- International YWAMer

Did you understand the title? The picture is a clue. Actually, most of the pictures in this issue include people from ethno-linguistic groups where less than 2% of the population has the kind of faith in Jesus that compels them to tell others about Him. That means they don’t have enough believers, or resources to effectively share the message of Christ with their community without outside assistance. We call these “unreached people groups” (UPGs) and they are the last people on earth to hear about Jesus.

This issue is about what it’s like to be the first Christians to work among the last people to be reached with the gospel. YWAM’s second value states that we are committed to make God known throughout the whole world. The Christian Magna Carta identifies the right to hear and understand the message of Jesus and have a Christian fellowship nearby as implicit in the gospel. Recent partnerships with movements such as Call2All have reaffirmed this focus of our efforts, and reaching the unreached is firmly on YWAM’s agenda.

In creating this issue, we found that YWAM teams don’t dream small, they dream big, and the dream God has given us for UPGs is not for one or two new believers, or even one or two new churches, in places where He is not known – but for movements (we like that word!) of churches in regions where there has been no church! A Church Planting Movement (CPM) is the rapid multiplication of indigenous churches that plant more churches throughout a people group or population segment. It’s what happened commonly in the Book of Acts, and it is still happening!

In our first article, you’ll find out what obstacles prevent CPMs from happening, and how you (yes, you!) can help overcome them. In the second article, we’re looking at principles that YWAMers are applying in order to see CPMs begin. We finish up with some inspirational stories from remote locations where people are hearing about Jesus for the first time. Imagine a community hearing about Jesus for the first time!

Imagine them never hearing.

Your feedback, ideas and offers of assistance are always welcome here

Find more YWAM stuff at our Facebook Page or visit our website: www.ywam.org or our staff page at: www.ywamlife.com

Thanks for reading the International YWAMer!

Tamara, for the IY team

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It seemed appropriate, at the start of a new academic quarter when many YWAM centres start to fill up with students, speakers and guests, to produce an International YWAMer on the topic of Hospitality. I considered taking an extensive tour of YWAM bases for the purpose of evaluating their hospitality, but the budget didn’t allow it!

Is hospitality really valued in YWAM? Certainly, it seems that it is a part of our character, something that we are known for. But it’s not an area that we can be lazy about – each new generation has to be taught what it looks like to value hospitality and how to make it a part of your YWAM life. Hopefully this issue will be a reminder to consider how your team is doing in living out this YWAM value. (Here’s a hint : if you find that Rita’s tips in the article “Fit for a King” about caring for guest speakers are being left behind in conspicuous places by your visitors, you may have some work to do!)

September is also the time when YWAM’s global database is updated and posted to www.ywam.org and the new Go Manual is put together, making it possible for thousands of people every month to find the YWAM ministry they are looking for. If you neglected to update your details this year, send an email to the gracious and servant-hearted people at : survey@ywam.org .

We are pleased to be featuring video content on the International YWAMer web-site from www.ywamorganic.org to satisfy your desire for even more YWAM news. You can leave comments on the IY articles to tell us where you have experienced great YWAM hospitality!

Your feedback, ideas and offers of assistance are always welcome here

Find more YWAM stuff at our Facebook Page or visit our website: www.ywam.org or our staff page at: www.ywamlife.com

Thanks for reading the International YWAMer!

Tamara, for the IY team

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I’m no major sports fan, but once again the International YWAMer has proved to me that everything YWAM does is interesting!

Of course, we’ve never done an issue on work duties…or staff meetings…or long delays at airports…! Why not tell us what you think is the most boring thing about YWAM and maybe we’ll do an issue on it! Please contact us with this or any other feedback!

Getting back to the issue at hand – you don’t have to be a sports fan to recognize the strategic value of using the universal passion for sport in missions endeavors. In this IY, however, our writers do have their own favorite fitness-building pastimes: triathlete Michael Green shows us that sport has been used as an initiative in building peace for centuries (and that joining a simple walk for peace wasn’t so hard for him!). Football and cricket coach, Paul Baker, gives some practical and purposeful input on how you can use sport effectively in the place where you are serving. First off, though, keen distance runner Jeremy Weightman gives us a look at the 2012 Olympic outreach, which is going to be unlike any we have seen before, and reveals how this Olympic outreach is more like a marathon than a sprint!

All in all, it’s an issue to sit back and relax with – and then get up and go with!

Your feedback, ideas and offers of assistance are always welcome here

Find more YWAM stuff at our Facebook Page or visit our website: www.ywam.org or our staff page at: www.ywamlife.com

Thanks for reading the International YWAMer!

Tamara, for the IY team

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Water. When it was first suggested as a topic for this edition of the International YWAMer I’m ashamed to admit I thought it was a little dry. After receiving a flood of contributions for the theme, I realised that water is only boring if it’s not a problem for you. If, like much of the world, you have too much of it or not enough of it, it becomes an issue of vital, compelling importance.

