- International YWAMer

It’s the end of YWAM’s 50^th anniversary, and a new year is always a good time to think about the future and what needs to change.  The IY asked a variety of YWAMers, including old and new staff from many nations and ministry focuses, to complete this sentence : “In order to know God and make Him known more effectively in the next 50 years, this generation of YWAMers needs to…?”

Here’s what some of them said…

DTS’s have to put more focus on intimacy with God. Radical obedience to what HE says was the key of success for us 25 years ago in Mali; it still is and will be forever.
Jean-Patrick Perrin, Regional Director – West Africa

Learn what it means to obey the most neglected commandment: to love the Lord with our minds. In UofN leadership we are exploring how to learn by the Holy Spirit and with our minds, trying to break down the sacred-secular split in the area of thinking.  May the Lord help us all.”
Tom Bloomer, International Provost – UofN

Do what Loren and Darlene did at YWAM 50th anniversary in Harpenden, England – bless the children. They will be the leaders in the next 50 years!
Carla – the Netherlands

Learn effective self-leadership throughout all phases of our individual development as leaders.
Wolfgang Jani, Regional LT Member – Central Europe

Have good training for raising their personal financial support widely spread into all regions and available for all potential and current staff.
Terry Sherman- Friendraising coach

Live and practice a new level of community (assuming we are a community).  As the Message puts it, “You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.” (James 3:18). Godly, committed community is the bedrock out of which flows that love for each other and empowers our effectiveness in communicating Jesus to the whole world.
Peter Jordan, Director – YWAM Associates

Think “both-and”. Both the least reached and the more reached. Both train and send. Both pray and do. Both encourage short term and think long term.
Veronica, Leader – Restenäs,

Ensure that the quality and heart of the DTS remain in accordance to what God originally intended it to be. Without proper DTS’s, nothing else will work.
Rahmad JG, Leadership Team – SE Asia

Step out and take major some risks.
Carmelita Clarke, Director – Central European

Make God your priority and out of that love pursue His desires for the world at any cost, make any sacrifice, be it giving up your apartment, giving up your favourite food, or giving up your life.
Christine, Personnel Department

Understand the limitations of short-term outreaches and get serious about committing to long-term ministries to really see changed lives.
Annette, Community Development Worker + future FCD school leader

Be willing to be faithful in little things like picking up a plate that someone else left behind in the dining hall after a meal.

Really know and live out our 17 YWAM values.

Use professional business communication tools every day instead of treating them as if they are not from God.”
Rob Darby, Media Team leader – Restenäs, Sweden

Experience God using their lives to change the future of someone who has no hope and has never heard the Truth.
Creagon Muldoon, Staff – YWAM Orlando

Make a priority of making Him known among the unreached of this world.
Karine, Strategy Coordinator

We need to know what these next years will hold for us in terms of challenges faced. This applies to immigration, the economy, the shrinking voice of the church in Europe, terrorism and increased persecution. None of that sounds particularly exciting but we need to be a people that are futures-thinking and able to think ‘out of the box’ in terms of how we do mission.

We cannot hold onto models of the past and hope that everything will be ok. I mean this in the context of YWAM community, current leadership models and missional application. We must learn again to do new things in new ways, take risks in young leaders again and above all, give room for the apostolic to be able to breathe unencumbered and free from restraint or the fear of risk taking.
Carl Tinnion, National Leader – England

Receive a deeper heart revelation of how God truly feels about us. Head knowledge is not enough! Without this, our passion will slowly erode into mere duty and obligation.
Hannes Steets, MemberCare Coordinator – YWAM Albania

Younger YWAMers will need to move forward with YWAM Foundational Values outside of the present YWAM structure.
Andy Frecka, Staff – YWAM Russia

Seek God for their part in fulfilling His purposes outlined in the “Christian Magna Carta”. We need to see radical progress toward global justice and compassion. Practical action for seeing God’s Kingdom come, His will done on earth as it is in heaven!
Kevin Sutter – International Coordinator for YWAM Church Planting Coaches, GLT member

As long as we (individually and as a body) keep our ears and hearts softened by God´s words and direction, as long as we keep committed to do and then to teach, and as long as we keep our lives driven full of passion to reach the needy, the lost and the least; then God will entrust us with more responsibility and global influence in all levels, allowing us to be harvest reapers and social transformers.

The same principles that brought us up to this 50th anniversary, are the same ones that will ensure us an awesome stage of growth and impact in our world.
Ricardo I. Rodríguez – North of South America Regional Director

“Though China and India may be the defining world powers of the next 50 years, Islam will be the defining world religion. How we relate to it will be critical. I suggest that we see Islam as Paul saw the Old Testament law – “as a tutor to bring us to Christ”.
ME Regional Director

Learn how to communicate fluently in local languages. If Wycliffe can print Bibles in every language, we can learn how to “make Him known” in every language.
E. Saylor, DTS Leader – YWAM Milano

Embrace their call as mothers, fathers, husbands and wives. Family is where we live and model relationship 24/7. In a world where the number of broken families is growing, we need strong families living kingdom principles and – like a light-house – showing others the way.
Andreas & Angela Frész, Leaders of YWAM Family Ministries International

Come to terms with how the centre of Christianity has shifted to the Global South: Africa, Asia and Latin America; while facing the reality that most of the missions resources, financially and leadership, are still in the West.  This calls for Christlike humility on both sides to embrace the strengths and weaknesses of the other and become true servants in an equal partnership to complete the Great commission.

YWAM is best positioned to fulfil the dream of God in Revelation 7:9 through the intentional modelling of what glorifies Christ : Unity in Diversity.
Edwin Filies, Leader of YWAM Burtigny / Geneva and Co-founder of Nations2Nations

Young people are desperately longing for a life-connection with God, however much they understand Him. As we share our lives they will be overwhelmed with joy to find that they can be included in the family circle of the Father, Son and the Spirit. However, they may see little connection between that and the “meeting based” organisation we call church. We need to radically rethink what is church and why, not just tweak it a little.”

Rod Thorpe, GLT

Make Christ known where He is yet unknown.  The greatest injustice is that we hear the Gospel over and over and over again while thousands of ethnic groups live in darkness and perish, never hearing of Jesus even once.  Radical obedience to the Great Commission can remedy this injustice but will require us redirecting our workers and resources towards these overlooked and forgotten ones.

If we would but focus, this could easily be the first generation to ignite the light of the Gospel within every people group on earth!

Gina Fadely – International Frontier Missions Director

Focus on research, setting goals and developing God’s purposes for different peoples.  Then stay focused to the end goal and focus all efforts for its completion.

We also need to evaluate the efforts being made to see God known and readjust to be more effective.
Darren and Mary – Staff in Central Asia

Partner and collaborate to stop extreme poverty in all of its forms, end modern day slavery and human trafficking and to receive that same anointing that was upon Jesus to set the oppressed free and to bring freedom to prisoners globally.

This generation should not aim too low…what about finishing the Great Commission through the Great Commandment or loving God, our neighbours, ourselves and our enemies? Let’s fulfil the dream of God!!!!
Steve Goode, International Director, Mercy Ministries

Be careful that it does not use ‘being connected’ as an excuse not to go… Jesus said ‘go’ because we need to be there to understand and build relationships. Then we can be a model and influence people to think more like Him.

Deep rooted world views, traditions and cultural beliefs keep millions in poverty. Our challenge is to demonstrate that living out a biblical worldview actually brings positive change and improves lives in every sphere of society. I would encourage this generation to invest in people face to face and not rely on technology driven connectedness.
Dave Swann, YWAM Mercy Ministries