What does it take to become a courageous individual? William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, observed that "some of my best men are women." During the last few years two brave women, who trained at YWAM Tyler, went to the Middle East to make an impact on people and point them to Jesus. We recently touched base with "Sarah and Mary" to get an update on their ministries.
2 min read
Courageous Women
Topics: Relationship with God Obedience Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Hope Faith Following God influence courageous
3 min read
Building Foundations
How do you increase your faith? Former student Sarah Horan shares her heart on how God revealed His truth to her during a Discipleship Training School (DTS). Growing in your faith is a constant learning process. Discovering the reality of who He is will strengthen and solidify who you are and what God created you to be.
2 min read
Missions Changed Me
From as far back as my junior high school, I remember struggling to find happiness. I felt like I didn’t fit in and lost confidence in myself. School was difficult and friendships evaded me. I wondered if I would ever be happy. My high school years continued to be a challenge and I was looking for happiness in all the wrong places. My Mom tried everything, even sending me to Wilderness camps to help me find my footing. Eventually, I went to a private therapeutic school for my senior year. Unfortunately, my life continued to be shrouded in darkness.
Topics: Crossroads DTS Belief Hope Answered Prayer Faith Confidence Go Deeper with God Called to Mission testimony
2 min read
Unexpected Friendships
When we follow God, sometimes we have our own expectations of what God will do through us. This can sometimes cause us to put God in a box and feel like we aren’t being used at all, when in reality we are being used in a way we just didn’t expect.
Topics: Connection Communication Discipleship Opportunities ministry faithfulness friendship student communications long distance
2 min read
Miracles in the Classroom
What does a young person chasing after God's heart look like? Christian Heritage School desires to fan the flame of the next generation. Every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow with the Lord. Principle Jeff Schapansky shares testimonies of God moving miraculously in the classrooms.
Topics: Relationship with God Spiritual Growth Making Him Known Education Miracle Make Disciples CHS christian education
4 min read
Cross-Cultural Christmastime
Have you ever wondered how Christmas is celebrated around the world? We asked four of our YWAM Tyler missionaries to share some of their most memorable Christmas traditions from the countries they have lived in or experienced!
When we first moved to Thailand, it was July. Survival was at the top of the list, not contemplating how we would decorate for Christmas. Advent came nonetheless, and it was time for our family to figure out how to decorate our Thai style home for the holidays.
3 min read
My Stepmom Thinks YWAM Rocks
Have you ever been curious about going to a Discipleship Training School but don't know what to expect? In a recent interview, Christy Ellis gives her perspective on the transformation she witnessed God do during her step-daughter Katelyn's DTS experience.
Topics: Life-Changing Following Jesus Encounter God Hope Get to Know God Transformation discipleship ywam missions DTS
2 min read
Marked by God
Can you imagine God sending someone from another country to see you? While in Thailand, Jess Reminger encounters a man named Danny, who was seen and noticed by God. This testimony gives us a glimpse into how present God is in creation.
2 min read
The Day I Thanked God For Losing My Job
One morning I sat in the classroom during my training school with YWAM, and I was crying, thanking God for the loss of my job.
Topics: Training School YWAM Tyler Missions Purpose YWAM DTS Thankfulness YWAM Following God Missionary Training Go
2 min read
Sharing The Gospel Isn't Complicated
God has been doing amazing things with our DTS team on outreach in Thailand. As the team has made themselves available, God has opened doors for them to speak the truth and build relationships with people living in local villages. The testimony you are about to read is just a glimpse of how the Lord uses us to be His hands and feet to ensure that those who need Him know they are seen and loved.
Topics: YWAM DTS Thailand YWAM Outreach Gospel Adventure Global Missions Love Community Answered Prayer God's Presence Prayer Go Holy Spirit God's Love
2 min read
How DTS Changed My Child
Before I left for my Discipleship Training School, my family really had no idea what YWAM was. If your family is anything like mine, I want to put your mind at ease about saying yes to God. I asked my Mom, Christina Bear, to share her thoughts and how she felt when I left to pursue God's next step for me at YWAM Tyler.
Topics: God's voice Family Life-Changing Identity Discipleship Opportunities Hope Faith Following God Go DTS parents
2 min read
Laying Down My Rights
I was sitting in my DTS classroom, my head wrapped in thoughts of a family circumstance that was happening. We had teaching on Lordship and Surrender, which was timed perfectly for what I was struggling with. I had a sense of fear and lack of control over the situation, but throughout the class, God kept reminding me that He has control of the unknown and that I can trust and surrender it all to Him.
Topics: Worship Freedom Hope Faith surrender life lessons relationship intimacy lordship perseverance create
5 min read
Breaking Out of the Box
There really is such thing as a Jesus glow. The glow where you’re so full of Jesus, it’s so evident and so seen from within that it overflows onto the outside of you. You see, it’s one thing to be beautiful on the outside, but it’s a whole other thing to become beautiful on the inside. There are a LOT of physically beautiful women in this world, but outward beauty means nothing when the fruit on the inside is rotten.The darkness in this world sucks the life out of you, and blows your flame out resulting in lifelessness. The only way I could ever describe myself before I knew Jesus was lifeless.
Topics: Purpose Identity Insecurity Freedom Hope Faith Confidence Beauty Deeper with God God's Love Overcoming
2 min read
Loren Cunningham a Faithful Visionary for God
A Tribute to Loren Cunningham ~ June 30, 1935⎼October 6, 2023
There is a book entitled, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. This captures my thoughts of Loren over a lifetime of knowing him. Many people’s direction with their giftings has a very defined focus of following through on one project. However, with Loren as a visionary, he sees the big picture and is broad-scoped.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missionary YWAM Vision ywam missions Loren Cunningham Youth With A Mission Leland Paris visionary legends
2 min read
Faith Like a Child
My name is Matheus Barros and I am from Brazil. I completed my DTS in 2019, and it was an amazing, life-changing experience of growing in my relationship with God.
By the end of the Discipleship Training School, God started speaking to me about attending the School of Evangelism (SOE). I felt God prompting me to do the school, but I resisted the idea because I didn't have the tuition. I had a month long break between the two schools and I began to pray to see if this was even going to be possible.
Topics: Trust God Obedience YWAM Outreach Finances Faith provide surrender ywam missions soe testimony God's will faithfulness
3 min read
Lessons Learned at YWAM Tyler Continue to Shape My Life
As I awoke again to the sound of the sea surging on the rocks, the scream of the gulls, and the beautiful vista fanning out before me, I was struck with the thought, “However did I end up in Newfoundland?” Me, whose life was going to be happily-ever- after in the nirvana of Beautiful B.C. The chain of events was unexpected, un-sought, and wandering, yet God brought me to my heart’s home in this extraordinary province.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Direction Life-Changing Choice Missionary Missionary Life Discipleship Opportunities Community Faith Missionary Training Dependence on God surrender Called to Mission God's will
2 min read
What I Didn't Expecting During My YWAM DTS
With tears in my eyes, I pulled down the door of the Budget rental truck, said goodbye to my apartment, and heard God say to me one more time, “Will you give up all I’ve given you to receive all I have for you?”
At 26 years old, God was calling me to a Discipleship Training School. I had no idea what to expect other than God was getting ready to stretch me in a way I had never been stretched before. I sold most of my furniture, stored the rest of my belongings, and headed to YWAM Tyler. In faith, I stepped out trusting God, the author of my life, and believing I needed to expect the unexpected from this point on.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Living in Community Relationship with God Following Jesus YWAM DTS Spiritual Growth Journey Perspective Faith Get to Know God Deeper with God friendship
3 min read
Trusting God To Make A Way
Sometimes the best thing a leader can do is tell you to seek Jesus for yourself. In reality, as Christians, we should all be trying our best to seek Him first.
Kaleigh Seliskar helped disciple students while serving SSTs this summer. Listen as she shares an encouraging testimony of how God increased her faith through a student.
Over this summer, I had the honor of working with YWAM Tyler’s teen summer camp called SST. During this time, I had many roles. One of them included guiding and encouraging three teenagers to prepare a teaching. They would have the opportunity to share their teaching at a Vacation Bible School (VBS) they would help with during their outreach in Houston.
One of the students, "Josh", was preparing a teaching on Moses and the Red Sea. He came to me on the last day of preparation and said to me “Kaleigh, I want to give an altar call at the end of my teaching but I don’t know how to do that. Can you help me?” I asked him to pray about it and then come to me later and we could talk about how to do it. He never come back, so I assumed that he either decided to skip it all together, or that he went to another leader and talked about it.
The next week we were in Houston and Josh gave his teaching on the final day of VBS. The kids in the group were engaged the whole time, and consumed by what Josh had to say. Towards the end of his teaching, he began looking around the stage like he was missing something. At this point, I was pretty confused because his teaching appeared to be going as planned and he hadn’t missed anything. Suddenly, he stopped looking around the stage and seemed very excited and he did something that the other leaders and I had not expected. He asked the kids in the VBS if they wanted to accept Jesus, and if they did to raise their hand. Twelve of the nineteen kids responded immediately.
Josh ran to the side of the stage and pulled two cases of water to the center of the stage, got back on the mic and said, “If you just raised your hand, come onto the stage and walk between these cases of water like the Israelites did through the Red Sea to show everyone that you are going to follow Jesus.” All twelve of those kids got up and ran to the stage to declare their dedication to follow Jesus.
