside for a Connection Through Christ

Once I had the water, I ran out to where she was. As soon as we met, I felt the overwhelming love of Jesus for her, and my eyes began to well up with tears.

The woman did not speak any English so I pulled out Google Translate on my phone and started asking yes or no questions so that we could communicate. Asking these questions helped her tell me that her knees were in fact in a lot of pain! I felt like I was supposed to pray for her, so with her permission, I laid my hands on her knees and started praying for healing. 

I looked up after the first prayer and it didn’t seem like anything had happened. I remembered in the Bible how even Jesus was faithful to pray a couple of times, so I gave it another shot. 

This time, the woman started to shake and cry and I knew that God was moving in this woman’s heart! She didn’t understand all of my words so it was like something beyond what I was saying was ministering to her.

I got up and sat on the wall to be closer to her and she immediately laid her head on my shoulder as an old friend would. I asked her if she wanted to accept Jesus and be a part of His family. With the biggest smile on her face, she said yes! This woman had been sitting alone and would have been easy to miss but God saw her and wanted her to know she was His!

How Discipleship Brings the Lost to a Christ-Centered Community

A week later, when my team was coming back from another outing, I saw this woman who once sat all alone, sitting on the floor surrounded by people and smiling with so much joy. God didn’t just bring her into the kingdom. He healed her and gave her a sense of belonging!

This experience taught me so much about God’s heart for His people. He wants to seek and save the lost and bring healing to those who are suffering and He uses us to do it!

I had so many instances in my Discipleship Training School where I learned how to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and trust that God wants everyone to experience and know Him. I learned how to trust God as a communicator and as a healer and it has changed the way that I live out my faith forever!

Experience Discipleship Training School

At YWAM Salem, our Discipleship Training School is a distinctive 5.5-month journey centered around crafting young adults into effective missions leaders. You want to share God's story with the nations, and we want to equip you with the tools and confidence you need to do so.

DTS students come from all types of backgrounds, but are typically high school graduates between the ages of 18-24. The minimum requirement to participate in a DTS is to be at least 18 years old or have a high school diploma.

Discover the unparalleled growth potential of walking with God in a supportive, Christ-centered community located just outside of Salem, Oregon. Comprising two phases, the campus phase and the outreach phase, our DTS will help you recognize that you are uniquely created for a purpose. Seize control of God's plan for your life and utilize your faith as a powerful tool for missions in your everyday interactions.

Apply now to embark on your YWAM Salem DTS adventure.

The Campus Phase

Throughout the campus phase, participants dive deep into a vibrant community of believers, fostering connections and enriching their faith journey. Set against the backdrop of rural Salem, Oregon, but only an hour's drive from bustling Portland, students call dormitory-style accommodations home.

During this 11-week period, students participate in daily worship, small group discussions, and profound self-discovery through quiet reflection time. They also can explore the communities around them, including a vibrant coffee scene, during their free time.

Our elective courses are the highlight of this phase. Students choose a path that aligns with their unique passion and learn to bring discipleship into their desired soceital sphere.

Our elective offerings include:

• Evangelism & Apologetics
• Youth Ministry
• Sports Ministry

YWAM Salem's DTS program also offers college credits in collaboration with the University of the Nations as part of the campus phase.

The Outreach Phase

In the outreach phase, you'll embark on a life-changing expedition, carrying your newfound missional mindset across international borders.

Transitioning from our campus to diverse global destinations, you'll encounter communities hungry for the Gospel's touch. This phase offers an unparalleled opportunity for you to embody God's love, engaging in daily worship and acts of service to foster the spiritual awakening and growth of those you encounter.

Our potential outreach destinations include:

• Europe
• South East Asia
• Latin America
• The Caribbean
• Africa

Hesitant to leave behind the comforts of home? For additional information about DTS, questions regarding costs, or curiosity about the leisure activities available on our campus, we encourage you to check out the DTS road map. This comprehensive resource provides detailed insights into YWAM Salem's discipleship training school, guiding prospective students through their journey of faith and service.

YWAM Salem's Christian Gap Year Program

So, what even is DTS, and is it a good gap year option?

The Discipleship Training School at YWAM Salem is an experience like no other. If you're looking for a meaningful gap year program that bridges the divide between self-exploration and future-forward thinking, our Christian gap year program is the right choice for you!

You can earn college credit, serve alongside fellow believers, participate in community service, and have a cross-cultural experience that sets the tone for the rest of your life. Our mission trips are tailored for college students who need a break from the disconnected day-to-day grind, or high school graduates unsure of what next step they should take.

You don't have to be regularly attending church to want to increase God's presence in your everyday lives. God created us to know Him on a personal level. With an intentional gap year experience, like YWAM Salem's DTS, you can learn to Know God and Make Him Known throughout the nations.

Interested in Jesus, adventure, and growing in your faith?

Do a Discipleship Training School, YWAM’s flagship missionary training course. It's a great gap year option. It's also perfect for anyone looking to step out of the ordinary and grow in their faith. Apply today!