How Much Does A YWAM DTS Cost?
December 31, 2030 - March 14, 2040
How Much Does A YWAM DTS Cost?
How Much Does A YWAM DTS Cost?
If you’re looking to do a YWAM DTS (otherwise known as a Youth With a Mission Discipleship Training School!) then one of the first questions you probably want the answer to is how much is this going to cost you. Below, we have hopefully given you the answer you’re looking for.
So, how much does a DTS cost?
A YWAM DTS here at Pacific Reach New Zealand costs $11490 (NZD). This cost is split between the lecture phase of the DTS, which costs $6495, and the outreach phase of the DTS which costs $4995. This cost covers teaching, food and accommodation for the duration of the DTS.
Although this is the cost of taking part in a DTS here at Pacific Reach, the price of a DTS at another YWAM base may vary significantly.
Breakdown of the cost of a DTS
If this cost surprises you, that’s OK! Let’s have a look at what’s involved in a DTS and why the cost is set at the price it is.
I remember when I first saw how much money I would have to pay to do a DTS. I was fairly overwhelmed with the amount. I knew it was going to be a challenge for me to get all that money together. But I also knew that it was something I was willing to commit to.
Since then, I have completed a DTS and returned to staff 4 more DTS’s. This has helped me to understand why a DTS costs as much as it does, as well as being fully convinced that it is worth every penny!
Whenever a cost is attached to something there are a number of factors that go into deciding where to set the price point. And with a DTS it’s no different.
The cost of a DTS includes:
- Accommodation
- Food
- Tuition
- Running costs of your chosen location
- Travel costs
Accommodation: Wherever you stay for you’re DTS you’re going to want a bed, a bathroom, and a roof over your head. The cost of your DTS will cover all of this.
Food: Good food is good for the soul! At Pacific Reach we value good food. The cost of the DTS will cover all your meals each day. But you may decide to buy your own snacks for between meals!
Tuition: Bringing in some of the best speakers to teach during the DTS costs money. The cost of the DTS allows us to financially bless these speakers for giving of their time and energy to share with you.
Running costs: Every DTS location requires money to be able to keep running. Bills need to be paid, maintenance needs to be done, vehicles need to be in working order. The cost you pay for a DTS goes towards supporting the ministry in this area as well.
Travel costs: Every DTS includes an outreach. And this outreach is often overseas from the location of the lecture phase. These travel costs will include flights to the outreach location as well as covering all your costs while there.
With all of this, remember this is just an overview. There are a number of smaller details that all work together to give you the best possible experience during a DTS.
Why is YWAM so expensive?
Hopefully this also goes some way to understanding why a DTS costs so much.
YWAM is expensive because of the costs involved in running an all-inclusive program for 5-6 months at a time. The costs including accommodation, food, tuition, and an overseas outreach all add up over the duration of the program and are reflected in the overall price of the course.
As a comparison, just imagine how much it would cost you to rent your own place for 6 months, then add on the cost of food for that time, add the cost of 3 months worth of daily teaching, a contribution to the overall running of a YWAM location, and finally include flights to another country, you will quickly see why a DTS costs as much as it does.Â
Scholarships at Pacific Reach
We don’t want money to be a barrier to you coming to join us at Pacific Reach.Â
If you are concerned about this, then there are a variety of different scholarships we offer at Pacific Reach to help you out. Check them out on our scholarships page. And feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this.
Why the cost varies at different YWAM locations
In all of this, it’s worth remembering that each YWAM location is unique and will allocate their funds differently.
One of the great things about YWAM is that each location has its own flavour and unique structure. But this also means that there is no universal cost for a DTS.Â
The reason for this is that each YWAM location has different running costs determined by factors as varied as the country the DTS is in, to how many students they expect on a school.
For the exact cost of a specific DTS check out the YWAM location’s own website.
Is a YWAM DTS tax deductible?
One last thing to mention that people often ask is whether a YWAM DTS is tax-deductible.
A YWAM DTS is not tax-deductible in most countries around the world. The cost of a YWAM DTS must be processed as goods or services rendered, meaning it doesn’t qualify for a tax deduction. However, you, or someone you know, can give a gift to a YWAM ministry or an individual that may be tax-deductible.
It’s best to contact the individual YWAM location for an answer specific to the location you are inquiring about.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has been helpful to you and you feel as though you have a better grasp of what a YWAM DTS costs.
Check out this in-depth testimony about how God has provided more than enough finances for one of our staff to be on the mission field.
Or for a helpful process on how to choose your DTS have a look at our blog post – How to choose your YWAM DTS.
“Coming into the medical compassion stream, I thought it would just be an addition to my medical experience. But after laying down my expectations I was able to grasp the essence of compassion through ministry, experiencing a new perspective on medicine. Choosing to serve in love, and taking the time to seek out and care for the one who need it most.”
Yekaterina Lukyanchina, 20, Russia/America
“SPHC was honestly one of the best experiences of my life so far. From the lecture phase to outreach, my mind was constantly blown by the endless stream of possibilities that become available when you combine practical medical care with the power of prayer. Also, getting to hike, ride in boats and in the back of trucks, and setting up clinics basically anywhere was quite the highlight for a city girl like me.”
Tabitha Abishegam, 26, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Before I did the Go Pacific DTS, I was expecting the Lord to do a lot of amazing things through me; and He did. However, I never expected Him to do so much work in my own heart. I drew a lot closer to God, experienced freedom, and I learned to believe in the ‘Jonas’ that He says I am. My relationship with God has become deeper and more serious, but at the same time it has become more fun and casual.”
Jonas Sørensen, 21, Denmark
“Wild at Heart? Yes, of course! But whatever adventure I went for, I wanted to be the one in control. During my DTS, God changed my heart to go wild with Him. I learned to trust in God and that I don’t have to be in charge, as long as I know the One who is!”
Silas Bauer, 21, Germany
“God showed me that true worship always comes out of a place of intimacy and revelation of what Jesus has done for me. I realized that this is were I want to be – sitting at His feet and pouring out my love and affection before Him, because He’s so worthy.”
Julianna Suter, 20, Switzerland
“Our outreach to the Cook Islands taught me how to enjoy the simplicity of life. I learned that God is always focusing on my heart first and then on the hearts of other people. God also showed me the importance and power of constantly being in prayer.”
Judith Evers, 20, Germany
“Medical Compassion DTS was a truly an incredible experience. Working in health centres, hospitals and pop-up clinics grew my interest in medicine and allowed me to practically show the love of God. For me, the most transformational aspect of my Med-Com DTS was the focus on compassion and its importance in achieving true holistic healing. This is an experience like no other!”
Matthew Bassett, 18, Orewa, NZ
“I’ve learn what the Kingdom means for us, how can we bring the Kingdom here and just share it with others… That makes me super excited! The key is to listen to God’s voice, seek His face and His presence! Everything else will be added as he promised is Matthew 6:33!”
Estera Welchar, 22, Poland
“This is the craziest stream ever, not just doing fun activities, but the people I was with; they are wild as! Throughout the school, I’ve learned so much from the Bible that doing life with God and living my life on the edge is so much more interesting.”
Mun Hei, 21, Malaysia
“Through prayer and passion stream, I was able to see how prayer could be a place of so much intimacy with God. Finding my secret place with Him allowed me to fall in love again with His beauty and goodness. At the same time, God revealed to me the secrets of His heart- how He saw me and how He saw the world. It’s such a privilege to know that there’s a big God up there who trust us and partners with us to bring the kingdom of heaven down on to earth through our prayers!!! And never once did He let me down.”
Jesse Chua, 22, Singapore