As a staff member for these SST students, I was so impressed with Josh's creativity and on-the-spot thinking. This is just one of the few ways that the teenagers in the SST were able to impact the people of Houston. Not only did they touch the people of Houston but I was also personally affected by them. At times I felt that I was too young or just didn't have enough experience to share my faith. The SST students blew those thoughts away. Their fearlessness and resilience showed me that age has nothing to do with my ability to talk about Jesus.
Did it ever occur to you that when you were all grown up the next generation would look up to you? It doesn't matter what you think you are capable of, God can and will use those with willing hearts to fulfill His plans. If you open yourself up and follow wherever the Lord may lead, He will amaze you every time. Seek Him first and He will always be there to help you.
Topics: Trust Knowing God Making Him Known Discipleship Opportunities Freedom Faith Teenagers SST Leadership Youth With A Mission ministry youth Red Sea
2 min read
Hope for Maui Amid the Fire
As news spread across America about the wildfires in Maui, we have been postured in prayer for our friends and family affected by this devastation. We've come together and lifted up prayers to God on behalf of the people affected by these wildfires. Missionary staff here at YWAM Tyler, Kaina and Brandee Lee are from Hawaii and give us a feet on the ground testimony of what's happening.
In a recent interview to see how we could come alongside the people of Maui, here is what they shared with us⏤
Topics: Trust God Rebuilding Hope Peace Together faithfulness wildfires
2 min read
Spiritual Leadership for the Next Generation
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility? Being a leader is far from easy but if God called you to it He won't lead you astray. He wants to guide you through every situation you will face in life. Aaron Wardlaw shares his testimony about personal obstacles he overcame during outreach while being a small group leader.
Topics: Trust God Discipleship Opportunities Teenagers Dependence on God Leadership Overcoming influence
2 min read
All or Nothing
Do you remember the day Jesus became real to you?
When I hear the lyrics to "When You Walk Into The Room" play anywhere, my mind immediately goes back to Camp Jackson's sanctuary. This church camp holds a great deal of significance in my life with Jesus.
When my mind wanders back in time, I reflect on the sweet moment I had there where God met me in my lowest place and called me worthy. Even now, my words can't express how His nearness made me feel. From that day forward, I knew without a doubt that God was real!
Topics: Trust Pray Belief Choice YWAM DTS Encounter God Peace Deeper with God surrender relationship lordship
3 min read
I Am Not Disqualified.
It is well with my soul . . . Really?
I’ve heard these words many times. Something about them stands out to me, but can I say it is well with my soul and really believe it is? Loving God is one thing, but living with Him fully enthroned can be difficult sometimes because it's not about me anymore.
It’s hard. I desire. I fear. I feel.
Topics: Purpose Trust God Belief Life-Changing Spiritual Growth Freedom Hope No Fear Overcoming surrender Called to Mission God's will perseverance
2 min read
Overcoming Lies through Discipleship
I never thought I’d experience the freedom that I so desperately prayed for when I was younger. Believing every lie the enemy whispered in my ears paralyzed me with a fear that enslaved my mind, and suffocated my identity. I was a Christian to the best of my knowledge,
Topics: YWAM Tyler Freedom Sin YWAM Truth Overcoming DTS testimony joy lies
2 min read
Fear Doesn't Have To Derail You From Fulfilling Your Purpose
Is God calling you to step out in faith and apply for a Discipleship Training School (DTS), but fear keeps kicking you in the guts? What if this turns out to be the biggest mistake of your life? What if you're asked to do something way out of your comfort zone? What if you don't fit in? Run out of money? Or fail everyone's expectations? What if you're not really hearing God's voice after all? Something is gnawing away inside your head saying, "I just don't think I can do this!"
Topics: Purpose Following Jesus YWAM DTS Calling Destiny Overcoming Fear Hope No Fear Hearing God's Voice Faith discipleship fear jesus
3 min read
Nana Taught Me Almost Everything About Jesus
Is it just me, or does every generation go through a season of life believing they know it all? Even the Apostle Paul did. It wasn't until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus that he realized how blind to the truth he really was. Don't you think most people need a dramatic experience to give them perspective on their life and what's really going on?
2 min read
Trusting God for the Impossible
With little to no money towards her outreach, Emma Hamlin experiences a financial miracle. There is freedom that comes with trusting the Lord, but nobody said it was going to be easy!
Even when His ways don’t seem logical to us, remember He is faithful! Read and see how Emma was able to believe what God said above all else.
2 min read
Being Comfortable with Silence
Mae sat next to me on the passenger side of the car. The silence was thick in the air between us as we drove home. As part of the staff at Fatherheart Maternity Home, taking expectant moms to doctor appointments was normal.
She had just arrived at Fatherheart a week earlier, and we hadn’t had time to get to know each other yet. I began the drive that afternoon by asking her questions, none too personal, to try and get to know her a little bit. But it was clear by the roll of her eyes and her short, quick answers that she was not in the least bit interested in conversation.
Topics: Trust Serving Prayer ywam tyler staff trauma living alternatives teen pregnancy crisis pregnancy listening father heart silence
3 min read
Truth Cards For Every Christian
Isn't it funny what might seem unexpected to us was God's plan all along? I used to hate my life because I feared the unknown. Feelings of uncertainty would paralyze me. Don't get me wrong. I love my family, and my parents raised me well. But outside of my circle of people, my dreams for a future were nonexistent. By the time I graduated, I struggled to see the bright future everyone talked about.
Looking for a life-giving purpose was hard. It wasn't until my DTS and eventually becoming a missionary, that God showed me my place. I began to have hope for the future.
2 min read
A Salvation Bracelet Won Her Over
Have you ever heard a testimony and walked away in awe of who God is? Listen as Montie shares her personal experience of how the Lord shifted her perspective on sharing the gospel to some little children living in Indonesia:
As I listened to a teammate telling the Easter story in a kindergarten class that day, I started having a negative attitude. I thought why are we doing this? This isn’t their first language and they probably won’t understand the meaning. Then I remembered how my daughter accepted Jesus as her Savior.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Outreach Perspective Travel Salvation Bracelet indonesia teamwork
2 min read
The Rise of Gen Z
The word of the Lord changes everything! Have you ever walked through a season of difficulty contending for God’s promises? Read how the Lord revived Brian's hope for Gen Z during YWAM Tyler's staff conference.
Topics: Trust God Following Jesus Hope Coffeehouse revival generation z quiet time faithfulness perseverance dallas
5 min read
A 15 Second Testimony
If you only had a small window of opportunity to share the gospel, where would you begin? Amy Fish shares her observation on the effectiveness of a fifteen second testimony.
10 min read
The Five Solas for Every Believer
Seven seniors threw their black caps high in the auditorium celebrating their graduation from Christian Heritage School. Everyone present grinned from ear to ear as the seniors shared their gratitude to parents, teachers, and classmates who had encouraged them in their lifetime.
A highlight was the commencement address given by one of our Peruvian teachers, Priscilla Ugarte. We published the address in its entirety so you can receive the full context of her message. It's impacting!
Topics: Celebration Christian Heritage School high school principal approach CHS christian education ywamtyler the five solas sola graduation
1 min read
How to Create with the Holy Spirit
Designing stuff can either breathe life into me or hover over me like a dark cloud. I can stare for hours into the pixel abyss of my computer screen wondering if anything meaningful can pop out my head. I've had writer's block. I've thrown a thousand scraps of paper ideas into the waste bucket. I've made stuff which stuck around forever in the parking lot of "could've been."
4 min read
What Will You Give Your Life For?
It was Saturday morning and slightly overcast when the van with 7 students and 4 adults heard an alarming bang under us. Our driver carefully brought the 75 mile an hour trip to a halt on Highway 20 heading to Dallas Love Field Airport. The tire on the Mercedes van was shredded, and the wrenches on hand to change the tire were the wrong size.
We had a feeling this might be an eventful trip.
Topics: Destiny Education Christian Heritage School America CHS christian education ywamtyler washington dc tyranny
2 min read
Your Identity is in Jesus Christ
"Jacob is sharing his testimony of how he said 'yes' to Jesus. Now he is showing how he was baptized to hundreds of students in schools, and even on the streets of Norway and Sweden 🤯."⏤Matheus.
Sometimes it's hard to believe what can happen through the life of just one Discipleship Training School (DTS) student.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Growth Following Jesus YWAM Outreach Spiritual Growth Discipleship Opportunities Following God Make Disciples Transformation baptism discipleship hunger
2 min read
Making Friends Doesn't Have to be Complicated
You know the feeling you get watching a film depicting a real friendship, and your mind spins, heart aches, and goosebumps pop up? Don’t we all, deep inside, long for a real friend? Pause. Can you think of one right now?
You were made by God to be in relationship with Him and others. Introverts and extroverts alike, crave meaningful friendships.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Trust Love YWAM Loneliness friends friendship making friends
2 min read
I Found Freedom from My Sin
Forget the world and give me Jesus! Quinn Evans, a Crossroads DTS student on outreach, shared a radical encounter when God pulled her out of a life of sin, and set her heart ablaze to share the Gospel.
Her experience gives hope to the brokenhearted! When you make the conscious decision to fully surrender, you'll discover what it means to truly be free.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Freedom Sin YWAM surrender repentance lordship
3 min read
Find Healing by Forgiving Your Parents
"I don't think I can forgive him." Perhaps you have used or have heard this phrase used when it comes to the topic of forgiveness. If we rely merely on our own strength to forgive others, forgiveness will seem impossible.
