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That was a year, that was.

Back in 2003, the then-director of YWAM England, Mark Markiewicz, gave an overview of all that had gone on in YWAM England in the previous year.

"What you will remember 2003 for? For YWAM England, 2003 has been a year with a number of highlights, yet also a year that has seen us continuing to develop in our areas of work -- global, urban, youth and marketplace.

Training, discipling and evangelism

During 2003, YWAM England ran 13 Discipleship Training Schools (DTSs), with students from over 30 nations. These DTSs sent outreach teams to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America.

We also held our annual summer outreach teams, training and sending short-term teams to over 20 locations around the world -- including around 350 to the Festival: Manchester mission, which helped to make it our biggest (numerically) summer outreach ever. All these teams were involved in evangelism and practical ministry alongside churches, getting a taste of missions that we hope will stay with them for life.

People power

YWAM England continues to be the largest long- and short-term missionary organisation in the UK, and we have over 300 long-term British YWAMers serving overseas -- faithfully making God known to people who would otherwise not have an opportunity to know Him.

Back home, YWAM England is made up of over 300 people from over 25 nations. Each is a full-time volunteer who raises their own personal support (see the pie chart). These people are dedicated to serving God through the diverse and effective ministry of YWAM England. My personal highlight of 2003 has been to encourage and support these people as they serve God in England.

For much of YWAM England, it has been business and ministry as usual. We continue to provide support and counsel to hundreds of prostitutes, immigrants, HIV-sufferers, young people, and hurting and marginalised people we meet in our everyday work. We are often the only Christians with whom they have contact and we witness to them in words and deeds.

Hellos and goodbyes

So what was new in 2003? YWAM England gained special consultative status at the United Nations, allowing us the opportunity to influence policy-making at the highest level. Also, Marine Reach, YWAM's maritime arm, established an office in Harpenden, aiming to minister into the lives of people in the Amazon. Teams have started in Brighton and Luton, as has a Family Ministries team near Nottingham.

But growth also means recognising when God has completed the role of a team. Plymouth has closed as a YWAM location, but two of our team will continue the work we started, but as local church workers. That is the blueprint for our projects: partner with local churches and eventually hand it over to them.

Our work among prostitutes in Nottingham has also been handed over to local churches. Hanbury Community Project (offering a whole-person approach to the needs of the homeless, long-term unemployed, mentally ill and people with addictions) and Parakaleo (a nationwide consultancy to the gender-confused) have moved on too -- each had reached the point where their work was better served by being outside YWAM rather than inside.

So, an exciting year that has seen YWAM England continue to know God and make Him known. My hope for 2004 is that through the work of YWAM England many more people -- in this country and beyond -- will be reached with the gospel."