A Christian gap year can mean almost anything: a year of volunteering, a mission trip, a Bible school, a year working at a camp. The good ones have two things in common. They give you time with God that ordinary life rarely allows, and they put you among people who will tell you the truth about yourself. If you are choosing a programme, those are the things to look for.
Questions to ask any gap year programme
- What does a normal day look like, hour by hour?
- Who will walk with me personally, and how often will we meet?
- How much of the time is teaching, and how much is serving others?
- What happens if I struggle, get sick or want to go home?
- What does it cost in total, including travel, and what help is there with fundraising?
- What did past participants do afterwards?
A programme that answers these clearly and without pressure is usually a programme that takes care of its people.
After high school, or later
Many people take a gap year between school and university. It gives them time to ask what they believe for themselves, away from home. Others take one in their twenties or later, after a degree, a first job or a hard season. Both are common, and the best programmes have people of different ages, which makes the community richer.
A shorter option: five months in Spain
A full year is not always possible. A YWAM Discipleship Training School lasts about five months, which fits between academic years or a job change. At YWAM Granada the first twelve weeks are spent at our base in Andalusia, learning about the character of God, hearing His voice, identity and mission, and serving in the city. The last eight weeks are an outreach, when the school travels as a team to serve churches and ministries in another place.
Granada is a good place to spend those months. It is a university city with a visible Muslim community and North Africa a short journey south, so meeting people from other cultures is part of daily life. The school is taught in English and Spanish, and you come home with a University of the Nations course behind you and a clearer idea of your next step.
Paying for it
Most gap year students raise at least part of the cost. That process often becomes part of the year: asking people to pray, sharing your story, seeing God provide. We send a free fundraising guide with a checklist to anyone who asks.
Questions people ask
What is a Christian gap year?
A period, often between school and university or between jobs, spent growing in faith through teaching, community and serving others, usually away from home.
How long is a gap year programme with YWAM?
A Discipleship Training School lasts about five months: twelve weeks of teaching and eight weeks of outreach.
Can I do a Christian gap year if I am older?
Yes. Our school welcomes followers of Jesus aged 18 and over, and people come at many stages of life.
How do people pay for a gap year?
Most raise support from their church, family and friends. We share a free fundraising guide and help you plan.