With God, All Things are Possible - Even a Faith-Based Gap Year

Whether you're seeking Christian gap year programs or want to take a more meaningful direction with your life, a YWAM Discipleship Training School is the first step toward a lasting future in global missions in which you'll positively impact the everyday lives of those around you.

At YWAM San Diego/Baja, we have a wide variety of gap year programs to fill your year off and turn it into an experience that fosters personal development and spiritual growth all in one cross-cultural experience!

Discipleship Training School (DTS) is our flagship program and acts as the gateway to the rest of our powerful mission training courses and mission trip experiences. However, it's a whirlwind of fun, learning, and uninhibited time with God packed into five incredible months - not technically a full gap year. That's why we have a range of secondary courses designed to extend your time growing with the Holy Spirit and expand on your learning in a close community of like-minded believers.

Karl is a former DTS student who recently completed one of our secondary courses, the Chronological School of Biblical Studies.

Check out his story and how his journey with YWAM San Diego/Baja is transforming his life below. And when you're ready, apply to do a DTS and experience the power of discipleship training for yourself.

Following Jesus Christ to Unexpected Spiritual Growth

Throughout the process of my Discipleship Training School with YWAM, God gave me hope for a life with purpose.  During that time the Lord had been clear in calling me to go deeper and build a foundation of faith in Him and, for me, that meant doing a Chronological School of Biblical Studies (CSBS).

After the first day of introduction to the Inductive Method, the technique we would be using to study the Scriptures, the fear of failing overcame me.

Would I ever be able to understand this? Was I smart enough? I was convinced that God had been mistaken in calling me to do this school because there would be no way that I could shoulder that amount of work for nine months straight.

The Unwavering Support of God and a True Christian Community

I was just about to purchase a flight home when Mark, my school leader, came to talk and pray with me. 

I had been running away from seemingly insurmountable challenges all my life, and this instinct to leave was no different. I tend to focus on what I can do, not what is possible with God. After some debate, I decided to stay and give it a shot.

Gaining a Deeper Understanding of God's Purpose for Our Lives

 “Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 18:26

I can truly say that I didn't finish this school on my own strength and capability. God was faithful to sustain me and fill me up over and over again.

During the school, He spoke to me “that I would find a calling in life that sustains the yearning in my heart for purpose if I stuck with the school.” Now I am about to step into the next season with a three-month program for graduates of CSBS who wish to become teachers and be sent to different cultures and destinations greatly in need of Bible teaching.

This is another new beginning in which I will start to teach God's word and educate others about what has given me life. 

CSBS showed me how much I need and want to depend on the Lord for all the trials ahead in life. He never broke his promise to take care of me and lead me faithfully, and He never will. I have only scratched the surface of the Living Word and I can’t wait to continue studying and applying it to my life daily and teaching others to do so as well. 

The Bible is not some ancient book full of outdated stories, it has the power to be applied in every situation we find ourselves in today.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4: 12 

A Faith-Based Gap Year with YWAM San Diego/Baja

At YWAM San Diego/Baja, we've created a unique gap-year curriculum for high school graduates seeking a transformative experience rooted in faith.

At our two campuses just south of the U.S./Mexico border, and only minutes from some of the country's most beautiful beaches, our Christian gap year programs offer an unmatched blend of adventure, service, and spiritual growth. Start with DTS for your first 5 months, and then come back to campus after outreach to explore a variety of secondary courses tailored to your interests and future mission goals.

Discover the beauty of serving others while immersing yourself in diverse cultures. Do a YWAM gap year today!

The Discipleship Training School Christian Gap Year Program

DTS is a 5-month program designed to equip you with practical skills and deepen your relationship with God.

An ideal opportunity for recent high school graduates seeking a faith-based gap year, the missions training experience is open to diverse age groups and backgrounds. It's for anyone ready to answer God's call and start their life in missions.

DTS is divided into two transformative phases: the campus phase and the outreach phase.

In the campus phase, immerse yourself in intensive teachings, dynamic worship, and personal reflection as you deepen your faith and understanding of God's word. You'll live in dormitory-style housing on one of our two beautiful international campuses and engage in practical training sessions that equip you with essential skills for ministry and outreach.

Then, embark on the international gap year of a lifetime during the outreach phase. A cross-cultural experience like no other, DTS students venture into diverse communities to spread the love of Jesus Christ through service and evangelism. Prepare to be challenged, inspired, and transformed as you step out of your comfort zone and into a life-changing adventure with YWAM San Diego/Baja's DTS.

What is the Chronological School of Biblical Studies?

YWAM's Chronological School of Biblical Studies is a nine-month journey into God's word. A profound exploration of the Bible and its place in our lives, this secondary course is designed for ministry leaders and young adults seeking to deepen their faith and expand their mission capabilities through a better understanding of Scripture.

Through the immersive study of all 66 books using the Inductive Method, participants uncover the heart of God and gain insights into His divine plan. Delve into the historical context of each passage to grasp its original meaning and significance.

During thought-provoking lectures and hands-on instruction, students develop essential skills in the observation, interpretation, and application of Biblical truths. This intensive program, conducted in both English and Spanish, equips individuals to share God's word effectively across cultures.