Recently, we had the privilege of hosting a retreat for Shiloh Ministries who equips men to conquer addiction. Throughout their classes here, God revealed, healed, and delivered these guys from so much! The story you're about to read is about one man who was able to claim his freedom as God walked him through the process of forgiveness...
Topics: Healing Freedom forgiveness wholeness alcohol fathers parents alcoholism abuse abusive
1 min read
The Best Week of My Life
“It was hot. It was dirty and humid. We had to squat to use the makeshift bathrooms in the bush camp. And it was one of the best weeks of my life." Ben, DTS Graduate.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Missions Purpose Evangelism Life-Changing YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Making Him Known Adventure Travel Mission Trip Missionary Training discipleship unreached unreached people groups DTS tanzania africa
1 min read
A Pack of Cigarettes Led a Man to Jesus
Our team partnered up with a local church to do evangelism in our city. I was paired with a couple and their eight year old son.
Sometimes it can be difficult in East Texas to share the gospel or pray with people because they give responses like, “No thanks, I don’t want prayer. I prayed on Sunday.” But today was different!
Topics: Outreach School of Evangelism YWAM Tyler Evangelism Following Jesus Gospel Faith discipleship jesus cigarettes
2 min read
How to Start Spiritual Conversations with Muslims
During the month of Ramadan you can engage in meaningful conversations about life, faith, and God with Muslims. In this series of 9 videos learn simple steps to create meaningful conversations with Muslims.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Pray Knowing God YWAM Prayer muslim iftar meal Ramadan night of power fasting
3 min read
Is another “JESUS REVOLUTION” coming?
Seeing what is happening on some college campuses, perhaps it has already begun! Their hunger will not be denied! I have chosen the two pictures because they represent those of this present Jesus generation, sometimes called “Gen Z.”
Topics: YWAM Tyler Knowing God Life-Changing Following Jesus YWAM Prayer College Ministry awaken revival great awakening project generation z asbury university great awakening asbury jesus revolution revolution
2 min read
Your Life Matters
"Well, I don't want to kill myself anymore!" That was not the response I was expecting to hear when Mia was asked at a staff meeting interview how going through discipleship training and serving at our mission affected her life! As we applauded her answer, I realized a lot was packed into that simple arresting statement.
Topics: Freedom Love Hope God's Love suicide discipleship jesus death suicide prevention
3 min read
Jesus Revolution
The chilly air in the theater lobby reminded me I should have brought a hoodie to stay warm. As my wife, and the 16 year old young man we invited to watch this film with us strolled past the marquee, he asked, "What kind of movie is this, anyway?" That's fair. The photos of hippies and what looked like a Jesus type character decked out in psychedelic garb made it clear this would not be a Liam Neeson thriller.
Topics: Following Jesus Hope Transformation awaken revival jesus spirit of jesus great awakening jesus revolution revolution darkness spiritual darkness joy
5 min read
Revival Fires Spread Across the World
Revival fires are springing up all over the country and world since the beginning of the outpouring at Asbury University two weeks ago. Several of our Go Team members recently stood at Samford University, as students flocked to the chapel to pray, worship, cry, and repent into the wee hours of the morning.
What happens next?
Topics: YWAM Tyler discipleship ywam missions revival asbury university asbury pulse movement
2 min read
You Can Help Survivors of the Earthquake in Syria
The ground rocked underneath the feet of millions of people in Syria and Turkey on the fateful day of February 6th. Within minutes rubble from entire blocks of apartment buildings became tombs for families and entire communities. As rescue workers continue to hear voices crying from beneath the debris, our Christian friends and workers are engaged to bring hope in a disparaging time.
Topics: Missions Rescue Mercy Works Strategic Frontiers ywam missions mercy humanitarian humanitarian aid Youth With A Mission earthquake syria turkey foreign missions
6 min read
Revival Wave at Asbury University 2023
Is this the start of another Great Awakening? As believers and missionaries, we have hungered for more of God in our land, churches, families, communities, and schools. Has it begun in a tiny school in one of the smallest of towns in Kentucky? My daughter is there now in the midst of this move of God.
(UPDATE 2.22 — This will be our final update to this published blog. After two weeks of non-stop worship, prayer, and repentance, those who desire to continue to gather in central Kentucky will meet in an off-campus location. It was reported 20,000 were on the campus on Sunday the 19th. After some safety concerns and the sheer volume of people, the revival had spread to two other campus buildings, along with outdoor video streams, where worship and prayer continued.)
Topics: Worship Prayer Holy Spirit revival repentance great awakening project asbury university great awakening john wesley forgiveness asbury
5 min read
A Year for God
Someone somewhere said, "You can do anything for a year!" If God asked you to give a year of your life for discipleship and missions, what would your answer be? Elsa, a graduate from Discipleship Training School said, "It starts with a sparkle, a thought, a desire for more. Dreaming of adventure, seeking an uncertain purpose. A will to serve, a thirst for deeper understanding."
Topics: God's voice YWAM Tyler Dreams Trust Direction Gap Year YWAM DTS Adventure Community YWAM Confidence Crossroads Deeper with God gap semester surrender mission adventures
4 min read
Divine Appointments are Real!
Has God ever prompted you to do something but you overlooked the opportunity?
I recently was thinking of this phrase, “If you won’t do it God will send another.” I think it's true! God can and will send someone else but He wants to use you! Think for a moment, the Creator of all things wants to partner with you! Imagine what you could accomplish if you were to walk in obedience with the Lord’s plan even in the little things.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler YWAM DTS Local Church Travel YWAM bible poverty giving DTS go team
2 min read
How DTS Set Me Free
Fighting for my relationship with God 24/7 was one of the most challenging actions I've ever taken in my life, however, I knew what I wanted was worth it and fulfilling. I was yearning for God to awaken these dry bones and transfigure me into a new creation. For Him to continue to transform me, I had to build up my spiritual endurance and become stronger in my faith in God and rest my worries upon Him.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Change Belief Following Jesus YWAM DTS Spiritual Growth Depression Freedom Anxiety Sin Faith Following God suicide DTS Youth With A Mission relationship ywamtyler pain
2 min read
The Day I Got Saved
My phone buzzed on silent mode in my pocket while I was busy just doing normal old stuff. But that vibrating buzz alarms me everytime. Glancing at the shortened notification on my homescreen I saw the first line, "… I heard the Gospel for the first time." It was from Glenn. Glenn reminds me of speaker Bob Goff, the writer of Love Does, because he lights up the room wherever he's at and makes you feel like you're the boss. I was honored to be on the list of umptine friends in his contacts⏤my name and number got the text.
Topics: Missions Following Jesus Missionary Hearing God's Voice Salvation surrender saved lordship bible study
2 min read
Why You Should Read the Bible Every Day
Every year for the past 20 years I've read through the entire Bible. I remember the daunting task of the daily reading schedule and thinking there was no way I could do it. But I did! The first time it was a "resolution" of sorts. Now, I read everyday because I can't imagine a day without hearing from the Lord through His word.
Topics: Knowing God Bible Hearing God's Voice God's Presence Get to Know God bible poverty devotion ending bible poverty bible reading plan daily devotions quiet time intimacy listening
3 min read
The Greatest New Year’s Resolution I Ever Made
You have heard the stories in the Bible. In Genesis, God said to Abram, “Go…”. In Matthew, Jesus calls Simon (Peter) and Andrew and says to them, “Follow me…”. In John, Jesus speaks to the people saying that he is the light of the world and once again invites them to follow him. But these are the stories of people long ago. I grew up thinking the reality of these things happening again is so far-fetched and unforeseen. Is that really how God works today?
Topics: Crossroads DTS Family Adventure Family Adventures Missionary Missionary Life Family DTS Family Missions Missionary Training
4 min read
Have You Heard the Bells?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is commonly known as 'America's Poet,' and the recent film by Sight & Sound, brought the story behind the beautiful Christmas song to life. Watching Longfellow's story unfold on the big screen was a fascinating experience.
Word quickly spread among our missionary staff about the quality and story of the movie and quite a few went to see it. We realize people are searching for hope during this Christmas season. Pain and loss can debilitate even the strongest person of faith. How do we overcome when our painful discomfort seems more than we can humanly bear?
Topics: Christmas Hope Peace Salvation jesus I heard the bells longfellow peace on earth henry wadsworth longfellow death christmastime pain loss
5 min read
4 Earth Shattering Truths I Learned on my DTS Outreach
After sitting in three months of mind-blowing DTS classes, I was ready to get our there into the real world with the rich truths I'd learned! The best way to solidify all God has done in our lives is to transfer the knowledge into our daily experience, allowing His grace to have its perfect work. And that’s just what He did during our 8 weeks of travel covering 20,000 miles, including 2 nations in East Asia.
Topics: Outreach Korean Missionary YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Poverty Making Him Known Nations Faith God's Presence Mission Trip Make Disciples Prayer Redeem Go Dependence on God World Changer God's Love
4 min read
Fundraising Doesn't Have To Suck
Fundraising is a huge part of missions. Whether you are raising money for yourself to be supported as a missionary, or for a project to help others, it takes funding to accomplish our God given goals. Although it can be overwhelming, it doesn't have to suck.
