What is a YWAM Justice Focused Discipleship Training School?
This is a “normal” Discipleship Training School (DTS) which we run each winter here in Wiler (Switzerland). The difference to our Creative DTS (September till June) and our Mercy Ministry DTS (September till April) is that this particular DTS has a special focus on issues of (in)justice.
The Bible, all the way through the Old Testament – and the New – makes it clear that it is very important to God how the vulnerable ones in the world are treated. We want to look especially at the Character of God regarding justice and what the Bible says about our responsibility as Christians in this area.
First and foremost, this is a Discipleship Training School. The DTS is the foundational missions training within Youth With A Mission. “To know God and make Him known” is the motto of our mission and the purpose of the DTS. The first (lecture) phase concentrates on “knowing God”.
Please follow the link to the YWAM DTS Centre and carefully read the description of what a DTS is and also read through the curriculum (see www.ywamdtscentre.com).
Our “focus” on justice issues complements the DTS themes as a common thread running through the DTS in the teaching and work done by the student. This will culminate in a final project each student will complete by the end of the lecture phase on the individual student’s particular area of interest (human trafficking, exploitation – of children or other weak members of society, forced prostitution, bonded labor, child soldiers, etc.) and outline a specific way the DTS graduate will bet involved after the school is finished.
The Big Picture
The University of the Nations (UofN), part of our mission, isolated 3 “Passion Points” a few years ago. We will look at those and what our response can be. They are: “Issues of Justice”, “Children at Risk” and “Pure Water”.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, 20 to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We believe that commission is for all Christians and includes every area of life. In this school we are highlighting areas of vulnerability and need in the world. While we recognize that not everyone is called to go to a nation/culture vastly different to his/her own, we still want to see each student who completes this DTS be a bit better equipped to be able to live out this calling which Jesus has given us — wherever in the world he/she is called and to whatever area of society.
Facts for this Justice Focused DTS 2012
When?
This DTS will run from 5 February through 20 July 2012 – including 3 months’ cross-cultural outreach.
- Internationals’ arrival date: 4 February 2012
- Departure date: 21 July 2012
In the past outreach teams have gone to North Africa, the Himalaya Region, Ethiopia, Colombia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova. The outreach destinations for this school will be established after the school begins. Although the activities we are involved in on DTS outreach are varied, the strongest emphasis is always on “making God known”.
The Justice DTS 2013 will run from 13 January through 21 June 2013.
Where?
Wiler is located almost exactly in the middle between Bern and Biel/Bienne in Switzerland. To both cities there is a driving distance of about 18 km. Wiler is a rather “scattered” village, and consists of several parts. It is a village where “everybody knows everybody” and where you always find opportunities for a litte conversation or for giving someone a helping hand.
The main impression of Wiler is that of a farming village, but in the meantime the majority of people living here are not involved in farming anymore.
An explanation for your journey to Wiler you can find here.
A visual tour through our base:
How much?
The Justice Focused DTS costs CHF 3’300 for the first (teaching) phase. The cost of the international outreach will depend on the specific location but should be around the same amount.
www.xe.com is a useful tool to convert CHF (Swiss Francs) to your currency.
How to apply?
You can download an application here.
Please have a look at the visa requirements for Switzerland.
N.B.
We would love to hear from you personally before you apply! Please email us directly at justice-dts.wiler@jmem.ch or use the contact form. Feel free to ask any questions you might have concerning this DTS!
University of the Nations
This DTS is a University of the Nations registered course. The UofN is part of Youth with a Mission. A successfully completed DTS is a prerequisite to all other UofN training schools, degree programs and to work long term with YWAM as well.
