How to Join YWAM

How can I become a YWAM missionary? The process is actually quite simple. No matter where you go or what you do in Youth With A Mission, everything starts with the Discipleship Training School (DTS).

What is YWAM?

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is a global, interdenominational Christian movement that exists to know God and make Him known.

Since its beginning in 1960, YWAM has grown into a global movement with ministries in more than 180 nations. Tens of thousands of people: students, families, and professionals serve with YWAM every year.

YWAM’s mission focuses on three main areas:

• Evangelism: Sharing the gospel locally and globally, from city streets to remote villages.

• Training: Equipping believers through courses and schools to grow in their relationship with God and gain practical tools for ministry.

• Mercy Ministries: Responding to the needs of the poor, the sick, and those without access to basic resources or education.

YWAM isn’t one single organization with a central headquarters. It’s a global network of communities, each with its own emphasis and expression. Some bases focus on Bible translation or church planting, others on youth outreach, creative arts, or serving among the unreached, all to know God and make Him known. 

At its heart, YWAM is about ordinary people saying “yes” to Jesus and stepping into His call to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Step 1: Do a DTS

The Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a training and missions program designed to help you deepen your relationship with God and discover your place in His global purposes, typically 5-to-6 months in length. 
It’s divided into two parts:

• Lecture Phase: A time of focused discipleship, where you learn about God’s character, hearing His voice, missions, and living out your faith.

• Outreach Phase: A cross-cultural mission trip where you apply what you’ve learned, often serving in places within the 10/40 Window, where few have heard the gospel.

How to Pick a DTS

1. Choose a location:
   YWAM has hundreds of DTS training locations worldwide, while different bases have different focuses, the basics of what the DTS includes are the same across the board. You can find DTS programs by region or language or special focus on ywam.org
   There are so many options and it can be overwhelming to sort through them all. But we can help, check out these 5 tips to help you pick the best DTS for you! Or talk to a DTS coach
2. Apply:
   Each location handles its own applications, so when you find a DTS that fits, you can apply directly through that base's website. 

Step 2: Beyond DTS

After DTS, there are many ways to continue serving with YWAM:

• Join staff: Become part of a local YWAM team and serve in areas like training, media, mobilization, outreach, or operations.
  During your DTS, you’ll get to know how your base operates, giving you a sense of the opportunities available and how the structure suits you. Many DTS programs also include combined weeks with other DTSs, which is a great chance to visit another base, talk with students and staff, and see different approaches in action.
  On outreach, you’ll likely partner with other YWAM locations as well. Take every opportunity to explore the variety within YWAM: from ministry focus to team dynamics to structural differences. While there are many things consistent across YWAM, seeing these variations helps you understand the breadth of the movement. 

• Do more training: YWAM offers advanced courses through the University of the Nations in missions, Bible, leadership, and many other fields. 

• Join a long-term field team: Many YWAMers move to other nations to start new projects or ministries, reach out to unreached people groups, disciple believers, and help plant churches.
  YWAM is highly relational and we work and function in teams, this provides support, accountability, and opportunities to learn from others’ strengths and experiences. If you want to pioneer something or somewhere new, it’s helpful to connect with YWAMers doing similar work in other nations or related projects in the same region. YWAM is a massive network, full of experiences to learn from and build on.

But first, start with a DTS. It’s more than just a course. It’s a life-changing step of obedience and the entry-point into missions with YWAM.

It's often said, "once a YWAMer, always a YWAMer," because being a YWAMer isn't about joining an organization. It’s about living a life of obedience to Jesus. Whether you serve for six months or many years, your yes to God matters. Keep Saying Yes to Jesus.