STORIES
HERE'S SOME STORIES FROM YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN WORDS...
My story is quite small, but I just felt in awe at God's sovereignty during worship and prayer times. I left every service and late night worship session (These have been incredible btw! :)) feeling so joyful and empowered to share my faith with my friend at school. I have learnt so much this week and I feel so much more prepared to answer questions that my friends have at my Christian Union at school. I'm so grateful for the blessings that God has given me, and there will never be enough words to explain that. Praise the Lord!
I’ve been struggling due to depression and anxiety for more than 3 years now. Before I came to DTI, the night before I came. I couldn't fall asleep, I cried, I worried a lot. I doubt that as I'm not a Christian, how could I be involved in this activity. How could I even survive by myself living with other people in the same tent for 5 nights. That sounds impossible for me as a person having social anxiety, sometimes even struggling to talk with people. But at DTI, I became better. I feel comfort, I feel care. I go to the meetings & Bible Studies. I feel calm. I feel light and hope. I can sing out in front of 5000 people. I certainly became more confident. I cried after people prayed for me. And I feel my heart become lighter. The worries and burdens have been taken away from me. Thank you Lord. Thank you Jesus. May peace be with everyone. Amen.
I've been to DTI two times before and been a Christian all my life but in the past year I've been able to make a decision if I would like to carry on in my faith. Before coming to DTI 2026 I wasn't sure I wanted to be a Christian BUT NOW am sure! I want to be a christian! On Saturday's morning service I was holding a lot of fear and worry and couldn't concentrate on the worship because I was so consumed in worry and at the front they said put your hand your head if you want to be free of your worry and didn't realise I had my hand on my head until my youth leader asked to pray with me and in the first time in two years (since last DTI) I felt free of my worry. On Friday I said to myself I don't feel like I believe but today I do. I believe in Jesus Christ our Saviour and our protector. I'm ready to step into faith.
God has softened my heart. I can now forgive people who really hurt me and because of that (and God's strength he gives me) I have a relationship with my dad again after 2 years. He has changed my life forever and healed me on such a deep level that years of counseling never could. I have been freed from my anxieties and have so much more love and joy in my life, I will forever thank God for this.
When they asked for people with a fear to put our hands on our heads and they prayed for us, I burst into tears. People started praying for me and I immediately forgot about all my fear and felt happy through the power of Jesus.
I came to DTI far away from Jesus and on the first day I got on my knees and prayed to God. I was filled with the holy spirit so much that I burst into tears and this has kept on happening for the rest of DTI. I now have a strong relationship with Jesus.
I am a silent sufferer, so I will be outwardly happy while struggling alone because I don't like people worrying about me. So my friends and family probably won't notice a change but for the first time in a long time I feel genuine uncontrollable joy, because of the love and freedom I have in Jesus Christ.
During late night worship, I felt a hand on my shoulder, but no one was praying for me - I instead felt the presence of God and realised how long it had been since I connected with him like that. I felt him say "I love you, my child." In that moment it was just me and his love
On Friday in the main morning meeting they offered for people to go to the front and give their lives to Jesus. I felt really scared and self conscious to the point I didn't want to go. Then I felt an overwhelming sense of clarity to just do it. I LOVE JESUS.
Before I came to DTI, my faith had gone stagnant. I felt that I kept God in a box and wasn't a disciple. Coming here and experiencing DTI has refreshed my faith and put me back on track. Thank you.
Gave my life to Jesus. And received full understanding of Jesus & what he did for me
I got prayer for addiction, addiction to pornography, vaping, and smoking. I have struggled with all of this since I was about 10 years old. 6 years later I've had prayer and the smell of vape or smoke makes me feel sick. I still sometimes struggle with the temptation of porn but when I feel tempted I start to worship, pray and do something to keep my mind away.
So powerful when we were praying for fear to go. I've suffered with anxiety most of my life and I just felt so much peace come over me. I know that I will still feel anxious but I just know now that Jesus loves me so deeply, which I knew in my head but now know so deeply in my heart.
Before DTI this year I had been scared of sharing my faith to my teammates and school friends due to a fear of what they would think of me. However now I feel ready to share the good news whenever I can with the help of the Holy Spirit. Glory to God!
I've been limping for ages and it's really been affecting me and haven't been able to do the things I love like running and I've just been prayed for and my foot is completely healed and I feel no pain anymore.
A few days ago I broke two ribs while snowboarding, it healed in such a way that if I breathed too deep I had stabbing pain in my lungs. Being prayed for I breathed in and I felt no pain. God is good!!
I had excessive anxiety, worry and hopelessness about my future before DTI '26. Afterwards, I have nothing but hope and trust in God's plan. Thank You so much
I have a disability called cerebral palsy and my right knee has always stopped me standing straight, so I asked for prayer and now I can stand on it and it is straight.
I used to suffer from a locked jaw for 3 years, it restrained me from speaking clearly and singing. After prayer, it miraculously healed and loosened.
I had Osgood-Schlatters disease in my knee that prevented me from playing sports. This time last year I was healed after my friends prayed for me and since then have been playing again
I brought my non-christian atheist friend and she prayed for my stomach ache which was preventing me from eating and it went away! Amen
I Prayed For One Of My Youth, Gave Her A Word From God And She Decided To Give Her Life To Jesus! Praise The Lord!
I came to DTI not truly knowing who I was - after the first meeting I knew I was a JESUS LOVER and a DISCIPLE!
At the start of DTI I was very self conscious with worship and I would sing really quietly, but now I feel like I can pour my heart out into praising the lord and I belt out the worship and raise my hand to the lord.
I said yes to Jesus on the first night !!
