starting here. going everywhere.
What is DTS?
The YWAM Pittsburgh Discipleship Training School (DTS) is an intense, 5 month, live-in program designed to âKnow God and Make Him Known.â We believe in you and we believe God is calling up the next generation, so we go all in. This full-time course will bring you into a more intimate relationship with Him and equip you to share Him creatively and effectively with the world before you. It gives space for you to discover your passions and important role in Godâs purposes for the world.
The DTS consists of two unique portions: the Lecture Phase and the Outreach Phase. Both phases are required in order to complete your DTS.
dates & cost
Select a DTS track below to view dates, costs & additional information, including FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
Please note: the cost for DTS is the same, despite which track you choose
the TRACk FOCUS
The first step in your DTS journey is to customize your DTS and apply. We now offer 4 distinct DTS tracks.
Worship (More info coming soon)
A track is a specific area of focus during your school. All 4 tracks run their lectures side by side, joining in lecture, worship, prayer, meals, and community events together. Special training time in your area of interest is scheduled into your week followed by plenty of opportunities to practice your new skills in the mission field around the city of Pittsburgh and on outreach abroad.
Scroll down to Customize Your DTS to learn more about each focus.
Lecture
In the 3 month Lecture Phase, youâll dive down deep in your relationship with God through weekly lecture topics, worship, prayer, time alone with Him, and discipleship by our dedicated missionary staff. Youâll grow in faith in a supportive community of adventurous, diverse, like-minded youth eager to impact the world alongside you. We will equip you to effectively communicate the Gospel locally and cross-culturally and answer those difficult questions and objections youâve likely already encountered from your peers.
In addition, time weekly will be spent focussing on your DTS trackâs distinct area of focus, developing your skills, and practically applying them throughout the city of Pittsburgh.
OUTREACH
The 2 month Outreach Phase is our response to the Great Commission: to take the Good News to the nations! This phase is where you apply what you learned in the classroom through an intense, cross-cultural experience overseas. We are committed to impacting people globally with the love of Jesus. Equipped with a new perspective and specialized skills, you will share the Gospel in another nation (or nations) and see othersâ lives changed forever.
Come experience firsthand the impact you can have on others by communicating His awesome, redeeming love in unendingly creative ways. You will never be the same.
dates & cost
Select a DTS track below to view dates, costs & additional information, including FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
Please note: the cost for DTS is the same, despite which track you choose
One DTS. Four Tracks.
Which one is yours?
PHOTO & FILM DTS
Every scroll, every screen, every frame, media shapes the way people see the world. What if yours pointed them to something real?
In the Photo + Film Track, you'll develop your skills in photography and videography while learning to use your lens for something bigger than content. You'll tell stories that matter, capture moments that move people, and create with purpose, all while growing deeper in your relationship with God. Come co-create with the Creator. Come see the world through His lens.
Open to all skill levels. Male and female applicants welcome.
UPCOMING PHOTO + FILM SCHOOLS:
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 - FEBRUARY 4, 2027*
MARCH 11, 2027 - JULY 29, 2027*
*Dates subject to change
BASKETBALL DTS
You love the game. What if it could change the world? Basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet, and that's not an accident. Courts open doors. Relationships happen naturally. The gospel travels far when it travels through something people already love.
In this track, you'll take your game to Pittsburgh and beyond, playing, coaching, and building real relationships that point people to Jesus. no gimmicks. just the game, the community, and the mission. Open to all skill levels. Male and female applicants welcome.
UPCOMING BASKETBALL SCHOOLS:
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 - FEBRUARY 4, 2027*
MARCH 11, 2027 - JULY 29, 2027*
*Dates subject to change
CLASSIC DTS
This is for the ones who are done playing it safe. The Classic DTS is five months of going all in, deepening your relationship with God, growing in community with people who actually want to change the world, and going on cross-cultural outreach that will stretch you in the best way possible.
You'll be challenged. You'll be formed. And you'll come back different. Know God. Make Him Known. That's the mission, and there's a place for you in it. Your time is now.
UPCOMING CLASSIC SCHOOLS:
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 - FEBRUARY 4, 2027*
MARCH 11, 2027 - JULY 29, 2027*
*Dates subject to change
Worship DTS
Step into a season of discovering who you are and why you were created. This track is for worshipers, songwriters, and leaders who want to go deeper, not just in their craft, but in their walk with God. Through teaching, songwriting, hands-on practice, and team community, you'll learn to lead from a place of identity in Christ rather than performance. Whether you're experienced or just starting, there's room for you here. Come, be formed, refined, and sent out.
UPCOMING CLASSIC SCHOOLS:
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 - FEBRUARY 4, 2027*
MARCH 11, 2027 - JULY 29, 2027*
*Dates subject to change