What is a DTS?
a 6 month Journey that will transform you life and help you know God and make him Known
Your Next Steps
sign up for DTS
Surround yourself with leaders and friends who are passionately following Jesus. At Sutain DTS, you’ll grow in faith, find healing, and step into your God-given purpose.
Pursue God
In Sutain DTS, you’ll spend 6 months diving into the Bible, praying for the nations, and worshiping God. Learn to hear His voice and follow Jesus with your whole heart.
Find your calling
You have a unique calling. God has given you gifts for a reason. During Sutain DTS, you’ll see the needs of the world and discover how your skills can bring real change.
Know God
Lecture
Phase
Your journey begins with an immersive, life-changing season of discipleship. For 12 weeks, you will be deeply rooted in the Word, discovering God’s nature and character, learning to hear His voice, and developing a biblical worldview that will shape your life and mission.
This phase is more than just classroom learning—it’s about personal transformation. Through dynamic teachings, you’ll engage with trusted spiritual leaders who will challenge and inspire you. You’ll take what you learn and apply it in real life through local outreach, evangelism, and intentional discipleship.
- Experience powerful times of prayer, worship, and fellowship with a global community of believers.
- Seek God with all your heart, hear His voice, and discover His purpose for your life.
- Grow in character and faith as you step into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
This is a season of intense spiritual growth, equipping you with the foundation needed to go into the nations and make an impact.
Make Him Known
Outreach
Phase
After being transformed in the Lecture Phase, you’ll step into the nations—carrying the love and power of the Gospel to some of the least-reached places in the world.
During the Outreach Phase, you will:
- Immerse yourself in new cultures, working alongside local believers and experienced missionaries.
- Meet both practical and spiritual needs, bringing the hope of Christ to those who have never heard.
- Engage in evangelism, discipleship, and acts of service, showing the love of Jesus in a tangible way.
- Learn to share the Gospel in a way that honors cultures and traditions, bringing transformation with wisdom and love.
This is where faith meets action. You won’t just learn about missions – you’ll live it, seeing firsthand the power of God at work in people’s lives.
Are you ready to be transformed and transform the world? The journey starts here
What is
Sustain DTS
Discipleship, Missions & Sustainable Living.
A transformative six-month experience integrating biblical discipleship, hands-on missions, and sustainable stewardship.
Sustain DTS by YWAM Raleigh is a six-month discipleship training school designed for those who desire to know God deeply, live missionally, and steward creation well. This program is unique in its focus on biblical teaching, practical skills, and sustainable living, equipping participants for a lifetime of impactful ministry.
- Live in a yurt community and experience simple, intentional living.
- Receive one-on-one mentoring from experienced discipleship leaders.
- Train in evangelism, apologetics, and mercy ministries.
- Gain hands-on skills in renewable energy, permaculture, and resource management.
- Engage in global outreach through community development, anti-trafficking initiatives, and creative gospel-sharing.
🔥 Nature and Character of god
Discover who God is and how He relates to you.
🗣️ Hearing God’s Voice
Learn to recognize and follow His guidance.
⚔️ spiritual Warfare
Understand and engage in spiritual battles with biblical authority.
💡 Biblical World view and missions
See the world through God’s eyes and respond to His call.
💖 The Father heart of God
Experience the depth of God’s love for you and others.
🌎 Cross-Cultural Ministry
Develop effective ways to engage different cultures with the Gospel.
🕊️ Understand the Holy Spirit and His gifts
Learn more about the Holy Spirit who is our counselor and teacher
✝️ How to preach the gospel
Deepen your knowldge of the gospel and learn how to share it effectively.
🌱 Organic gardening & permaculture
Grow food naturally while enriching the ecosystem.
♻️ Composting & waste management
Reduce waste by recycling organic materials into nutrients.
🔆 Biogas & solar energy solutions
Harness renewable energy for a cleaner, sustainable future.
🌍 Sustainable practices
Live responsibly by conserving resources and minimizing waste.
This unique blend of discipleship and sustainability prepares you not just for missions—but for a lifestyle of lasting impact.
🌏 Experience new cultures
Work alongside local believers to bring hope to unreached people.
✝️ Evangelism & Discipleship
Lead people to Jesus through personal relationships and creative outreach.
