Intro to Discipleship Training School (Week 1)

So, I want to explain what a YWAM Discipleship Training School is like. 

Here's an overview:

It is set up a lot like a Christian college, that is the best way to explain it. So all the students and some staff live at the school. We have 41 students and about 20 staff. Our schedule looks a lot like this: 

Morning: Breakfast, quiet time, worship, class (twice a week: small group, once a week: intersession, dangerous territory)

Afternoon: Lunch, community responsibilities, free time (once a week: local outreach or global outreach prep)

Night: Dinner, free time, (twice a week: study hall, once a week: focus night, small group outings)

Weekends:
Saturday-outings or free day
Sunday-Church, laundry, internet time, free time

Our class time consists of different speakers every week teaching on different subjects. So far we've had:

• Quiet Time-Best Practices
• Hearing God's Voice
• The Father Heart of God
• Intersession
• Relationships in Community
• Clean Conscience
• The Goal of Our Instruction
• The Fear of the Lord

Our small groups are made up of 5-7 students and 2 staff members each. We get together to discuss class material, what we've been learning, what God's been showing us through it, and just to get to know each other more, pray for each other, and encourage each other. We also have a 1 on 1 time with one of our small group leaders. This is a time set aside that we can really process what we are learning, tell them the things we wouldn't tell anyone else, and it's a time for the staff member to really pour into our lives, give advice, pray for, encourage, and always be there for them in times of need. 

Focus nights are every Wednesday night. This is a time to focus on a particular people group overseas where there are children at risk. We watch a documentary about this group of people or get information on them, then we pray for them. This allows us to gain a heart for the nations and the children who are at risk around the world. It's very heartbreaking to see what hardships they are going through, but it's very eyeopening and insightful. It's so amazing that we can pray for them and make a difference through interceding for them without actually having to go there. 

Dangerous Territory is a time where we discuss different religions from about the world, discuss the bible and study it, and discuss how we can take the most dangerous book in the world (The Bible) to the nations.

Intercession is a time where we are given a nation to pray for. First we learn about it, then we ask God to show us what and who we need to pray for. (Right now we are praying for Bhutan, a Buddhist nation). 

So there is a basic overview of what we do, what we learn, and how things work here. 

Next, I'll post more about each subject we've learned about in class and also what we are focusing on at Focus Nights.