Length
About 5 to 6 months
Discipleship Training School
A foundational season of discipleship, formation, and mission.
DTS at YWAM Sendai is a full-time school designed to help students know God more deeply, grow in Christian character, and respond to His call through teaching, prayer, community life, and outreach.
Ask about DTS, dates, costs, expectations, or whether this school may be a good fit.
Quick Overview
What DTS is
DTS is the foundational training school of YWAM and a prerequisite for many future YWAM pathways, including long-term staff service.
Structure
Lecture phase + outreach phase
Focus
Discipleship, community life, and mission
Role in YWAM
Foundational school and prerequisite for staff
What is DTS?
More than a course. A live-learn environment for discipleship.
DTS stands for Discipleship Training School. It is the entry-level school of YWAM and is designed to help students build a foundation for life with God, Christian character, and participation in mission.
Know God
Grow in relationship with God through Scripture, prayer, worship, and obedience.
Be formed in community
Learn through shared life, mentoring, practical service, and discipleship.
Participate in mission
Put learning into practice through outreach, service, and team-based ministry.
DTS at YWAM Sendai
Shaped by life in Sendai and the wider Tohoku region
DTS at YWAM Sendai includes the core YWAM framework, but it is also shaped by the local context of Japan, community-based mission, and long-term faithful presence.
Students should expect not only biblical teaching and discipleship, but also formation connected to cultural humility, prayerful presence, relationships, and service rooted in place.
Life in Japan
Formation shaped by real life in a Japanese context.
Cultural humility
Learning to listen, adapt, and serve with respect.
Prayerful presence
Mission rooted in faithfulness, relationship, and place.
Bilingual environment
Participation shaped by both English and Japanese learning rhythms.
Structure
Two phases that work together
DTS includes a lecture phase and an outreach phase. The first builds foundations; the second puts learning into practice.
Lecture Phase
The lecture phase focuses on biblical teaching, discipleship, worship, prayer, community life, and personal formation.
- Classroom teaching
- Small-group processing
- Personal reflection
- Worship and intercession
- One-on-one mentoring
- Practical service and shared responsibilities
Outreach Phase
The outreach phase gives students the opportunity to live out what they have been learning through team-based ministry in real contexts.
- Evangelism and discipleship
- Mercy ministry and practical service
- Church partnership
- Cross-cultural ministry
- Team life, prayer, and debriefing
- Flexibility and dependence on God
What students can expect
A season that is both stretching and deeply formative
DTS is not only about receiving information. It is a full-time season of participation, responsibility, growth, and discipleship.
Shared rhythms
Community life, worship, intercession, mentoring, and practical responsibilities.
Personal growth
Challenge, maturity, correction, surrender, and growth in Christian character.
Mission readiness
Preparation for outreach, teamwork, service, and practical obedience.
Who is DTS for?
For those seeking a foundation in discipleship and mission
DTS is often a good fit for people who want focused time to grow in their relationship with God, be discipled in Christian community, and discern their next step.
Grow with God
For those who want to know God more deeply and hear His voice more clearly.
Be discipled
For those who want formation in community, character, and obedience.
Prepare for what’s next
For those exploring future ministry, training, or long-term service in YWAM.
Dates and Costs
Practical information for the upcoming DTS
Specific schedules and outreach details may vary, but the following dates and current estimates provide a general picture for planning.
Dates
Arrival Day
Autumn 2027
Graduation Day
Spring 2028
Estimated Costs
Tuition
¥300,000
Accommodation
¥120,000
Food and local transportation
¥150,000 estimated
Outreach phase
¥400,000 estimated
Estimated total
¥970,000
Tuition includes lectures, speaker and teacher-related transport, speaker and teacher-related food and accommodation, and administrative costs. Accommodation includes wifi, utilities, and shared household consumables. Outreach costs vary depending on destination and travel expenses.
Next Step
Interested in DTS?
If you are exploring DTS, discerning your next season, or wondering whether this school may be a good fit, we would love to help you take the next step.