Discipleship Training School Course Descriptions:

The Discipleship Training School (DTS) is an intensive Christian training course encompassing 11 or 12 week lecture/teaching with about 11-12 weeks practical field assignment. The DTS is designed to encourage students in personal character development, cultivating a living relationship with God and identifying their unique individual gifts and callings in God. Cross-cultural exposure and global awareness are special emphases throughout the course, preparing the students to reach current and future generations and answer the call to "Go into all the world and disciple all nations" Matthew 28:19.

The purpose of the DTS is:

1. To GATHER and CHALLENGE people to worship, listen to and obey God, releasing them (in the context of the DTS) to serve through evangelism, intercession, acts of compassion and other expressions of God's heart for the world, possibly even pioneering new ministries.
2. To INSPIRE and CULTIVATE growth in one's relationship with God resulting in Christ like character, which is based on a solid Biblical foundation, the work of the Holy Spirit and the personal application of Biblical truth, especially concerning God's Character, the Cross and empowering Grace.
3. To SHARPEN one's ability to relate to, learn from and work with people, including those of different cultures, personalities and perspectives.
4. To further EQUIP each one to serve God's purposes either in or outside of YWAM Family of Ministries, strengthening a commitment to reach the lost, especially the unreached, to care for the poor, and to influence all areas of society.
5. To IMPART the vision and foundational values of Youth With A Mission International as well as that of the host operating location and to provide information regarding a variety of opportunities for service.

The DTS aims to graduate Students:

• with a growing understanding of the breadth and depth of God’s character and ways
• who are becoming more like Jesus in the way they relate to God and people
• who increasingly cooperate with the empowering presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit
• who listen to and obey God as the result of God’s enabling Grace
• who search the Scripture in such a way that transforms beliefs, values and behaviours
• with strengthened lifestyles of worship, intercession and spiritual warfare
• with a greater ability to work with others, especially those different to themselves
• who can share the Gospel with the lost and have a life long commitment to do so
• with a commitment to continue to be involved in some way with God’s work among the nations, including unreached people, the poor and needy and in spheres of society
• who understand the calling and values of YWAM and are aware of a variety of opportunities available to them throughout YWAM
• with a clearer understanding of God’s purposes for their life and a sense of their life direction
• who either
  A. go on to serve God in either a context familiar or foreign to them
  B. pursue further training (in or outside of YWAM) to equip them for further service.

Discipleship Training School Course Curriculum (major themes):

1. God's Nature and Character (Encountering God)
2. God's Intention for Individuals, Peoples and Creation (Seeing all of life from God's perspective)
3. God's Redemption: Sin and Cross (Recognizing Jesus as Lord)
4. God's Family: His children and His Church (Becoming more like Jesus)
5. God's World: His call and His Commission (Doing the works of Jesus)
6. YWAM: A response to God (Knowing God and Making Him Known)

Besides lectures throughout the week, there will also be intercession and prayer for the nations, worship, morning devotions, and small group gatherings. There will also be work duties throughout the school, and some sports. There may be times set aside for additional lectures, personal studies, and some outreach in the community. There will be some free time off every week. Weekends are normally free except for some minor duties and possible outreach preparation and planning. You will be notified in advance if this is the case.

Topics commonly taught on the DTS include: The Character and Nature of God, the Father Heart of God, Spiritual Warfare, Intercession, Hearing the Voice of God, Evangelism, Relationships, Missions, Identity in Christ, and various other topics.
 

In addition to lectures, there will be intercession and prayer for the nations, worship, morning devotions, and small group gatherings. There will also be skills development on the facility in the afternoons, and some sports. The evenings will be varied eg. additional lecture, personal studies, and some outreach in the community, etc. There will be an evening and an afternoon off every week. Weekends are normally free except for some minor duties and possible outreach preparation and planning.

Study Items:
You will be required to take notes during lectures. In addition, there will be book reports and other assignments. A Bible is a must. Other items can be purchased cheaply here in Australia.

Who are the Teachers?
Teaching will be provided by resident staff, local ministers, and visiting lecturers from different parts of the world. On occasion, videotapes are used as well.

What Happens on Outreach?
The outreach will last for approximately 10 weeks and will involve teams working in Australia and overseas. It provides a practical follow-up to the teachings given during the lecture phase, and it is an opportunity for students to experience God working through them and giving them a glimpse of missions. Some examples of outreach opportunities are as follow: Coffee houses, door-to-door visitations, dramas, music, church work, work with children, youth, or the elderly, literature distribution, open air meetings, hospital or prison visits, Bible or English teaching, etc. The specific school outreach locations will be announced to you during the first few weeks of the school.

Institute for the Nations, Australia - Brisbane Campus
Registered Training Organisation #0449 / CRICOS #02239E