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Why YWAM?

The missions world has lots of organisations and agencies, all offering tremendous opportunities to serve God worldwide. So why join YWAM in preference to other organisations? What are the unique aspects that YWAM brings to the missionary world?

Here are a few aspects of YWAM that might help you to recognise whether YWAM is for you:

• YWAM offers a unique style of discipleship training that will prepare you for the rest of your life. Our emphasis is on properly equipping the worker before sending them out to do the work.
• YWAM is a multicultural organisation with multicultural teams and centres.
• YWAM is the largest organisation of its kind, with some 17,500 full-time staff and 900 operating locations in over 160 nations ...
• ... Yet YWAM often works in small teams and in partnership with other missionary agencies and local churches.
• YWAM is always keen to pioneer new teams and ministries - we will consider the wildest and most adventurous ways of reaching those who are lost and needy.
• YWAM is a group of Christians who seek to take the Gospel message across the world.

What they say of YWAM ...
Read what Christian leaders around the world say of YWAM:

"We all rejoice in the way God has blessed this organization in reaching people all over the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep up the good work. You have my support and my prayers."
  —  Billy Graham

"YWAM ... They do things and it is worth writing about. Even more: it's worth supporting! Even more: it's worth joining."
  —  Brother Andrew, President, Open Doors

"I thank and praise our wonderful Lord for the world impact YWAM has had in helping to fulfill the Great Commission. Loren Cunningham along with the leadership and staff of YWAM has always been a great inspiration and blessing to me and it has been a great joy and privilege to work alongside them for the gospel."
  —  Dr Bill Bright, Founder and President, Campus Crusade for Christ International

"I know of no other organization in the Christian missionary field that has produced and continues to produce such outstanding, mature and Spirit-led young men and women."
  —  David Aikman, author and former Time Magazine editor, Washington DC, USA

"Loren Cunningham has been one of the most adventuresome visionaries of our time. What he has accomplished staggers the imagination. God gave him a dream and he lived it out - very few of us do that."
  —  Dr Tony Campolo, Professor of Sociology, Eastern College, St Davids, Pennsylvania, USA

"All over the world, especially in areas of great need, there are people whose self-sacrificial and serving lifestyles are the result of the training, influence and vision they have gained from YWAM. I admire this organisation greatly and believe that it has the potential to be an even greater force for goodness, love and mercy in the third millennium."
  —  Graham Kendrick, musician and worship leader

"YWAM has been demonstrating that faith works for more than 40 years - their commitment to serving Christ by getting their hands dirty is extraordinary and their dedication to meeting the needs of the whole person in their work around the world is genuinely inspirational."
  —  Steve Chalke MBE, Founder, Oasis Trust and Faithworks

"YWAM is big and it is clever! If you're serious about God's call upon your life I just can't think of a more exciting launch pad for your dreams than YWAM England."
  —  Pete Greig, 24/7 Prayer

"YWAM's contribution to the discipling of young people and to raising the profile of world mission in the Church over the past few years has been incalculable. I meet YWAMers everywhere I go all around the world and I have learned to detect family resemblance. They are slightly crazy, madly in love with Jesus, passionate about the gospel and willing to take risks and go anywhere for the sake of this gospel. I warmly commend them and all that they do."
  —  Mike Pivalachi, Soul Survivor

"In a time when many people are still looking for something to believe in, Youth With A Mission continues to give thousands of young people an opportunity to become involved in the greatest story ever told"
  —  Joel Edwards, General Director, Evangelical Alliance, UK

"There are two places where I regularly meet YWAMers, on the field and in our organization! You are where the action is and you instill vision and long term commitment in the lives of the people you touch!"
  —  Ralph W Eckardt, Executive Director, InterServe USA

"Youth With A Mission has played a significant part all over the world in releasing the talents and energies of young people and in mobilising today's church for mission."
  —  Rev Sandy Millar, Holy Trinity Brompton, UK

"The influence of YWAM and the leadership of Loren Cunningham, in character and constancy, has been, under God's grace, one of the most determinative factors in bringing about the global Church's renewal and impact in the last half of the 20th century."
  —  Dr Jack W Hayford, Pastor/President, The Church On The Way, The King's Seminary, USA

"Whenever I'm traveling and speaking internationally and meet high-committed, servant-oriented Christian leaders, I think to myself, "Another YWAMer!" I'm rarely mistaken. I am so grateful for the work of YWAM and for the intensity with which you do it."
  —  Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church, USA

"When I think of YWAM, I am reminded of the many people that have spread out around the world sharing Christ's love in many new ways and bringing the life saving message of the cross to the lost of this world. Ordinary people that are filled with the Holy Spirit doing great things for God."
  —  Paul C Kennel, President, World Concern

"In addition to the many people who have come to know the Lord Jesus as a result of the ministry of YWAM, there has been an amazing work of character-building in the lives of many YWAM staff on the bases and at DTSes."
  —  Dominic Magwada, Africa Regional Director, Opportunity International, Harare, Zimbabwe

"Over the last 40 years, Youth With A Mission has become one of the premier missionary organizations in the world. Not only has it effectively spread the gospel and ministered to practical needs of the underprivileged around the globe, it has captured the imagination and energy of young people, infusing them with a vision - and providing a unique way - for reaching the lost!"
  —  Bill McCartney, Founder & President, Promise Keepers

"YWAM is a unique contribution to world mission. YWAM has been highly effective in attracting mission entrepreneurs, especially among young people, and mobilizing them for a wide range of important mission work. ... YWAM's dependence on the movement of the Spirit of God in directing its work is a witness to all of us."
  —  Bryant Myers, Vice-President, World Vision

"The expansion of God's kingdom has been accelerated by the phenomenal mobilization efforts of Youth With A Mission. The vision and creativity of YWAM has inspired and challenged other Great Commission organizations to greater boldness and innovation for reaching our world for Jesus Christ."
  —  Dr Jerry Rankin, President, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention

"Thank God for Youth With A Mission! It's a clear path for kids in a cluttered world. It's a clear path to Jesus Christ, a clear path to significance and satisfaction and a clear path to discovering what we were created for sacrificial service to God and man."
  —  Denny Rydberg, President, Young Life International

"Youth With A Mission's versatility and creativity make it a reference point and pace setter in the world missionary movement. The inspiring story of how God has used YWAM to impact the world, training thousands of laborers and generating new missionary movements in every quarter, is surely one of the greatest testimonies in our era."
  —  Stephen L Richardson, US Director, Pioneers

"I just encourage people considering going on a missions trip to link up with YWAM because it is an incredible ministry."
  —  Rebecca Saint James, musician

"I am grateful for their [YWAM's] influence on the youth of American culture and around the world."
  —  Dr. Dallas Willard, author and Professor of Philosophy, University of Southern California, USA

"YWAMers love God and follow him with the same reckless abandon that characterized the first century disciples."
  —  Gregory Fritz, President, Caleb Project

"We have come to admire the dedication and effectiveness of the work done by YWAM amongst refugees and other disadvantaged communities in South East Asia. Only Christ-inspired dedication and love for our fellow human beings in distress could result in such wonderful work being done, often under the most difficult circumstances. YWAM truly represents Christianity in action and is making a difference in this world where the need is greatest. God bless you!"
  —  Roel and Corila Goris, former South African Ambassador to Thailand

"For breadth of involvement, magnitude and creativity, few organizations can match the dynamic distinctives of YWAM. God has greatly used Loren Cunningham and the thousands who have served with YWAM. And many, many will be eternally grateful as a result."
  —  David Cummings, former President, Wycliffe Bible Translators