We have been doing this whole YWAM thing for a while now. We have figured out what makes a DTS experience great! Here are 11 things you need to know before you do a DTS:

1. God is Going to Move. It is a fact. He is going to show up. He is going to change your life. Get excited! Get your hopes up.
2. Laying Down your Rights is Necessary. Loren Cunningham (the Founder of YWAM) loves to speak about the relinquishing of rights. God calls every believer to lay down the things they cling to so that they can experience complete freedom in their relationship with Him and be fully available to serve Him. If you don’t give up everything to God (Matthew 19:16-22), how is he going to use you to do the impossible and to reach the nations (Ephesians 2:10)?
3. 5 Months Isn’t as Long as You Think. Soak it up! Like every YWAMer has said – DTS goes by faster than you think. Enjoy the process of learning and growing. Stay present; you don’t need to worry about after DTS, God’s got your future already planned. He has planned this and wants you to live every moment of it to the fullest.
4. Adaptability is Key. Lecture phase is filled with bunk beds, shared bathrooms, community responsibilities, etc… Outreach is filled with fast decisions, different foods, long hours of serving and multiple days without showers. All of these things comes with the DTS package – honestly, it is part of what makes DTS so great! Staying flexible is so important to this process! You must stay flexible and humble to your leaders in every situation to make it the best that it can be!
5. You’re Going to Make Connections. DTS is jam packed with meeting new people! Whether it is staff members, your fellow peers, or people you meet on outreach, you are going to make life-long friendships with amazing God-following people! I’m telling you, it’s inspiring to go on Facebook and see your friends from all over the world chasing after Jesus!
6. Discipleship Requires Work. It is a discipleship training school after all. If you are signing up for DTS for a 5 month vacation of enjoyment, I’m going to guess you aren’t signing up for the right reasons. DTS is for people who want to grow, for people who want to experience what lifestyle Christianity looks like, for people who are willing to give God blood, sweat and tears.
7. YWAM is a Missions Organization. I know this one kind of seems like a no brainer, but I have seen many people come to do a DTS and not really know what being a missionary is. So let me explain; YWAM was created to tell people about Jesus! And to be honest, that is what the majority of your outreach is going to look like. Yes, that can be done in a bunch of ways, from mercy ministry and cleaning toilets in refugee camps to street preaching and praying for healing for the people you meet. Outreach is not a vacation, or a destination to take pictures for your Instagram and make yourself feel better. It is pouring out to the lost! It is furthering the Great Commission! It is sharing Jesus’ love no matter what the cost! If you don’t believe in Evangelism, you probably should rethink why you are wanting to do a DTS.
8. DTS is a Launching Pad. DTS is meant to be the beginning, not your whole faith journey. You have your whole life to walk with Jesus – believe me, that is an amazing thing! One of my favorite things, as YWAM staff, is to see how people thrive after DTS! So many people go on to serve the Lord and do amazing things for the kingdom. Be in it for the long haul! Be in it for the life haul! It’s not about how you start the race but how you finish.
9. Every YWAM Base is Different. YWAM bases differ in location, community life, food, outreach focus, values, structure, themes and so much more. Do your research! The best way to figure out if a YWAM base is right for you is to check out the bases’ website, and then email/call them with questions you have. Ultimately, MAKE SURE IT IS WHERE GOD IS CALLING YOU! Hear His voice, and follow Him!
10. Going Back to “Real” Life is Hard. DTS is a spiritual high; great community and support, and constant inspiration makes it a “greenhouse” for spiritual growth. Going home is often difficult for students. Everything you will learn and grow in can be brought back home! God’s main promise to us is that He will always be with us, not that it will be easy. So remember, He is with you!
11. Packing is the Worst Part. I swear the preparation is the worst part. However, the temporary annoyance of packing is well worth the breakthrough you experience in a DTS. Here is a packing tip for good measure; less is more. When you arrive at your YWAM base you’ll realize that the stress of what to bring wasn’t necessary and the 27 pairs of socks were even less necessary.

Thank you for reading, I hope you found this blog helpful and enjoyable. Click below to learn more about our Encounter DTS. We would love to have you join us here at YWAM Redding!

How does she get so many likes? She gets so much attention.

He is just better than me in everything, I’ll never be good enough.

Wow- she is so happy with her perfect husband and kids, but I’m still single.

