Family &
Crossroads
DTS
What is the Family & Crossroads DTS?
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The Family & Crossroads Discipleship Training School (F&CDTS) is a transformative five-month program where you surround yourself with people of all generations on a journey to know God more intimately. This DTS is for 30+ singles, families, couples, and single-parent families who hear God’s call to go to the nations and share the power and love of the gospel. This is the time to allow God to reveal your passions, break what’s holding you back, and gain new insight and perspective in your life. DTS is a combination of worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, and service. During DTS, you will be immersed in a Jesus-centered community surrounded by dynamic speakers, staff, and students from different nations, Christian denominations, ages, and walks of life.
F&CDTS is about the different generations working together, hearing God’s voice, and exploring new horizons to spread the gospel.
This five-month course has a 12-week classroom phase followed by an 8-week field assignment (outreach) and a week for debrief. Join this full-time program to grow and be equipped in your walk with God.
Dates:
Lecture: March 29th –
June 16th, 2023
Outreach: June 17th –
August 12th, 2023
No Application Deadline
*Please note: there must be one application turned in for EACH adult and not one per family. For example: if a married couple is applying, each spouse must fill out their own application.
Cost for Lecture Phase :
32,500 NOK per adult
(NOTE: Price has been adjusted due to recent price increases the last 6 months)
(includes study materials, food and lodging)
If you are from a B or C category nation, you can inquire about a potential discount.
When you have received a letter of acceptance for the F&C DTS, we ask that you pay 1.500 NOK pr. family, to secure your place at Grimerud. This amount is subtracted from your total price and is not refundable.
Price for outreach depends on the destination and length of outreach.
Children 8-14 years: 16.000 NOK
Children 2-7 years: 11.000 NOK
Children 0-1 years: 5.000 NOK
(includes food and lodging)
(NOTE: Price has been adjusted due to recent price increases the last 6 months)
*All prices are pr. person
Price for outreach depends on the destination and length of outreach
Visa: It’s very important to contact us to get more info if you are from a country outside of Europe (Schengen-zone) as you might need a visa.
The Family&Crossroads DTS has the goal of transforming communities through developing healthy, mission-minded families and individuals of all ages to convey Jesus’ message to those around them. Through this journey, we hope you find the vision God has for your life and how you can use your God-given skills to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Family and Crossroads is a true expression of the generations coming together as singles, widows, families, couples, and single-parent families work together to know God and make Him known. Our goal is to see singles, marriages and families bring glory to God in all that they do. We hope that the different generations get equipped with everyday tools that can make a difference in the world. Our prayer is for you, as an individual or as a family, to gain clarity—be it a new direction or a confirmation of what God is already doing with you.
We believe God has a calling for each and every family. This calling is not only for the mom or the dad, but for the entire family. We want to see children grow in their calling and be activated to reach those around them—even at a young age. Children will have the opportunity to make many friends with the other members of the F&CDTS, with children of their own age, and with the Grimerud extended family. We will all meet together throughout the lecture phase for fellowship before we minister together on outreach.
What makes the Family and Crossroads DTS unique? Traditionally, DTS tends to target single students between the ages of 18 and 25. Early in YWAM’s history, the crossroads concept was born to facilitate training and discipleship for all the other age groups and those with more life experience who feel called to the mission field. The variety of background crossroads allows for an undeniable richness to the learning process. The family aspect of this DTS brings in the essential dynamics needed for married students and families to thrive on this journey. We prepare specialized teaching for people who desire to do missions and ministry together by facilitating couples, parenting, and family teachings and dynamic activities. This unique situation creates an amazing learning environment for our students and prepares the entire family unit to grow in their calling to the nations.
The merging of these two concepts is an expression of God’s heart to see all generations working together, hearing God’s voice, and being activated to go to fulfill the great commission and to transform the nations, regardless of one’s background.
The Discipleship Training School (DTS) is not merely academic. Its purpose is to help students understand God on a personal level.
