This year, YWAM’s 50th 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.