Topics: Provision Fundraising Missions Trust God Trust Missionary Missionary Life Faith Missionary Training Money support work funding support raising
2 min read
Discipleship is the Key to Missions
This is me with one of only 800 copies of the Bible in the Sakari language. Honestly, it was a holy movement grasping this book. Even my co-workers were drooling over it. It’s not fancy. No gold leaf.
But it’s special.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Bible Missionary Global Missions Missionary Training bible translation ywam missions Youth With A Mission Called to Mission ywamtyler mission adventures south asia ending bible poverty school of strategic missions
3 min read
Why We Celebrate Thanksgiving
The tradition of celebrating a Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful part of American life. Although this holiday is closely connected to what’s called the First Thanksgiving, held by the Pilgrims and their Native American friends in 1621, we should note that the holiday also reflects a broader culture of giving thanks to God that was more common in times past.
However, regarding the Pilgrims, let’s take a moment to look at three aspects of their story that are not always remembered today, yet make this holiday an important event on America’s calendar.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Thankfulness YWAM America pilgrim Youth With A Mission holidays thanksgiving
3 min read
God Is Moving in Ukraine
We receive urgent requests for prayer almost daily from Ukraine. It is incredible how God can orchestrate ministry even in such a dire situation.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Refugees Home YWAM DTS Serving Global Missions ywam missions war short-term missions Youth With A Mission Ukraine
4 min read
What You Need to Know Before Taking a Gap Year
What if you could graduate high school, and you and your friends could travel the world with purpose? Would you consider it? Does it sound too far-fetched? Deep down doesn't it sound exciting⏤taking a year "off" and discovering everything God has for you before your next big decision?
Well you can, and for many it's been the best decision they ever made. I've talked with a whole bunch of students wanting to take a Gap Year and interviewed a few who already did it.
Here is what you need to consider before taking the leap:
Topics: Purpose Growth Knowing God Gap Year YWAM DTS Encounter God Travel Education Get to Know God Redirection Missionary Training Teenagers World Changer Deeper with God ywamtyler
2 min read
How You Can Champion Generation Z
There was a holy stillness in the classroom of 23 students. Some had hands in the air and eyes closed, others knelt, but all were under deep conviction⏤committing the rest of their entire lives to following Jesus. All under the age of 30, these Gen⎻Zers are Discipleship Training School (DTS) students, and they will strengthen our next generation of Christian leaders.
3 min read
Ministry to Displaced Ukrainians
A team of 25 missionaries from East Texas-based Youth With A Mission, or YWAM, are on a two-month outreach trip to Poland, providing immediate aid to Ukrainian refugees who have fled violence in their home country. Josh and Meg McClung are leading an outreach team through MercyWorks, a YWAM ministry.
Topics: Home Mercy Works YWAM Outreach ywam missions DTS Ukraine Poland kltv
4 min read
How You Know You're A Missionary
No one says it quite like Darlene Cunningham, co-founder of the largest mission organization on the planet — Youth With A Mission. In her book, Values Matter, the following excerpt makes us as "ywamers," laugh, ponder, and even cry. We think you'll get a kick out this too and perhaps hear God calling you to step out in faith to follow Him to ends of the earth.
_____
Recently, I was pondering some of the unique ways God has equipped YWAM to be a visionary pioneer movement. He has called us to continually be receiving, nurturing and releasing fresh vision from God. Thoughts began to cascade from my mind faster than I could write them down:
Topics: YWAM Core Values YWAM Tyler Missions Adventure YWAM ywam missions Youth With A Mission darlene cunningham mission adventures YWAM Foundational Values
2 min read
God's Smuggler | A Real Life Hero
I believe in heroes, and I have had many in my lifetime. Brother Andrew, known as God's Smuggler, is undoubtedly one of those. He has impacted my life very much.
Topics: Missions Evangelism Missionary Global Missions YWAM World Changer end bible poverty Called to Mission god smuggler brother andrew influencer
2 min read
Dealing With Fear
I know a lot of people who no longer watch the news. Not just because they are overwhelmed, but they question the sources. 44% of the worldwide news is reportedly inaccurate. The other 56% leaves enough to cause a lot of concern.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Missionary Life Overcoming Fear No Fear Missionary Training fear
2 min read
The Spirit of Jesus
In an upcoming social media post that you'll see in the coming days, we are posting the caption: "The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intense of a missionary we become." As part of the editing team I wasn't 100% convinced of this statement.
So, I decided to reach out to some long-term, incredibly thoughtful missionaries at our campus to ask them their opinion. What I got as a response was quite incredible.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Following Jesus Missionary Missionary Life Making Him Known Make Disciples Missionary Training ywam missions unreached jesus spirit of jesus
2 min read
I Found God's Will and Escaped a Major Disaster
No relationship or career is worth more than being at the center of God’s will!
I had just finished law school in Portugal, and I was planning to go back. I had no problem with the language since I was born in Brazil. Maybe I could get my masters in law, and marry my Portuguese boyfriend who was not a Christian. Deep inside, I knew that this relationship was not from God, but I loved him so much that I couldn’t hear God’s voice.
I was about to change my life drastically. I could’ve gone in a totally wrong direction. I knew my next decision was an important one. I could not make it by myself. I needed God’s direction, and I started to seek Him deeply.
Topics: Purpose Hearing God's Voice Peace Get to Know God God's will relationships relationship
2 min read
The Day I Turned Around
We are so proud of our students here at YWAM Tyler. Please read Rose's story of how God set her free from self-harm and a slow suicide. God is so kind and so gentle to lead us from our dark situations to places of freedom, and being able to minister to others.
Before being saved, I was in and out of treatment centers, on and off of drugs, putting myself in deadly situations, searching for love and validation through people that never ceased to disappoint me.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Life-Changing YWAM DTS Freedom Love God's Love suicide life
2 min read
Generation Z! Let's GO!
I was born in 2003, and I am proud to be a part of Gen Z.
I believe Gen Z holds the potential to release a catalytic revival within the body of Christ.
One thing some people like to associate with my generation is that we do nothing but put tide pods in our mouths, and that we are scared of face to face interaction because we are consumed with technology.
Our modern day media tries to sell us a tainted message⏤Just do you, focus on yourself, and do what makes you happy, and now we have a major problem...
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM World Changer discipleship revival generation z
6 min read
Joy Dawson~A Tribute
I suppose it is possible, but there can't be many YWAM missionaries around the world who haven't heard of Joy Dawson. When word spread of her death, the fruit of her ministry instantly came to mind. Many of us had the privilege of hearing her speak, and perhaps listened to her teach for a week in a YWAM training school, or read one of her books. Most of us have a story about her, or can share how she has impacted our lives.
Topics: Missions Obedience Following Jesus Prayer Missions in America legacy joy dawson ministry
5 min read
I Don't Want To Do This Anymore
I’ve been re-reading a book that my husband Richard and I read when we planted the church ReaLity in Greenville, South Carolina. No Compromise is the life story of Keith Green written by his wife, Melody Green. It tells the story of how Keith and Melody came to believe in Jesus and then follow Him.
Something about their story and Keith’s music resonated within us as we were ministering to young people in Greenville. Not only were Richard and I drawn to Keith Green’s life and song, but the people in our church were as well. His songs were raw, deeply moving, and full of the Holy Spirit’s anointing. Keith’s story changed us. We were challenged to live fully surrendered and love sacrificially.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Following Jesus Families in Missions Missionary Life YWAM Faith Following God Transformation Band surrender devotion revival keith green melody green no compromise legacy last days ministries
4 min read
Is America Doomed?
Fred Markert visited us at YWAM Tyler this past weekend and brought a convicting message we want to share with all of you. A portion of the notes from the message are here, and the audio clip.
There is hope for America. All is not lost. However, there is something we as the church must consider...
Topics: YWAM Tyler Hope YWAM America USA revival repentance fred markert great awakening project
3 min read
Set Free From Shame
Read this captivating interview with YWAM student, Alex, as he shares how he was set free from shame during DTS.
Alex, when did you do your YWAM DTS?
January of 2022
Why did you decide to attend a DTS?
I decided to do a DTS when the Lord put it in my heart that He wanted me to come to YWAM, Tyler. I was in a very dark place in my life. I didn’t know who I was or where I was headed. College was just not the right choice for me. I wanted something new and fresh, and more than anything else, I wanted to focus on my relationship with the Lord.
5 min read
Keith Green's Message Continues to Encourage a New Generation!
It was July 28, 1982, exactly 35 years ago to date (at the writing of this blog post), when Keith Green and others took off from an airstrip, almost in walking distance from where I am sitting now, and left the earth behind never to return. The airplane accident that took the life of singer-songwriter Keith Green, shook the lives of the evangelical Christian community around the world.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Change Obedience Knowing God YWAM Outreach Calling Families in Missions Go Children in Missions memories devotion Called to Mission keith green
3 min read
Why Not Abortion?
As many are commenting on the overturn of Roe Vs. Wade, we had the opportunity to hear from a YWAM Tyler missionary who has walked through some of the trauma related to this topic first hand. We are thankful for her vulnerability, as she shares her story with us.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Rescue Identity Love Abortion Transformation orphans living alternatives foster care teen pregnancy Roe VS. Wade testimony crisis pregnancy
3 min read
The Blessing of Intentional Discipleship
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is the power of intentional discipleship.
When I signed up for my Discipleship Training School (DTS), I assumed because of the name that there would be discipleship involved, but I had no idea how intentional YWAM Tyler is in the discipleship process.