At my first DTI 2 years ago I was invited to go to the front as someone who has never accepted Jesus into my life and then I decided to let him into my heart.
I went to a workshop about tongues and I spoke in tongues. It was amazing and I haven't been able to stop since. PRAISE THE LORD!
Before DTI I was terrified for the future. There is so much change happening in my life and I was so scared. I am moving house, starting a new job, leaving youth, and change is difficult. But at DTI someone at the front said they felt as if there were people in the room struggling with fear, so I stood up and put my hand on my head, and since I was prayed for I haven't felt the fear since.
I gave my life to Jesus.
I was quite lost before I came to DTI since I've been here I met God for the 1st time
In the main session about freedom I was filled with the holy spirit, I was prayed for by a few people, and the holy spirit told me to be baptised. So I'll be doing that when I get back to my church.
This was my second year at DTI and honestly this year I have had an unmatchable experience. I have been healed both physically but mentally too. I came to DTI this year with a suspected fracture in my wrist that had been affecting my hand movements. On my third night, I was prayed for by my friends and family and at the end of the session, my wrist felt a lot better and I am able to do all the things I had been looking forward to. On my second night, I got prayer for my anxiety for the new year coming and as I prayed, an image of Jesus appeared in my head. He was in front of me and he had a hand on my shoulder, and was praying in words I can only describe as angelic. That night I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders by the holy spirit.
Before DTI I was suffering from a really bad depressive stage in my life and was unsure if I could continue to live like this. On Day 3 during worship I begged God to show Himself to me and that I'm not leaving without Him. Later on in the service there was a call for prayer for people who felt unloveable. I received prayer and felt overwhelming peace. I left the service feeling truly happy for the first time in what feels like forever and I thank God for meeting me where I am.
I was struggling with bad anxiety and some depression. There were days when I would cry and beg God to end it. My prayers weren't immediately answered so I turned to other sources I thought would help - social media. At DTI the preaching was about denying ourselves for God. I didn't want to. However, I soon realised that if I kept rejecting God it would never end. It would never get better. So later that evening, I took up my cross and started my journey as a disciple of Jesus, because he's the only way. I feel amazing! Jesus taught me to let go of the burden that caused my suffering. Jesus saves!
In between DTI 2025 and 2026 I strayed far away from God. I almost chose not to come because I thought I was too far gone and there was no point but in the end I did decide to come and I'm happy I did. It has been a great few days full of prayer, worship, friendship and love, and in one of the main meetings people like me were specifically asked to stand. People who thought after all I've done, how could God still love me? But he does. I stood, received prayer and almost physically felt God's love come over me. I don't know how to explain it but I left that meeting feeling like a different person. I hope that with the Lord's help I will stay on his path this year instead of doing my own thing.
I had never had the courage to pray for someone I didn't know before but one night I really felt God telling me to pray for this girl. So, I went, the second I laid my hand on her I was filled with this heat and began to shake. After finishing praying the girl said "I haven't experienced the holy spirit before but as soon as you began to pray I just became so tingly and hot." Her telling me this was exactly what I needed to hear, showing me God's love, knowing that he can work through me, reminding me his love has no limits.
Came to DTI with a heavy heart and was struggling a lot mentally but when I was at Friday nights late night worship I had a powerful connection with the holy spirit where I was sat on my knees crying without the ability to speak and I was just listening to the words and focusing on what we sing instead of just following the words. It was like I was having a major panic attack but instead of my heart being heavy (like when I'd had them previously), it was full of joy and hope. I could feel the goodness and lovingness of God and it just felt like confirmation that God's got me and I'm wholly loved by the King Jesus. DTI is such a powerful few days and connects so deeply with so many people so thank you for all you do! It's incredible!
When I came to DTI I was unsure of faith & I was going to church but not really connecting. On the first morning service I felt that I really connected, for the first time I received prayer & felt God's presence fill me. I learnt how to pray and prayed for my leader. I feel more connected to God than ever before. In today's session I really engaged and felt worth, I felt the divine presence of God. I feel new & fresh. Thank You DTI team!!!
This is my fifth DTI. During my first couple I had some of the largest highpoints in my life, but I would almost immediately go back to huge lows in my mental health. I never had some huge moment of healing. Instead I allowed others to pray for me, I prayed myself. I had a christian therapist for me. It took trusting God over and over again for years, but slowly I began to find my identity in Christ, healthier mental health and a habit to come to God. Now DTI is fun, but it doesn't feel so different to the rest of the year. There are still powerful prayers, words that resonate, & amazing worship, but it's not the only place. I still have more habits to build, more things to work on, but I feel like my moments of stress are so healthy compared to what came previous, and that I am coming into my own leadership roles in my church. Basically, DTI being "boring compared to what it used to be" is the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for.
Before my first ever DTI, I would lash out and be angry all the time. And after I went to DTI I was forever changed. Then I decided to get baptised to be reassured with my faith. Now I feel reborn and I feel I have been happier and kinder. I feel I have been touched in a special way by God and the Holy Spirit. DTI will always remain a special place in my heart!
The people on stage asked us to stand if we felt like we did not think we had God's love. I stood. I must have felt at least 15 hands on my shoulders praying for me. I instantly felt overcome with the presence of the holy spirit. I knew that in that moment Jesus was telling me that it didn't matter what I had done, I was loved by the Holy Spirit. I felt stress, anxiety and self doubt physically leave my body. I felt so overwhelmed with love not just by my friends but by my father in heaven. I decided then and there that I no longer wanted to seek comfort from my vape but from Jesus. Thank you DTI for such an amazing week.
