Follow Jesus. Love Your Neighbor. Be Transformed.

Experience discipleship, community, and mission in the heart of San Francisco.

Whether you're exploring a Discipleship Training School, bringing a team, volunteering locally, or discerning your next season of ministry, we invite you to join what God is doing in the Tenderloin.

A Different Way of Living

At YWAM San Francisco, we believe Jesus transforms people as they learn to love God and love their neighbors.

For more than two decades, we have lived, served, and worshiped in the Tenderloin—one of the most diverse and resilient neighborhoods in America.

We are not simply a place to volunteer. We are a community committed to discipleship, hospitality, justice, prayer, and presence.

Our vision is a Tenderloin where neighbors and the neighborhood are renewed, and where the Church is mobilized to share the love of Christ.

Your Next Step Starts Here

Do a DTS

Grow in your relationship with God, discover your calling, and learn what it means to live on mission.

Our Discipleship Training School combines teaching, community, outreach, and spiritual formation in one of the most unique mission fields in North America.

Bring a Team

Join us for a short-term mission experience that will challenge, encourage, and transform your perspective.

Serve alongside our staff, engage with the neighborhood, and discover how God is at work in San Francisco.

Volunteer

Whether you live in the Bay Area or are looking for a meaningful way to serve, we welcome volunteers who want to build relationships and be part of what God is doing.

Not sure where to start? We'd love to talk.

Schedule a conversation with one of our expert staff.

Why San Francisco, Why the Tenderloin?

A City That Shapes You

The Tenderloin is a neighborhood filled with beauty, complexity, creativity, and resilience.

Here you'll encounter people from every background, culture, and story imaginable.

You will learn to:

• Practice hospitality

• Build meaningful relationships

• Grow in compassion

• See God's image in every person

• Follow Jesus in the midst of real-life challenges

We believe formation happens through proximity; to God, to community, and to our neighbors.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a DTS?

A Discipleship Training School is a five-to-six-month program designed to help people know God, discover their calling, and grow in Christian community while participating in local and global outreach.

Can I volunteer if I live in the Bay Area?

Yes. We welcome local volunteers who want to serve consistently and build relationships within the neighborhood.

What kinds of teams do you host?

We host church groups, schools, ministry teams, and young adult groups from around the United States and beyond.

Is the Tenderloin safe?

Like any urban neighborhood, the Tenderloin has challenges. Our staff provides orientation, training, and support to help teams and students engage wisely and respectfully.

Do I need ministry experience?

No. We welcome people from all backgrounds who are willing to learn, serve, and grow.

Your Next Step Starts Today

Whether you're exploring a DTS, planning a mission trip, or looking for a place to serve, we'd love to help you take the next step.

YWAM San Francisco

Rooted in the way of Jesus, we seek to restore lives, form whole persons, and equip believers to be a compassionate and courageous presence in the world.