What is a day in the life of a DTS (Discipleship Training School)?
If you clicked on this blog, you’re probably considering doing a DTS—or maybe you’re just curious about what a YWAM DTS really is. Either way, it’s important to understand that a DTS is a 5–6 month journey of transformation—where you grow spiritually and discover clarity in your missional calling. In this blog we will break down what a typical week would look like here at YWAM Lancaster.
DTS is broken up into two phases: Phase One is three months of hands-on training, and Phase Two is two months of taking the gospel to an unreached nation.
We will focus on a day in the life of Phase One!
Each day in Phase One looks a little different, but this phase is designed to equip you with everything you need to know—and experience—to be ready for outreach. That’s when you’ll go out into the world to share the Gospel!
We took the time to ask some graduated students how the YWAM Lancaster DTS schedule impacted their lives:
- “It gave room for me to experience freedom in multiple ways.”
- “Classes grew my walk with the Lord and my understanding of God.”
- “I finally understood what it meant to be hungry for God.”
- “The community of YWAM inspired me to step out in bold things, like preaching the gospel or praying into the mic.”
Understanding that the Phase One schedule is intentionally designed to create space for transformation, deeper knowledge of God, freedom, and more, we can now dive into what a day in the life really looks like.
The Mornings
While mornings might be dreaded in everyday life, here at YWAM Lancaster, we celebrate them! Many DTS students begin their day with intentional, personal time with Jesus—praying, reading scripture, or simply reflecting—before heading to breakfast together.
Whether you’re chatting with classmates or soaking in quiet time with the Lord, the morning continues with a powerful time of community worship.
In the DTS schedule, prayer and worship are central to daily life. At YWAM Lancaster, We will prioritize a culture of worship and prayer and cultivate dependency on His Word to lead us. Worship and prayer are primary expressions of intimacy with God for us personally and corporately. Each morning, staff and students across the base come together to seek the Lord—either through passionate worship or by praying into what’s on His heart.
At YWAM Lancaster, we hold morning worship every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (these are open to the public).
A DTS student shared:
“Morning worship at YWAM is a different environment than I’m used to. It’s teaching me what true corporate worship—and what individual worship—really looks like.”
— Lydia, DTS 2025
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, mornings look a little different. Instead of corporate worship, students dive into either Culture Activation or Intercession. Culture Activation helps you live out Kingdom values in your everyday life and within the school community, while Intercession is all about praying for what’s on God’s heart—often the nations! These mornings are hands-on, intentional, and set the tone for a day of growth and impact!
After worship, Intercession, and/or Culture Activation, you and your friends head to class! Each week, you’ll explore a new topic with a different teacher—some traveling from other states or countries, and some right here from our campus. These classes aren’t just about learning—they’re designed to help you grow spiritually, understand God’s heart, and equip you to live out your calling. You’ll dive into topics like Hearing God’s Voice, Bible Overview, The Father Heart of God, and so much more, giving you practical tools to know Jesus more deeply and step boldly into mission.
The Afternoon
After an intense morning of classes, students are usually starving—both for food and for connection after absorbing all the life-changing truths their legendary teachers have shared. Lunch becomes more than just a meal; it’s a time to refuel with food prepared with care by our dedicated staff, to laugh and catch up with other YWAM Lancaster staff you might not see every day, and to process and reflect on the powerful lessons that are shaping your heart and calling.
Once you’re full from the delicious meal you just ate, it’s time for Focuses (aka Electives or Tracks)!
Focuses are hands-on training sessions designed to help you go deeper, sharpen your skills, and be equipped to play your part in the Great Commission.
These classes happen on Mondays and Wednesdays. At YWAM Lancaster, we offer three specific focuses to choose from: Presence, Catalyst, and Trailblazer.
- Presence is all about learning to live prayer-and worship-centered lives.
- Catalyst equips you to boldly and effectively share the Gospel through public speaking and media.
- Trailblazer teaches everything you need to know about reaching the hardest and darkest nations!
Each Focus is an opportunity to grow, explore your calling, and step more fully into the mission God has for you.
Tuesdays – Outreach Prep
On Tuesdays, you’ll dive into outreach preparation! Once you get your locations and team assignments, you’ll connect with your teammates and start planning for outreach. You’ll hang out and get to know each other—maybe grab ice cream or coffee—pray for the nations you’re headed to, and learn practical tips about the culture, what to do, and how to live on the mission field. This dedicated time is designed to equip you for stepping outside your home country and into real-world missions.
Thursdays – Small Group Time
Thursdays are all about community and connection. You’ll be placed in a small group with classmates and staff to hang out, debrief, and process what God is teaching you. This time is flexible—sometimes your group will go somewhere fun, other times you’ll grab coffee and have a heart-to-heart discussion. Whatever the plan, this time helps you build deeper relationships with your friends and staff while growing together spiritually.
Fridays – Evangelism
Fridays are some of the most exciting days! This is when you take everything you’ve learned during the week and put it into action by going out into the community to share the Gospel. You’ll visit different places, cities, towns, and events in the area to reach people with Jesus. Many students experience breakthroughs in their fear of man during this time, stepping out in faith and discovering what it really means to live on mission.
After an amazing full day of classes, community, and fun, you get to take action by joyfully serving the campus! You’ll be assigned different work duties to clean, prepare, and help meet the practical needs of the base.
If there aren’t any work duties, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with your one-on-one! A one-on-one is a staff member who’s been prayed in at the start of the lecture phase to be your personal mentor. They’ll help you process both the good and the hard things, discern what the Lord is speaking, and seek His direction with you as you walk through this set-apart season.
Your one-on-one is like your built-in best friend! You can grab coffee, share a meal, go for a walk — whatever you want. They’ll be there when you need someone to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or a buddy to laugh with.
The Evenings
On Thursday nights, you’ll attend a community gathering of worship, prayer and encounter with the Lord on the YWAM Lancaster campus. These nights are open to the public centered around God’s presence and you can expect God to show up during these set-apart times.
On Friday nights, all the schools come together to participate in Shabbat Dinner! Shabbat Dinner is the perfect way to end an amazing week in DTS. With your friends, you worship God for what He’s done and what you’ve learned, pray, take communion, and share a meal together. Everyone loves to dress up and have a blast! After dinner, the evening usually ends with a little dance party. You can think of Shabbat as a celebration of everything God has done that week and a preparation for the weekend, one of rest and more time hanging out with your DTS friends!
This wraps up a whole day in DTS. As you read this “Day in the Life,” you can see how every part of your schedule is presence-centered and designed for you to encounter God and get to know Him more in every area of your life. By the end of the day, you’ll realize that you’re encountering Him not only during worship and prayer for the nations but also during meals, dorm-life, and even work duties. Our hope is that it’s not the program or schedule that transforms you, but God moving and working through it. Our goal is simply to create a space where God can meet with you during this set-apart season—helping you grow in your relationship with Him and step into your missional calling.Are you ready to step into a season of growth, adventure, and transformation? Explore DTS at YWAM Lancaster and discover what a day in your life could look like!