The topics covered in this school include the character and nature of God; the Holy Spirit, evangelism, Father heart of God, Prayer and worship, the Word of God, Missions, and Relationships. The DTS curriculum is designed to familiarize students with the traditional Christian perspective on God’s identity and His desire to lovingly relate to every human being. The school also includes practical elements that will help students connect with God individually and explain to non-Christians how to do the same.
The Discipleship Training School is the core program in the University of the Nations (UofN) which is required for all other UofN courses.
YWAM’s University of the Nations operates in 650 locations in 160 countries, providing programs in approximately 100 languages around the world. The UofN is committed to teach and develop men and women spiritually, culturally, intellectually and professionally. The UofN schools are separated into three sections: the Training Phase, Field Assignment, and Debrief Phase.
Due to the richness in the diversity of the students in this F&CDTS, we are able to focus on how we can work together as different generations. This allows us to stretch ourselves and embrace God’s design as we learn and interact with people of varying walks of life. No other DTS can do this. On this journey, we are able to see God’s design for His sons and daughters as they learn and grow together.
Ephesians 12–13, 15–16; Isaiah 58:12, 61:4 1 Corinthians 22:27. Psalm 148:11–14 Malachi 4: 4-6 Joel 2:28
The training phase of the school lasts no less than 11 weeks. It includes a different topic every week about God and/or life as followers of Christ in a classroom setting. Expect base activities to start at an early hour during the weekdays.
This is a very general and approximate daily schedule:
TIME WEEKDAY
06:45 Quiet time with God
07:15 Breakfast in the community dining hall + lunch preparation
08:15 Worship, intercession (Mondays and Thursdays)
09:00 Morning lecture
10:30 Break
10:50 Resume morning lecture
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Afternoon lecture/activities/base gathering
15:00 work duties, one-on-ones
16:30 Dinner
On select weekdays there will be family fun gatherings, family groups, family life-oriented workshops and maried couples and relationship nights.
Please be adaptable, as this is a necessary skill in any DTS, as well as on the mission field. With such a diverse and dynamic group of people, flexibility is key to overcoming challenges and getting familiar with the reality of life in missions.
Single DTS students are housed in dormitory-style facilities during the training phase and are required to live in the YWAM Grimerud-provided facilities. Couples and families are housed in a building with several one or two-bedroom units. Most of these units have private bathrooms with a shower stall. The living areas are shared. Units are assigned based on the size of the family and availability. There is no private kitchen for students as most of the meals are prepared in the main kitchen. We encourage all the students to spend time with each other during meals in our communal facilities, but we understand that families need time for themselves from time to time.
Students are also required to do daily practical assignments to serve the community, which might include anything from serving meals to lawn care. For families with children, we consider being a parent a full-time job; therefore, only one of the parents is required to serve practically.
This phase is designed to help each member of the school, from the youngest to the oldest, discover their God-given talents. We understand the challenges that this dynamic could bring, but also the many benefits it has. Everyone will play a role in outreach and learn how they can do so in the context of their individual walk of life as well as in the Body of Christ.
The field assignment is required for successful completion of the DTS program. This outreach could take place in any given nation and is intended to coach students on how to talk to non-Christians about God. This “outreach” phase also includes opportunities for humanitarian work.
Students must complete at least eight weeks of outreach, but the field assignment may last as long as twelve weeks, depending on the school’s requirements. The trips are done in teams—this means that every DTS student is required to participate in outreach with members of their class.
The outreach is planned to accommodate families with children as much as possible. We understand the different factors of traveling with children, especially when being in a new place.
During this portion of the DTS, students review the events of their field assignment and what they learned in the lecture phase. They assess how they can apply the lessons of DTS to the lifestyle they will be entering after graduation. Debrief usually lasts around one week. Depending on the circumstances of the school, this may be required for graduation.
We hope that more expressions of generations working together will go to the nations to work long-term in missions. We believe that many who attend this school are called to strengthen others in their home nations—this DTS has the potential to lay an excellent foundation for such a ministry. The Grimerud Norway campus is host to a variety of other schools and ministry opportunities for students to learn and serve in a variety of areas: practical campus administration, farm and horse ministry, kitchen and cafe ministry, hospitality, family ministries, worship ministry, IT, and many more!