YWAM is clearly aware of this importance. From Thailand to Kona, South Africa to Russia, YWAMers are absorbed in projects to provide clean, usable water in place where there is none. It was impossible to include them all in this issue, but we will be posting additional stories on www.ywam.org over the next month.

In Japan this year it is the tragedy caused by too much water that has prompted YWAMers to respond, and in this issue we provide first-hand accounts from a YWAM family who are caring for tsunami victims.

If water is not a challenge for you, we trust this IY will remind you (like me) to be grateful. For those of you striving to supply this essential ingredient as an expression of God’s love, we hope you’ll be encouraged and able to helpfully connect with others who share your interest. We honour you!

Thank you to all who contributed to this issue, which was truly a collaborative effort! Remember, reader comments are always welcome.

(By the way, all the water puns were intentional. Apologies to the translators!)

Your feedback, ideas and offers of assistance are always welcome here

Find more YWAM stuff at our Facebook Page or visit our website: www.ywam.org or our staff page at: www.ywamlife.com

Thanks for reading the International YWAMer!

Tamara, for the IY team

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Youth With A Mission has been serving in the Arab World for decades, but most YWAMers probably never gave much thought to the region until this year. Less than 2% of YWAM’s total staff works in this region, which has a population of over 270 million. Most people who live here have never heard the message of Jesus. Check out : http://worldmap.org for some enlightening visuals regarding the spread of the gospel in the Arab World.

But all eyes have been on the Arab World since the people of this region began rising up and demanding freedom of other kinds. As political upheaval changes the face of the Arab World, intercessors have recognized the effect of years of prayer and more have joined in to work with God as history changes in this influential part of the world.

In this issue of the IY, we offer an article which gives some context to current events in the Middle East/North Africa, and an exciting report on a remarkable prayer event which many of you took part in. There are also links to show you how you can continue to be involved in “steering the winds of change” as they blow across the Arab World.

If you’re receiving this by mail, visit our website www.internationalywamer.org to comment on this issue. If you’re reading online, tell us what you think about the way the world is changing! More importantly, tell us what you’re going to do about it!

Your feedback, ideas and offers of assistance are always welcome here

Find more YWAM stuff at our Facebook Page or visit our website: www.ywam.org or our staff page at: www.ywamlife.com

Thanks for reading the International YWAMer!

Tamara, for the IY team

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Here we are, at the end of YWAM’s 50^th anniversary year. If you’ve been following the global celebration reports on www.ywam50.com I’m sure that, like me, you are hoping Loren and Darlene Cunningham have plans for a nice, quiet Christmas at home!

As we prepare to publish this issue, thousands of YWAMers are gathering at the University of the Nations campus in Kona, Hawaii, for the final event of our anniversary celebrations. This will be followed by the annual meeting of YWAM’s Global Leadership Team (GLT), who ask for your prayers as they gather to address some significant issues regarding YWAM’s future.

Written and video reports from the GLT will be available each day of the meeting at YWAM’s brand new staff resource website : www.ywamlife.com. This website complements www.ywam.org , but is aimed at YWAM staff, for the purpose of helping them be more effective in ministry. Here, you will find YWAM family news, information about YWAM events and special training as well as a variety of resources you need, and some you didn’t know you needed! Make sure you take a look at it.

Finally, the IY would like to thank all the talented writers, photographers, designers, models, computer geeks and “ideas people” who have contributed to the IY this year – you guys rock!

And, to our readers : wherever you are, and in whatever way you are remembering the birth of our Saviour – may you be blessed this Christmas with a renewed sense of wonder at His love for the whole world!

Your feedback, ideas and offers of assistance are always welcome here

Find more YWAM stuff at our Facebook Page or visit our website: www.ywam.org or our staff page at: www.ywamlife.com

Thanks for reading the International YWAMer!

Tamara, for the IY team

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In this our 50^th anniversary year we have been honouring God for all He has done through YWAM in the past. We are rejoicing at what He is doing now. But as true YWAMers we are also looking to the future, not content with what has been achieved, but recognizing that there is still much to be done before the whole world knows Jesus (and then starts helping make Him known!).

We wanted this issue to focus on “where we are not.” Not just where YWAM is not, but on those places where the message of Christ has not yet been revealed by anyone – those blank spaces on the 4K map which Loren has been pulling out everywhere he goes and challenging you to fill. (see www.4kworldmap.org)

A report from this year’s Africa Leadership Team meeting highlighted the sobering reality of working in the places which are yet unreached – reminding us that they are unreached because they are really, really hard: hard to get to, hard to live in, hard to harvest the kind of fruit that looks good in a newsletter. This article challenges us about how much we are willing to sacrifice in serving God’s purposes.

Darlene Cunningham, still travelling to celebrate the 50^th anniversary with YWAM bases around the world, also sent a word that encourages us as we face those difficult challenges. She exhorts us that it is unity which will make us strong when we face persecution, hardship and danger. Rather than making things harder for ourselves, she reminds us to work together.