Join us at our scenic San Antonio Del Mar campus in Baja California, Mexico, and let the transformative power of God's word reshape your life and ministry.

Why Should I Do a Christian Gap Year Program?

A Christian gap year program with YWAM San Diego/Baja offers a multitude of benefits. Above all, it's about transforming yourself and setting a strong foundation for the rest of your life.

Undertaking a Christian gap year can provide a dedicated period for personal growth and spiritual development that you might not be able to foster otherwise. It's an opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life into a Christ-centered community to gain clarity and direction from God for your future.

In a more tangible sense, our programs are full of practical training and hands-on experience in various aspects of ministry and service. Whether through missions, discipleship training, mission trips, or studying the Bible, you'll acquire valuable skills and insights that will not only enrich your own life but also empower you to positively impact others.

Additionally, a gap year allows for cultural immersion and cross-cultural experiences. It's a chance to broaden your perspective and develop a global mindset all in one.

A Christian gap year program is an investment in your spiritual, personal, and professional growth. With YWAM courses, you'll be equipped with the tools you need to confidently start your life in missions.

Do a YWAM Gap Year Starting with DTS Today!

Unleash your potential and make a lasting impact with YWAM San Diego/Baja. Whether you want practical training for a life in international missions or simply want to do better with community service projects and everyday discipleship in your hometown or college community, DTS is for you!

Serve alongside seasoned ministers and fellow newbies alike and discover how to disciple in the world around you every day. Once you complete DTS, the possibilities for additional training are endless. So, what are you waiting for? Apply to DTS today!

The author Karl, completed the Chronological School of Biblical Studies here at YWAM San Diego/ Baja.

Just Scratching the Surface

32 days.

Today marks 32 days until the final deadline for coursework, the final day of sitting in front of a computer for hours on end, the final page in my Bible being marked up by crayons - 33 days until the final day of my 9-month journey through the Bible with the Chronological School of Biblical Studies.

It’s hard to put into words all I have learned, as it is hard to process within the cycle of moving on to the next book right after finishing.

It’s when I get talking to people I feel the passion inside of me rise and I realize that the words coming out of my mouth are finally coming from a place of understanding (to some degree). It’s when I share my faith with people that I see how much God has taught me in this school and it gets me pumped up to start a life driven by sharing the love of God with people!

In the Beginning...

Before coming to YWAM San Diego/Baja, I knew that God was real from experience. I told people about Jesus because it was my duty as a Christian. I was eager to share because I had tasted and seen the Lord is good, and it made me want to share it with others.

Even in my misunderstanding and lack of knowledge, God used me and still would regardless of whether I chose to do this Biblical texts school or not. Although I have a better understanding than I did 8 months ago, I now know more than ever that I am just scratching the surface.

The fullness of His Glory simply cannot be revealed within a limited time or circumstance. So, I suppose I have learned that I just need to learn more and that in this life there will never be a “final day” of learning about God through his word. I will always be sitting at the desk with Jesus Christ teaching me, and that excites me!

Learning How to Apply Scripture in Biblical and Theological Studies to My Future

I never expected to like it this much but I love being a student.

It’s true, I love sitting down for hours doing coursework if it means soaking in the presence of God with each word that he has spoken since the beginning. I love spending most of my time reading if it means I am learning about God’s story of His creation.

I love diving deep into history each week if it makes God’s word truly come alive. I love being deeply challenged by my preconceived notions if it means that God’s truth is being revealed.

A popular phrase I’ve heard in YWAM is “being ruined for the ordinary” and I can definitely say that this phrase is true for my life. I have been ruined for the ordinary.

I can’t settle for the ordinary skimming through scriptures as if I am reading the daily newspaper, for being comfortable in my ignorance to the questions that arise while reading the Bible, for reading a daily bible verse to be fed for the day, for the avoidance to the Old Testament (or the Bible entirely) or for the lack of drive to seek understanding. I can’t settle anymore for these things that used to be normal for me.

I can’t settle with having these 9 months be the extent of my studies. I hope to spend the rest of my life with the same determination to study the Bible as I have during this school because the words in this book are so real, true, and tangible.

What Biblical Theology Taught Me

God is good.

I say that not because someone else told me so or just because of something he has done in my life, because even that is so temporary.

God’s goodness is more precious than the Garden, deeper than the flood, beyond the promise to Abraham. It goes farther than the borders of Israel, and it is immeasurably displayed on the cross. God has been unbelievably good and faithful to me personally but I have seen such an impact from understanding the story of God through the big picture of the Bible.

It has been such a beautiful and humbling experience to see His love and the love of Christ Jesus from the very beginning consistently pursue man in all his wickedness. Love is not at all what I had once perceived it to be.

Reading the entire Bible is where one can truly discover genuine truth, which is the genuine love of God.

 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

CHELSEA FERGUSON IS A STUDENT IN THE CHRONOLOGICAL SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL STUDIES RUNNING AT OUR SAN ANTONIO DEL MAR CAMPUS. 

Are you interested in learning more? Check out more information about the Chronological School of Biblical Studies or the secondary courses offered at YWAM San Diego/Baja by clicking HERE.