What is Youth With A Mission (YWAM)?

Youth With A Mission is an international volunteer movement of Christians from many backgrounds, cultures and Christian traditions, dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced “WHYwham”), our purpose is simply to know God and to make Him known. When YWAM began in 1960, our main focus was giving young people opportunities to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the whole world, according to His command in Mark 16:15. Today, we still focus on youth, but we have members (known as “YWAMers”) of almost every age and many of our short-term efforts have grown into long-term endeavors that have impacted lives and nations. YWAM has a decentralized structure that encourages new vision and the exploration of new ways to change lives through training, convey the message of the gospel and care for those in need. We are currently operating in more than 1000 locations in over 180 countries, with a staff of over 18,000. Our many ministries fit into three main categories; evangelism, training, and mercy ministry.

EVANGELISM

People who encounter Jesus want to tell others about Him. Christ inspires us to use many creative means to make his gospel understood to any audience- large or small. We use such tools as music, sports, and performing arts to connect with people of all ages and develop friendships which can lead to conversations of eternal value. When working in other cultures and people of other faiths, Christ’s message of peace is our starting point. We believe everyone has the right to hear this message and our hope is to see fellowships of believers worshipping and following Jesus in every nation, tribe and tongue.

TRAINING

YWAM training teaches you to explore and share your faith. A wide variety of specialized training programs equipt students with skills that can be applied in many situations to convey the love of Christ and participate practically in missions. YWAM schools usually take place within a YWAM community at one of our centers around the world. They combine classroom teaching with ongoing discipleship and practical service. Most programs incorporate several weeks of application activities, often in another culture, where the principles learned are practiced in order to accelerate learning.YWAM’s discipleship and training programs aim to equip followers of Christ to serve more effectively in a variety of missionary fields. It all starts with the Discipleship Training School (DTS) which is a unique opportunity to focus on building your relationship with God and discover new opportunities to work with Him.

MERCY MINISTRIES

If you believe it, you have to live it. YWAM Mercy Ministry teams follow Jesus’ example of compassion to those in need. We operate relief and development programs in over 100 countries, working among people living in desperate circumstances. Our volunteers serve in areas such as agricultural assistance, health care, micro enterprise development and with women and children at risk. Their goal is to ease suffering and provide hope for those affected by poverty, disease or injustice. YWAM teams responded to critical situations such as Hurricane Katrina, the Pakistani earthquake, and the Asian tsunami and they remain in long-term community development efforts in these and other places never seen on the news.

UNIVERSITY OF THE NATIONS

The U of N's, born out of YWAM, is the world’s first global university. With more than 400 locations in 110 countries, the U of N is a university for missions. U of N is comprised of seven colleges designed to bring God’s truth and hope to the seven most influential areas of society. These colleges include: the College of Christian Ministries, the College of Communication, the College of Counseling and Health Care, the College of Education, the College of Humanities and International Studies, the College of the Arts, and the College of Science and Technology. As a student in the U of N, you are nurtured as a whole person, not just as a head to be filled with information. You learn in a discipling environment where growth in character and walking in the ways of the Lord are fundamental. You study only one subject at a time in a 12-week modular system, each approached from a Christian perspective.

One U of N course may be equivalent to several other university courses. The university encourages and trains the young as well as the more experienced who are considering a new career to serve the world for Christ’s sake. Most courses offer a variety of guest instructors and professionals, teaching in their area of expertise. Theory and “hands on” practice 15 are blended, both in courses as well as on outreaches, field assignments, and internships, emphasizing service and experience now rather than after two or four years of classroom study. Many people who are currently making a large impact in our world have received their Bachelors or Masters degree from the University of the Nations.

FOUNDATIONAL VALUES

The Foundational Values of Youth With A Mission are the expression of our basic beliefs, coupled with specific directives given by God since YWAM's beginning in 1960. They are recorded here in order to pass on to successive generations that which God has emphasized to us. These shared beliefs and values are the guiding principles for both the past and future growth of our Mission. Some are common to all Christians everywhere; others are distinctive to Youth With A Mission. The combination of these beliefs and values make up the unique family characteristics of YWAM--our "DNA." They are values we hold in high regard, which determine who we are, how we live and how we make decisions.

1. KNOW GOD - YWAM is committed to know God, His nature, His character and His ways. We seek to reflect who He is in every aspect of our lives and ministry. The automatic overflow of knowing and enjoying fellowship with God is a desire to share Him with others.

2. MAKE GOD KNOWN - YWAM is called to make God known throughout the whole world, and into every area of society through evangelism, training and mercy ministries. We believe that salvation of souls should result in transformation of societies, thus obeying Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations.