These are real quotes I have heard from really amazing men and women of God. These comparative statements KILL. The truth is comparison has always been a tactic of the enemy. He wants you to desire what you don’t have and lose sight of what you do. We were raised in a society of photo shopped models, ads that told you if you wore “Y” you would get “Z”, and the infamous selfie. Comparison holds you to a standard you simply cannot be held to, because it’s a standard of a completely different person. Jesus never asked you to be that person, and quite frankly, the number of “likes” and “followers” you get holds no value in eternity, nor in the world for that matter.

One day, this reality of comparison hit me hard. I was getting down about one of my friend’s ability to lead worship. I can barely hold a tune most days and I wondered why I wasn’t as good as her. In the time I spent comparing myself, I was MISSING OUT on the gifts and talents the Lord wanted to develop in me! The truth is the enemy, in those moments, was ROBBING ME of the joy of discovering my unique skill set & character traits. The crazy part of this revelation was when I finally repented to her, she had her own laundry list of things SHE HAD COMPARED HERSELF TO ME WITH! I was in shock.

The Bible says “Don’t compare yourself among yourselves.” And that, my friend, is wisdom! Not only does comparison produce self hatred, but it inhibits John 17 love, because how can you truly love or champion someone whom you’re jealous of?

How do we not compare ourselves then? I found the answer and although it’s simple, it takes a lot of daily decisions to walk out. Ready for it?

Humility.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” When our eyes are glued on our Creator, and His purpose and plans, you don’t have time to feel bad for yourself. In fact, as you go deeper with the Lord, you will get His heart for others and His heart for you! On this journey of intimacy, I have realized I may not be the best singer, but boy, I can preach!! Who would have thought?!

Ephesians 4 talks about how we are all different parts of the body of Christ, and the Lord has been showing me how to CELEBRATE each part! A foot can’t be a very good hand, even if it tries its hardest. We need to truly encourage and champion our brothers and sisters in being what part God has called them to be. We need to see them as God sees them and look for ways to SERVE them and their gifts. Yes I said it, serve them!

After all, we are all on the same team, right? Their victories should be our victories. In Luke 22 comparison rose among the disciples and they asked Jesus which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus responds by saying “The one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”

An easy combat plan to KILL COMPARISON with another person is to serve their gifts and ministry. Ask how you can help them grow. Give them a platform to shine on! Edify them with your words to their face and behind their back!  Now every time my friend plays worship, my heart truly leaps for joy because I know she is walking out in who Christ has called her to be. As for me, in the midst of serving others, the Lord has been faithful to open doors for me to preach. And I can honestly say, I wouldn’t want to be anyone else!

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourself.” [Philippians 2:3]

Have you ever been in a season where the knowledge of His presence can’t seem to take the eighteen inch journey from your head to your heart? Have you ever come to a point where the comfort of the cliche quote won’t cut it for where you are walking? Have you ever struggled with practical steps for what to do during dark seasons?

Three years ago I was approached by a good friend who asked me if I could talk to a young man he had begun mentoring. I agreed without asking for any other details. I was over one thousand miles away from this guy, but I had a desire to encourage and bless him. Little did I know that I was in over my head.

As soon as we began texting and messaging on Facebook, he opened up about his life. He had come from a wealthy Christian family, but had struggled with chronic depression. He had suicidal thoughts every day, and terrible dreams. He had a medical condition that no doctor could diagnose. He had incredible pain all through his body and it would leave him with an intense desire to simply end it all so he didn’t have to endure it any more.

I was over my head and out of my paygrade. I didn’t know what to do. He loved Jesus, but couldn’t understand why this was happening and why God would allow it. In that moment, I had so many different ideas come flooding into my mind. The first was how I could rationalize the problem of pain like C.S.Lewis and tell him the philosophical reasons for why pain existed. I thought about confronting him about his lack of faith. I even thought about asking him about hidden sin in his life or “generational curses” in his family line. Maybe telling him about demons and the enemy would help him. But as I sat there with zero answers and even less capability to relate, I just felt the Holy Spirit move me to simply sit, listen and encourage.

So I sat and I listened. I listened to him talk about his pain, his anxiety, his depression. I simply sat and listened. The cliché quotes from your favorite pastor and missionary don’t cut it for someone in deep pain. They don’t want a sound bite or a catchy quote to cover over their pain. Every night I would talk to him and pray with him. I simply prayed for breakthrough, peace, and a raw encounter with Jesus. All I had for him was knowledge of his identity in Jesus and that there was a loving Father that was for Him and not against Him. Every day for three weeks straight I would give him no answers but simply pray for breakthrough.

