(559) 591-5009 [email protected]

DTS FAQ

 Q: Can my donors receive a tax-deductible receipt?

A: Money that is paid for school fees is NOT tax-deductible.
If a supporter wants a tax-deduction, ask your pastor if your supporter can donate through your home church.

Q:  When are lecture fees due?

A.  The lecture fee should be paid in full by Registration Day/Arrival Day.

  • All payments must be made in USD funds by cash, check, money order, Visa or Master Card.
  • If the total fee is not paid at registration – within the first week of school – (including those on an approved Deferred Payment Plan), a service charge of $75 per student will be added to the unpaid balance and must be paid in full by week 4.
  • All personal expenses incurred while involved with Gleanings For The Hungry are the responsibility of the student (such as medical costs, food away from campus and mail). It is a good idea to bring some spending money for things such as snacks or personal items.

Q:  When are outreach fees due?

A.  The exact outreach payments will be calculated within the first weeks of DTS and are due around the middle of lecture phase.

Q:  Are there scholarships or special rates?

A.  We do not currently have a scholarship program. If you are unable to make your payment in time, please contact our DTS director.

Q:  How do I send a check or money order to pay my fees?

A: Your check or money order must be drawn on a U.S. Bank, or an international affiliate of a U.S. Bank, in USD funds with U.S.computer coding on the bottom of the check.

Q:  Do I need to purchase health insurance?

A: Health insurance is mandatory! All students attending Gleanings For The Hungry, and family members accompanying them, are required to have health insurance.

Q:  What is your refund policy?

A: It is expected that when students enroll, they will continue through the entire course. However, in cases of termination or withdrawal from the program due to an emergency or for disciplinary reasons, any refund will be at the discretion of the training department on the following basis:

During the first week: 90% refund……….$2520.00
During the second week: 60% refund……….$1680.00
During the third week: 40% refund……….$1120.00
During the fourth week: 20% refund……….$  560.00
After the fourth week, the refund is $0.00

Q:  Do I need travel insurance for outreach?:

A: We will organize comprehensive travel insurance for outreach; this cost will be included in your outreach fees.

Q:  What is the age limit or requirement?

A: You need to be 18 years old or older to join our DTS. Gleanings welcomes students from all generations and walks of life. Families with children are welcome, but it is your responsibility to bring a nanny or arrange for child care for your children.

Q:  Where will I live during lecture phase?

A: If you are coming by yourself, you will be sharing the room with two or three other students in one of our guest buildings. Couples and families will be in their own rooms. We have spaces with full hook-ups for motorhomes if you would like to bring your own.

Q:  How difficult is the curriculum?

A:  During the DTS you are required to participate in class, read 4-5 books(included in your school fees), share your testimony, present the gospel in a creative way, complete a journal and do other assignments.

Q:  Is this a Bible School?

A:  Discipleship Training School is not a typical Bible School. The DTS blends classroom learning, small group activities, personal reflection, practical service, and community living to make a life changing experience.

Q:  Are there tests that will be graded?

A:  Yes, there will be tests and grades given throughout the school. In the end however you will either graduate or not graduate. Your participation in the school, active engagement in fellowship with God and others, personal and spiritual growth, and practical application of the topics will determine whether you graduate or not.

Q:  What is the schedule like during lecture phase?

A:  Our days (Mon-Fri) usually start with breakfast at 7am. We then have half an hour of personal devotional time before worship or intercession at 8am. Lectures are usually held in the mornings and on one afternoon. The other afternoons (between 1 and 5pm) are filled with a small group time, book study, outreach prep, processing time, local outreaches and work duties. Most evenings will be free for study or personal time. One evening a week we will meet for community night. The weekends can be free but may also be used for community activities or local outreaches. On Sundays we encourage our students to attend a local church.

Q:  Can a participant go home on the weekends?

A:  We do not encourage our students to go home on the weekends as those times offer opportunities for personal study and relationship building within the community. Some weekends include community activities or local outreaches. Exceptions can be made depending on the situation. In that case we ask you to communicate with the school leadership first.

Q:  How many hours will be needed to study?

A:  One week of DTS is divided up into 50 hours of learning. This includes everything from lectures, book study, intercession, worship, small group, work duties, team building, community activities, local outreaches to personal study and devotional times.

Q:  Will I be learning a different language?

A:  Normally we do not offer language classes. Depending on our outreach location, we might encourage the learning of the people’s language. It is not a requirement or part of the curriculum.

Q:  Where will we be going for the outreach?

A:  As a school leadership we pray about the outreach location and will decide on it before the school starts. At this point we do not know where we are going yet. Depending on the situation with Covid19 we do also consider an outreach within the United States. As much as possible, we aim to connect with ministries that receive food products from Gleanings for the Hungry.

Q:  What are the DTS Outcomes?

A:  The DTS aims to graduate students:

  • with a growing understanding of the breadth and depth of God’s character and ways
  • who are becoming more like Jesus in the way they relate to God and people
  • who increasingly cooperate with the empowering presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit
  • who listen to and obey God as a result of God’s enabling grace
  • who search the Scripture in such a way that transforms belief, values and behaviors
  • with a strengthened lifestyle of worship, intercession and spiritual warfare
  • with a greater ability to work with others, especially those different to themselves
  • who can share the Gospel with the lost and have a life-long commitment to do so
  •  with a commitment to continue to be involved in some way with God’s work among the nations, including unreached people, the poor and needy and in spheres of society
  • who understand the calling and values of YWAM and are aware of a variety of opportunities available to them throughout YWAM
  • with a clearer understanding of God’s purposes for their life and a sense of their life direction
  • who serve God and others in contexts foreign and familiar with openness to pursue further training and education (in or outside of YWAM/UofN) continuing to be equipped for a life of faithful service

YWAM’s official Purpose Statement for DTS:

  • To GATHER and INVITE people to worship, listen to and obey God, releasing them (in the context of the DTS) to serve through evangelism, intercession, acts of compassion and other expressions of God’s heart for the world, possibly even pioneering new ministries.
  • To INSPIRE and CULTIVATE growth in one’s relationship with God resulting in Christ-like character by active participation in a missional community who engage in a variety of Christian practices , including encountering God through the Word by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
  • To SHARPEN one’s ability to relate to, learn from and work with people, including those of different cultures, personalities and perspectives.
  • To further EQUIP each one to serve God’s purposes either in or outside of YWAM Family of Ministries, strengthening a commitment to reach the lost, especially the unreached, to care for the poor, and to influence all areas of society.
  • To IMPART the story, vision and foundational values of Youth With A Mission and the University of the Nations.