3. HEAR GOD'S VOICE - YWAM is committed to creating with God through listening to Him, praying His prayers and obeying His commands in matters great and small. We are dependent upon hearing His voice as individuals, together in team contexts and in larger corporate gatherings, as an integral part of our process for decision making.

4. PRACTICE WORSHIP AND INTERCESSORY PRAYER - YWAM is dedicated to worshipping Jesus and engaging in intercessory prayer as integral aspects of daily life. We also recognize the intent of Satan to destroy the work of God and we call upon God’s power and the Holy Spirit to overcome his strategies in the lives of individuals and in the affairs of nations.

5. BE VISIONARY - YWAM is called to be visionary, continually receiving, nurturing and releasing fresh vision from God. We support the pioneering of new ministries and methods, always willing to be radical in order to be relevant to every generation, people group, and sphere of society. We believe that the apostolic call of YWAM requires the integration of spiritual eldership, freedom in the Spirit and relationship, centered on the Word of God.

6. CHAMPION YOUNG PEOPLE - YWAM is called to champion youth. We believe God has gifted and called young people to spearhead vision and ministry. We are committed to value, trust, train, support, make space and release them. They are not only the Church of the future; they are the Church of today. We commit to follow where they lead, in the will of God.

7. BE BROAD-STRUCTURED AND DECENTRALIZED - YWAM is broad-structured and diverse, yet integrated. We are a global family of ministries held together by shared purpose, vision, values and relationship. We believe that structures should serve the people and the purposes of God. Every ministry at every level has the privilege and responsibility of accountability to a circle of elders, with overall international accountability to the YWAM Global Leadership Team.

8. BE INTERNATIONAL AND INTERDENOMINATIONAL - YWAM is international and interdenominational in its global scope as well as its local constituency. We believe that ethnic, linguistic and denominational diversity, along with redeemed aspects of culture, are positive factors that contribute to the health and growth of the Mission.

9. HAVE A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW - YWAM is called to a Biblical Worldview. We believe that the Bible makes a clear division between good and evil; right and wrong. The practical dimensions of life are no less spiritual than the ministry expressions. Everything done in obedience to God is spiritual. We seek to honor God with all that we do, equipping and mobilizing men and women of God to take roles of service and influence in every area of society.

10. FUNCTION IN TEAMS - YWAM is called to function in teams in all aspects of ministry and leadership. We believe that a combination of complementary gifts, callings, perspectives, ministries and generations working together in unity at all levels of our Mission provides wisdom and safety. Seeking God's will and making decisions in a team context allows accountability and contributes to greater relationship, motivation, responsibility and ownership of the vision.

11. EXHIBIT SERVANT LEADERSHIP - YWAM is called to servant leadership as a lifestyle, rather than a leadership hierarchy. A servant leader is one who honors the gifts and callings of those under his/her care and guards their rights and privileges. Just as Jesus served His disciples, we stress the importance of those with leadership responsibilities serving those whom they lead.

12. DO FIRST, THEN TEACH - YWAM is committed to doing first, then teaching. We believe that firsthand experience gives authority to our words. Godly character and a call from God are more important then an individuals gifts, abilities and expertise.

13. BE RELATIONSHIP-ORIENTED - YWAM is dedicated to being relationship-oriented in our living and working together. We desire to be united through lives of holiness, mutual support, transparency, humility, and open communication, rather than a dependence on structures or rules.

14. VALUE THE INDIVIDUAL - YWAM is called to value each individual. We believe in equal opportunity and justice for all. Created in the image of God, people of all nationalities, ages and functions have distinctive contributions and callings. We are committed to honoring God-given leadership and ministry gifts in both men and women.

15. VALUE FAMILIES - YWAM affirms the importance of families serving God together in missions, not just the father and/or mother. We encourage the development of strong and healthy family units, with each member sharing the call to missions and contributing their gifts in unique and complementary ways.

16. RELY ON RELATIONSHIP-BASED SUPPORT - YWAM is called to a relationship-based support system, depending upon God and His people for financial provision, both corporately and individually. We believe that relationshipbased support promotes responsibility, accountability, communication, and mutual prayer. It involves the donor as a partner in ministry. As God and others have been generous toward us, so we desire to be generous. YWAMers give themselves, their time and talents to God through the Mission with no expectation of remuneration.

17. PRACTICE HOSPITALITY - YWAM affirms the ministry of hospitality as an expression of God's character and the value of people. We believe it is important to open our hearts, homes, campuses and bases to serve and honor one another, our guests and the poor and needy, not as acts of social protocol, but as expressions of generosity.