Community Living In The DTS 🏡 🌃 🧍♀️🧍♂️
YWAM is Relational
At its core, Youth with a Mission (YWAM) is a relational organization. Our thirteenth value states:
YWAM is dedicated to being relationship-oriented in our living and working together. We desire to be united through lives of holiness, mutual support, transparency, humility, and open communication, rather than a dependence on structures or rules.
Through community living, we are able to engage in relationship constantly, creating an atmosphere of accountability and discipleship, which grows us in reflecting Christ as the Church.
Prepared for Ministry
Being relationship-oriented also prepares us for a life of ministry, as all ministry revolves around our relationships with God and with others. As we live in community, growing accustomed to the habits, quirks, and gifts of others, we better understand the human condition, as well as how God sees His people. God’s intention for communities and human relationships begin to unveil and we catch a glimpse of what the Kingdom looks like. With this image and goal in mind, we can better witness to others what the Kingdom of God is. As we live in community, we catch a glimpse of the Kingdom as we see His intention for human relationships.
The First Church's Model for Community
In the book of Acts, we see that the first church was a community of believers who left their homes and came together under one roof to worship the Lord and seek His direction.
“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
— ACTS 4:32-35
So, why do we live in community during your DTS?
Living in community is something that strengthens us, uniting us as the body of Christ, teaching us to live alongside one another for the common goal of preaching the Gospel to every creature.
