Whether you’re a parent of someone about to graduate high school, or a young adult starting to question what comes next, a gap year could be the solution you didn’t know you needed.
At TENTMAKERS, we define a gap year as something done with intentionality. This means learning, doing, or creating something that you would not have done otherwise. A gap year is not simply a year “off of life,” but a year defining what kind of life you want to create, who you want to become, and how you will get there.
The TENTMAKERS Year on Mission program is a gap year experience offered to young adults who are looking to change their relationship with Jesus Christ and learn the skills they need to live a life on mission.
We believe that a gap year can change a young person’s life, and in this article, we’re sharing some of the best reviews of the most popular young adult gap year programs available. By the end of the article, you’ll have an idea of what each program offers and what past attendees are saying about each one, so you can make the most informed decision for you and your family.
The gap year programs we’ll be covering in this article include:
- YWAM (Youth With a Mission)
- OneLife
- Grace Adventures
- Denver Gap Year
- TENTMAKERS Year on Mission
1. YWAM (Youth With a Mission)
About the program:
Youth With A Mission is a global movement of Christians from many cultures, age groups and Christian traditions, dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced “WHY-wham”), they unite in a common purpose to know God and to make Him known.
YWAM focuses on youth and people of all ages. They currently have tens of thousands of staff from nearly every country, including places like Indonesia, Nepal, Mozambique, and Colombia.
What attendees are saying:
“YWAM’s willingness to take anyone, starting with short-term placements, has meant that many thousands, including myself, have experienced the adventure of faith service and been permanently transformed by the experience.”
– Erica Youngman, March for Jesus
“I endorse YWAM’s ministry and support wholeheartedly their endeavors and obedience to the Lord’s Great Commission and calling. I have been involved through the first DTS in Zimbabwe in 1973, DTS in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1975, various European staff conferences, outreaches to the Montreal Olympic Games and to Japan in 1978-1979. It was through my involvement with YWAM that I acquired a vision for the lost. I was exposed to a wealth of teaching and practical discipleship which has equipped me for serving the Lord here in South Africa. My heart is filled with gratitude towards YWAM and all those involved in the ministry that I send my warmest greetings. I pray God will use you more mightily than ever before for His glory and His kingdom.”
– Denise Tate, former Lecturer, Foundation Ministries Bible Training College, East London, South Africa
2. OneLife
About the program:
OneLife is a nine-month Christian gap year program for high school graduates who want to grow in their faith, experience genuine community, serve others, and travel with ministry leaders while living life & earning college credit.
What attendees are saying:
“OneLife gave me an understanding of how powerful communicating is while showing me the value of having healthy boundaries/structure to work and rest. I learned how to care for those I came into contact with in a gospel centered way. I work from home during the week (editing, sending emails, helping brides create their wedding day timeline) and shoot weddings on the weekends. OneLife prepared me in knowing how to manage my time well and provided a foundation of any strong business (heart and hard work).”
– Emma Harling
“One of my biggest takeaways from those 9 months is on the topic of servant leadership. OneLife taught me the joy in servanthood, and what it means to use your gifts for the sake of His Kingdom building. Being a part of the media committee helped me utilize my gifts in a team setting, and it sparked a passion in me that I wasn’t sure existed until then. Being on media made me realize it is an area I would like to serve in, which led me to my job now.”
– Cayden Myers
3. Grace Adventures
About the program:
Grace Adventures is a year-round Christian organization in northwest Michigan working to strengthen spiritual, personal, and professional relationships for children, adults, and families through training, retreats, and camps.
They provide leadership and growth opportunities that focus on core values and change lives for the better. The experiences are designed to create a connection to faith, family, and community in a fun and encouraging environment.
What attendees are saying:
“It's been a blessing to see my teenage daughter grow in her faith, serving, communication, and leadership this summer. She started the summer attending as a camper, then returned multiple weeks as a ranch hand. It's been an amazing summer for her, and I love that she's surrounded by hard working, gracious, Jesus-loving people! I can't wait for next summer for her, and this one is not even done yet!”
– Paradise Ranch Camper Parent
“I just got back from the women's retreat... It was so much fun .. Food, fellowship with lovely ladies from all over Michigan and other states, lots of laughter, paintball, archery, horseback riding... And so much more... If you're looking for a good time and a great way to create a deeper understanding of your faith then this is the camp for you!”
