YWAM Lancaster | Advanced Training

Catalyst Leadership School (CLS)

Gain transformative leadership skills, a deeper understanding of missions, and make a meaningful impact in your community and the world.

Catalyst Leadership School Overview

6-month intensive training that equips you for your calling, and develops your leadership.

Our Catalyst Leadership School (CLS) (formerly School of Ministry Development, or SOMD) is a 6-month intensive training school that immerses you in the culture of YWAM Lancaster, equips you for your calling, and develops your leadership.

Elements of Your Catalyst Leadership School

The Catalyst Leadership School consists of three primary elements: Train, Apply, and Go. These elements are intermixed throughout the 6-month internship, creating a space to be equipped through a live-learn environment, ministry experience, and leading others in the nations.

Train

Practical instruction for catalytic leadership
Character and calling development emphasized
Build lifelong friendships with people from all around the globe

You will receive practical instruction designed to launch you as a catalytic leader into your calling. Leaders from across the region will invest in laying a firm foundation for you to grow in your character and your calling. We believe that a subject is not fully learned until it is lived. Every teaching you receive will have immediate practical application.

APPLY

Discipleship and equipping serving along side one another
Serving God’s work in the region
Activate your voice to call a generation to the great commission

Discipleship and equipping happens in the context of serving alongside one another. You will partner with fellow students and YWAM Lancaster staff to serve what God is doing in the region, and be used by God to see lives transformed, nations impacted, and eternity shifted. Your voice will be activated to call a generation to wrestle with their part to play in the great commission.

GO

Carry the Gospel and distribute Bibles to an unreached nation
Rally a generation around the purposes of God
Lead them to take missional action
Growth through challenges and discomfort
Development of courageous initiatory leadership
Inviting others to join in global missions for Jesus’ exaltation

You will carry the gospel to an unreached nation. And you won’t go alone. You will rally a generation around the purposes of God and boldly lead them to take missional action. There will be unexpected changes and uncomfortable moments, but you will grow in courageous initiatory leadership as you invite others to journey with you to the nations of the earth to see the name of Jesus exalted above every other name.

Pricing & Date

CLS Schedule & Costs

*Our Catalyst Leadership School runs every Spring semester*

Upcoming dates

Spring 2026

March 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026

Submit your final application by March 8, 2026.

Training Phase Costs:

$3995

Tuition covers the following:

Housing, food, and teachers
Books and materials for required reading or studies

Outreach Phase Costs:

$4000-$6000

Outreach costs:

Housing, food, and airfare/travel
Note: The exact cost will be determined based on the outreach location

Now is the time to seek God and share the hope of Christ with the lost.

This school brought about a joy to my life that I didn't think I could experience in missions. It was genuinely very fun. We worked hard and sought God, but had a very joyful time doing it. Whether on ministry or off, I learned that God is a fun God.

This school really encouraged me to lead out in the way that the Lord has designed me to lead rather than trying to be somebody else. For a large portion of it, I struggled with comparing myself with others and their giftings. I was quickly weighed down by discouragement. I then watched as the Lord revealed different qualities and attributes within me that I hadn’t recognized before or hadn’t known were traits that could be considered useful in a leadership context. I recognized I had something to contribute even if it looked different than everyone else.

It impacted my life in showing me that I can be a leader. I began to step out of my comfort zone and actually believe and obey the voice of God when He was asking me to do something.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Catalyst Leadership School (CLS)?

The Catalyst Leadership School is a 6-month intensive training program designed to equip you for your calling and develop your leadership. It immerses you in the culture of YWAM Lancaster and provides hands-on learning experiences.

What topics will I learn during the school?

You will receive hands-on learning in various topics, including unreached peoples, modern missions, revival and reformation, the biblical storyline, and the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit.

What are the primary elements of the Catalyst Leadership School?

The Catalyst Leadership School is composed of three main elements: Train, Apply, and Go. These elements are integrated throughout the 6-month duration, combining side-by-side teaching, ministry experience, and leadership opportunities.

How much does the school cost?

The cost breakdown is as follows:

TRAINING PHASE – Training & Serving: $3,995
OUTREACH PHASE – Going: $4,000-$6,000 (cost varies based on location)

How will I be prepared for the missions aspect of the school?

Throughout the CLS, you will undergo a comprehensive training process that includes topics such as unreached peoples, modern missions, youth movement, and the power of prayer. This preparation will empower you for the missions component of the program.