I've always been someone who was fearful. I was afraid, afraid of who I was, who I was going to become, what I was going to do. I literally cried in a shop once because I was too worried about what the shopkeeper would think if I asked where something was located. I had social anxiety. In one of the main meetings, a leader asked us to put our hand on our head and to banish fear, and when I did, I truly felt all the inner chaos and turmoil that constantly shook my body and caused me to freeze. The sheer overwhelming force caused me to break down and ask why was this happening to me? That's when I felt the Holy Spirit wash over me. It wasn't necessarily peace but it was reassurance, comfort that God will be and has always been in every stage of my life. I still need to ask more questions and pray, but I'm happy in the fact that God is with me. I'm still not the most confident or extroverted person but I know I will no longer be frozen by the enemy's power, even if it takes me some time to muster the courage. I'm getting better with the love of Jesus, and my capacity is expanding. I'm just happy to be here; glory to God. Amen.
I was praying in a worship session and I saw an image of myself in darkness behind a brick wall and Jesus, the light, on the other side. Jesus removed every brick other than the last one. He looked at me in a way that made me think I was who needed to choose to remove that brick. I later went to late night worship and prayer. I felt crowded in my friend group so I removed myself and went to a quieter place. As soon as I closed my eyes, I cried so hard. When weeping I fell to the floor and realised that the brick was doubt. I decided to let myself allow God to do what he wanted and not hold back. Someone came to pray for me and asked when the last time I truly felt God was. I then prayed for that feeling and just like that - undeniably, God came and he was always there. I can now say I have removed that brick and I want to go home and get baptised and give God my every day. The tears I cried dissolved that brick that night, and since then, I have honestly been glowing and smiling more than I have in a long time. Praise Jesus.
I went to the Theology of Adoption seminar on Saturday morning and found it really interesting. In the morning service during worship I felt a heavy presence rest on me like hands and a hug. There was no one around so I know it was God's presence. I allowed myself to go deeper into the spirit of God and I felt his hands begin to rock me like how one would rock a baby to sleep. I believe this links directly to the Theology of Adoption seminar from earlier as I learnt of a loving father who would never forsake me.
3 years ago was my first DTI. I came feeling lost and alone. I had damaged my body that God perfectly made. When I came I prayed and begged God to forgive me. I weeped and felt God's hand on me telling me that I'm worthy of his love and forgiveness and now I'm healed, I'm living my best life. I felt lost and now he's found me, healed me. Now it's my last DTI and I’m so sad, but I just feel now I am equipped with the strength to grow in God's love. So thank you DTI you helped me find god and now I'm saved. also its my Birthday xx
I grew up fully atheist with no knowledge of who Jesus was apart from His name. When I was 9 my parents divorced and my mental health declined rapidly. I saw my dad until I was 12 however he became abusive and alcoholic, so I stayed permanently with my mum. At 13 I had reached my lowest point, my mum's mum had passed just before Christmas and it destroyed my mum and me. I began hanging out with bad people and running from my house late at night to get lost and cry. I then got in a bad relationship that worsened my general health even more. Fast forward a year and a half, a friend from my school invited me to youth, I had started to see more religious videos on my social media feed and started wearing a cross. However I had no connection to God or church, so I decided to sign up for DTI last year. It was the best decision I ever made and I met all the people in my church personally. I remember praying last year to stop my sin, asking for stronger relationships including with my mum but this year I can rejoice in this as all my pain is taken away and I have the best relationships I could ever ask for. I couldn't be happier to praise Him and can't wait to draw my family to Him too.
Before, I was a person who puts science over God. I believe that God is unrealistic and hideous, not understanding why people such as my father, put their lives onto Jesus. To be honest at that time I found Christianity ridiculous. But everything changed when I was 12. My grandma passed away. I remember my father breaking into tears. Can you imagine a strong minded and stubborn man breaking down miserably into pieces in front of you? Then is where the turning point. I prayed, silently, to God and Jesus. There is a feeling that the holy spirit was surrounding me, bringing away all my tears and sadness. This is the first time I was willing to believe in Jesus. Time flies, I am in DTI right now. After I understand more about Jesus and his miracles with his graceness and mercy. I am willing to follow him only, being his disciple for my whole life, and doing the things he likes me to do. God bless you.
For the past two and a half years I've struggled with gut-wrenching anxiety that has gotten so much worse over the past couple months. I've prayed and tried everything but it won't leave. It's persistent and has led me into depressive episodes. I came to DTI with a heavy heart and so much anxiety about my identity and what others think of me. I got lots of prayer one DTI evening and felt the Lord's presence consume every part of me. This journey will be a struggle but I'm confident that Jesus is now with me and his reliability is all I really need. I was reminded of my naturally joyful soul and hopefully after DTI this encouragement will be the first step to my healing.
My first DTI was 2023 where I hesitantly signed up (since my friend invited me) in the last week before the event. Before this, I always knew God was real but still had doubt in my heart. At the next DTI, I invited my friend who was also in doubt. After bringing her here, she is now a devoted and confident believer. DTI 2025, we came together again and I received the power of prayer. I prayed for her and she felt strongly of the Holy Spirit. Then this year, she bought a friend who wasn't convinced of the existence of God. After praying she also felt guided by the Holy Spirit. Each year, my doubt is slowly washed away and finally I see with my own eyes that God is moving. From my friend inviting me, to me inviting my other friend showed me how powerful invitation and prayer was. I also experienced the Holy Spirit every night, all my shame, guilt, hurt, pain, stress, self-destructive tendencies all washed away. I want to devote my whole future for him. Hallelujah!
During the morning services while I was worshiping I began to cry. I felt like it was God telling me to let go of my long held fear. I then fell to the ground overwhelmed by tears and I was being prayed for and I felt Jesus hug me and it was like I could see all my fear just evaporate as Jesus was hugging me it was crazy, and I just couldn't stop crying but after a good 13 years of my life I finally feel free thanks to Jesus. I was also so overwhelmed with the love of god.
