7/30/2019 YWAM Article_Christian Reader 1977

1/4

^*^

m

,t^

BY Howard NortonAND Thurman Mason

COALLeK

7/30/2019 YWAM Article_Christian Reader 1977

2/4

7/30/2019 YWAM Article_Christian Reader 1977

3/4

we want them to know what todo."

Preparation has priority atYWAM. "We are establishing

schools a day's drive apart," hesays. "We have already reachedthat goal in Europe, all the wayfrom Finland to North Africa,

and we are getting close to ourgoal of setting up the same kindof chain of schools in America."

The YWAM occupies a 16th-century castle in Bavaria, an oldhospital in Holland, a hotel inSwitzerland, and what used to

be a girl's boarding school inDenmark. In Scotland, the

movement has set up base inwhat used to be an orphans'home.

In the Hawaiian Islands, Cun

ningham says he hopes to havesoon a hotel as the central base

and a passenger ship capable oftransporting 800 to 1,000 members to assignments in the PacificIslands and Asia.

YWAM is "an association of

fellowship," not a structured organization, according to Jim

Dawson, who bears the title director of personnel. Each of itsunits incorporates and carries onits functions independently.

When Cunningham originallyconceived the idea of YWAM he

was director of youth ministriesfor the Assemblies of God in

Southern California. His job involved setting up summer outreach programs for his church,and he caught the vision of aninterdenominational outreach.

The first plan was to recruit a

40

few young people and sendthem out to help in various mission fields during their vacations. After their original sum

mer mission, some of the students returned to fields where

there was no missionary.YWAM gave them help, andthus became involved in thearea.

Later YWAM got into the workof inspiring missionary vision in

churches. As the churches came

alive and began to grow, theybecame sending churches.

There is no formal statement of

faith in the YWAM movement.

"As long as they are fundamental, born-again, Bible-believingChristians with a desire to

spread the gospel, they're ourbrothers and sisters," said Daw-son.

The first step in becoming partof Youth With A Mission is to

undergo training at either a Dis-

7/30/2019 YWAM Article_Christian Reader 1977

4/4

cipleship Training School or aSchool of Evangelism. Programsat the DTS are designed to teachthe basic fundamentals of Chris

tianity to young Christians.At the School of Evangelism,

the plan calls for a more intensive 11-month program concen

trating on personal discipleshipand spiritual maturity.

The first School of Evangelismin the United States was started

YWAM OCCUPIES

A 16TH-CENTURY

CASTLE IN

BAVARIA, AN OLDHOSPITAL IN

HOLLAND,A HOTEL IN

SWITZERLAND,AND A GIRL'S

BOARDING

SCHOOL IN

DENMARK.

seven years ago in Hammonton,N.J. A local church donated nineacres of wooded land, and with

in two years volunteers hadcompleted the first of severalbeautiful Swiss-style buildingsthat house the students.

The term "school" may be misleading. YWAM schools appearto be a cross between Bible col

leges and communes. Althoughyou'D have to pay tuition to attend one, you won't receive a

degree when you graduate. On

the other hand, no one flunks

out due to poor grades.There are times of worship,

teaching, and Bible study setaside every day. For 11 months,students at the evangelismschool are trained to become ef

fective witnesses.

"We want to teach people toknow God, to know what the

Scriptures say about iiim. WhoHe really is," says Steve Hulst, a

Hammonton staffer. He pointsout that, according to the Bible,life eternal is "to know the onlytrue God, and Jesus Christwhom tie has sent."

After basic training, there is a

wide variety of ways studentscan fulfill the Great Commission.

Some go on to seek ordination,

while others may find full-timestaff positions with YWAM.Some return to work in secular

areas.

Last year more than 80 percent

of those who completed the

evangelism training programfound full-time positions withYWAM.

For students like John Marsiand his wife Linda, having a

knowledge of the Lord meansbeing willing and able to shareliim with others.

"We're learning to let God de

velop us," says John. After 10

months at the school theyquickly admit the most impor

tant thing they've learned is "tobe obedient to the Lord."

The presence and peace of theLord at YWAM greatly impressed the Marsis, and that's

what they'll take along on their ^

own mission. \^

41