Leadership Development Course (LDC)

Overview

About the LDC

The LDC is a 6-week intensive, interactive course that was first started at the Seamill Centre in Scotland but is now in many locations around the world. If you have had at least 5 years’ experience as a leader and need some evaluation and focus on what the future holds, then this is the course for you!

The course looks into the phases of growth of a leader’s life, mentoring, team building, direction setting and much more. Practical one-on-one mentoring, peer mentoring, workshops, ministry times and groups of all kinds are a vital part of the course.

The course has been planned for base, national and ministry leaders, or people with similar experience in leadership. We encourage you to have had at least 4-5 years of leadership experience in order to gain the most from the LDC.

This course is NOT a SAQA accredited qualification.

Target Audience

Who should attend the LDC?

Are you moving through transitions without difficulty? Are you clear about your future ministry? Does your leadership have an emphasis on developing people? Are you really investing in potential leaders on your base or team? Do you have mentoring relationships at this time? Do you have a clear model for mentoring others? Are you still growing in your faith and in your leadership?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, then you should pray about coming to this course!

The LDC is designed to create an environment where YWAM leaders can understand the ways of God in their own development in order to help develop, motivate and release others into leadership with a foundation on spiritual, servant-oriented, leadership teams.

Topics

Expected Topics on the LDC

✔︎ Shaped for significance – understanding your gifts and calling as a leader
✔︎ Living in integrity – character formation for the leader
✔︎ Leadership formation – the stages of growth in a leader’s life
✔︎ Personal identity – wholeness and healing for every stage of life
✔︎ Practical mentoring and coaching – modelled and experienced
✔︎ Workshops in spiritual leadership – not head, but heart
✔︎ Developing vision and values – writing your personal direction statements and ministry philosophy
✔︎ Team leadership – why it is vital, and how to make it work
✔︎ Self-leadership – learning to lead yourself with clear priorities, goals, stress management and margins
✔︎ Conflict resolution – living in harmony and unity
✔︎ Debriefing – understanding your leadership journey and helping others understand theirs
✔︎ Creativity and new styles of teaching and training
✔︎ Vision and organisational development
✔︎ Open sessions on understanding the values and ways of YWAM

Lectures

Weekly assignments provide a platform for personal processing and help provide a clearer perspective of your future ministry, as well as tools to help you develop the people you are called to lead.

The course will be led by a team of leaders experienced in leading the LDC, and who for the most part, reside in Africa. This team will be led by Garry and Anke Tissingh who currently live in Senegal. One of the key values for us as a staff team is team leadership, and this will be modeled throughout the course, along with all kinds of mentoring and small group applications. We will also be looking at issues specific to our African context, and designing the content and style of the course with Africa in mind and with a view to seeing transformation take place.

To enable us as a group to have as much interaction and practical mentoring taking place as possible, we keep the number of participants down. Please apply early so you won’t be disappointed.

Dates

School Dates

No event found!

Fees

LDC Fees

Our fees are based on the nationality of the applicant. This fee structure (want to know more about it?) allows students from less privileged backgrounds to join our training. The fees are in South African Rand and include tuition, food, and housing for the 6 weeks of the course.

Zone South Africa: R7,900
Zone 1 (African countries): R8,800
Zone 2 (Latin America and Asia): R10,800
Zone 3 (North America, Europe, and Oceania): R13,700

Prices might change without prior notice.

Apply

Application Process

Step 1: Fill in your Application Form
Step 2: We need 2 Reference forms. One from your Pastor and the other from your last YWAM leader.
Step 3: Registration fee (Payable if accepted into the program)

– Students from South Africa: R300
– Students from abroad: R500

Financial Policy of YWAM Worcester

Application Form

Reference Form

What former students are saying

Testimonials about the LDC

The LDC has helped me a lot to know the strengths that are lying within me and the potential I have. This has resulted in me now taking steps to bring the transformation I am dreaming to see, rather than sitting down complaining and waiting for someone else to do it for me. I cannot imagine how I would be able to continue without the LDC.

- John Kuguru, YWAM Dar Es Salaam

I am so thankful for the opportunity to part take in the LDC. I met God through the wisdom, experience and teaching of the staff. I was so encouraged and built up by the love I found there. This refreshed me, gave me new hope and fresh eyes to see my leadership situation and those I am serving. I highly recommend it to any leader, it is incredibly helpful to have a time of input, prayer and encouragement from people who are cheering you on. The creativity and overall interactive teaching style of the school is a great example where much can be gleaned from for our teams, staff, bases and schools.

- Jenny Ayo, YWAM Morogoro - Base Leadership Team

The LDC gave me a place of rest away from all busyness and commitments of leadership. It created an environment of the presence of God daily, where the Holy Spirit did a deep work in me. It helped me appreciate people who are different from me because that is what makes a team stronger and unique. Having been a very insecure leader the course helped me deal with my wounded past and I have been able to lead with more courage, boldness, easiness and freedom.

- Fridah Kambura, YWAM Mombasa - Base Leadership Team

Our Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements to be accepted into the LDC?

To join the LDC, you must have successfully completed a DTS with its Field Assignment and have at least a five-year leadership experience.

How can I pay for my LDC fees?

There are many options to pay for your school fees. You can make an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), pay via PayPal, credit or debit cards in our office, as well as cash (less prefered). There are several ATMs spread around town and you can withdraw funds from them as needed.

Do LDC participants attend church during the program?

We encourage all the LDC co-hort to commit to a local church during their time with us. You are free to choose which church you attend. Our staff are involved in many different churches in and around Worcester and they will help you know what’s available. Your parents or your home pastor may also have recommendations for you.

Can I receive further training with YWAM after my LDC?

Yes! We encourage students to consider following up their LDC with other second and third-level schools.
Additionally, YWAM’s University of the Nations offers several training programs at campuses around the world. The DTS is a prerequisite for any other UofN training. The goal of these courses is to further equip you to accomplish the mission God has given you; they can also lead to a degree from the UofN. We’ll share more with you about further training opportunities once you’ve arrived for your school, but you are also welcome to ask our registrar about them now.

Do I need any vaccinations?

We do not have any required vaccinations for new students, but it is a good idea to be up-to-date with all of your immunization boosters before you come. You can also consult your health care practitioner for any special recommendation. Worcester is a malaria-free zone.