After last year's DTI, where I gave my life to Jesus, I decided to bring my friend along, hoping, but skeptical that his life could be changed. From the day I saw him, I realised something was different about him, he was calm, engaged in main meetings, and quite frankly loving it. A couple days later, I was quite surprised that he went up to the front and gave his life to Jesus, but I felt an overwhelming sense of compassion and pride for him, and I was thankful that God had used me as a vessel to bring another lost child into his loving arms.
A few weeks before DTI my dad passed away, and since then I felt a bitterness and anger towards God. But in the late night worship I got prayer from one of my leaders and instantly I felt a wave of peace and calm wash over me. The bitterness I felt vanished and I was moved to tears, I couldn't stop crying and apologising to God. I'm still working though my grief but DTI helped in ways you don’t know. Thank you.
I have been struggling with fear and anxiety for months and this morning's service (2/8/26) was about peace. While listening, I was overwhelmed with all the emotions I had been carrying. A youth leader came over to me, put my hand on my shoulder and prayed for me. I felt so comforted and that God really was close to me after feeling so distant for so long. I was filled with the LORD'S peace and joy. I imagined Jesus hugging me and saying, "It's okay, I've got you"
I am a youth leader. What has been so wonderful about DTI this year and years before is seeing our youth come alive for Jesus. They grow in faith, wisdom, strength and love for one another and most importantly for Jesus. Serving with our youth at DTI is the best week of the year. Thank you for all you do. And most importantly praise God for moving so powerfully once again. What an honor to walk alongside these young people as they walk closer and closer with Jesus.
Ever since I moved to the UK when I was 12 I've learned to hate myself and saw everyone as being better than me whether it's by looks or personality. I would constantly compare myself and convince myself that I'm not good enough, but God has shown me over the past few days that he loves me no matter what, no matter my grades and no matter how I look. But instead God looks at my heart. Our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit so we shouldn't tear them down but cherish them because we were made by God and we are children of God so we should love ourselves and what God has created because God loves us just as we are.
I was at the prophecy Workshop thinking about getting baptised again not knowing whether I was ready or not. I went up as an example for prophecy. Later a girl came over to me and recognised me from when I went up for the example. She said to me I feel like God wants me to tell you to get baptised. Hopefully I will get baptised soon!
Coming to DTI I felt like anxiety was the main thing controlling my life, I felt so sad I had a really difficult year. I wasn't praying or reading my bible as much as I used to. I was still definitely a christian but I was really struggling so much and didn't try to seek Jesus. The 2nd night of DTI I got a feeling that it would all be okay like Jesus saw what was going on and it would be alright. DTI has encouraged me to go deeper in my faith and I've never felt so much peace. I realised that life with Jesus doesn't mean all your problems will immediately go away but it means you're not alone and don't have to figure everything out yourself.
I came to DTI this year, following a hard break up that I have been really struggling with for the last month. I came to DTI following 50 days where I have felt lonely and guilty for not putting Jesus first whilst I was in a relationship. At DTI, I have really reconnected with God this year and have grown a close relationship with my small group leader and I've been able to confess what I did and the mistakes I made and it has really helped me grow a lot closer to God and improve as a person. I really feel like this DTI has changed my life for the better. I have been to DTI the last 4 years but this one really impacted me the most.
Last year, at DTI I bawled my eyes out during worship. I had never felt so loved, so seen, and so unafraid of my shame. I had been struggling with so much shame over addictions and felt so far from God. This year, I've come back almost 7 months free from my addictions and worship has been so healing for me this year. I got full body goosebumps every time and I can feel the Holy Spirit within me, removing that shame, giving me strength to step away, to flee. I leave this year's DTI with the goal of finding someone to flee with, to help keep me on track. Thank you for the experience.
In 2019, my dad was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. I questioned my faith so much and sinned a lot over the years. I came to DTI in 2025, and it completely changed my faith, my previous life was forgotten, the guilt and the anxiety about what may happen in the future changed. Until 2026 may 20th, my dad passed that night and if I'm honest, I started to blame God for taking him from me. But one of my youth leaders prayed for all the guilt and previous sins that had happened, lifting a weight of my guilt almost completely and I'm ready to become a disciple and spend my life with Jesus.
I was feeling far from god before coming. I had strayed away and this DTI has just turned me around and now back going towards God and excited to keep going and break free from my struggle of pornography and masturbation and feeling like there is hope for me again. And feeling like I can break free and love the worship and seeing so many people on fire for the Lord, it just brings such hope and excitement for this generation.
My journey with faith has been complicated, mainly of my many struggles with doubt. I've gone back and forth on so many theological and philosophical ideas in my head, and to make matters worse, I am a terrible overthinker. However, going to DTI in the past few years has changed something in me. I feel more at peace, more loved, and altogether enriched through the power and love of Jesus Christ. I still have moments of doubt, yet now I know that Jesus will carry me through even the worst of it.
I was standing in a moment with God when a girl came over and started praying for me. She prayed for things I hadn't realised until then that I needed and wanted prayer for. She then prophesied over me and I was in tears. It was amazing. She prayed for knowing God is always with me and prayed that all fear I would have would be gone.
I had called myself a christian for 16 years without knowing God. Then at DTI 2025, Jesus Christ met with me, filling me up with the holy spirit for the first time. This made me realise that God is real and that he really does care for everyone. Now it is DTI 2026 and I am celebrating my one year anniversary with God who I know, trust and love. He has changed my life and is the most important thing to me. Although it's been one year, I truly love God and have had a roller coaster of a journey with many ups and downs, but I wouldn't ever change it. He is my world and I am forever grateful and in debt to him.
