Spiritual Abuse: My Story In YWAM DTS 

Update: I reached out to other former students and volunteers of YWAM Chico and they all have similar experiences as me. It’s a toxic base, almost a cult.

Hey I am a exYWAMer And what you are saying is exactly true and allot of it was also my expirience at the YWAM base in Germany. Wishing you the best and lots of healing from this.

Hi Shaylee, I'm Rachel. I'm so sorry you went through that awful experience with YWAM. I had spiritual abuse with the Bill Gothard cult, and have known at least three others who have gone through spiritual abuse with a Christian cult or cult-like environment. One if my friends went to Texas Baptist Bible College, and went through similar avuse as you did about sleep deprivation. They would make the male students out late doing ministry, and and then they had to get up very early a lot. Then they would sometimes humiliate the students in chapel in front of the others. A real nightmare. My friend passed away a couple of years ago, and i believe he's in Heaven wity Jesus. But knowing what he went through has helped me to spot abuse more. I know God loves me as well, in spite of the jerky stuff that was taught to me through Bill Gothard and his perfectionistic, religious nonsense. I send you love and joy. Rachel in Nashville 🐹🌞😺😺😺

Often we suffer by being offended by those who should really help and mentor us into being Christlike. Glad your healing. Forgiveness is possible one thing God is teaching you, and God uses us as " missionaries" whereever He or we self placed ourself in our life journey. God will use your talents for His Kingdom. As our heavenly Father we need to know Him by putting our hand in His and trust He will never leave us as we are His beloved children. Being autistic and doing a DTS tells of your zeal to serve God. God will honor your will to be obidient, even when you have a social challenge. God resides over a broken heart, and a broken heart is humble so He can use us iåwhen voulnerable and dependent on Him. Wish you the best. With love, from Norway.

Ok guys, here’s the thing, labeling all of YWAM as a cult because there was one base was very cult like and unlike Jesus, is not fair. That’s like labeling the church as a bunch of cult members because you went to one bad one. I’ve been in YWAM for my whole life (except for like 5 years) and it literally has saved my life as a Christian and is saving many many others all around the world. And I am so sorry that you joined one that was clearly not Jesus and super evil, but please don’t just label all of a YWAM as a cult because you found one base that was bad. There are thousands of bases all over the world in literally every single country and it’s truly life changing.

I went to YWAM Jamaica in 2012. Even though I am now in my 30s, married with kids I am still damaged by the spiritual abuse I endured at YWAM.

Praying for you. Trust in God, and not in people. People will always let you down, but God will not.

Everybody should just remember that the YWAM's in different countries are different. Just cause some people didnt have a good experience doesn't mean everybody wont have a good experience. Maybe it depends on the person and the specific YWAM??? Like people are making such a big issue of this

I'm sorry that was experience. I did my DTS in '97 in Devner. It was my expreience that it was all voluntary, although strongly encouraged to do those things as way to train you on how to continue afterwards, to set good practices.. Hopefully you're doing better now that you're out of that environment

I wish you well in your healing and pray you heal well . Please keep praying for ywam ,, the leaders, the base leaders , the actual base , the students , the volunteers , and those that went through any form of abuse .

It is called DTS training not a paid holiday or retreat or whatever....people forget is called "TRAINING" ...out there is going to be worse , the missionary field is not for bread and butter people and hearts , it is hard ....some have to go through hard lifestyle to survive , some died in the process, others lost a lot . A servant of God is a soldier

Jesus Christ is our helper he lives inside of us as believers. Peace and Grace sister.

I’m really sorry this is your experience with a Christian organization. Although I never went to Chico YWAM , I feel some of your pain. I felt that some things were off even in my DTS in Kansas City. I met a lot of incredible people, but this is just evidence that we should only trust the Lord. In my life, the Lord has never hurt me, it’s always been the church oddly. Thank you for sharing

Praying for you,Shaylee. I hope you are doing well today 😊

Hi all, I am wondering is there a organisation for former YWAM members or people who suffered from YWAM members as I would like to join this group. Mentally I am not doing well due to this abuse

I will never support any form of abuse , never ..... But sometimes this trainings are to prepare you and someone who is not used to it and who would like to have their way will call it....an abuse ...but this don't not discredit your story ... please heal well

I am an ex ywamer What is you saying is , exactly true

Sorry for your experience but I would like to ask , did you sign any form that you will partake in all activities , conform to their ways or culture ? In boot camps sometimes is worse than what you experienced. I know is a voluntary thing but when you sign a form you agree to everything going on then you have to try to follow up with the activities. If you can't in whatever way I think is best and appropriate you let them know . By the time one person starts faulting and they let it slide , it gives others license to behave the same way

Servants of God are soldiers ...you see the way the military trains...you can't give them excuses and tell them you are not feeling fine , you can't submit your assignment etc ...they don't want excuses.. I lived in Airforce base in Nigeria I have been woken up by 12am , I rounded up by 2am or less or more , I was asked to climb into the van so they can go lock me up just because I have not registered my name on the accommodation. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 sometimes no gatepass you are put in the guard room until someone you know comes to release you . When they call for clean up you better let them know or else ...God will help you ...people hate staying there and alot of people complain but I see it as a way to discipline oneself.

My sister you are not ready for missionary work for there more challenges in the missionary fields than that and plus that was a training meaning getting you out of your comfort zone, try something else but not missions, missions is giving away your life to serve others and not being served or sweet talked.

I have accused them of being a cult. The DTS thing as a way of "Acceptance" into YWAM is very CLUBBY...

can someone guide me rn, im concerned with this, my parents found YWAM by one of their friends cause they had art in their school, the first time I heard about it and looked at the website the offer arts and other stuff which interest me. now I told my friends and they researched about the school and well. now im concerned whether this is gonna ruin me or not. And I have a chance to go to this place for one week to see how it is but if I go and it seems good and I join and then first week starts and its absolutely shit. Im not very religious but I do think of god and stuff just not everyday.

I’m so sorry that this was your experience.. but I definitely don’t think you should judge YWAM as a whole because there are so many different bases and each base is going to be different depending on who the leaders are. I’ve heard many stories like yours and it breaks my heart that so many people have literally turned away from their faith because of the spiritual abuse. None of it is ok but I want you to know that we live in a broken world with broken people. The church is so so broken but we have to remember that just because people are sinful does not mean that God has changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His children aren’t perfect, but He is!! Again though, I’m so sorry that you were hurt and wish you the best!!❤️❤️

never heard of YWAM, sounds like a cult tbh.

I had a lot of problems i was nearly raped abused starved ridiculed no I didn't take it up with any one I came a background of abuse so it just added another layer then it got worse after dts I went to do another school and I was cursed by my leadership I ran away and I still have day mares about my time that was 39 years ago

Thanks for sharing!

God bless you dear 🙏

What base did you go to?

I get it. I was in y wam.

Grow up - most people with these type of complaints are going to have a hard time in life. If you can’t handle these small things like this. Life is hard, people are tough.

Hey Can I talk to you?

?????

I don't doubt that you ran into flawed men and women, and probably even enemy attack... but I really think most of this boils down to entitled bratty likely american children who sre not prepared to lay 1 thing down let alone their lives in hostile areas... making bullcrap complaints

Who cares