Topics: Training School Healing Relationship with God Growth YWAM DTS Overcoming Fear Discipleship Opportunities Anxiety Following God Blessing discipleship life lessons
4 min read
When God Told Me Not To Go To College
Dennis is a solid guy, and we want to honor his life and story through this blog. He serves here at our YWAM Tyler campus in many ways. It is our hope that you, as the reader, will be inspired by the miraculous things God has done in, through, and for him!
Topics: School of Evangelism Provision School of Worship YWAM DTS Calling Overcoming Fear Encounter God No Fear Faith Mission Trip Blessing DTS
6 min read
8 Steps To Frustration Free Fundraising
Sometimes, people want to step out in faith to attend our training schools here at YWAM, Tyler. But fundraising can feel like a frustratingly insurmountable hurdle. One of our missionaries, Megan Bixler, would like to share some of the wisdom and encouragement she has learned from fundraising. Please read this and be encouraged that God really will provide for all that he has called you to do.
Topics: Training School School of Evangelism Fundraising YWAM DTS Insecurity Freedom No Fear Faith Mission Trip Money giving DTS
3 min read
Does God Really Set The Lonely In Families?
In 1982, I entered the foster care system. I was three months old. My parents moved out of our apartment without me. I spent the next 16 years, before my legal emancipation, bouncing from foster home to foster home. From the time I was three years old, I longed for a forever family. For me in my life, a forever family never came, but for some, it does...
Topics: Healing Family YWAM Tyler Freedom YWAM Inspiration Loneliness Abortion Lives at Risk trauma compassions orphans living alternatives foster care
3 min read
The Send: Joining the War Against Inaction
When I went to The Flood, I was expecting breakthrough, but little did I know what it would entail.
The Flood was a week long event preceding the Send missions movement, held in Kansas City, Missouri. During The Flood and The Send, there were lots of worship times, speakers such as Francis Chan and Lou Engle, as well as outreaches each afternoon of The Flood. Before going to the Flood, I was not completely sure what to expect. I knew it was going to be incredible, but what would that look like?
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Purpose Urban Missions Evangelism Gospel Missionary Making Him Known Global Missions YWAM Mission Trip Action the send discipleship DTS revival
4 min read
Bombs Erase Ukraine's Historic Beauty
In these last few days, the bombing has shifted away from the surroundings of Kyiv, to the Black Sea cities of Mykolaev and Odessa. Weeks ago, it seemed as though Odessa was on its way to conquest when storms, and other strange things seemed to force the invading Russian army back.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Mercy Works christian war Ukraine history russia odessa
7 min read
Let's Go to Mongolia Together
Want to hear an audacious goal? We want to reach the entire nation of Mongolia with the Gospel and place a Bible in every home⏤with God's leading and your participation we can do it! There are 900k homes in Mongolia, and God's given us a plan to reach them all! One day we will knock on the last door, hand them a Bible, share about Jesus, and shout with joy that we did it. What a day that will be!
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach Bible Gospel Travel Mission Trip end bible poverty bible poverty mongolia bless mongolia
2 min read
Easter Sunday on the Mediterranean
When I woke up on Easter morning, I saw the Mediterranean Sea glistening in the sunlight.I was on my School of Evangelism outreach in the Middle East. It was a memorable experience to see what it was like celebrating a holiday in another country, especially one so different from what I am used to in America.
Topics: Missions Purpose Spiritual Growth Adventure Mission Trip Easter Middle East
2 min read
Highs and Lows of Living in Community
I woke up to the blaring beep of someone else’s alarm clock. A quiet hush was over the girls' dorm when I left my room. As I got ready, I saw people walking through the bathroom and hallways, some energized and prepared for the day, while others looked rather sleepy.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Spiritual Growth Community YWAM Faith Blessing friends conflict management
2 min read
One Family Risks It All
Front Line Missions in Poland - Ukraine
Our family of four stepped away from the comforts of home, a steady income, community, family, friends, and church to live in full-time missions nearly two years ago.
5 min read
Missions on the Ukraine-Poland Border
ministry at the ukraine-Poland border
When war erupts we cry out, "God, what can we do?" Right now, there are solid ways to impact this crisis. Mercy Works, a ministry arm of YWAM Tyler, has sprung into action to help. I caught up with Debbie Lascelles, director of Mercy Works, to find out how we can use this window of opportunity before it closes.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Rescue Mercy Works Hope YWAM mercy war Ukraine orphans
6 min read
Getting Free from PORN is Possible.
Breaking a Porn Addiction
I am sharing my story to encourage others who may be entangled in this web of deception. There is hope and a sure path to freedom.
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM DTS Divorce Freedom Family DTS Missionary Training ywam nola Overcoming porn sexual sin pornography sexual addiction
4 min read
9 Dangerous Words Changed My Life.
FOLLOWING GOD DOESN'T Always MAKE SENSE
I still owed $750 on tuition, and the $1,000 due for the outreach plane ticket was due that day. The trip to Greece was in just three weeks, and I needed an additional $2,000 on top of the airline ticket. I had no idea where this money was going to come from, and I was freaking out.
Topics: Outreach Provision Finances Miracle Possible Mission Trip Following God
3 min read
The Day My Life Changed Forever
My Life Will Never Be The Same
This picture is from the first day of my Discipleship Training School. Not the greatest photo in the world, but honestly, this was the day my life really began.
5 min read
Is That Really You, God?
Get a FREE copy of Is That Really You God?
Ever wonder if the thought forming in your brain was from God?
I know I have many times. 15 years ago, I did my DTS and read the inspirational book by the founder of YWAM, Is That Really You God?
His stories left me wide-eyed and wonder-filled. I honestly couldn't put it down. He addressed the very questions I had about hearing from God.
Topics: YWAM Core Values YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS Missionary Hearing God's Voice Faith Mission Trip Missionary Training Go Dependence on God World Changer Action ywam missions Loren Cunningham Youth With A Mission Is That Really You God
2 min read
Led by Drunken Sailors
Guided by God through Uncertainty
It was dark, and we were tired. "God, what should we do?"
Our long day of outreach started when men from another village came to guide us into a different region of the Philippine island of Bucas Grande.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Outreach Mission Trip philippines short-term missions medical
2 min read
Sharing the Gospel with Armed Guerillas
Sharing the Gospel with a Terrorist Group
Early one morning, we were abruptly awakened by a teammate, "Guys! Come quickly! There are men outside with guns!"
Topics: Outreach Obedience YWAM Outreach Gospel Mission Trip Go humanitarian aid philippines short-term missions terrorists NPA communism
3 min read
Evangelism Outreach Gone Bad
THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE ON OUTREACH
We zigzagged up the dirt roads into the mountain jungles of Thailand to visit a small children's school for our Discipleship Training School outreach. Our team had prepared well, but not for what was about to happen to me.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS Thailand Story YWAM Outreach Missionary Missionary Life YWAM Family Missions Mission Trip Missionary Training ywam missions
2 min read
A Miracle On The National Mall
Worship and Prayer Brought a Real Miracle from God
Almost a year ago, I was on my School of Evangelism (SOE) outreach. Our team was at David's Tent, a ministry hosting worship 24/7 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. where I led an hour-long worship set.
Topics: Outreach School of Evangelism Healing YWAM Tyler Pray Answered Prayer Hearing God's Voice Prayer ywam missions soe
2 min read
Foreign Missions On Our Doorstep
Afghanistan Refugees Are Poised for the Gospel of Jesus
God has brought over 70,000 Afghan refugees to our doorstep. They are dispersed in seven different locations. Possibly 10,000 new arrivals on their way. Preparing them for life in America is an arduous task.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Urban Missions YWAM DTS YWAM ywam missions afghanistan afghanistan crisis John Weaver afghanistan refugees
7 min read
We Are Scattered Like Sheep Among Wolves
The Cost of Following Jesus Anywhere and Everywhere.
We shouldn't be upset when God moves us and scatters us into the world. Even if we are somewhat in our home culture, we need to remind ourselves that we are outlanders.
A lot of us feel even more disconnected because the world seems so weird now. There is so much turmoil and change. We feel uncertain.
As believers, we should be certain of who we are because as we own our identity, we transform the cultures and places where we are planted. Yet, we remain different from them.
How do we operate among the lost? How do we reach them?
Topics: Urban Missions Cities Dreams Evangelism Following Jesus Making Him Known Global Missions Nations Urbanization Missions in America city ministry spheres of influence ywam missions border crisis
2 min read
70 Days At The Border: One Missionary’s Exploits
Week after week of ministry at the border
After a dozen or so trips to McAllen, TX, and crossing over to Reynosa, Mexico, several times, Aimee has witnessed firsthand the heartache and the hope of immigrants at the border.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Hope Latin America Missions USA unreached people groups human trafficking border mexico border crisis humanitarian humanitarian aid Hope at the Border ywam south texas
4 min read
Anguish in Afghanistan
Now What's in Store for Missions in Afghanistan?
In critical times of persecution and seeing those we love die because of their faith we can be at peace knowing Jesus is Lord over Afghanistan.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Urban Missions Obedience Gospel Global Missions Hope YWAM Faith Urbanization afghanistan war suffering afghanistan crisis
4 min read
Time to Get Your Kids Porn-Free
WARNING SIGNS: Are your kids looking at Porn?
