The History of DTS
Youth With a Mission (YWAM) was founded in 1960 by Loren Cunningham. He had a vision of youth across the nation fulfilling the Great Commission in Mark 16:15. Discipleship training school became a powerful tool to achieve this goal, and soon YWAM became the largest mission organization in the world.
Christians worldwide from diverse cultures, age groups, and traditions dedicated themselves to serving Jesus by serving the nearly 2.2 billion people who may live and die without ever hearing His story.
In 1991, Sean and Janet Lambert wanted to join this movement and had the specific goal of mobilizing groups to serve in Mexico both spiritually and physically. In October of that year, they brought this dream to life and founded YWAM San Diego/Baja. Now, with two locations just south of the U.S./ Mexico border - one in Ensenada and one in San Antonio Del Mar - we offer 10 different schools throughout the year and various seminars and conferences in association with the University of the Nations.
Immersive Training: The DTS Phases
Students from all locations and walks of life travel to YWAM San Diego/Baja to experience a DTS. During their 5 weeks here, they will learn to walk deeper with God through two distinct DTS phases:
Campus Phase
The lecture phase makes up the first 11 weeks of your DTS experience. You'll live in dormitory-style housing at either our Ensenada or San Antonio Del Mar campus where you'll be surrounded by peers with the same desire to lead a life of missions. Each location is only minutes from the beach and thriving local communities so you can explore God's natural creations in your free time.
The lecture phase consists of missions training coursework, daily worship, small group activities, local missions opportunities, and specialized training in an elective of your choice that coincides with your God-given talents.
Outreach Phase
Once you complete the lecture phase, take the mission trip of a lifetime in the outreach phase.
During these 8-weeks of international travel, you'll put what you learned in the lecture phase to work, transforming lives with God's love. Possible outreach destinations include Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, The Caribbean, and Africa. Each day you will have the opportunity to make a tangible change in someone's life through service work, prayer, worship, and your chosen passion expanded upon in your elective.
DTS Electives for Your Unique Passions
In order to lay the foundation for powerful missions, YWAM San Diego/Baja empowers you to build on your God-given talents and passions. It starts in the lecture phase when you choose from 10 diverse electives that combine practical skills tailored to your chosen path with effective missions strategies.
Our elective courses include:
Compassion DTS: Learn to live as Jesus and put empathy in action as part of the Compassion elective.
Photo Story DTS: Share Jesus' love through powerful imagery with your natural passion for photography in the Photo Story elective.
Uplift DTS: Leading a life of global missions starts with discipline. Gain physical and spiritual self-control in the Uplift elective.
Adventure DTS: Fulfill your sense of adventure by exploring God's story and your role in it during the Adventure elective.
Transformation DTS: Learn to become the strong missions leader God always intended you to be in the Transformation elective.
Creative Arts & Media DTS: Artists have a unique opportunity to convey God's word to the world. Harness your potential in the Creative Arts & Media elective.
Music & Arts DTS: Worship and discipleship go hand-in-hand. Learn to share your unique worship style with the world in the Music & Arts elective.
Surf & Skate DTS: Hone your surf and skate skills and learn to spread the Gospel to your active communities in the Surf & Skate elective.
Building Hope DTS: Two days - a lifetime of change. Generate hope for a family without a home during the Homes for Hope Building Hope elective.
The Table DTS: Everyone is welcome at God's table. Make the most of your seat with lessons to help you bring others to His bounty as well in the Table elective.
Apply for YWAM San Diego/Baja DTS Today
Ready to take the first step toward the rest of your life? Apply for an upcoming discipleship training school today.
It's simple: create an online account to fill out our digital application, submit the $45 application fee, complete your health form, and wait for a DTS coach to finish their review! That's it - now you're almost on your way toward your life of missions. We can't wait to see you.