#6 || Youth With A Mission
Hey!
In recent posts I’ve talked a lot about Youth With A Mission (YWAM), so I thought it would be a good idea to quickly give some information about the organisation; who they are, what they do and why they do it!
YWAM is a non-profit religious charity organisation founded in 1960 by Loren Cunningham. Loren has very recently gone to be with the Lord last month, yet his over 90 years of faithful dedication to God has left quite a legacy and movement behind; bringing transformation to the nations through knowing God and making Him known. Alongside his wife Darlene, and other valiant brothers and sisters through the years, they have been faithful to building an organisation that is focused on short-term mission trips to every nation and further, in bringing the Bible to every nation, tribe and tongue; all from a foundational belief in the authoritative nature of the Word of God. YWAM now has influence in a larger majority of the world, running a multitude of training schools and ministries, for all peoples and tribes that are in need of hearing the Gospel; equipping its staff with the skills and tools they need to accomplish the great commission.
Loren Cunningham
30/6/35 - 06/10/-23
Loren’s cornerstone for YWAM was based on a vision that he received from the Lord back in 1959:
“I lay down on the bed…doubled the pillow under my head and opened my Bible, routinely asking God to speak into my mind. What happened next was far from routine.
“Suddenly, I was looking up at a map of the world. Only the map was alive, moving! I sat up. I shook my head, rubbed my eyes. It was a mental movie. I could see all the continents. Waves were crashing onto the shores. Each went onto a continent, then receded, then came up further until it covered the continent completely.
“I caught my breath. Then, as I watched, the scene changed. The waves became young people–kids my age and even younger–covering the continents. They were talking to people on the street corners and outside bars. They were going house to house. They were preaching.
“Was that really you, Lord? I wondered, still staring at the wall, amazed. Young people–kids really–going out as missionaries! What an idea! And I thought ‘Why did God give me this vision?’ ”
From this encounter with the Lord, YWAM was formed and has grown exponentially since its conception; it has had its challenges as many organisations do, but the transformation seen by YWAM and its affiliates has been world-changing for sure.
Alongside intrinsic core beliefs, YWAM operates from 16 foundational values fundamental to its operation and infrastructure. These are as follows:
1 - Know God | 2 - Make God Known | 3 - Hear God’s Voice
4 - Practice Worship and Intercessory Prayer | 5 - Be Visionary
6 - Champion Young People | 7 - Be Decentralised
8 - Be International and Interdenominational | 9 - Have A Biblical Christian Worldview 10 - Function In Teams | 11 - Exhibit Servant Leadership 12 - Do First, Then Teach
13 - Be Relationship-Oriented | 14 - Value the Individual
15 - Value Families | 16 - Practice Dependence on God for Provision
17 - Practice Hospitality | 18 - Communicate With Integrity
These form the make up of YWAM and help guide its staff and students through their time serving, worshipping, leading and preaching the Gospel to all nations. Alongside the schools that are run within YWAM, the organisation also partners with other ministries such as YWAM Ships, Homes of Hope and King’s Kids International. Each of these have its own separate operational infrastructure, yet affiliate strongly with YWAM in fulfilling the goal of Knowing God and Making Him known.
This has very much only scratched the surface of who YWAM are, but if you are interested to know more, then check their website out here!