Having a hard time figuring out how to have a conversation with your child about sex, pornography, and sexual purity? We want to encourage you… just do it. Start right now!
If you feel like you missed your opportunity, it's never too late. It might be more serious than you think and you are your child's gatekeeper.
Topics: Family Families in Missions Freedom Family DTS Kids in Missions Family Missions Teenagers Children in Missions Family Discipleship family sync discipleship porn sexual sin sex pornography
4 min read
Don't Let Fear Hold You Back
God Can Use Someone Just Like You!
Have you ever felt like the room is closing in on you? Have you ever been sitting in a class on introduction day, sweating at the thought of having to speak? Ridiculous, right?
Topics: YWAM Tyler Doubt YWAM DTS Value Identity Overcoming Fear Encounter God Anxiety Overcoming Anxiety No Fear Get to Know God fear singing ywam missions DTS
2 min read
Let's Talk About Worship, Discipleship, and Missions.
Passion for WORSHIP, DISCIPLESHIP, AND MISSIONS
I saw this guy rocking the guitar, singing his guts out to the Lord, and inspiring the audience to join him in his rapturous worship, and I knew I liked this guy.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Purpose YWAM DTS Worship Missionary Discipleship Opportunities World Changer Deeper with God support discipleship ywam missions DTS Worship DTS
3 min read
Hope Remains Strong
Hope is alive and well at the US / MX Border
Every one of our staff who has gone to the Border has heard and seen difficult things. Cartels kidnapped a married couple with a young son and held them captive for eight days without food or water.
"To better the future we must disturb the present." - Catherine Booth
Topics: YWAM Tyler Rescue Hope human trafficking border border crisis humanitarian humanitarian aid Hope at the Border ywam south texas
2 min read
Valuing Students through Christian Education
Discipling students through Education
The future leadership of our communities, churches, businesses, and families is developing in our current children and teens. Their success is highly dependent on how they are educated.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Teaching Missionary Life Nations YWAM Education Teacher Appreciation Christian Heritage School Family Discipleship discipleship principal approach CHS christian education
5 min read
My Journey to Know Jesus at YWAM
Finding Jesus Changed My Life Forever
It was about 24 years ago, when I saw this sign for the first time at the base entrance.
I was a broken, pregnant teen from New York who found myself in Texas in a maternity home my aunt found that was part of some "weird Christian thing" called YWAM.
Little did I know that this place would become home for me.
Topics: Healing YWAM Tyler Purpose Knowing God Life-Changing YWAM DTS Value Identity Journey Freedom YWAM Faith Inspiration Get to Know God Redeem SST Transformation Overcoming discipleship sex trafficking human trafficking trafficking DTS
6 min read
Rescue The Perishing | YWAM Houston (cont)
Breaking The Cycle of Prostitution And Trafficking
"My mom pimped me out when I was about 6 years old." - Street girl.
"Wow, we got an education on the streets of Houston! The school of hard knocks." - Kim Dale, who with her husband Martin, direct Youth With A Mission Houston.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Rescue YWAM Urbanization Missions in America YWAM Houston sex trafficking human trafficking Montrose prostitute
3 min read
A Glimpse of Pain - A Glimmer of Hope
A Personal Perspective on the Border Crisis
We worked with a local charity yesterday at the Border.
This charity is where people go when they have passed through immigration and are waiting for family members to purchase bus or plane tickets for them. People can stay here up to three days. Often they have not eaten, showered, or even rested⏤or very little⏤for days or weeks.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Perspective human trafficking border border crisis humanitarian humanitarian aid Hope at the Border ywam south texas
4 min read
Rescuing the Perishing | YWAM Houston
The Battle over homelessness, broken families, and injustice in Urban America.
"Oh my gosh, THESE are the prostitutes! I didn't even recognize them!"
"I had this revelation one day as I was listening to the kids at our Street Church share their stories. I thought they looked somewhat typical. Just young people running around with backpacks on their backs, except most of them were homeless. We'd see drag queens standing on the street corners in stilettos and short skirts, but the street kids sure didn't fit the stereotype of a prostitute." - Kim Dale
Topics: Urban Missions Rescue Following Jesus YWAM DTS Missionary Hope No Fear Urbanization Missions in America city ministry YWAM Houston sex trafficking human trafficking mercy Montrose street church Houston Texas
4 min read
3 Reasons The Border Crisis Should Matter to You.
Reasons the Border Crisis Should Matter to All of Us!
After several treks down to the US/MX border, Kyra's first hand stories and experiences are hard to ignore. It's time to focus on the real issues and ask God to show us how to engage.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Hope sex trafficking ywam missions human trafficking trafficking border border crisis humanitarian humanitarian aid Hope at the Border
5 min read
How I Became a YWAM Missionary
Become a Missionary at Youth With A Mission
It was a huge shock to everyone around me when I decided to become a missionary in 2016. Having come out of 6 years of deep addiction before entering 3 rehabs, I was the last person you’d expect to see joining Youth With A Mission, Tyler.
I was totally living for myself. I thought I was the center of the universe back in May of 2015 before I entered my last rehab. I finally came to a point of surrender about four weeks into that program, when I felt God’s love for me for the first time. It was game-over after that! I was hooked.
Prior to that encounter, I was so consumed with myself I did not ever really love, or allow myself to be loved. Everyone and everything around me was a resource to get whatever I was looking to gain in the moment.
My self-absorbed life stifled love from every crevice and corner of my life.
[Photo: I know right? A mug shot. That's how bad my life had spun out of control.]
However, there was a moment which changed everything for me. A true encounter with God can accomplish what one hundred counseling sessions could not. Something changed when I allowed myself to be stripped before God. No mask, no presuppositions, just a real, vulnerable openness to Jesus as my Savior.
[Photo: Graduating from Shiloh Ministries after 1 year of rehab.]
After I graduated from Shiloh, I joined my first Discipleship Training School at YWAM Tyler. Youth With A Mission understands knowing God is paramount. Understanding I am His child is vital. Everything else hinges on this realization.
I believe, “you don’t really know yourself until you know Jesus.” Through my discipleship experience, I finally understood, “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) is a remarkably freeing statement.
While I was still self-centered, caring for no one, stealing, and lying–Jesus died for me! I love Jesus now and do my best to genuinely love the people around me, but Jesus died for the version of me who cared neither for myself, or the people around me.
Whether I am still roaming the streets with a pint of vodka in my belt strap, or I am preaching in front of thousands, Jesus’s love for me is the same! It never changes.
Knowing God, really knowing Him is what life is all about. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and the one whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Each time I read this verse it chips away at the block of religion that has crusted up around me through years of never actually encountering and pursuing God for myself.
To know God, and to make Him known. This is the motto of Youth With A Mission. I love the simplicity of this, because when you boil it all down, it is what life is really all about.
Now do we just spend our time alone in a room, with a Bible and a cup of coffee? Heavens no! James says, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18). Such a confident statement that my personality appreciates!
I love being active, pursuing, and creating alongside God for His name’s sake. Prior to coming to YWAM Tyler, I thought all missionaries were old, white, married couples. I thought a missionary wife wore a bonnet (no slight to bonnet wearers!) and the husband had spent years in seminary and pastoral training. The thought of becoming a missionary wasn’t in the solar system of my thought process, but boy did that change after coming to YWAM Tyler.
My understanding of being a missionary changed when I ran into a former X-Games athlete, met men and women who had struggled with addiction, eating disorders, vanity, homosexuality, been through a divorce, and the list could go on. These people were seasoned missionaries who had been around the world several times over, impacting lives every step of the way, yet had a life transformation with Jesus!
This was me too! I was just like these people!? “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
[Photo: Making God known took me to Korea with my Discipleship Training School.]
Out of an overflow of intimacy with a living God our life begins to move. A true faith—a living faith—has the natural outworking of good works. To Know God and Make Him Known. This really sums up how I became a missionary.
If you are ready to take the next step in your personal life of Knowing God and Making Him known, today is the day to sign up for the next training school at YWAM Tyler. We are here and ready to help you discover God's purpose for your life.
Other blogs by Anthony:
Topics: Training School School of Evangelism YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Missionary Missionary Life YWAM Missionary Training ywam missions DTS
5 min read
18 Thousand Kids in Cages
Bringing Hope to Thousands at the Southern Border
OMGosh! Are you kidding me?! After our outreach team returned from 5 long eye-opening days on the border of the US and Mexico, I heard the stories with fresh ears. Now, I'm almost crazy upset and asking, "GOD, what can we do?"
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM human trafficking border border crisis humanitarian humanitarian aid Hope at the Border
2 min read
A Desperate Journey for a Better Life
What is Really Happening at the Border?
There's only one way to get to the truth of what's happening. Go and see for yourself. Join our missionary friend, Matthew, in this raw footage taken at the southern border of the US, and discover what most of America doesn't know.
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach human trafficking border border crisis humanitarian humanitarian aid
2 min read
Masses Displaced Without Hope
Thousands of desperate people stranded at the U.S/Mexico border.
We could hardly take in what we were seeing. Fear and turmoil seemed to permeate the atmosphere when our YWAM Tyler team arrived in McAllen, Texas. We saw masses of displaced people without hope, searching for a future.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach YWAM human trafficking border mexico border crisis humanitarian humanitarian aid
2 min read
How God Changed Our Family
Family Discipleship and missions changed our Lives
Our family has always wanted to serve the Lord in radical ways, and we have been involved in many different kinds of ministry⏤including short-term missions.
