Frequently Asked Questions

Youth With A Mission or YWAM is a global movement of Christians dedicated to knowing God and making God known. YWAM started in 1960 as a way to get young people involved with missions. It still does that today but its more involved in every kind of outreach and every kind of ministry you can imagine.There are currently over 18,000 staff members with locations in over 180 nations. YWAM's ministries fit into 3 main categories: evangelism, training, and mercy distress.

DTS starts in September 2026. Refer to the Discipleship Training School page for detailed information.

The typical weekday morning has worship and intercession, classroom lectures and learning in a variety of ways. Lectures aren't your typical college lecture, as you have a different speaker each week, and many of the speakers will teach using various methods and applications. Afternoons can be filled with focused interests like outdoor adventures or fitness, community outreach and ministry, work duties, and other small group times. Evenings and weekends are generally free time, but there may be group activities organized.

The lecture phase portion at Oak Haven is $3500. Outreach costs are based on the cost of travel (including airplane tickets if we are flying to outreach locations), insurance, accommodations and food in the outreach location, and ministry expenses and gifts as we go.

Once you complete DTS, apply and are excepted onto staff, there is a Mission Readiness Course that you will go through to better prepare you for the road ahead.

YWAM Oak Haven offers a rare opportunity to be in one of the most beautiful and livable locations in the United States, especially for anyone who loves to adventure outdoors. Google top 10 locations to live in the US and you will likely find a city from Northwest Arkansas. If your interested in Camping Ministry, ESL, or OMT this is the place for you.

 YWAM Oakhaven staff are self-funded; they raise their own funds outside of the organization to support the work they do in YWAM. Every volunteer joins YWAM Oakhaven with an understanding that they give their expertise and goodwill without payment.