After three weeks our schedules and busyness took over, and our conversations and praying soon tailed off. I would still pray for him but the intensity of our contact wasn’t the same. Soon over a year passed and I had all but forgotten about those three intense weeks.

Almost two years later out of nowhere he reached out to me. He then began to tell me a story I couldn’t even believe was true. He shared with me that not long after those three weeks, he had decided to join a ministry to reach youth through adventure sports. He knew he was in pain, but wouldn’t allow his pain to define him but rather he would reach out to the youth and share his story. Soon after stepping out in faith, all the excruciating pain left his body. Soon the depression and crippling anxiety fell away as well. He suddenly knew and was able to confidently say, “The joy of the Lord is MY strength.” His travels and ministry even took him into NORTH KOREA! He had ministered in many nations all over the earth. He not only was healed and delivered, but was now a trumpet of victory letting the enemy know that THEY HAD LOST!

I wanted to share this story to release hope in your heart. That sowing in the dark never looks pretty. You never sow with all the answers. You never sow knowing when the breakthrough will come or exactly what you will receive when it comes. You sow in Faith. You sow in quiet trust. I want to encourage you to not give up hope. To persevere in dark seasons, knowing that Jesus is a rewarder of those who seek Him. He sees you, He knows you, He is with you. Sow, weep, cry out, and keep sowing. He will exalt you at the proper time, but remember He WILL exalt you.

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126:5-6

Singleness. Is it the curse word of our generation?!? Haha, NO!  But after talking to some people in your family, friend groups, and even church communities, you might think so huh? Since when did people start seeing singles as second hand citizens? Have you ever had grandma at the latest family gathering ask you, “When are you going to get married?”, or have been the fifth wheel on a Saturday night mini golf hangout, I assure you you’re not alone! The truth is, after years of wrestling and seeking God, I can confidently, for the first time, say that I can see singleness for what it really is: a gift!!

Let me rewind back a bit… I was always the girl who had a boyfriend in high school, so when I gave my life to Jesus, I assumed it was the same drill. Find a guy who likes you, flirt a little, go on some dates, decide if you want to be with him for “x amount of time.” Repeat.

It was quite a “shock to my system” when I realized that my process was not the Lord’s process or will. He had something so different in mind for my life but, unfortunately, it took years of me making mistakes and getting my heart broken to finally walk out His will. When I began to search out His Word, seek out wise counsel (Godly married couples), and really find out God’s heart on singleness, dating, and marriage it dawned on me: “I am set apart for the Lord, so why does my romantic life look so much like the world?” Don’t get me wrong, dating isn’t evil, but in my journey and walk with Jesus, I put a stake in the ground that day, I declared war, deciding I would be tenacious in my journey to let God in on my love story and stand for purity. I realized not only was I called to be SET APART for Jesus and His kingdom, but His plans for me in this season were greater than I could ever imagine. I wanted to share with you some of the habits I developed, and mindsets that were shifted, so you, my friend, can experience true freedom in your singleness.

1. Honor the desire of your heart and invite God into it!

Let’s be real. God knows your every thought, so there is no point in trying to hide from him (or lie to yourself) about how you are feeling towards a subject. If you are one whose heart longs to be married, talk to Him about it! I have received a lot of various counsel on how to walk out this season, but some advice that did NOT work for me was when people defined “surrender” as acting like you don’t even want it anymore! That’s baloney! Surrender is trusting God with it, but like any relationship, trust takes a friendship, and a friendship takes conversations. The more I’ve learned God’s heart for me, the more I’ve been able to have real conversations with Him, particularly about this subject. Some of my most beautiful moments have been when in the place of prayer, I have brought this to Him, and have been able to realize how much He cares. I’m gonna be real with you: some seasons I am driving in my car, windows down, solo and thanking God for this season. Other times, I am in my room, with tears full of frustration, expressing my desire to Him. At the end of the day, I’ve learned an important lesson: He cares. He really, simply, truly cares about how you are feeling and He is wanting to speak into this area of your life. In this place, you will find true peace!

