Know God. Grow in Community. Be Sent to the Nations.
The Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a five–to–six month journey with Youth With A Mission designed to help you deepen your relationship with God and discover your place in His mission in the world.
What is DTS?
A School of Discipleship and Mission
The Discipleship Training School is the foundational training program of Youth With A Mission, built around a simple purpose: to know God and make Him known.
Students spend the first three months growing in their relationship with God through teaching, mentoring, prayer, and life in Christian community.
The second half of the school is a cross-cultural outreach where students serve alongside churches and ministries in another culture.
DTS is not simply a class or a missions trip. It is an invitation to follow Jesus more deeply and learn how to live out your faith in everyday life. Jesus invited His first disciples with simple words:
Come, follow me. — Mark 1:17 (NIV)
The DTS continues that same invitation today.
The Two Phases of DTS
DTS is divided into two phases: the Lecture Phase and the Outreach Phase.
Lecture Phase
12 weeks
The first part of DTS focuses on spiritual formation and discipleship. Students live together in community while learning from experienced teachers and missionaries from around the world.
Teaching topics often include:
- Hearing God's voice
- The nature and character of God
- The Bible and biblical worldview
- Identity in Christ
- Evangelism and missions
- Living in Christian community
Students also participate in:
- small group discussions
- personal mentoring
- worship and prayer
- local ministry in Lima
This season lays the foundation for a lifelong walk with God.
Outreach Phase
8–12 weeks
During the outreach phase, students travel with a small team to serve alongside churches and ministries in another culture.
Outreach teams may participate in:
- sharing the gospel
- church ministry
- mercy and compassion outreach
- prayer and discipleship
- serving local communities
Students experience firsthand what it means to live out Jesus’ command:
Go and make disciples of all nations. — Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
Outreach is often one of the most transformative parts of DTS as students see how God is working around the world.
Is DTS the Right Next Step for You?
Many people come to DTS at different stages of their faith journey. Some are just beginning to explore their calling. Others sense God inviting them into deeper discipleship or missions.
DTS may be a good next step if you:
- want to grow in your relationship with God
- desire to understand the Bible more deeply
- are exploring a calling to missions
- want to live in intentional Christian community
- are willing to step outside your comfort zone
You don’t need to have everything figured out. DTS is designed as a place to seek God, grow in faith, and discover how He may be leading you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. — Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
Life in Lima
During DTS, students live in community in Lima while growing in their relationship with God and serving in the city.
A Discipleship Community in Peru
Students spend the lecture phase living in community in Lima, Peru.
Life during DTS includes:
- shared meals
- worship and prayer gatherings
- small group discipleship
- mentoring relationships
A Cross-Cultural Community
Our goal is to create a community where people are known, supported, and encouraged as they grow in their relationship with God. Students come from many nations and church backgrounds, creating a rich cross-cultural environment where friendships often continue long after DTS ends.
A Community in Formation
YWAM Lima is a new discipleship community with a vision to see missionaries trained in Peru and sent to the nations. As this ministry begins, early DTS schools will play an important role in shaping the rhythms of worship, discipleship, and outreach that will define the community for years to come.
Students joining these early schools won’t just attend a program—they will share in the early story of what God is building in Lima.
How Students Grow During DTS
The DTS helps students grow in their relationship with God and in their ability to follow Him in everyday life. Students often experience growth in areas such as:
Outreach Vision
Joining God's Work in the Nations
During the outreach phase, students step beyond the classroom and participate in what God is doing around the world. Each outreach team partners with local churches and ministries to serve communities and share the love of Jesus.
A Vision for Global Impact
Ministry opportunities may include:
- evangelism and testimony
- youth and children's ministry
- serving vulnerable communities
- prayer and discipleship
- practical service projects
Outreach helps students see the global church and understand God's heart for every nation.
Costs
We believe in transparency when it comes to finances.
Lecture Phase
Includes:
- tuition
- housing during lecture phase
- meals
- training materials
Outreach Phase
Includes:
- outreach housing
- transportation during outreach
- ministry costs
Note: Airfare to and from outreach locations is usually separate.
Many students raise financial support through friends, family, and church communities. Our staff can help guide you through this process.
Upcoming Discipleship Training Schools
More date-specific details will be shared as the school approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few practical questions students often ask before joining DTS in Lima. For more details, see the full FAQ.
No. You don’t need any previous ministry experience to join DTS.
Students come from many different backgrounds and stages of their faith journey.
What matters most is a willingness to learn, grow, and be teachable as you participate fully in community life.
You don’t need to be fluent in both languages, but you should be able to communicate in either English or Spanish.
Our DTS is intentionally bilingual, and students from both language backgrounds learn together in a shared community environment.
Many students grow in their second language during the school as they live and learn together.
Yes. Teaching sessions are translated in real time so both English and Spanish speakers can fully participate.
Our DTS is not only bilingual in the classroom, but in everyday community life.
We intentionally work to create an environment where both languages are heard and valued—in small groups, conversations, and daily life—so that no one feels left out.
Lima is a large city, and like any major city, some areas are safer than others.
We live and operate in areas such as San Isidro and nearby districts, which are among the safer parts of the city.
Students live and serve in community, and ministry activities are done in teams with guidance from staff. We also take time to help students understand the city and how to move around it wisely.
Students live in shared housing with other participants as part of a close, community-based environment.
Housing is separated by gender, and students typically share rooms with others. Staff also live in the same space or nearby, helping create a context for daily discipleship and community life.
Start Your DTS Journey
If you feel God inviting you to grow deeper in your relationship with Him and participate in His mission, we would love to talk with you. Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, and DTS can be a meaningful step along the way.