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.
Scholarships at Pacific Reach
We don’t want money to be a barrier to you coming to join us at Pacific Reach.
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.
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.
“Doing a DTS and being part of the worship stream was absolutely life changing for me. God took me from a luke-warm, passive, prideful faith, to an authentic passionate relationship with Him. As he revealed His worthiness to me, I learned to let go of everything in this world and cling to Him; to allow myself to be undone in His presence.”
Lauren Balzer, 18, BC Canada
“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
“Did you know that according to WHO more than half the world does not have access to healthcare? After seeing those statistics first hand, while in the mission field, I was heartbroken, but I was not without hope. God used my SPHC team and me to meet the needs of many individuals both physically and spiritually, and He opened my eyes to the possibility of a career in healthcare. I now attend the University of Missouri and I am pursuing a degree in Public Health. I hope to one day work for the WHO and take on the challenge of reaching those without healthcare with God’s healing hands.”
Caroline Wilson, 21, Colorado, USA
“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
“Upon first coming to DTS, I had settled for a mundane and ordinary life. But over time, He has captured my heart and instilled in me a new passion for His purpose. This has given me confident hope that I am worthy of intentionally being part of the greater good.”
Taya Newton, 20, Alberta, Canada
“SPHC was a transformational turning point in my faith walk where I learned to focus on others, serve, and honour others with my skills. Everything I learned in the course I put into practice to serve in the mission work that we were doing in Vanuatu. In changing me the Lord has changed my future and I walk with him and others in everything that I do.”
Paul Kerpel, 23, Alberta, Canada
“Being part of the Wild Heart stream helped me know my place in the kingdom as well as parts of my spiritual identity. It broke lies and empowered me to be who God called me to be!”
Nicole Tavares, 18, Brazil
“We had been married for 5 years when we came to Pacific Reach. As a married couple, we learned a lot about each other and ourselves and gained a lot for our marriage. What we enjoyed most during the GO PAC stream times was the mix between the depth we dove into God’s Word, getting to know His plan for us better, and the times thinking and learning about the interesting Pacific cultures. We think it is so important to get to know new cultures. At the base, there are many different cultures, but you really want to get to know the one culture where you live and where you’re going on outreach. We experienced that when spiritual basics are understood with the heart and not only with the mind, that is what brings change into your daily life, and that is what you can carry home after DTS.“
Tobias & Annika Dietrich, 26 & 26, Germany
“Being part of the Go Pacific Stream really opened my eyes to experiencing and living in other cultures, particularly that of the Māori and South Pacific. Being able to be so relational with others, a key part of their culture, meant that we could witness God move in peoples’ lives on such a personal level, which has impacted me ever since. It also helped me discover my heart for evangelism, encouraged me to step out in faith, and stirred a passion to share the life-changing love of God I came to know during this time.”
Emma Sear, 19, England
“In the worship stream I learned why we worship God, because he loved us first and because he’s worthy to be praised!
Also I learned that If you lead worship you have to be filled first in order to lead others into worship because you lead others in the intimacy that you have for yourself.”
Jaspar Wandtke, 20, Germany