DTS
R-DTS (Reconciliation & Discipleship Training School)
Location: Belfast
Dates: 21 January 2010 - end of July 2010 (six months, one week)
Format: 3 month lecture phase in Belfast with local outreach, 2-4 weeks Belfast/Ireland outreach interspersed, 5-7 weeks outreach overseas
Optional: Mission Belfast (Pre-DTS volunteer opportunity - see below)
Email YWAM Belfast for more info and application.
Dublin DTS
Location: Dublin city centre
Dates: July 2010 - end of January 2011 (about six and a half months)
Format: Three 5-week sections, made up of four weeks of lectures and one week of processing in a European city. This is followed by a 13 week outreach phase in Dublin and abroad.
Please visit the YWAM Dublin site for more info and an application.
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What is a DTS?
Typically about five and a half months in length (though formats vary), a Discipleship Training School involves a combination of lectures, discussion, outreach, and community living designed to prepare the trainees for a missional lifestyle rooted in Christ. DTS is not meant to be an event but a beginning, a chance to grow in your faith and see if you’re called to missions. A DTS is meant to be transformational and to help you prepare to be a dedicated follower of Jesus wherever you are, throughout your life, and a time for you to build a foundation from which to launch into your personal mission field, whether that’s at school, work, with your church, in your home town, or abroad. DTS is also our basic training programme for those called to working with YWAM full-time, so the DTS will give you an experience of being part of a YWAM team and a flavour of international missions. Check out more info on the purpose of DTS at the YWAM Int’l. website.
Outreach locations
The focus nations for Belfast DTSs are: South Africa, Rwanda, Burundi, India, Lebanon, Serbia, Israel, and Palestine. Our heart is for countries with a history of conflict and need for reconciliation. We usually send 1-2 teams from the DTS to different overseas locations, depending on size of the school. We also send outreaches around Ireland. Outreach for DTS will be a combination of: ministry in Belfast during lecture phase, a 2-3 weeks of outreach in Belfast or around Ireland, and 5-7 weeks outreach overseas. DTSs in 2009 and 2010 will be going to South Africa on outreach, with some outreach in Ireland, and the potential for other options, depending on size of the school.
Outreach during the Dublin DTS lecture phase will be in Dublin and in major European cities. For details on the overseas outreach location, please contact YWAM Dublin directly.
Fees
Belfast schools approximately six months in length (may vary otherwise): £1850 for Lecture Phase, £900-1300 for Outreach Phase (price depends on location and doesn’t include airfare - with airfare/transport, the Outreach Phase usually costs something like £1200-1600).
Dublin DTS lecture phase cost is €2500. More info on the YWAM Dublin website.
DTS fees are in British Pounds (£ GBP) sterling in Belfast and Euros (€ EUR) in Dublin - approximate exchange rates can be found at xe.com.
What is Mission Belfast?
Mission Belfast is an option for those who want to come a few weeks or a couple months early to their Belfast DTS to volunteer with us in West Belfast. It’s an opportunity for volunteers to work alongside some of our staff for the time that they are here, as well as participate in a few hours of instruction, training, or teaching per week. Areas of service depend on areas of current need, but possibilities include work with children, a cafe ministry, outreach to churches, outreach in urban neighborhoods, help with reconciliation projects, practical work (maintenance, housekeeping, hospitality), etc. It will also be a time to get perspective on YWAM, on reconciliation, and the history of Northern Ireland, and an opportunity to become familiar with Belfast ahead of DTS. We’re looking for self-motivated, servant-hearted volunteers. At this point, acceptance to a Belfast DTS is required for participation in Mission Belfast, and a small application pack is usually sent when notified of acceptance. However, if you want to check it out or get more info beforehand, you can send us an email to dts {at} ywambelfast.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does YWAM have any scholarships or financial aid available for DTS?
YWAM can best be described as a cooperative for self-employed missionaries. In other words, every YWAMer (staff, student, and volunteer) is required to raise their own support and fees. As this is also our situation in Northern Ireland, we do not have any surplus to draw from to give financial aid or scholarships to our applicants. As an exception, we do, however, raise money as part of our ministry to fund persons recommended to us by our ministry partners in our focus nations to come to Belfast for DTS and training (this isn’t something you can apply for).
What do the fees cover?
Food, accommodation, tuition, transport for ministry/school activities, ministry costs and supplies, debrief week, pastoral visits, administrative and registration fees. They don’t cover your travel to and from DTS, any visa costs, and don’t quote a cost for outreach airfare (unless otherwise noted).
Can you recommend any resources for raising support?
Yes! Raising support can be an exciting way to connect with your community and sharpen your vision for your time in missions. We can recommend books: Funding Your Ministry: Whether You’re Gifted or Not by Scott Morton and Friendraising by Betty Barnett.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with any further questions