Finally, we wanted to remind you that there is no shortage of opportunities to be the first to pioneer in a place where the name of Jesus has never been known. We already have hundreds of YWAMers in those places, but all of them are crying out for help in an overwhelmingly huge harvest. As you read these extreme help-wanted ads ask yourself – could you be the answer to prayer?

YWAM is no stranger to adversity, or hardship, or loss. We have always been willing to defy the odds and take on the impossible task. As we grow and establish and maintain, let’s be careful to always keep an eye on the places we have never been and never stop stretching further and further to take the love of Christ to the ends of the earth.

P.S. Have another look at our header photo. It shows one of the first Mukuando believers – a previously unreached tribe in Africa that YWAM worked among for 12 years.

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Romance. Mystery. Drama. Comedy. Unusual characters, funny dialogue and twisting plots -YWAM stories have it all.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a story about their YWAM experience to the 50^th anniversary story contest! We had a great time reading about happy reunions, transformed lives, discouraging events that turned out to have surprising rewards and slightly embarrassing moments. There are so many experiences we share as a YWAM tribe, and we found three good ones for our winners in the three age categories. Congratulations to Lara, Breanna and Christine and thank you again to everyone else who entered!

It was gratifying to see the feedback section buzzing at the IY’s new website – www.internationalywamer.org – after our launch last issue. Please visit the site to comment on any of our articles, subscribe to receive the IY in one of several languages or read past issues.

Our October issue is also in its planning stages, and in a twist on our 50^th anniversary focus, we are going to be looking at places YWAM is NOT! Our celebrations are as much about looking forward as they are about looking back, so we want to hear the ambitions God has given you for new initiatives to be pioneered in YWAM – things that have never been done, people who have never been reached, needs that have never been met. Contact us to tell us what you are praying to see happen next, and maybe we can help you find others who share your hope.

But for now, enjoy reading the adventures of our story contest winners (or listening to them on our podcast) from three age categories – of course, they all have a happy ending!

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This year, YWAM’s 50^th anniversary, we have found ourselves reflecting on the things that make YWAM distinctive. We know that in the 1960’s when YWAM began, the very idea of young people being involved in missions was uncommon. But now, there are thousands of opportunities for young people to engage in the work of God at home and in other cultures. What used to be “radical” – has it become commonplace? If so, has YWAM kept its reputation for being cutting edge?

In at least one area, it has. Perhaps it is our determination to include people from all nations in our movement, or our tendency to work in multi-cultural teams, or our welcome of people from many denominations – or, just our love of food from many cultures – but we are intentional about putting ourselves in close community with people who are different from ourselves. This practice, of loving your neighbour, has been a radical one for followers of Jesus, ever since He defined your neighbour as the one who is your enemy.

In this issue of the IY we explore how YWAMers are approaching the Muslim community, a religious group so often perceived as “the enemy.” Perhaps, having overcome the challenges of sharing a bedroom (or watching the world cup?) with a diverse group of people from multiple nationalities and religious backgrounds, YWAMers are more inclined to open doors to communication with people of other faiths, instead of building walls. This issue seeks to challenge you – are you still living “on the edge” when it comes to loving your neighbour? And we give you some testimonies from teams who are doing just that.

The 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim world begins on August 11 – a wonderful way to get involved in loving Muslims through prayer, inspired by the Red Sea Covenant, whose history is referenced in our second article. Click the ad below for a list of prayer guide distributors.

Finally, a couple of new developments in the IY – we have a new website! Visit www.internationalywamer.org to search past issues of the IY, subscribe, listen to the IY on podcast or refer your friends to articles of interest. As always, we’d love to hear your feedback – Contact us through our contact form.

And it’s not too late to enter the IY’s story contest. There are prizes for three different age groups, so tell us your YWAM experience and maybe get published in next month’s IY! See www.internationalywamer.org/storycontest for details.

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Birthdays (especially ones ending in “0?) are often an occasion for individuals to review their achievements and set goals for the future. Since 2010 is YWAM’s 50th anniversary year, it seemed that “evaluation” would be a relevant topic for us to address.

Evaluation is defined as: “to examine and judge carefully; to ascertain or fix the value of.” As missionaries, we judge the value our efforts by an uncommon standard – not growth, or wealth, but by something of more eternal significance which Jesus called “fruit.” (Matthew 7:12-20; John 15)

As YWAM grows older and more experienced, it should be expected that we learn from our mistakes and mature in our ability to examine the fruitfulness of a method or a structure or a strategy. And yet, busy with new vision and activity, we can often fail to apply our knowledge. Evaluation helps to keep us on track with what God has called us to do, both individually, in teams and as a movement. So, this month we asked some YWAM leaders who have learned through experience to inspire you with the need to take time to evaluate the fruitfulness of your efforts. You can share your feedback at YWAM’s facebook page: www.facebook.com/youthwithamission

Also, the IY is having its first ever contest! We’re giving out prizes to the YWAM stories we like best written by our readers from three age groups. Scroll down to find out more.

The International YWAMer aims to discuss issues of interest to the YWAM family – let us know what you’d like to see in future issues at : iy@ywam.org.

Be fruitful!

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