We felt the Lord pulling on our hearts to do something different with our lives. We visited my daughter who serves as a missionary with YWAM in Idaho. Her Discipleship Training School was the start of her journey in missions.
We wondered, “God, could we do something like this as a family?”
Topics: Family YWAM Tyler Family Adventure Family Adventures Families in Missions Family DTS Family Missions Family Discipleship family sync
2 min read
Discipleship Training School | The Day My Life Began
A YWAM DTS Brings Life Transformation
This picture was taken on the first day of my DTS five months ago. This was the day my life truly began.
Topics: YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach YWAM DTS
4 min read
Missionary Marriages Making an Impact
Our Marriages Matter to God and Others.
We recently had the opportunity to publicly encourage the missionary marriages on our campus. Why? You may ask… why do missionaries need to be encouraged in their marriages?
Topics: Family YWAM Tyler Family Adventure Family DTS YWAM Family Missions Marriage Family Discipleship
4 min read
A Family Who Said Yes to Missions
Committing Our Family to Following Jesus
My pathway into missions started at the age of 14 when I moved to Budapest, Hungary with my parents so they could fulfill their dream of overseas ministry.
Topics: Family YWAM Tyler Family Adventure YWAM DTS Family Adventures Families in Missions Family DTS YWAM Family Missions Family Discipleship family sync
2 min read
Mercy and Compassion Warms the Heart
Texas Winter Storm Puts Missions to Action
After a week of freezing temperatures and, in some cases, no heat in homes for days, Mercy Works, our compassionate ministries department at YWAM Tyler stepped into action.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Mercy Works Serving YWAM Outreach YWAM snow compassions east texas texas mercy food bank snow storm winter storm
4 min read
THE BOTTOM BILLION
Adventure Sports Saving Trafficked Women
Young people from all over the world flock here to YWAM Tyler for discipleship and to discover their God-given passions. Our friend, Matthew Nocas, was one of those youths. Riding a specially modified adventure motorcycle, he brings awareness to human trafficking and finding unreached people groups across the globe.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach Adventure YWAM sex trafficking motovision ywam missions unreached unreached people groups Joshua Project human trafficking trafficking
6 min read
Jesus Set Me Free From Porn!
First Steps to Breaking a Porn Addiction
I am sharing my story to encourage others who may be entangled in this web of deception. There is hope and a sure path to freedom.
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM DTS Freedom Family DTS Missionary Training ywam nola Overcoming porn sexual sin
2 min read
What are you doing? You can't sing!
What are you doing? You can’t sing!
In South Africa, as a child I loved to sing and I didn’t care who heard me.
Unfortunately, this didn’t last long because once I reached high school I was ridiculed for singing.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Worship Missionary Overcoming Fear YWAM Overcoming lables singing
2 min read
Worm Tea is the Ag-Tech Miracle Drink
Worm Tea is the Ag-Tech Miracle Drink
When Jean-Claude asked me if I wanted a little, "Worm Tea" for a drink, I had no idea what he was talking about. Of course his thick French-Congo accent didn't help, but I was pretty sure he said, "Worm Tea!"
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM DTS Missionary Training Agriculture pandemic covid-19 agtech vermiculture worm tea aquaponics compost urban gardening greenhouse
4 min read
What I didn't realize about the sex industry in the USA
WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE ABOUT THE SEX INDUSTRY IN THE USA
A YWAM outreach definitely opens your eyes to what's happening in the world around you. We love taking students on two month outreaches as part of their Discipleship Training School. It's in moments on busy downtown streets, a remote dusty village, on a crowded college campus, where God shows his love for the world.
I was texting with a student on who is currently on outreach and decided to blog our conversation here for you to read. When God opens our eyes, there's just no going back.
Topics: Outreach YWAM DTS Serving YWAM Outreach Prayer YWAM Houston USA spheres of influence sex trafficking
3 min read
Sharing the GOSPEL isn't complicated
SHARING THE GOSPEL ISN'T COMPLICATED
"I don’t know the first thing about talking to people⏤much less to someone who believes differently than me," I thought to myself.
My mind was racing as we stepped out into the neighborhood for the first time to talk to Muslims about Jesus. My first thoughts were, “What will I say? What if I don’t know the answer?
Topics: Outreach School of Evangelism Evangelism YWAM Outreach Gospel Global Missions city ministry pandemic muslim
6 min read
What am I going to do with my life?
What am i going to do with my life?
I put in my earbuds and tuned into the podcast I usually engage with on Monday mornings. Little did I know, I was about to uncover the reason for the battleground surrounding my destiny.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Purpose Life-Changing YWAM DTS Missionary Life YWAM life Sigmund Freud Viktor Frankl
2 min read
7 Seconds of Courage
7 SECONDS OF COURAGE
“I can’t do it,” is what I would tell myself every time I thought about talking with a stranger about Jesus. “What will they think of me?” I stressed. I was so consumed with fear, I didn't recognize what God wanted to do through me.
5 min read
Overcoming Loneliness
OVERCOMING LONELINESS
With the current state of our world, it is becoming more common to feel lonely and isolated. In fact, in 2019, three in five or 61% of Americans expressed feeling lonely and this was before the 2020 global pandemic. I would have been apart of this 61%.
Loneliness was a huge struggle of mine for years, and only recently did I finally overcome the heaviness and lies of loneliness.
Topics: YWAM DTS Communication Overcoming Fear Freedom Loneliness fear friends devotion
4 min read
A Pilgrim Story Americans Can’t Afford To Forget
A PILGRIM STORY AMERICANS CAN’T AFFORD TO FORGET
Will you be streaming this historical event with us?
This November marks the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims crossing the Atlantic and signing the historic Mayflower Compact.
We are hosting this historic celebration in Plymouth Massachusetts, November 21, 2pm EST. <<Sign up today to watch>>
Topics: Freedom Missions in America America USA 2020 Vision plymouth founding fathers pilgrim liberty mayflower compact government
4 min read
Is A Gap Year Worth Taking?
Is A Gap Year Worth Taking
5 a.m. on the dot, an eager anticipation for adventure abruptly woke me from my deep sleep. I vividly recall a joyous light-weight atmosphere all around a group of children and myself while we danced to piano keys and a foreign upbeat song. It must've been an African tribe I was standing in the midst of, with nothing but love in my heart for them.
At this time, I never would've imagine this dream would determine and direct the next 3 years of my life.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Gap Year YWAM DTS Travel Missionary Training gap semester
5 min read
One Chapel - Thousands Of Prayers
One Chapel - Thousands Of Prayers
"It's hotter than a firecracker in here!" exclaimed Leland Paris, as he stepped into the 12' by 15' foot well house we called our prayer room.
As YWAM Tyler's base leader, he knew we desperately needed a new building to become our "House of Prayer." It was 1998 when volunteers from all over America gathered together to transform this tiny, hot, well house into a place for large groups to gather. Little did we know that soon we would have A/C, heat and bathrooms!"
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions Missionary Encounter God YWAM Answered Prayer Miracle Faith Holy Ground Prayer Chapel Holy Spirit Missions in America ywam tyler staff
3 min read
Is God Sounding an Alarm in 2020?
IS GOD SOUNDING AN ALARM IN 2020?
I have never experienced a true fire alarm, only fire drills. While dining in a restaurant, the alarm unexpectedly blared. Everyone shot to their feet. The manager came and assured everyone it was a false alarm.
3 min read
What My Mom Thinks of Me Being A Missionary
WHAT MY MOM THINKS OF ME BEING A MISSIONARy
Ever wonder what your parents might say if you decide to become a missionary? Aimee interviewed her mom about her experience, and you might just find some encouragement to overcome your fear of stepping into what God's calling you to do.
Topics: Training School Family Family Adventure Direction Obedience Knowing God Life-Changing YWAM DTS Calling Missionary Missionary Life Overcoming Fear Spiritual Growth Encounter God YWAM Education No Fear Following God Children in Missions FOMO ywam tyler staff fear
3 min read
One Dream God Didn't Let Me Forget
ONE DREAM GOD DIDN'T LET ME FORGET
In 2013, I attended a Season of Service and Training (SST), a summer camp for teens at YWAM Tyler. One afternoon, we teamed up with multiple staff members to help with their different roles on the campus.
Some of us helped in the kitchen, some in the Ag-Tech training area and some of us in the Hospitality department. 😳
Topics: Training School YWAM Tyler Missions Direction Obedience YWAM DTS Missionary Missionary Life Hearing God's Voice Redirection Missionary Training Teenagers SST plans ywam staff
5 min read
How Do I Fundraise?
HOW DO I FUNDRAISE?
Missions—it sounds wild, crazy and just what you’ve always wanted, but you scroll down to where it says “fees” and you stop. Maybe God has something else for you. You know, a cheaper option or a well-paying, safe option.
Topics: Fundraising Trust God Trust YWAM DTS Finances Money support giving
2 min read
Reaching the Nations in Your Own Backyard
Reaching the Nations in Your Own BackYard
As believers, we understand that part of the commission given to us by Jesus is to go into all nations. With the times we are living in today, it’s not always possible to do what's on our hearts in following Jesus' command.
