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YWAM Lancaster | Advanced Training

Catalyst Bible School (CBS)

A Discipleship Bible School (DBS) uniquely developed by YWAM Lancaster

Study the Bible. Go to the Nations. Catalyze Transformation.

Catalyst Bible School

CATALYST - noun - cat·a·lyst

An agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action

Catalyst Bible School is a 5-month training built on the foundation of the Discipleship Bible School (DBS), YWAM’s globally recognized Bible program. This immersive experience grounds you in the Word of God, while equipping you to move beyond learning the Bible to engaging Bible distribution, coaching Bible translators, and strengthening Bible engagement among the unreached.

Grounds you in the Word of God
Equips you with practical skills to support Bible translation
Activates you as an integral part of God’s mission

The Bible is the most revolutionary book written in history. Its truth has transformed lives and entire countries. We believe everyone has the right to read it in their own mother tongue.

As a student of the Catalyst Bible School, you will be equipped through the Word of God to accelerate breakthroughs, action, and solutions among the unreached, bringing tangible impact through the Word of God.

📍 12 weeks in Lancaster, PA + focused outreach with Bible engagement and translation partners

What is Catalyst Bible School?

Catalyst Bible School is Bible training with a purpose. In addition to receiving the foundational DBS teaching of God’s redemptive plan for humanity from Genesis to Revelation, you will be activated as an integral part of God’s mission to bring God’s Word to God’s world. You’ll dive deep into Scripture and then be trained to help end Bible poverty in unreached nations through Bible translation, Bible distribution, and Bible engagement.

The Bible is Good News. We cannot keep it to ourselves. Not only will you learn the Word of God and understand the historical context, God’s character and nature, and how it applies to your life today… But you will also multiply that understanding and access to others.

Elements of Your Catalyst Bible School

The Catalyst Bible School consists of three primary elements: Train, Apply, and Go. These elements are intermixed throughout the 6-month school creating a space to be equipped through side-by-side teaching, ministry experience, and taking the Word of God to the nations.

Train

You will receive Biblical teaching designed to help you discover the power of God’s Word and His redemptive plan for humanity. The Bible will come alive as you read it chronologically with your fellow students from cover to cover. You will discover the historical context of the Bible, who it was written to, and what it means for us today.

Read through the ENTIRE Bible
Read the Bible daily
Study the historical context, God’s character and nature, and how it applies to your life today

Guiding Scriptures

Apply

As the Word of God transforms your heart, you will be equipped to bring the truth of scripture to the world around you. You will learn the methodologies of Bible translation and the skillsets needed to partner with what God is doing on the cutting edge of Bible translation, distribution, and engagement. You will partner with your classmates, YWAM Lancaster staff, and global ministry partners to bring God’s Word to the Nations.

Learn methodologies of Bible translation
Bring the truth of scripture to the world around you
Partner with what God is doing on the cutting edge of Bible translation

Guiding Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Go

You will carry the Gospel to an unreached nation. You will be challenged to give out what you have learned as you disciple others in the Word. You will work alongside Bible translators to see the Word of God brought into languages for the first time in human history. Your voice will be used to invite others into the redemptive storyline of God’s word. You will partner with God to see His Word bring transformation and life.

Work directly with Bible Translation
Equip churches among the unreached
Teach the Scripture to Young Leaders in the Nations

Guiding Scriptures

Matthew 28:19-20

Romans 10:14-15

Who is CBS for?

The Catalyst Bible School is designed for YWAMers who have completed DTS and feel called to:

Take the Word of God deeper in their own lives
Engage unreached communities
Support and coach Bible translators and distribution efforts
Strengthen long-term mission initiatives with Scripture engagement at the center

We’re looking for people who are passionate about Scripture and missions — those ready to make a real impact in places still wrestling with Bible poverty.

Bible Teaching Topics

You will receive Biblical teaching designed to help you discover the power of God’s Word and His redemptive plan for humanity. The Bible will come alive as you read it chronologically with your fellow students from cover to cover.

Origins & Worldview
Pentateuch
Tribal Era
David
Kings of Israel
Early Prophets
Late Prophets
Post Exilic & Intertestamental
Jesus
Church
Paul
John

Why This Matters

Bible Poverty Persists.
Millions still live where the full Bible is not available in their heart language.

You Can Change That.
Through this school, you’ll be equipped not just to study Scripture but to bring it — to coach, support, teach, distribute, and advocate for Bible work that changes generations.

Training Structure

Phase 1 — Intensive Bible + Translation Foundations (12 weeks)

Chronological, in-depth Bible study
Foundational training in Bible translation methods and engagement
Tools and principles for Bible distribution and engagement
Practical coaching skills for supporting mother-tongue translators

You’ll grow in your own understanding of Scripture while learning how to help others bring the Bible faithfully into their communities.

Phase 2 — Strategic Outreach (2 months)

Partner with Bible engagement fields
Coach and support local translation teams
Engage in Scripture distribution and training
Apply your training in real mission contexts

Your outreach is not observational — it’s field-oriented and designed for measurable impact.

Commitment & Outcomes

By the end of Catalyst Bible School, you will:

Know the Bible deeply from Genesis to Revelation
Understand core Bible translation and engagement principles
Be equipped to coach and support mother-tongue translation teams
Participate in targeted outreach that contributes to ending Bible poverty
Be commissioned to serve in long-term initiatives with clarity and purpose

Program Details

Duration: 5–6 months total

12 weeks intensive training (Lancaster, PA)
2 months outreach with Bible engagement/translation partners

Prerequisite: Completion of DTS

Scripture Foundation

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” — Romans 10:17
“How can they believe in Him of whom they have never heard?” — Romans 10:14

This school exists because where the Bible has not reached, faith cannot flourish — and we believe God is calling a new wave of laborers into that harvest.