Media & Testimonies
Photo of School and Outreach 2009
Photos from School and Outreach 2008
Far East Asia by Christina
Middle East Outreach by Geoff
Africa Outreach by Jeremy
Southeast Asia by Julie Anna
South America by Adam
Eastern Europe by Lauren
Student Testimonies
Julie Anna - Tennessee, USA
Before doing this school, I was looking for more out of life. My passions for travel and adventure led me to this “Around the World” DTS. I desperately wanted to know God more and knew I needed to get out of my current environment in order to do so. What better place than New Zealand! My lecture phase was a slow and steady renovation of the heart. Through the teaching and God’s guidance, my foundation was made new and SOLID. Instead of the roller coaster faith I had lived for years, I learned how to step into maturity as a follower of Christ. In outreach I was challenged in more ways that I had imagined. Being exposed to such a variety of missions in different countries opened my eyes to what the hands and feet of Jesus working in our world look like. I discovered something I had lost - compassion. When we graduated in Israel I will still processing all I had recently been through, but I knew I was changed. Long story short - this experience was so life changing that I returned to Oxford to staff the next year’s school!
Katy - England, UK
Applying to do my DTS in Oxford was one of the best decisions I have ever made! YWAM changed my life in so many different ways, and I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of the ATW80 school. I learned so much about myself over those six months, and where I can fit into the BIG picture if I allow myself. This has significantly impacted my entire outlook on day-to-day events and decisions. I am slowly learning to allow God to have more control over the decisions I make and to trust that He has a plan and I must be obedient to his calling. DTS gave me the opportunity to explore many things which I had never considered and I have met some life-long friends in the process which is a small bonus…!
Jenn - Wisconsin, USA
I’d have to say that my DTS, outreach in specific, fulfilled it’s purpose. I loved getting a full view of a specific region. For my outreach I went to the Middle East and I left my heart there. A lot of the emotions of what I saw and did have impacted me even months after. In the moment, my outreach was challenging…but worth every minute! It was truly a bit of a taste of the culture and people. The Lord has continued to use what I was exposed to to grow my heart for the region and people. My mind and heart were forever changed by the Middle East. The school’s vision is to expose those who are interested in long term missions to what workers are already doing with the hopes that they will be inspired to go back. For me it worked! The ultimate goal for me is now the Middle East.
David - USA
“Some of the things that I did during my DTS were more hard than enjoyable while I was
going through them, but at the end of every trial was a reward and the strengthening of my
faith. Before my DTS, I was in a bad situation of drunkenness, drugs, and sales of them, but God looked down on me and found favor on his child and extended his hand to save me.
The first three months in New Zealand was a time of restoration of my past pains from drugs, friends and family. During this time, I received a revelations of the Lord’s presence that still rest upon me.
My DTS was a time of trials and hard ship after missing my sisters wedding, grandpa’s death, and mission trip to Africa that my parents did, but I would never ask for God to not give it to me because it has grown me from being a boy in my faith, to a warrior that has all authority in God, my Dad.”
Katie - USA
I went on a DTS because it was time for me to run away from my comfortable,
complacent life. God and I had hit a plateau in our relationship, and it was nice, but it was
comfortable. Change was in the wind, and the wind was speaking to me, whispering in my ear, “Go
shake things up with God at YWAM Oxford, and while you’re at it help people, show them Jesus,
and travel the world.” So that’s exactly what I did. I met with God in New Zealand, and from there
He led me to many people, places, and experiences. I saw people healed, released from guilt and
shame, renewed, transformed, and loved by an Almighty Father. I saw Jesus in the faces of people
all over this world. He spoke to me about bringing art where ever I go, because He instilled that in
me. He spoke to me about being a missionary to whoever is around, wherever I am, which at the
core of it all is just showing the love to others that He has shown me. He spoke to me about just
being with Him, and delighting to be in His presence always, especially being with Him in the
mornings. God spoke, and I listened.
My number one expectation of going to this DTS was to have a deeper relationship with God, and I
got that. But God had more planned for me, He said, “Yes Kadi, let’s go deeper. But let’s not stop
there.” And so God took me beyond the mere request of going deeper that I had lain at His feet,
and took me beyond what I could imagine, and He continues.
Jonathan - USA
“DTS really changed my view on the world. My student year was my first time ever out of the
country, and it was a shocking experience. Especially in Africa, where I went on my outreach, the poverty and corruption really got to me. It was a tough realization that others live on so little and yet still survive with joy. It also makes you wonder what we, as those with much, are missing. My DTS was a life changing experience that would set the stage for me to come back and experience some deep changes in my life.
Staffing was something that totally blew my world away. The leap between student and staff is immense. Suddenly, you have responsibilities that you never even imagined existed. You also are paid back in many ways for the dork you were as a student. You know that phrase mothers love to say “I hope when you have children they act just like you!” Well, its true for staffing, too. You recognize a lot of yourself (both the good and the bad) in students.
Leading an outreach team also deserves its own mention. It is a life changing experience that challenges you in every way. Are you walking the walk you should? Are you organized enough to get people where they need to be? Are you spending time with every student? And of course if
that wasn’t enough there is always something going on at home that demands your attention. Still, we make the choice to give of ourselves and try to make a difference. In the end, I know that what I am doing will make me a better man and develop in a me a greater relationship
and understanding of Jesus.”
Kenny - USA
“…this is a part of life where you can experience more than doing many different things for the
Kingdom. You will find yourself in a position to seek, listen, go, be stretched, and be tested. This
is a time where true growth and intimacy can happen in very unexpected ways with the Father.
Your life will only be the same if you look to yourself. Look to Him for the Walk-renewing experience
of a lifetime….”
