WDTS Training Overview

Are you interested in a WILDERNESS YWAM Discipleship Training School (DTS) experience? Are you ready to worship and learn more about God while hanging out in His beautiful creation? Are you interested in sharing God’s love with unreached people groups in high mountainous regions? Are you ready to have incredible wilderness adventures?

The 2010 WDTS has been rescheduled to August 2011 through February 2012

 The staff at YWAM Sea & Summit are excited to introduce the Wilderness Discipleship Training School (Wild. DTS). This is a unique DTS because the majority of classroom teaching is spent in the wilderness. The initial teaching section focuses on "Knowing God" and experiencing His love. The outreach focuses on "Making God Known" while sharing His love with others. Throughout the DTS, skills are taught to prepare you to minister, travel and live in the wilderness.

Does this sound RADICAL to you? Would you like to know more? What is a DTS?

 A YWAM (Youth With A Mission) DTS is a five to six month school that equips, trains and challenges each student "To Know God and Make Him Known". A DTS is required for those who wish to be on staff with YWAM. The first three months, called the Lecture Phase, is a time for the students to grow and develop in their relationship with God. Different speakers address the class each week covering topics such as: The Father Heart of God, Reconciliation, Spiritual Warfare, Spiritual Gifting, Evangelism, Ministry Topics and Issues, and Cross-Cultural Ministry. Worship, small group time, one-on-one discipleship, outreach opportunities, personal devotions, and journaling are also emphasized during the Lecture Phase.

The last two-and-a-half months, called the Outreach Phase, is a time for the students to share God’s love with others. The outreach provides opportunities to experience different cultures and ministry techniques. Ministry may include friendship evangelism, dramas, building projects, working with street kids, reaching out to people in remote places, disaster relief, singing, sharing personal testimonies, teaching, and preaching. The final week is spent debriefing back at the Lecture Phase location.

One of our ministry focuses at YWAM Sea & Summit is training and sending out Christians who want to use the outdoors as a ministry tool. We desire for people to be prepared for going into the wilderness. In addition, the WDTS students learn about basic first-aid, snow travel, navigation, basic backcountry living and backpacking. The Wild DTS goes along way to preparing individuals for frontier type mission work.

 What does the Wilderness have to do with a DTS? Where will the lecture and outreach phases take place?

 The wilderness is an incredible place to experience growth and change in our lives. Imagine yourself striving to get to the top of a granite rock face and enjoying the views from the top. Imagine yourself worshipping God around the campfire under a starry sky. Imagine yourself snow-shoeing up a snowy peak and the thrill of reaching the destination. Imagine yourself spending time with God by a crystal clear stream. Imagine yourself traveling to a remote mountain village and sharing Jesus with someone who has never heard about His love.

Being in the wilderness takes perseverance, teamwork, trust, physical endurance and mental stamina. Many of God's prophets and spiritual leaders including Jesus, Himself, had experiences of very significant revelation and training in the wilderness. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made...." Romans 1:20.

YWAM Sea & Summit Expeditions is located in Bishop, California , in a deep valley on the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains . The mountain walls on both sides of the valley rise to 14,000 feet. The WDTS will only spend part of its Lecture Phase in Bishop, with the rest spent in different mountain and desert wilderness locations. During the weeks out, we backpack into and set-up base camps in different wilderness areas, meeting up with well-respected, knowledgeable teachers. Conditions are cold at night and often warmer during the days. Everyone sleeps in tents and has camp duties.

The DTS Outreach will be to a remote, mountainous area outside of the United States . By traveling into people groups that are seldom visited, we will share the Gospel with many who have never heard the Good News. Plan on exotic, pristine scenery with rustic living conditions. Our focus for Outreach has been Naryn , Kyrgyzstan .

This sounds great! When is the DTS? How much does the DTS cost? How much experience do I need? What kind of equipment do I need?

 The next Wilderness DTS starts in August of 2011 and ends in February of 2012 (Dates are subject to change).

The Lecture Phase fee is $4200 and the Outreach should run about $3000 (both fees subject to change). No experience in the outdoors is needed. What is required - is a willingness to learn, serve and be adventurous in the outdoors, and that you come prepared to be challenged physically, spiritually and mentally. The course will be physically demanding at times, so we do ask that you come to the DTS in shape and ready to go! You need to bring most of your own backpacking equipment. A gear list is provided upon acceptance to the school.

Are you ready to apply for the Wilderness DTS? Here is what you need to do.

Each applicant must submit: (Application deadline is July 10th, 2011)

1) A completed Application Form with a $20 application fee.

2) Three Confidential Reference Forms (see application).

3) Course Deposit – $300 (may be sent when acceptance to the program has been confirmed to hold your spot).

Please let us know if you would like an application or if we can send you additional information. We always love talking with people and answering questions about our ministry so give us a Call or Email us. Our prayers will be with you as you seek the Lord for direction concerning how He would lead you in ministry.

Sincerely,

Wilderness DTS Leaders

Contact Us

Phone: (760) 872-6548
Fax:(760) 872-6543
Email: wildDTS@seaandsummit.com