The University of the Nations offers courses in more than 160 nations worldwide, including Family Ministries Schools and schools for working with youth and children. The UofN also offers a variety of degree options. From bachelor’s to doctorate degrees, students can learn in an atmosphere geared specifically toward the promotion of Christianity. For more information on what courses and degree programs the UofN offers, explore the ywam.org website.
For more details regarding visas, living in a community, life in Norway and more go to the FAQ section down below!
Hearing God's Voice
Identity in Christ
Worldview and Missions
Nature and Character of God
Understanding the Bible
The Holy Spirit
Relationships
Evangelism
Each week, in addition to high-quality teaching from a variety of international speakers, will include various activities outside the classroom.
We will spend time worshiping together and praying for one another and for the nations as a community.
We will work on building a community as we get closer to God. We will serve each other and the community in practical ways.
We will have family time and family gatherings with a number of fun and dynamic activities for adults and children.
Each week you will meet with a mentor. In this setting, you will be able to go deeper into what God is doing in your life. You will have time to journal and process the teaching from the previous week.
We will be open and flexible to however the Holy Spirit wants to move and wherever he leads us.
Foundations Program Leader Nina Frøen
YWAM Grimerud facilitates a Foundation Program for school-age children and youth, providing classes for students ages 6-17. Our experience is that when a whole family is setting aside these months together, it is truly amazing what God does with both the children and parents' lives. This program is essentially a DTS for a younger audience. The goal of this program is to help young people develop their spiritual identity and grow in their relationship with God and others. During the week, the Foundation program will have worship, various teachings (as a classic DTS), art, physical education, and playtime. Some of these activities will even be as a family! The Foundation Program mainly focuses on the spiritual life of a child, but the teachers are also trained to help students improve in traditional academic subjects. Students have the opportunity to learn about God and attend field trips designed to help them gain an appreciation for nature and its Creator.
In YWAM, we use a well-developed program called "Knowing God" to help our pre-school children know God and make him known. The children from 3-5 years will have their play and activity group. Often, they will share a playground with the Preschool YWAM has on the base. For children 0-2 years, parents will need to make their own arrangements. We encourage bonding through the consistent physical presence of parents during this season of the child's life. Children this age are welcomed into the classroom to be with their parents. Some "low noise" toys may be provided for these children in the classroom. There will also be a room close to the classrooms where parents with small children can follow the teaching by audio. Note: for school-age students, this is not a homeschooling program. It will be the parent's responsibility to manage their children's regular schoolwork. There will be 45 minutes daily to do homework in the classroom.
Here are some answers to the questions we receive the most about our services.
If we missed anything, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to help.
You don’t need to be the perfect Christian to do a DTS. All we ask is that you have a desire to grow in your faith and an openness to learn. If you are open to learning more about Jesus and pursuing truth,we welcome you here. Other than that, you just need to be at least 18 years old (or have your GED, high-school diploma or secondary school completion).
Every DTS has the same core curriculum, no matter where or when you do your school. The only thing that changes is who is teaching it. We fly in missionaries and people from all over the world with real life experience who are actually living what they preach. Teaching topics include:
You can call our office at (+47) 62 57 43 00 between 9 am – 4:15 pm CET or email us at dts@grimerud.no. We love hearing from you and will gladly answer any of your questions!
We carefully and prayerfully consider every application to see if this is the best time and place for each applicant, and we reserve the right to deny applicants when we’re uncertain it’s the right fit.
Some more obvious reasons applications get denied are if you are currently using, or have recently come off illegal drugs. This might not be the best place for you. We are not equipped to help you through that type of situation as well as some other ministries might be. Additionally, if your grasp of the English language is not fluent enough for you to speak, read, and write it easily, then participating in a school here will be challenging.
No. YWAM does not offer any scholarships or have a fund in which we can allocate funds for needy students. In order to create equal opportunity, tuition can be different depending on what country you are from. However we cannot offer financial assistance other than helping you walk through the fundraising process. We have seen God work in crazy financial miracles and are confident that as you walk in obedience, God will help provide!
