Discipleship Training School

A step into the missions world

Discipleship Training School

A step into the missions world

description-banner-outreach-missions-opportunity

DETAILS

DATES, COSTS, ACTIVITIES

DTS Structure

The DTS Breakdown

DTS Details

Dates

Mission DTS:

15th March - August 7th 2026

Backpackers DTS:

21st September 2025 - 27th February 2026

15th March - August 7th 2026

Climbers DTS:

21st September 2025 - 27th February 2026

15th March - August 7th 2026

Couples DTS:

15th March - 31st July 2026

Costs

The DTS costs are as follows:

Lecture: $5,500 NZD

Outreach: $6,000 - $8,000 NZD

These costs include all accommodation, meals, school materials, and travel for the full 6 month program. This does not include your return flights from your home country to New Zealand.

Activities

There will be four inclusive weekend trips to different places around the South Island. These are a few of the possibilities:

- Going on a hike/tramp.

- Taking an overnight trip to the West Coast.

- Going to Castle Hill and Cave Streaming (which you might recognize from movies like Narnia and Lord of the Rings).

- Sitting in the hot pools at Hanmer Springs.

Choose your theme

We offer a number of different themes and focuses, and we run each of our schools on a yearly basis. Find a school and a date that suits you, and come join us!

Backpackers DTS

TAKE YOUR PASSION FOR THE OUTDOORS AND USE IT AS A TOOL FOR REACHING THE NATIONS

When? 21st September 2025 and 15th March 2026

Come join in with other backpackers and hikers with a heart after God. Learn more about who you are in him and how you can use that to impact the world you live in. During the lecture phase you will head out on the trails and get to appreciate God's goodness and creation in New Zealand and then take that goodness to the nations on outreach. An awesome time amongst others who love the outdoors. Be transformed to transform.

Climbers DTS

combine your dedication to climbing with your passion for missions

When? 21st September 2025 and 15th March 2026

This is a great opportunity to be in an intentional space with others with the same interests and let God transform your heart for mission. Come and learn how to take your interest for climbing and dedicate it back to God. We do this by setting aside time in our lives to be discipled by Him. Our attitude can be one of willingness to forgo our climbing goals, champion those behind us, or overcome our “fear of heights” to reach out to climbers where they are! We want people to leave DTS with an understanding that missions can be a lifestyle.

Couples DTS

Discovering God's heart for couples in the mission field

When? March 15th - July 31st 2026

Relationship: Building (or rebuilding) the foundation of your own and taking that restorative relational heart to the Nations
Purpose: Developing the passion of a sense of vision for future ministry and family as a couple
Mission: To develop your call as a couple, understand opportunities and to respond
Service: Learn how to serve and champion those around you while developing your giftings and talents
Mentoring: Learn from those who have been there and visit couples on the mission field to be encouraged in pursuing a life dedicated to him.

Classic Missions DTS

"And these are but the outer fringes of his works.....who can understand the thunder of his power." Job 26 v 14

When? 9th March - 1st August 2025 Contact us for more info!

Missions: As followers of Christ we are all called to go to all people from every place. We have a call. Who will go? (Romans 10:14-15)
Community: We desire to live as a community, sharing our burdens and our joys, learning and growing together. We follow the example of the Acts 2 church in living wholeheartedly for Jesus and encouraging and building one another up. (Acts 2:42-47)
Prayer: Communication with Jesus is key to everything we do. We aim to develop a life of prayer for unreached people, our cities, our neighbours, and ourselves. (Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6)
Biblical Truth: Gain a deeper understanding and love of the Word of God to establish biblical truth in our hearts and grow in our identity as followers of Christ. We want to be people who hear the word of God and respond. (James 2:17-18, Romans 2:13)
Worship: We believe Jesus is worthy. Worthy of every tribe and tongue to worship him, that starts with us. (Revelation 7:9-10, Psalm 100)

Want to learn more?

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What is a DTS?

A Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a five or six month course designed for you to discover more about your identity, purpose, and the passions that God has given you. You also have the opportunity to apply what you learn onto the mission field, as well as in your day-to-day life. Just as Jesus invited the disciples to leave their everyday life to follow him, we are asking you to answer the call and choose to do the same! (Matthew 4:18-22)

A DTS is truly about developing your faith and going further and deeper than you have ever gone before. The ultimate goal of a DTS is for you to know God more personally, and obey Him from a place of love. It is an exploration into the heart of God, and a journey of discovery where God’s ways become your own. The emphasis is not so much on a mind filled with facts, but a heart filled with faith. Knowledge is gained, but emphasis is placed on applying the principles learned. A DTS is also a great time for people at a crossroads in life to stop and find refreshment, and be revitalized for the journey ahead with God.

Video courtesy of YWAM North Cascades.

Classic DTS

All nations and all generations

When? July

Intimacy - You will have the opportunity to grow in the intimacy of your relationship with God.

Roots - As you grow in intimacy, the roots of your faith will strengthen and go deeper into the soil of trust in Jesus.

