Mission & PurposeSchools

Why do yourDTS in Spain

Europe is a mission field today, Spain is a great doorway into it, and Cáceres is an ideal city to live out a DTS. Here is why.

By the YWAM Cáceres team

Doing your DTS in Spain means training in the heart of Europe, a continent with a huge Christian heritage that today, in large part, lives far from faith. Doing it in Cáceres means living that experience in a historic, calm city full of cultural life, perfect for growing in community.

If you are comparing where to do your Discipleship Training School, here are some reasons to consider Spain.

Why is Europe a mission field?

For centuries Europe sent missionaries to the rest of the world. Its cathedrals, art and history are shaped by Christianity. Yet today many people in Europe grow up without a personal relationship with Jesus, and for many, faith is something from the past, a tradition or a monument.

That makes Europe a place where mission is needed in a new way. It is less about reaching places with no churches and more about helping people rediscover the Gospel in societies that think they already know it. Jesus sent His disciples to all nations (Matthew 28:19), and Europe is among those nations.

Doing your DTS here lets you understand that challenge from the inside: talking about faith with secular people, supporting small local churches and learning to share the Gospel with creativity and respect.

Why Spain in particular?

Spain brings together several things that make it a special place for a DTS:

• An open, warm culture. Social life happens in the streets, squares and around the table, which makes it easier to meet people and build friendships.
• A bridge between continents. Spanish connects you with all of Latin America, and Spain sits next to Portugal, the rest of Europe and North Africa.
• A history that speaks. Churches, cathedrals and monumental cities tell a story of faith that opens the door to many conversations.
• A language for life. If you come from abroad, living here is a chance to practise Spanish every day.

Why Cáceres?

Cáceres is a city of about 95,000 people in Extremadura, western Spain, roughly 300 km from both Madrid and Lisbon. Its monumental old town, with walls, palaces and golden stone towers, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

It is big enough to have everything (a university, theatres, cinemas, markets) and small enough to cross on foot and know people by name. The pace is calm, which helps a lot when your goal is to seek God, study and live in community.

It is also a very artistic city. The WOMAD festival, an impressive Holy Week, concerts, theatre and exhibitions fill its squares throughout the year. That is why the arts have a special place at the base, although you do not need to be an artist to come. Find out more on our why Cáceres page.

On free days there is plenty to discover nearby: Mérida, with its Roman theatre, is an hour away; Trujillo, half an hour; and Monfragüe National Park, famous for its birds, about 70 km. Extremaduran food, with Iberian ham, torta del Casar cheese and migas, does the rest. Sharing tapas is part of social life here, and a natural way to get talking with people from the city.

A base with roots in the city

YWAM Cáceres was founded in December 2009. Since then it has served the city and region by supporting local churches, sharing the Gospel through friendships, serving in care homes for the elderly, giving out Bibles and running art teams, open mics and artist gatherings. It has also sent people on short-term mission trips to countries including Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Malta, Morocco, Tanzania and India.

Doing your DTS here means joining a community that already knows the city and is committed to it. Read more about us.

Cost of living and practical details

Living in Cáceres costs much less than Madrid or Barcelona, which you will notice in your day-to-day personal spending. During the school, students live together in a flat or house prepared by the base, with separate rooms for men and women.

Other useful details:

• Language: the Genesis Lab DTS is bilingual, English and Spanish. You need to speak at least one of them.
• Getting here: most international students fly into Madrid and continue by train or bus. Lisbon is another nearby option. The base helps you plan the trip once you are accepted.
• Weather: hot, dry summers and mild winters with some cold mornings.
• Visa: it depends on your nationality. The base guides each student when the time comes.