After you pay the registration fee of 3,000 NOK, we ask that you pay your remaining Lecture Phase fees (29-32,000) before you arrive. You can pay in two installments (ex. 16,000 and 16,000) and will receive a invoice in your email with the details and due dates for the payment.
Outreach fees are due before outreach begins. You will not be able to go on outreach until the lecture phase is paid for.
You can pay online through paypal, or you can do a wire transfer. While you are on base you will be able to use cash or card to pay Grimerud.
Applicants with a citizenship or passport from a country in the Schengen Zone do not need a visa to come.
If you do not have a citizenship from a country within the Schengen Zone you will need a visa to participate in the school or come as a mission builder.
Each student lives in community in our dorms, they are separated by gender. You will eat 4 meals a day because norwegians eat like hobbits: breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. All meals are served in our dining hall.
Yes, you are required to live on campus for the duration of your campus phase. If you have friends and family living nearby, you are more than welcome to visit them! Some exceptions might be made for families doing schools based on the family’s needs. But let the staff know before you are leaving.
Yep! The University of the Nations gives 12 credits for the Lecture Phase and 1 credit for each week of outreach. There are over 300 campuses (bases) located throughout the United States and around the world, and YWAM Grimerud is a part of them! U of N credits are also accepted at select universities around the world as well. You can find more information about the University of the Nations here.
You bet! YWAM is made up of families. It is very important for husbands and wives to take the school together. The DTS deals with heart changes, so it’s best for the marriage that spouses work through things together. Contact our communications team for information on what will best suit your family. Some of our DTS’s will have the Foundations School, which is a program designed for your children while you are in classes. We also have a Montessori preschool located on base, as well as Christian Private School (in Norwegian) started by YWAMer’s.
You must complete the outreach in order to either earn credits for the DTS or move forward in YWAM. Secondary schools vary from school to school, but for the most part, it is best to go on outreach with your school. We have open weeks during the teaching which you would be welcome to attend! It is not possible to attend such a short time because the experience as a whole is transformative. It’s not just teaching, it’s living in community and walking through nitty gritty discipleship together and acting out our faith. The whole process has been intentional from the beginning to the end, it would be hard to come in and out of that. You could consider Mission Building if you wanted to come on a shorter term and be a part of the ministry.
Here’s an example of what the schedule has looked like for a previous DTS. The schedule is reworked to meet the needs of each individual school, but it is likely to look similar to previous schools.
Generally, we will need two character references, ideally one from a spiritual mentor and another from someone who knows you well (cannot be a family member) and a completed application. Once we have those three things, we will get back to you with a decision. To secure your position on the DTS, you will pay a registration fee of 3,000 NOK, and this is subtracted from your school fees.
Typically we process DTS applications within 2-5 business days as long as you’ve filled out all the needed fields in the application, we have all your references, and there aren’t any other extenuating circumstances! Secondary schools may take as long as 7-10 business days assuming you’ve provided all the needed information.
If you have been accepted then we should have reached out to you with next steps! The next step you can take is to pay your registration fee to secure your place in the DTS. You can also go here to see our registration checklist with everything you will need to do before you arrive here. You will receive an informational pack from your school leaders in your email before you arrive, and a welcome packet with additional things to know about the base when you arrive.
APPLY. If you feel like you have a desire to do a DTS and God is leading you, then fear is the only thing stopping you from going on this incredible adventure. Money should not be the thing holding you back. Take one step of obedience and see where it takes you. Every person, whether they are a staff or student, has raised the money to do a DTS. Many people use both savings and gifts from others to pay for their school. We have some great ideas and resources to help you Biblically fundraise and invite your community to invest and come alongside you in this journey of finances. It’s not always easy, but it’s amazingly worth it to trust God.
You definitely need a passport! If you do not already have one, please apply for it before leaving your home to come to Grimerud for the DTS or another training program!
Once accepted and submitting your registration fee, you will be given all the paperwork to apply for a visa necessary to participate in our DTS. This is not a guarantee that you will be granted the visa (some countries’ citizens have a more difficult time obtaining Norwegian visas than others). Because some countries have such a difficult time getting visas, we kindly cannot accept them but recommend they take another DTS closer to home.