Passion - As we know God more intimately and fall more in love with Him, our hearts will come alive to share Him with others.

All Nations All Generations - God’s heart is for people from every tongue and tribe to be actively part of His plan for redemption and restoration. No matter where you are from or how old you are, God wants to invite you to be a part of His plan for redemption.

The DTS Breakdown

Lecture Phase

Learn more about God

This is a twelve week classroom-styled learning module consisting of:

Teachings
Small Groups
One-on-One Mentoring
Personal Study Time
Worship and Intercession

Speakers come from New Zealand and across the world to share teaching on a range of topics ranging from:

Intimacy with God
Hearing the voice of God
Spiritual warfare
Relationships
Evangelism and many more!

Outreach Phase

Traveling to make God known

This is an eight to twelve week missions opportunity for students to share with others what they have received in the Lecture Phase. Students go to New Zealand and/or a variety of nations to explore:

Cultural Orientation
Relationship based evangelism
Working with Christian ministries, churches, schools, prisons, children’s ministries, long-term missionary posts... and so much more!
Travel
Teaching
Living alongside locals

Send DTS

A JUMP INTO THE MISSIONS FIELD

When? April

Missions - As followers of Christ we are all called to go to all people from every place. We have a call. Who will go? (Romans 10:14-15)

Community - We desire to live as a community, sharing our burdens and our joys, learning and growing together. We follow the example of the Acts 2 church in living wholeheartedly for Jesus and encouraging and building one another up. (Acts 2:42-47)

Prayer - Communication with Jesus is key to everything we do. We aim to develop a life of prayer for unreached people, our cities, our neighbours, and ourselves. (Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6)

Biblical Truth - Gain a deeper understanding and love of the Word of God to establish biblical truth in our hearts and grow in our identity as followers of Christ. We want to be people who hear the word of God and respond. (James 2:17-18, Romans 2:13)

Worship -We believe Jesus is worthy. Worthy of every tribe and tongue to worship him, that starts with us. (Revelation 7:9-10, Psalm 100)
Couples DTS

DISCOVERING GOD'S HEART FOR COUPLES

When? TBD

Relationship - Building (or rebuilding) the foundation of your own and taking that restorative relational heart to the Nations

Purpose - Developing the passion of a sense of vision for future ministry and family as a couple

Mission - To develop your call as a couple, understand opportunities and to respond

Service - Learn how to serve and champion those around you while developing your giftings and talents
Backpackers DTS

HITTING THE TRAILS AND REACHING THE TRAVELERS OF NEW ZEALAND

When? October

Identity - We desire people to know who they truly are, and how deeply they are loved by God.

Adventure - We invite you to embark on an epic adventure of going deep with God through traveling and exploring nature.

Relationship - We value everyone's story. Through daily life and adventure-seeking, we aim to build relationships with the traveling communities in New Zealand and beyond.

Truth - We believe the word of God is true. Hearing from God is an essential part of living in relationship with Him and other people. We seek what God says through the Bible, and listening to His voice.

Evangelism - Through seeking God, discovering the truth of who God is, and building relationships, we desire to share the love of Christ with all nations and people.
Climbers DTS

CLIMBERS REACHING OUT TO CLIMBERS

When? October

Freedom - We learn to be set free by God from the things that slow us down, so that we can then make Him known to others in power and love.

Passion - We want to take our passion for climbing and dedicate it back to God. We do this by setting aside time in our lives to be discipled by Him.

Sacrificial Service - We desire to carry the idea of intentional community and sacrificial service into the rest of our lives. Our attitude can be one of willingness to forgo our climbing goals, champion those behind us, or overcome our “fear of heights” to reach out to climbers where they are!

Missional Climbing - We want people to leave DTS with an understanding that missions can be a lifestyle. Ministering to climbers doesn’t have to stop once you finish school. It’s something you can do whenever you go outside and harness up or climb in the gym.

Student Testimonials

DTS at YWAM Oxford was a transformative experience for my wife and I in our marriage. The environment at Oxford allowed us both to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus both personally and as a couple. The DTS taught us what living for Jesus realistically looks like in our day to day lives.

Levi, USA

DTS Graduate

Right from the start of the DTS, God really showed me that I belong to his family and that I am part of his plan. I've had an incredible time talking to people, deepening my faith and discovering more about his immeasurable nature and goodness.

Romane, Switzerland

DTS Graduate

I came as a volunteer but couldn't imagine to leave again after a few weeks. The base felt like home to me because everyone was so caring and loving and it really was like being in a big family here. I stayed as a student and I had a really beautiful time in which I learned so much about God, myself and got a taste of missions. It was a huge blessing to be part of the DTS at YWAM Oxford.

Eva, Germany

DTS Graduate

My time at YWAM Oxford was a turning point in my relationship with the Lord. He taught me so much about what it means to be his son and how he cares for me beyond what I could ever comprehend. YWAM Oxford is a place where the Lord is represented by his people, teaching, guiding and loving one another, sharing the same heart the Lord has for us.

Elijah, USA

DTS Graduate

Discipleship Training School

A step into the missions world