🛠️ Community Development
Support long-term ministry through practical projects.
🚨 Anti-Trafficking Initiatives
Raise awareness and take action against human trafficking
🌿 Creation Care & Sustainable Missions
Implement projects that restore the environment.
🌎 Cross-Cultural Ministry
Develop effective ways to engage different cultures with the Gospel.
🎭 Creative Gospel Sharing
Use storytelling, performing arts, film, and media to spread the message of Jesus.
📖 Biblical Training
Equip believers with strong theological foundations through discipleship, Bible study, and leadership development.
✅ Empower local churches & believers
Support indigenous leaders in long-term discipleship.
✅ Engage in holistic missions
Meet both spiritual and practical needs in underserved communities.
✅ Bring real transformation
Partner with communities for sustainable impact beyond the
✅ Raise Up the Next Generation
Equip young leaders with biblical foundations, practical skills, and a passion for global missions.
This unique blend of discipleship and sustainability prepares you not just for missions—but for a lifestyle of lasting impact.
Why Choose Sustain DTS?
Sustain DTS is more than just a discipleship school—it’s a lifestyle. Our program equips you not only to know God and make Him known but to do so in a way that honors His creation and fosters long-term sustainability.
📖 Rooted in Scripture
Inspired by Hebrews 1:3: “He sustains all things by His powerful word.”
🌱 A Pioneering Approach
Combining faith-based discipleship with sustainable stewardship.
🔥 Designed for Impact
Equipping you to live missionally, steward wisely, and disciple nations.
FAQ
ask us
anything
Who should do a DTS?
Anybody who wants to prioritize their relationship with God! Students range from all ages, but our largest student demographic is 18-24 year olds. While you can start the school at age 17, students must be 18 years old to go on outreach.
WHY IS IT CALLED THE SUSTAIN DTS?
The inspiration for Sustain DTS comes from Jesus, our Lord, who sustains and holds everything together by his word. We live in such a fast-paced world with many comforts; during this DTS we will focus on simplicity, sustainability, and reaching the last, least, and the lost, both in our community and in the ends of the earth. Our desire is to raise up disciples; we aim to train missionaries who will have a burning passion for Jesus and the nations that far outlasts their time in our school. The out-of-comfort-zone lifestyle will prepare us to identify and adjust to most people who live simple lives; it is an effective means of reaching people, so we will embrace rustic conditions during outreach, carrying the Gospel to the Lost!
How much does it cost?
Lecture Phase: $4695
Outreach Phase: $2485 + airfare
Total Cost: $7180 + airfare
*It may be helpful to note that our DTS lasts six months, whereas other DTS’s often last only five. We spend three months on outreach rather than two.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COST OF DTS?
Lecture Phase Fees Cover: tuition, room and board, classroom supplies, and group outings. Souvenirs, personal snacks, and personal adventures in the area are not covered.
Outreach Phase Fees Cover: international outreach ground fees, outreach insurance, and room and board costs during outreach phase. Souvenirs, personal snacks, and personal adventures are not covered.
WHERE WILL WE GO ON OUTREACH?
Outreach locations are typically released during the second month of lecture phase. We plan to spend one month of the outreach Stateside and two months abroad. Deciding where to go on outreach is a prayerful process that we surrender to the Lord. To keep travel costs reasonable, we will likely limit our travels to one or two countries while abroad.
WILL I GET TO GO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS?
We ask that our students and staff remain with the team throughout the DTS. This helps promote unity and removes distractions from this special, intensive time of development in character and faith for our students. The holidays are a wonderful time of ministry, fellowship, and celebration for a DTS group to experience together. Most people make lifelong friends in their DTS’s and are grateful to spend the holidays together.
CAN MY FAMILY VISIT ME?
Yes, we love having visitors! Hospitality is one of our foundational values. It is yet to be determined if we will have space to offer accommodation for visitors or if they would have to find housing elsewhere nearby. See the 18 foundational values of YWAM here.
CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL OR SMOKE DURING DTS?
No. We have a strict policy of staff and students refraining from drinking or smoking throughout the entirety of the six month DTS. We seek to promote a culture of holiness, and we know some students and staff may have a history of abusing drugs. We aim to love one another well by removing any temptation.