It will cost 6,300 NOK to apply ($730 USD), takes on average three months to process, and the individual will need to go in person to an embassy to turn in all the paperwork.
We will give you more information and everything you need after you have been accepted and have submitted your registration fee.
It is imperative that you make us aware of any medical conditions, food allergies, etc., you might have so that we can do our best to work with you. If you have a condition that precludes you from traveling or needs an adjusted schedule, we would try to work out an in-country outreach so you can still finish your DTS or other secondary school.
We provide dietary options for both gluten free and lactose free. We are not able to provide for vegetarians or vegans at this stage.
No. Everyone in YWAM is financially supported by family, friends, and churches – no one works outside of the ministry. As a student, you have a full-time schedule. Of course, there are free weekends and evening times, but we want these training schools to be a time set apart for growth and refreshing for you. Adding an outside job into the mix would make that a lot harder and take away from having that special space set apart for God.
The University of the Nations is a degree-granting institution (Associate, Bachelor, Master). While it isn’t accredited by an accrediting agency or association, various accredited institutions throughout the world accept U of N transfer students and credits.
Here are some answers to the questions we receive the most.
If we missed anything, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to help.
If you are from a non-schengen zone country we recommend you apply as soon as possible but at least 4 months prior to intended date of arrival.
YWAM Grimerud is well equipped to serve families attending schools here. We have a building that houses most student families in either a one or two-bedroom unit. Most of these units have private bathrooms with a shower stall. Units are assigned based on size of family and availability. Each floor has a shared kitchen and living room. Internet access is available throughout most of the base.
High chairs are provided in the community-dining hall. Baby cribs with bedding may be provided pending availability. The preschool (barnehage) playground is available for public use after school hours and on weekends. The Bird and Baby Cafe has some toys for small children to play with when parents visit.
We suggest bringing your own car seats and strollers for those that need them. There are a limited amount of booster and car seats that can be loaned but this is pending availability.
Students attending schools at YWAM Grimerud are served breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the community dining hall. Generally a cold breakfast of cold cut meats, cheeses, bread and a variety of spreads is served at 07:00 daily, or according to the specific school schedule. During this time students also prepare a “packed lunch” of sandwiches, some fruits or vegetable slices to be eaten for lunch at 12:00. A warm dinner is served daily at 16:30 (4pm). Baby food, purees, formula must be supplied by parents/students.
We provide dietary options for both gluten free and lactose free. We are not able to provide for vegetarians or vegans at this stage
This is a VERY general approximate daily schedule:
TIME WEEKDAY
07:00 Breakfast in community dining hall + preparation for lunch
08:00 Worship, intercession (mondays and Thursdays)
09:00 Morning lecture
10:30 Break
10:50 Resume morning lecture
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Afternoon lecture/activities
15:00 work duties, one-on-ones
16:30 Dinner
Helping on base is a standard part of all YWAM schools, where students help in various areas/ministries around base and provide practical service. Typically this is in the afternoon 2-3 times a week for a couple hours. Work duty could be anything from working with hospitality making beds, cooking food for the main dining hall, or working with the practical team on the farm and much more.
We have hospitals, doctors offices and health stations within 10-20 minutes from the Grimerud farm. As a Norwegian-visa holder, the Norwegian National Health Insurance will cover you during your time in Norway. You will be responsible for small deductible then after that all health expenses are covered.
* If you have a serious health condition please let us know about when you apply.
Please contact your school leader for details regarding your specific school as this all depends on how many families have applied and the age ranges of the children coming. In the past, and this is only an EXAMPLE, of what we have done:
You, of course, are welcome to bring your own car but YWAM Grimerud also has five cars available for Grimerud staff/students to check out for personal or YWAM use. You must sign them out through the office and this is only pending availability. Four of the vehicles are manual transmission (must be comfortable using a manual clutch) and one is automatic.
Here is the main address for Grimerud:
Grimerudvegen 77
2312, Ottestad, Norway
For Norway there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Norway operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
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