YWAM

[Elendil]

Does anyone else know about YWAM??? (Youth With A Mission???) :D

[Ephinie]

Does anyone else know about YWAM??? (Youth With A Mission???) :DYes, I've heard of it. My mom was involved with them for a while before she married my dad. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a very negative experience in her case.

[Copperfox]

There was a Christian author named Derek Prince--born in New Zealand, as I recall--whom I seem to remember as being associated with YWAM. Prince once wrote an evangelistic book drawing on Star Wars themes; this was back when only one Star Wars movie existed, and the Christlike image of Obi-Wan Kenobi had not yet been undercut by the greater emphasis later films would place on Eastern pantheism.

[Samwise Gamgee]

Never heard of it.

[Shadow Hawk]

Would that be like CIA or Christians in Action?

[Neevil]

Umm... I think I've heard of it, but I have no clue what it is. Would some one be kind enough to tell me?

[Elendil]

Youth With a Mission was started by a man called Loren Cunningham, his mission, and the purpose of YWAM is to 'Know God and Make him known.

[Parthian King]

My first missionary experiences were with YWAM. They were generally positive, but by the time I was ready to go full time, I had a family and from my experience it was geared more for short-term, singles-oriented ministry (meaning ministry by singles, not meaning ministry to singles). I did know some married folks in YWAM, long-termers, but they were the exception not the rule.

While my experience was good, I have known people who had bad experiences. I have gathered that it comes down to each particular base and its leaders.

YWAM has had a tremendous impact and is well-received in many parts of the world for its flexible and "outside the box" thinking. Its weaknesses, in my view, is that in many respects it functions as a denominational sending agency (a YWAM "lifer" admitted this to me), but without many of the necessary securities of one. This makes it vulnerable to the doctrinal whims of local leaders and, what is worse in my view, can give the impression that its training programs are a substitute for more established (and accredited) denominational colleges and universities.

Like many things, its a balancing act. If you don';t look at it as your denomination, and want to give a few months or perhaps a couple of years to the Lord, YWAM can be good. Just try and check out which base you'll go to for your DTS (Discipleship Trainign School) through personal testimonies.

[Elendil]

My parents used to lead DTS's...In New Zealand, and Australia...

[Twilight]

Yes, I've heard of it! My youth leaders were once full-time in that organization and still are involved in it. As a matter of fact, today some people from YWAM talked to us in school. From what I've heard from people I know (mainly my youth leaders) they've had tons of awesome and memorable memories of sharing Christ in other places.

[Elendil]

Ever heard of 'Kings Kids' (part of YWAM)

[fernshirehobbit]

Yes, I know of it. My cousin graduated from their college in Hawaii. I plan on possibly being associated with them in some missions work in my future. Its a great program with a great purpose- to reach the lost of this world. :)

[Elendil]

My brother is thinking of going to that...

[fernshirehobbit]

Have you guys heard of CYIA (Christian youth with a mission)?

[Elendil]

errr...nope!

[tgraveline]

I know about it, as many of my friends have gone through that. From what I know and understand my thoughts on it is that the training and studying that takes place before the actual missions does is pretty good. My personal thought on their approach to ministry is purely evangelical and while this is good in my opinion, I do not think it has a long term lasting affect. There must be work beyond the evangelical side, which consists of developing disciples among the people of the nation and then in turn having those people rise up to be the leaders of their churches and not just a missionary, and beyond that, hopefully there would be some called to missions and would go out themselves as well. This process is whats need for a long term and more so a global affect. I just do not see this happening at all, though there are some long term people. As I know some who are currently working in New Zealand and the south pacific for them, and know that they are doing precisely what I described and I hope for all the best to them as well. YWAM gives the opportunity for the first stage to happen, and if they created a branch that could work on the other aspects, that would be wonderful. Oh, and I would love for them to find a way to be self-sufficient in funding and not just rely support from other people. I think its great to get people involved in that sense, but at some point it is great to build something like a restaurant or a club or whatever is possible to generate revenue that would be used for the missions themselves.

tg