Frequently Asked Questions

Youth With A Mission or YWAM is a global movement of Christians dedicated to knowing God and making God known. YWAM started in 1960 as a way to get young people involved with missions. It still does that today but its more involved in every kind of outreach and every kind of ministry you can imagine.There are currently over 18,000 staff members with locations in over 180 nations. YWAM's ministries fit into 3 main categories: evangelism, training, and mercy distress.

Spring DTS starts in February and Fall DTS starts in September. Refer to the Discipleship Training School page for detailed information.

The typical weekday morning has worship and intercession, classroom lectures and learning in a variety of ways. Lectures aren't your typical college lecture, as you have a different speaker each week, and many of the speakers will teach using various methods and applications. Afternoons can be filled with focused interests like outdoor adventures or fitness, community outreach and ministry, work duties, and other small group times. Evenings and weekends are generally free time, but there may be group activities organized.

The lecture phase portion at Oak Haven is $3500. Outreach costs are based on the cost of travel (including airplane tickets if we are flying to outreach locations), insurance, accommodations and food in the outreach location, and ministry expenses and gifts as we go. Depending on the location of outreach these costs can vary from $2500 to $5000. A good estimate for the total costs of the DTS would be $7500-$8000.

Once you complete DTS you will have completed the necessary prerequisite to serve on staff at YWAM Oak Haven (and at most YWAM bases around the world). You would then need to apply for staff and YWAM Oak Haven (or wherever you apply) would pray over your application, consider your references, and then make a decision about your joining the YWAM base family. Often bases ask staff applicants to make a minimum of a two-year commitment.

YWAM Oak Haven offers a rare opportunity to be in one of the most beautiful and livable locations in the United States, especially for anyone who loves to adventure outdoors. Google top 10 locations to live in the US and you will likely find a city from Northwest Arkansas. Moreover, the YWAM Oak Haven community is unique because it involves a partnership with a local church, local ministry, local businesses (including a fantastic discipleship fitness company) who all long to see God's Kingdom brought to earth. There may even be internship opportunities for DTS students with some of our partners. 

 YWAM Oakhaven staff are self-funded; they raise their own funds outside of the organization to support the work they do in YWAM. Every volunteer joins YWAM Oakhaven with an understanding that they give their expertise and goodwill without payment.