MISSIONS INSIDER BLOG

Read frontline missions stories, watch inspiring videos, and get helpful how to's about missions and discipleship.

Subscribe Today

5 min read

A Year for God

By Elsa Hlady on 2 Feb 2023

Someone somewhere said, "You can do anything for a year!" If God asked you to give a year of your life for discipleship and missions, what would your answer be? Elsa, a graduate from Discipleship Training School said, "It starts with a sparkle, a thought, a desire for more. Dreaming of adventure, seeking an uncertain purpose. A will to serve, a thirst for deeper understanding."

Topics: God's voice YWAM Tyler Dreams Trust Direction Gap Year YWAM DTS Adventure Community YWAM Confidence Crossroads Deeper with God gap semester surrender mission adventures
4 min read

What You Need to Know Before Taking a Gap Year

By Richard Fish on 9 Nov 2022

What if you could graduate high school, and you and your friends could travel the world with purpose? Would you consider it?  Does it sound too far-fetched? Deep down doesn't it sound exciting⏤taking a year "off" and discovering everything God has for you before your next big decision?

Well you can, and for many it's been the best decision they ever made. I've talked with a whole bunch of students wanting to take a Gap Year and interviewed a few who already did it.

Here is what you need to consider before taking the leap: 

DOWNLOAD THE GAP YEAR PLANNING GUIDE ebook / pdf

Topics: Purpose Growth Knowing God Gap Year YWAM DTS Encounter God Travel Education Get to Know God Redirection Missionary Training Teenagers World Changer Deeper with God ywamtyler
4 min read

Is A Gap Year Worth Taking?

By Paige Prescott on 13 Nov 2020

Is A Gap Year Worth Taking

5 a.m. on the dot, an eager anticipation for adventure abruptly woke me from my deep sleep. I vividly recall a joyous light-weight atmosphere all around a group of children and myself while we danced to piano keys and a foreign upbeat song. It must've been an African tribe I was standing in the midst of, with nothing but love in my heart for them.

At this time, I never would've imagine this dream would determine and direct the next 3 years of my life.

Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Gap Year YWAM DTS Travel Missionary Training gap semester
2 min read

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Go to College Immediately.

By Sophia Braymen on 7 Apr 2020

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULDN’T GO TO COLLEGE IMMEDIATELY

Graduate valedictorian, go to an Ivy League school, enter a respectable profession, get rich - that’s what I decided my life’s purpose was when I was in high school. The only reason I wanted to do missionary work before college was so that I could have a stronger résumé. Good thing God can take our impure motives and bring something good out of them.

Topics: YWAM Tyler Purpose Growth Dreams Direction Gap Year YWAM DTS Calling Destiny Travel Deeper with God college gap semester high school
2 min read

A Gap Year Just Right For You!

By Richard Fish on 21 Feb 2020

Is a Gap Year Right for You?

Need some help discovering if taking a Gap Year is the right thing for you? In this blog, we tackle a few key issues to help you make this decision with confidence.

Topics: YWAM Tyler Gap Year Adventure Travel YWAM College Ministry college gap semester
4 min read

2 Questions to Ask When Thinking About Taking a Gap Year

By Richard Fish on 10 Jul 2019

If you've been thinking of taking a semester off or even a year between high school and college or college and career, you are not alone. Taking a gap year is a hot topic, and since we've talked to students from all over the world who've chosen to do YWAM for their gap experience, we want to help you plan your gap year the right way.

Topics: Purpose Gap Year YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach YWAM Inspire FOMO
4 min read

5 Things to Consider When Planning Your Gap Year

By Richard Fish on 1 Jun 2018

 The first time I heard about a Gap Year was when my son graduated high school and decided jumping into college wasn't on his agenda. Since then I've talked with a whole bunch of students wanting to take a Gap Year and many who already did it.

Topics: Missions Gap Year YWAM DTS
4 min read

Straight Outta School With No Clue What to Do

By Allison Bice on 7 Mar 2018

“What do you want to do after you graduate?”

I laughed nervously. I had been asked this several times during my senior year of high school, and I had no clue what I wanted to do. And graduation was just a few months away!

Topics: YWAM Tyler Purpose Direction Gap Year YWAM DTS Encounter God Discipleship Opportunities
5 min read

3 Ideas to Plan Your Gap Year Thoughtfully

By Richard Fish on 29 Nov 2017

Taking a Gap Year or even a Gap Semester isn't a new concept, but for some it's daunting and feels downright allusive. I just talked with a sophmore college student recently who said, "I've always wanted to do something like this, but I didn't think I really could." 

Giving thoughtful attention to your life goals and present situation can open unique opportunities you may not have realized. 

Topics: Gap Year YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach
2 min read

Courageous Women

What does it take to become a courageous individual? William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, observed that...

3 min read

Building Foundations

How do you increase your faith? Former student Sarah Horan shares her heart on how God revealed His truth to her during...

2 min read

Missions Changed Me

From as far back as my junior high school, I remember struggling to find happiness. I felt like I didn’t fit in and...

2 min read

Unexpected Friendships

When we follow God, sometimes we have our own expectations of what God will do through us. This can sometimes cause us...
2 min read

Miracles in the Classroom

What does a young person chasing after God's heart look like? Christian Heritage School desires to fan the flame of the...

4 min read

Cross-Cultural Christmastime

Have you ever wondered how Christmas is celebrated around the world? We asked four of our YWAM Tyler missionaries to...

3 min read

My Stepmom Thinks YWAM Rocks

Have you ever been curious about going to a Discipleship Training School but don't know what to expect? In a recent...

2 min read

Marked by God

Can you imagine God sending someone from another country to see you? While in Thailand, Jess Reminger encounters a man...

2 min read

The Day I Thanked God For Losing My Job

One morning I sat in the classroom during my training school with YWAM, and I was crying, thanking God for the loss of...

2 min read

Sharing The Gospel Isn't Complicated

God has been doing amazing things with our DTS team on outreach in Thailand. As the team has made themselves available,...

2 min read

How DTS Changed My Child

Before I left for my Discipleship Training School, my family really had no idea what YWAM was. If your family...
2 min read

Laying Down My Rights

I was sitting in my DTS classroom, my head wrapped in thoughts of a family circumstance that was happening. We had...