This is the story of how I came to faith. A pivotal moment in my life. It started in a service at DTI a couple years ago. I was worshiping the Lord while my friend was getting prayed for at the front. Whilst she was praying she saw my face in her mind and came running over to me. She found me crying as if God had sent her a message to pray for me. I was filled with the holy spirit and a warm heavenly feeling filled me. At that moment I knew my creator and that he loves me, all of me. Always.
In September 2025, I started my first year of 6th form at a music boarding school. It was one of the best years of my life. I've been blessed with so many amazing opportunities and friends. But It has also been one of the worst years. I let fear take over my life. I had been struggling with performance anxiety for 4 years and it worsened as I let validation and comparison control me. Every day, I felt I wasn't worthy of being at music school. Unfortunately, this also spilled into my worship leading. Every time I stepped on stage and made a mistake, I felt unworthy of God's love. I became obsessed with the idea of perfectionism. This built a wall between me and my spirit as well as my emotions. This year at DTI, I was fortunate enough to be prayed for by so many amazing people. I encountered Jesus at the extended prayer and worship night. I felt overwhelmed by Jesus' death on the cross and realised how much he loves me and I finally felt seen and made in his image. I surrendered all my insecurities to God. I realised I didn't need anyone else's approval. Only his. I was invited to play at late night worship for the following day. For the first time in my life, I danced and smiled on stage and felt so overwhelmed with joy and excitement. I could feel my love for music coming back. I know that I will leave DTI with Jesus in my heart for every performance <3
For the past 10 years (I am 15) I remember extreme pain in my feet and legs. I have very weak ligaments and severe flatfoot and wasn't able to run any distance without being in pain. One time I played football with my brother for an hour and I had pulled a ligament in my feet and had to be on crutches for a week. I had entirely given up hope as the only fix was private surgery. I believed that this would be my life forever. I was sat down in the worship because my feet and legs were in agony. As I was sat down in the worship, a hand touched my shoulder, I turned to see who and nobody was there, I again felt a hand on my back this time, nobody there. I closed my eyes and turned to the hand and I was met by an insanely bright light, I felt it was Jesus. I open my eyes and a voice says look at your feet. I look and have to take a double take, there was a perfect arch in both my feet, I was in awe, no pain whatsoever and even better I was able to play in the football tournament with NO PAIN!!! Praise Jesus.
This was my first DTI after my best mate Joe brought me along. I was hesitant at first but after the first 2 days I had made really good friends with my whole group. In the past I made some very bad decisions online that had made me suicidal at times after one night I had been prayed for by the DTI team, I felt truly free from my sin. The next evening I fully gave my life to Jesus so I can have a fresh start living the way Christ wanted me to. DTI has given me a chance to start my life over again with a new purpose as a man of God. I'm grateful for DTI as it has also given me a new set of amazing Christian friends. So overall, thanks for helping me not only dream the impossible but help me to live a life I thought was impossible at times. Thanks DTI !!!
I have been having back pains for over 3 years because of my bad posture (my back was bent). When I came to DTI I didn't believe that prayers wouldn't work on me, because my mum and I tried everything to try and fix my back but nothing worked. One morning during praise and worship, I asked one of our youth leaders called Madina to pray for my posture and back pain. She started praying for me and during the prayer I felt a force pushing my back to straighten and at that moment I broke down in tears because I knew it was the work of the holy spirit. After the prayer, I stood up and my back was straight and that back pain vanished. At that moment I wept and thanked Jesus for the miracle.
I have been experiencing anxiety attacks for the past 3 weeks. During the main session, I stood up to receive a fresh filling of the holy spirit. I was experiencing anxiety in my stomach and in a moment I felt the bubbles pop and disappear while a sense of peace fell over me. I have not had a panic attack or anxiety since the bus journey to DTI
My parents get into arguments a lot and they shout and it had a negative impact on me completing school work and being generally positive. So one day one of my friends were talking about what they were going to do on a Sunday and she asked me if I wanted to come. So I said "why not?" I had never really gone to church in my life so I didn't know what to expect. My friend knew about my troubles at home so she said you could pray and someone prayed for me. I was filled with so much peace and that is when I was filled with the holy spirit and my life was completely changed after that
A couple weeks ago I broke my growth plate in my ankle and 3-4 weeks after, during worship, the song firm foundation started and I felt my leg shaking as if it wanted to get it out the boot and I was healed in Jesus's mighty name
I came to DTI feeling scared, ashamed, and most of all broken. Worship at DTI is always the place within DTI that I feel connected with God the most. And so I felt the lord speak to me so clearly about restoring my identity within Christ and to not walk alone but to run with, to run to fulfillment with Jesus Christ. My lord and saviour.
My first encounter with the Holy Spirit. Growing up in a Christian family was going to church every sunday & praying everyday but I wasn't really connected to God. Came to DTI Last year 2025 but didn't really feel the presence of God. I started to feel not loved. I wasn't proud of how I looked when I looked in the mirror. Hated myself completely and didn't tell anyone. I started doing things that I knew were wrong but deep down didn't feel loved and always knew my mother loved my sister more and I have no dad. I came to DTI this year and one of the team preaching said "just let the holy spirit come and you don't have to do anything." So I closed my eyes, forgot about all the hatred I had for myself, and the sins I had done and I just opened my heart for the holy spirit. I don't know what happened. I felt warm and tingly, it was like I was covered by the Holy Spirit. And one of the youth leaders put their hands on my shoulder and tears just started flowing. I felt peace, joy like I had a purpose in life. All the hatred I had I don't have anymore. I love myself the way I am because it's how God created me, I went from a sad lonely girl to this beautiful person who I want to look at everytime.