– Retreat Attendee
4. Denver Gap Year
About the program:
Participants in Denver Gap Year will experience true Christian community as they live in a house together, learn how to combat injustice in America by serving local non-profit organizations and engage in daily life-changing discipleship classes taught by Pastors and leaders from around the world.
Excursions into the Rocky Mountains are intentionally designed to provide bonding experiences, opportunities to be challenged, and space to connect with God in nature. International travel to faith-based partners in the Philippines and Spain push participants past their comfort zone, broadens their worldview and deepens their faith.
What attendees are saying:
“Our son attended DGY for two semesters–and we are so grateful for the experience he had there. He left for DGY in the fall with no idea of what direction to take for the next chapter of life after high school; he came home in the spring with a plan. Our son grew in so many ways in his year at DGY. He grew in knowing himself more, discovering his God-given strengths and weaknesses, while at the same time learning that others are gifted in different ways. He gained confidence in himself along with an understanding and appreciation of others’ differences.”
– Carrie Gorman
“Now that he's home, we've been able to see the results of his time away. We've seen tremendous personal growth in our son, in that he has been taking responsibility for himself and his own decisions in very positive ways. He has shown a dedicated work ethic that we did not see in him before he went to Denver.”
– Shari Lewis
5. TENTMAKERS
About TENTMAKERS Year on Mission
TENTMAKERS Year on Mission is a gap year opportunity for young adults to invest a concentrated year of their lives to grow in strength and courage as disciples of Jesus Christ. Typically, this is a year in between high school and college, but can also be a gap year during college, or a gap year between college and career.
TENTMAKERS Year on Mission provides a wide diversity of experiences and the training, coaching and tools to study and apply God’s Word to all areas of life. Participants will be mentored through the entire course including preparations and raising support.
Participants grow in compassion, character and faith while developing the imagination, moral courage and tenacity to lead in all walks of life.
What attendees are saying:
“I've always been very dependent on God, but this has really taken me into a deeper level of dependence only on him. I have this community here to back me up, but sometimes it's just gotta be just me and God. I don't have my family here, I don't have my friends here, I don't have my church family here. Just the peace of developing that relationship with God has been so incredible.”
– TENTMAKERS Year on Mission attendee
“If I were to go back three years ago and look at my prayer life, I would see that my emotions often got in the way of what I was trying to communicate in my prayers. One of the ways that I've grown in my faith during the year on mission is in my prayer life and not allowing my emotions to overwhelm me or overcome me during my prayer life.”
– Carter Colson, TENTMAKERS Year on Mission attendee
What Sets TENTMAKERS Year on Mission Apart
One key component of a TENTMAKERS program is the environment. TENTMAKERS staff are eager to get to know you individually and find out what's going on in your life. You'll feel safe and comfortable being yourself, and you'll be able to discover more about who you are because others will see it in you.
Every TENTMAKERS Year on Mission experience starts with a 40 Day Wilderness Challenge located at TENTMAKERS Wilderness North retreat center located in Brimson, MN. During this time you’ll experience a 12 day technology fast that allows you to reconnect more easily with yourself and with God. You’ll be challenged mentally and physically in ways that will build character and prepare you to be disciples of Christ for the rest of your TENTMAKERS Year on Mission experience.
After your 40 Day Wilderness Challenge, you’ll be assigned to a ministry within the United States where you will serve alongside other TENTMAKERS Year on Mission participants. Your TENTMAKERS Year on Mission Coordinator will provide support as you develop and act upon day to day activities that include community service, ministry support and relational development in the communities you serve.
IIn addition to the community-oriented environment, the TENTMAKERS program also provides unique delivery, content, and Christian leadership training for teenagers. We focus not only on teaching but also on giving you the opportunity to practice and apply what you learn during the experience
And finally, TENTMAKERS instructors are a key differentiator. Our teams are composed of trainers that have gone through years of extensive training themselves, and carry a genuine passion for these experiences and the people who have come to them. They believe in the power of the experiences because they've lived it themselves, and they want to help others experience transformation as they have.
TENTMAKERS offers an intimate and deeply personal and spiritual experience for young adults.
Is a TENTMAKERS Year on Mission gap year right for you? Register now for an upcoming webinar and get all of your questions answered by our team!
Ready to take the next step and jump right in? Register for the TENTMAKERS Year on Mission Preview program to get a sense of what a TENTMAKERS Year on Mission could look like for you.