2. Embrace your Single Season as the Gift that it is!

This is a season that once it’s over….you don’t get it back! I was out with two of my single girlfriends, I had literally called them up thirty minutes before and asked them to get a late night snack, and we got on the topic of singleness. We realized we couldn’t have imagined being married that day. We wouldn’t have just been able to spontaneously go hang out if we had a household to tend to. We didn’t have to ask anyone if we could spend that money. We didn’t have to ask the husband if it was OK. And we didn’t have to find a sitter for our kids.

That night, we all entered into a deeper appreciation of our season. Use this time wisely by going deeper with friends and with the Lord! Live it up with your friends and pursue them tenaciously! Remember too, this season is a time in your life where you can have UNDIVIDED attention for the one who created you! You have this time to dive into a relationship with God in such a unique way!! Don’t waste it away by making an idol out of your future spouse. 1 Corinthians talks about the true benefit of being single. This is a season you can give yourself FULLY to the Lord and fully to ministry, wherever that might be.

3. Become the Right Person!

I have an amazing couple who mentor me, and one day they told me “you should make a list of the qualities you want in a husband.” I looked at them confused and asked “Wait…haven’t you been telling me to not focus on guys, but on Jesus?” They quickly explained to me that once I make the list…focus on BECOMING that list. They made a good point. The FIRST thing I had on that list was “wise, yet faith filled.” At that moment I realized: WOW I am super negative sometimes and honestly don’t walk in a lot of faith. It was a good wake up call for me! I was praying for someone that had a trait that I have barely developed. This season is exciting for me as I am being molded and shaped to look more like Jesus! And guys…I REALLY like who Jesus is molding me into! I am learning to love myself in ways I never thought possible and becoming who the Lord has called me to be! Allow yourself to be pruned, and instead of looking for Mr./Mrs. Right, become that person!

4. Invest In Purity Now

Bottom line, if you are someone who scans a room now looking for your spouse or checking out others, what makes you think it will change once you meet “the one”? This is one of those “taking thoughts captive” moments. It’s natural to notice beauty around you, but it’s that second thought that can get you in trouble. There are always going to be attractive people around, but does that mean you are going to continue to admire them while you’re married!?

Lusting after another is an obvious sin, but I think we downplay other moments in our imagination. For example, I would meet a guy I liked, and within one hour in my head I had planned out our possible future together; kids, job, etc. I realized I was living in sin because that man was in fact not my husband, and I was not “loving the Lord with all my mind,” but focusing on foolish scenarios. Some of us may struggle with lust and having self control over sexual temptation, but the uncontrolled imagination of planning a life ahead of the one Jesus is actually giving you is just as dangerous and can lead to broken expectations and broken hearts.  We have to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), and to do that we must guard our eyes as well (Luke 11:34).  A trick I have learned is when a thought/temptation comes to mind I simply ask God “What am I actually desiring right now? Is this a counterfeit for what God has for me?” Now be encouraged, God is fighting this good fight with you!

5. Cultivate Your Calling

Let me go ahead and kill this lie now. Your life doesn’t begin at marriage, neither does your identity or purpose. 1 Corinthians 7 talks about how the married are anxious about world things and how to please their spouse, but the unmarried are anxious about things of the Lord. What better time to start your ministry?! The truth is, you will NEVER have more time in your life than you do now! You will only continue to take on more responsibilities as you build a family, so when you have 168 hours in a week to yourself, why not put that towards starting to walk out what you feel called to? If you want to be a missionary, sign up for a trip now! If you feel called to be the world’s best parent, offer to babysit for married couples in your church. If you want to start your own ministry, go serve in one now and learn from someone else! Also…on a very practical level, sitting in your room, only talking to Jesus won’t get you very far in finding a life partner; you are more likely to meet people you would want to do life with if you are engaging in what you enjoy doing! So get out there and advance the kingdom!!

So although everyone may not follow all these tips to a tee, I have taken this handful of advice to push me to my ultimate goal: to be closer to Jesus & plan for what He would have for me. I am so excited for the day that I will be married, but I am am not living with that being my ultimate goal. I CHALLENGE you: Does your love life look like the world? Are you asking yourself, “how close can I get to the line?” or “How far can I get from it?” Are you waiting to be married or are you living out the fullest life you can now? Do you despise your singleness or are you maximizing it? Bring your heart to the Lord. Get His perspective and walk out this season as the set apart, powerful disciple you are called to be!

“I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him…I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.” [1 Corinthians 7:32&35 NLT]