I have had a tough about 3 years. My parents divorced and I fell into a big depression and thought God did not love me and that God could not love me. I started faking being a christian so my friends and family didn't know. At one point I thought about ending my life but I could not put my friends and family through that. I went to a summer camp and after I left I felt I needed more so I talked with my pastor and I've started healing and when I got to DTI the first night I said yes to Jesus and I know now God loves me.
I was filled with God's truth, love and a new fire, determination to bring God into my life more. I know the miracles he can do and that he is with me, working and transforming. My heart and mind burns with a relentless hunger to know God more. I was filled with compassion and called to talk, help people in my school who may feel they don't belong. I will show them the love, kindness of God. I don't care what people think. I have an audience of one. It only matters what he thinks. I die to myself, I pick up my cross and follow him.
Through prayer at DTI God has given me lots of confidence and joy. I felt a weight lift off me and I now feel like I could go to school and shout the word of God! Also, I now feel like I am bold enough to put my hands up in worship, which I was self-conscious to before! I am still praying for Jesus to reveal himself to me even more, and I would love to be able to prophesy over people and see images from Him. But after God's grace this week, I have full faith that it will happen. Thank you for leading us through an amazing time and I will definitely come back next year! 🙂
I came to DTI struggling. I was struggling with my mental health, but also with my faith. I came to DTI with a heavy, weary heart. I had little hope of being saved. How wrong I was! The second day was when God reached me. At the start of the evening meeting, I felt a sense of unworthiness. I didn't feel I deserved God's love, and that he didn't want me. Near the end of the meeting, people were called to stand and receive if they wanted to be saved. I stood, and after a few minutes a man came and prayed for me. He voiced my inner thoughts. It was as though God spoke to him and told him who I was and what I needed. After he prayed for me, I felt peace. I felt healed, mentally and spiritually. Now I am free from the shackles holding me and I can praise the Lord with all my strength, mind and soul. Praise be to the Lord, our God.
When I was 13 my mum died from primary bone cancer in 2023 and ever since then I was always doing the wrong stuff to try and heal myself from the pain I was feeling, from the amount of grief I was experiencing. I was treated like an outcast in my school which made me feel worse in myself. Around 2 months ago my friend invited me to join her at her church when we got talking about our lives. I went into her church extremely nervous but as soon as worship began I realised its not just a place where people go every sunday to worship jesus, it's a place where love and relationships are built. God has taught me that being vulnerable in situations where I feel upset or worried etc is okay. God has taught me he will always be within me no matter what, which helps me with my mums grief. I turned my life to Jesus on Wednesday and I will never turn back. My youth group already feels like a family to me. I will forever be God's daughter no matter where my life takes me.
I've had a hard time getting to DTI as I came from a non christian family that don't 100% agree with me. My church prayed and prayed as I have been asking my mum for months to go and one day she finally agreed to letting me come. The news was great so I prepared to come to DTI. I had the mindset of seeing if Jesus would let me in and I could get closer to Jesus. The first day was slow and it's all a process, but the second day hit me strongly. I was there to let it all out and cry to Jesus that I want to be following him and accepting him. This happened both days, Thursday and Friday. The person I thank the most is my friend who brought me into church and started my journey 2 and a half years ago.
For the past few years it's been difficult. A few years ago my parents split up. Frankly I hated it but there was nothing I could do. Anxiety filled me! Packing all the time, moving house, and now them both moving on from each other to new! Yet through that God started to change my life for the better. I loved church. And still do. Everybody there supported me. I'd been there since childhood. I belonged. And this week I felt that I could truly express my love and gratefulness for JESUS. I love DTI and will always come back!
On the 3rd day of DTI, I had stopped feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. I had been drowning in lustful sin beforehand and DTI had been my last hope. I was resentful and angry. I was confused as to why the Lord had seemingly abandoned me. I prayed and then went to the front, not to receive but to give prayer. I prayed for a young man and the words just flowed from my spirit. I did not think, I did not pause, the words simply poured. The feeling of love and satisfaction filled me instantly. I remembered how it says in Ecclesiastes (my second favourite book) that there is a time for everything. God had showed me that I had a gift for prayer by seemingly abandoning me. I learned that faith was not based on feeling good but on how you act, how you take action to serve God. Once again, the Lord has helped me to grow into a better person, someone who better reflects Him and I am grateful for it.
Throughout DTI God has really moved me. After listening to X's interview and going to the Open Door seminar, I have been moved by the struggles of my brothers and sisters in Christ but also their strong faith. This has really called me toward missionary abroad. This is amazing as I have a plan to go to Ghana. This is a great start to what I feel may be an amazing journey!! Amen!
On 31/7/26 I was healed. I had bone disease in my leg where I could barely walk, barely walk, run, jump etc. But I was healed, I couldn't take it, the emotions were going nuts. From going to being scared of being an amputee, I was able to be free of pain.
I felt very lost from God and tried some bad things, like vape, cigarettes, alcohol and at first it was so nice because it took away all my bad thoughts about myself. But after a while it did not work anymore and I did not know what to do. But then I came to DTI and got connected to God again and this time I am not going back to my old life.
Last DTI (DTI 2025) was my first time going and I had the most incredible encounters with God. I cried every worship session (I still do) and left DTI a new person. So when I returned to school in Year 11, I completely changed my life around. With the help of a trusty daily devotional, my bible and some worship songs, I strengthened my faith, left a toxic friend group, began to heal some of the trauma they gave me and began to move past probably the worst years of my life. I learnt so much about myself and for the first time I truly trusted God. Now returning to DTI it feels like coming home. I don't know what I would have done without it. I can't say my life is perfect but it is significantly better with Jesus.
When I was young I was always aware that God existed but after my Grandparents' passed, I completely discarded it from my mind and wondered why God would allow their death. I missed them and was angry. When I was 13 my brother converted to islam and I followed in his footsteps, this led to me feeling lost. My heart was never truly in it and it confused me. But I didn't give up on the idea of God because I always felt a higher power. In school I lost all my friends. I was a bully and depressed. I knew I had to change, a girl I knew in school demonstrated her faith in Jesus so well I was inspired. She spoke to me and told me to begin to read the Bible and pray. I felt so loved like I had found something I had lost. She invited me to church a few weeks later and of course I agreed. I felt welcomed and was told about DTI. I booked it weeks later. Fast forward to DTI 2025, I gave my life to Christ. It was a hard road after DTI but I still chose to be baptised in October 2025. I love Jesus now he mended my heart, soul and mind and made me new
Last year in July I was struggling with body image, I was constantly crying. My faith was struggling and I felt like I was losing myself to Satan. At DTI 2025, the song 'you came running lord' changed me. I prayed and fell to the floor crying, all of my doubt & sadness just felt gone. My faith felt saved by this song. In September 2025 I was baptised and my faith felt very strong. However, soon after, it began getting worse again. My parents divorced, my sister left my school, my friends joked about my faith. I felt alone, and God felt distant. At DTI 2026 I was praying and begging the lord to take me back to when my faith was strong, and the song that saved me ('you came running lord') began playing, almost as if it was on cue. My legs felt numb and I genuinely felt lighter. I began crying as I was filled with the holy spirit and heard the words, 'I am here, you are safe.' from God. I haven't for a second questioned my faith or God since. God healed me & returned stronger when I needed him most.
Last year I came to DTI completely broken and lacking in faith. I was struggling and completely reliant on addiction. I got my youth group to pray for me and to pray for a breakthrough. When I opened my eyes the only way to describe what I saw was love and peace surrounding me. I was surrounded by people that loved me and that I was enough for, but I knew this love was constant. Since that I prayed through all the withdrawals and I am now free from all addiction. Coming to DTI this year was something I have never experienced. After being baptised in January, this year's DTI I have felt nothing but peace and comfort from God. I am now in a stable, happy place which I never thought was possible for me.
This is my first year at DTI. Before I came I struggled with anxiety making me feel sick to my stomach, I almost didn't sign up because of it, however I knew it was my last chance because I'm 18. The second night I got prayed for by lots of people. Since then I've felt nothing but love from the lord being anxiety free! Thank you DTI.
This week our youth have been encountering Jesus in the most amazing way. A few have been baptised in the Holy Spirit and developed a true reverence for the Father. One of our youth even said "if I were to die tonight it would be okay because I have met Jesus" we have watched them be renewed and transformed. Another one of our youth has been kneeling so much he's now got sore knees but still is desperate to kneel before His King. Another youth has been getting prophetic words for people, him and a few others at the ministry time will pray for God to give them a piece of clothing someone is wearing-when found will go pray. One of them has had a very accurate word of knowledge and a few incredible prophecies!! We are so in awe of our King Jesus! Thank you guys for what you've made here !!
This is my 5th DTI and a few weeks before DTI, my grandfather passed away, which was very painful and unexpected. Before DTI, I felt isolated, numb and closed off from God/Family/Friends. On night 3, my friend in my youth prayed for me and said he pictured me in God's arms. During worship the very next night, I felt God wrap his arms around me and I felt comfort for the first time in weeks and my connection with God didn't feel closed off or impossible. I broke down into tears feeling God and all my friends praying for me and felt God wrap his arms around me, just like my friend previously said.
When I came to DTI, I came with shame, shame of my past and strongly believed ever so much that 1. I am not worthy and 2. Because of my past I would never be used. However this has been proven different - On day two, God filled me with His Holy spirit and used me to heal one of the Youth Pastor's feet. Day three, God used me to heal a member of the group's knee disease which she had suffered with all her life. All glory to God, he can use anyone despite their past.
I have 2 stories. 1. Over the last year I have struggled being overstimulated and going non-verbal. Therefore I was incredibly surprised when I was fine whilst worshiping. This was incredible as I haven't had a day where I didn't go non-verbal in months. 2. (This is the main one) For years I have felt almost out of place being raised in a christian family with christian friends when I had never had an encounter with God myself. On the Thursday evening I was in the meeting and at the end the call for prayer was if you needed filling with the holy spirit. I had been going through a really hard time mentally so I stood. My leader and godmother came to pray for me. Almost instantly I started to cry. I cried harder than I had for years. This went on for at least 15 mins before I found my friend and when I did the first thing she said was 'wow I haven't cried like that in ages.' I knew that god had done something in that room. This happened again the next night when the call was if you needed a reminder of God's love. This time my friend offered to pray for me and ended by talking to me, sharing what she heard God saying and for the first time in months I let myself feel loved without any doubt. I just broke down crying. These things have massively impacted my religious journey alongside the familiarity I found in the majority of the sermons. I would also just like to thank the amazing speakers and main team as well as especially the outstanding chat team and first aid.
This is officially my 4th DTI and it's the first one I've attended with a medical problem. I struggled with horrible acid reflux and would wake up with poor belly pain every morning. I've been on medication but haven't felt the effects of it yet. I was prayed for on my 2nd night for healing and since then I no longer wake up with crippling body pain! God is so Good xx
I was praying for God to come to me at a deeper level. I am very academic and love apologetics, so I know everything from cosmological arguments with the Second Law of thermodynamics to the Levitical Laws and historical accounts of Augustine of Hippo and how he influenced the Bible. I love to have debates and help others to fix any misunderstandings as I don't want them to not be a Christian due to some question they have about the problem of suffering, for example. However, because of this, I only really feel God in my mind not my heart. I have been brought up Christian, so am a strong believer, but wanted to affirm my faith with an encounter, personally. I know God existed from my research and others testimonies, however doubt was seeping in and I wanted confirmation. So on the 31st Aug, I had an encounter with God during the song Gratitude, as I fell to my knees. I was just praying "God come, I love you Lord." And after 30 seconds I had a vision of God coming down, kneeling in front of me, lifting up my chin to meet his eyes, and he said, "you are my son, who I love." And in that moment I knew I was never going back, nothing could change my mind that God was real.
I got baptised last November and afterwards I was telling loads of people about my faith. However, a lot of people, including my best friend at the time judged me quite a bit, so my confidence has become quite small and I developed a fear of what other people think of me and I was constantly comparing myself to others because of that. Over the past few days at DTI I've received a lot of prayer for confidence and boldness in my faith. I also got a free prophecy from a total stranger who prayed for me to be able to boldly let Jesus into my day to day life and be able to share the gospel without fear. Today when we were worshiping we sang the song like "You've got a lion inside of those lungs so get up and praise the Lord" and I felt all those prayers were being answered, like the burden of my fear being lifted and I wept because now I can share God's word with no fear!
As a person who once lived in the dark, I have a lot to say. I am an asylum seeker. Before I came to meet Jesus I was a very rebellious person. I didn't know how to love my family and friends and always said hurtful words. Because the environment I used to live in was a place without God and everyone was hurting each other. Until I came to the church, I felt the love of Jesus Christ from many people, and I began to know how to respect, love and forgive others. After coming to DTI, I heard God say to me "Don't be afraid, be a light to illuminate your friends and family who are still walking in the dark."
So before DTI, everything was in pain, I felt weak and found it hard to get out my bed sometimes. To sit up from my chair was sore, there wasn't strength in the rest of my body. That was becoming worse on the lead up to DTI. At the first couple of meetings at DTI it was really sore to get up from the floor and up out of my tent. In the morning we prayed for healing, 2 of the older boys prayed for me. During the prayer I felt like I was getting my strength back and now it feels like it's back! It's like it never even happened, I can get up from chairs easily now!
I believe that I have received freedom from pornography after joining the seminar about it and I’ve gained the courage to speak up about it to my trusted friends and my youth leader. I no longer feel ashamed because Jesus set me free from shame during the evening main meeting of Friday. I give God all the glory.
This past year I've kinda been doing things my way, and I realised this DTIi that surrendering my thoughts, desires and feelings to Jesus means freedom. I feel free of my sin and my shame and my insecurities. I've realised that I don't have to catch up to Jesus to be walking with him, he met me where I was in that moment. I've been to church all my life, and this year (2026) was my fourth year here at DTI. Over the past few years, I've tried to take ownership of my faith - to make it mine, not just something I inherited. I'd been trying to live out what the Bible teaches but I'd never taken the big step of giving my life to him - I'd been struggling with trusting Him and believing He was real. Then a couple of years ago, I was in the last session of DTI 2024, and I felt the presence and peace of the Holy Spirit. But I still didn't feel ready to surrender control of my life to Him. Then, over the next two years, God worked in my heart, until I realised I was fed up with indecision and I wanted to go all in. I gave my life to him in the first main meeting of DTI 2026. My journey to faith has been a gradual one. I didn't have a "Damascus road moment" like some people. But by God's grace working through the people he has placed in my life, I stand where I am today: A child of God Chosen Redeemed Unconditionally loved
Praise the Lord!
A girl came to the merch stand and returned her t-shirt that she had bought with cash so that she could put the money into the offering instead
This year I have really struggled with the physical pain and self hatred so on the 4th night I prayed for healing over my heart and mind. Just me and God, I didn't feel anything in the moment or for a few days after and kind of half forgot about that moment because of everything else but the day after I was in the bathroom right before the last main meeting and as I was looking in the mirror, I didn't hate everything about my face, I didn't notice my spots or how big my nose looked. I just felt loved by god and I walked out of there to the main meeting not worrying about how I looked.
So im 14 now and since I was 7 I have had chronic migraines and the have effected school,family,friends and just genuine life but on day three of dti 2026 I was healed and I haven't had a migraine since day three or since I've come home
I am a parent of 2 youths. Both my children have been to DTI over the years. My 16 year old son has just come back from DTI. He is on fire for the Lord. Twice this week, he and his friends have had a bible study in the cathedral grounds. He is using his Bible and he bought a notebook to do a quiet time. He wanted to pray for a stranger and he prayed for my ear ache to be healed. A lot of this he has never done before. I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to DTI for the experience that you provide for our youth. Thank you Lord for drawing my son and his friends closer to you.
I badly injured my knee running on the 19th of July. I was in so much pain that the next day I went to see the Physio at my work and he assessed me and said he thinks I have a meniscus tear. I had an MRI and the consultant said that I had sprained my MCL. I was still in pain and due to travel to DTI for band rehearsal as I was part of the worship team. On stage at DTI I could barely put weight on my left knee due to my injury. After the second day of being on stage I had to go to the first aid room to get ice and take pain killers. I was in the band room alone upset because I didn’t know how I was going to get through the week like this. BUT. During the healing service. The band prayed for me on stage. The first time they prayed I felt my strength come back and was able to put a little more weight on it. But then they prayed for me the second time and I was able to hop on one leg and do a one legged squat and was jumping and praising. I was in disbelief. I even ran backstage just to double check! Now a week later I am still jumping and running.