Topics: Outreach School of Evangelism Urban Missions YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Missionary Missionary Life Missionary Training Urban DTS Urbanization Missions in America ywam chicago chicago
5 min read
Let's Go Fishin' | Lessons from Staff Kick Off
LET'S GO FISHIN' | LESSONS FROM STAFF KICK OFF
Have you ever thought about fishing for people? Yeah, me neither⎼until I met Jesus. He asks each of us to step away from our mundane lives, follow him and fish for men. But what does this mean or look like exactly?
3 min read
I Got Dunked ... You Should Too!
I GOT DUNKED ... YOU SHOULD TOO!
For Christians, the most important day of our life is the day we surrender to the Lord. Wouldn't you agree? We are made for life and unity with Christ. Aside from this day, our baptism is also very important and life transforming.
Whether the decision is made in the moment or stirred up in our hearts over time, the day we get baptized is never forgotten and is cherished.
This is that day for Faith Rogers!
Topics: Relationship with God Following Jesus Identity Freedom Peace Following God Make Disciples Get to Know God Salvation Deeper with God christian baptism surrender
2 min read
Faithful In Every Season
FAITHFUL IN EVERY SEASON
Are you fighting fear? Are you doubting whether or not God still hears your prayers? Do you feel the weight of not knowing what to do or how to move forward in your life?
We all face wondering like this from time to time. After all, we are human.
4 min read
I was Drowning in Depression
Depression doesn't have to control your life.
Before I knew God, I drowned in dark depression, deceit, and lived in fear. Sin and suicidal thoughts controlled me, and I had no escape. I struggled to find so many things: purpose, love, peace, joy, zeal for life, and much more.
Meeting the Lord of all creation brought me out of the trap I was ensnared in and gave me life abundant. Not life without struggles, but life with hope.
Topics: Missions Relationship with God Trust God Knowing God YWAM DTS Missionary Life Encounter God Get to Know God Missionary Training Dependence on God Deeper with God
4 min read
When Life Doesn't Go As Planned
WHEN LIFE DOESN'T GO AS PLANNED
2020 has been a year none of us expected. I wish I could just blame the pandemic for wrecking my plans, but I'm learning a bigger lesson when my life plans get sideways.
On my journey over the last year and half, there have been many times I had to continuously remind myself of the goodness of God in spite of my circumstances.
Topics: Training School YWAM Tyler Purpose Growth Trust God Trust Direction Obedience YWAM DTS Calling Missionary Life Perspective Anxiety Redirection Dependence on God Deeper with God Overcoming covid-19 plans life
2 min read
Giving Back to our Community
GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY
Sitting on 300 acres of grass may seem pretty profitable if you're into selling hay. We had sold it before, but when the pandemic hit we knew God wanted us to do something to bless others rather than ourselves.
Chris Lascelles pitched the idea of giving away all of the hay from our campus, and of course we said, LET'S DO IT!
Topics: YWAM Tyler Fundraising Living in Community YWAM Outreach Community Blessing Outdoor pandemic coronavirus support covid-19 hay giving
3 min read
Standing in His Presence
Standing In His Presence
How do you stay in the presence of God in a chaotic world?
Topics: Faith Peace God's Presence chaos
2 min read
Covid-19 Upgraded My Prayer Life
COVID-19 UPGRADED MY PRAYER LIFE
For the longest time, I prayed to Jesus. Now I use a different approach, and it's even better. I've found I can pray with him.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Pray YWAM Prayer covid-19
4 min read
5 Ways I Paid For My DTS
5 Ways I Paid for My YWAM DTS
Missions—it sounds wild, crazy, and just what you’ve always wanted. But you scroll down to where it says “fees”—and you stop. Maybe God has something else for you. You know, a cheaper option. Or a well-paying, safe option.
But do you want to miss out on your miracle?
Topics: Provision YWAM Tyler Fundraising YWAM DTS YWAM Finances Money provide support
3 min read
Am I Really Hearing God?
AM I REALLY HEARING GOD?
In late November of 2019, my Dad and I stayed at a hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana. As we arrived to check-in, I noticed a man with crutches sitting on a couch in the lobby. As we approached the front desk, I heard a voice in my mind say, Go and pray for his knee.
Topics: YWAM Core Values Outreach YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach YWAM Hearing God's Voice
4 min read
God Said Go, I said No
God said "Go", I said "No"
What if God asked you to go? To leave everything⎼your house, job, friends and family to follow him into the unknown? What would you say? Well, I can tell you what I said, "NO!"
Topics: Family Family Adventure Family Adventures Families in Missions Family DTS Family Missions Faith Family Discipleship
2 min read
Life After My Discipleship Training School
LIFE AFTER MY DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL
After my Discipleship Training School (DTS) ended last spring, going home was difficult. It was hard to go from seeing friends everyday, worshipping and living in community to only seeing my immediate family.
Topics: Missions YWAM DTS Missionary Life Discipleship Opportunities Global Missions Hope Make Disciples Missions in America city ministry
1 min read
Peace In The Chaos
PEACE IN THE CHAOS
Living in a world that seems to be falling apart can be scary. Sicknesses are taking lives, families are separating, friendships are ending, and people are losing their jobs. There are many things that make it seem like we are in world-wide upheaval.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missionary Life Hope Faith Peace God's Love
5 min read
Plans Have Suddenly Changed
Plans Have Suddenly Changed, But Don’t Panic
My family and I were happy about our next missions adventure. We had an incredible experience in Brazil, several months earlier, as part of our YWAM Tyler training school outreach. Now we were preparing for ministry in Turkey and Spain. Little did we know a viral storm was brewing that would very suddenly, change our plans.
Enter the COVID-19 crisis.
Topics: Family Family Adventure Change Life-Changing Family Adventures Families in Missions Family DTS Family Missions Missionary Training Family Discipleship
2 min read
20/20 Vision for America | An Interview with Author Chris Lascelles
20/20 VISION FOR AMERICA BOOK INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LASCELLES
I caught YWAM Tyler's campus director, Chris Lascelles, just before he jumped on a tractor to haul hay to give to hurting farmers here in East Texas.
Once I read Chris's book, 20/20 Vision for America, I knew an interview was a must. I'd heard Chris talk about his purpose in writing this epic history lesson, but I did not expect to be drawn into it so deeply. An incredible message of hope for America is woven through it like a tapestry.
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM Missions in America America Vision USA 2020 Vision
4 min read
Everything You Need to Know about The Family Discipleship School
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FAMILY DTS
What if you could spend the best years with your children discovering God's purpose for your family? If you could do something amazing with your entire family, and you knew you couldn't fail, what would you try?
Taking a step toward a family discipleship program is not only possible, it could be the best decision for your family's destiny.
Topics: Training School Family YWAM Tyler Fundraising Family Adventure Change Living in Community Life-Changing YWAM DTS Family Adventures Families in Missions Missionary Journey Community Family DTS YWAM Kids in Missions Family Missions Family Discipleship family sync
2 min read
From Acorn to Oak Tree | Missionary Life
FROM ACORN TO OAK TREE | MISSIONARY LIFE
Last year Jesus gave me a vision. In it I was in a packed van, full of friend's voices when I suddenly heard no more noise, and saw nothing but a wide-open field.
In the middle stood an oak tree that was magnificent, massive, strong! I felt total peace and I knew that this was a vision from God. I asked again and again what it meant, It took an entire year for Him to tell me.
Topics: Missions Purpose Trust Hope YWAM Faith Missionary Training Overcoming
5 min read
Suicide Was Knocking On My Door
SUICIDE WAS KNOCKING ON MY DOOR
This was a bad idea. Clutching a $20 bill in my hand as the answer to the pain I was in didn't give me any peace. I didn't want to be in this place. As a kid I didn't dream about committing suicide, but now I was quickly losing the urge to live. I needed out! I needed a change! In the darkest time of my life God reached out to me, and saved me from the demons tormenting my mind.
This is my story...
It all began when I was tossed into middle school. My older brother wasn't around like he had been during homeschool. Now, I had to make new friends.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Purpose YWAM DTS Identity Insecurity Depression Freedom Hope YWAM Faith Get to Know God Loneliness Transformation suicide Overcoming
2 min read
I Said Yes To God But Never Imagined This
I SAID YES TO GOD BUT NEVER IMAGINED THIS
When I first came into missions, I thought I might end up working with the people who lived in garbage dumps in the Philippines, thousands of miles from my home.
When I said yes to God, that’s what I thought He would have me do.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Missionary Missionary Life YWAM Missionary Training Missions in America
2 min read
Ministry to a World on Lockdown
MINISTRY to A WORLD IN LOCKDOWN
There is a global prayer movement afoot. God's people are interacting with each other like never before as they share needs, concerns, and victories.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Missions Mercy Works YWAM Outreach Missionary Missionary Life YWAM pandemic coronavirus
2 min read
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Go to College Immediately.
HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULDN’T GO TO COLLEGE IMMEDIATELY
Graduate valedictorian, go to an Ivy League school, enter a respectable profession, get rich - that’s what I decided my life’s purpose was when I was in high school. The only reason I wanted to do missionary work before college was so that I could have a stronger résumé. Good thing God can take our impure motives and bring something good out of them.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Purpose Growth Dreams Direction Gap Year YWAM DTS Calling Destiny Travel Deeper with God college gap semester high school
2 min read
Life's Ups and Downs Don't Define Me
LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS DON'T DEFINE ME
I find myself praising God when life is going good. I can say in the morning (good times) you, God, are good. In those times, it’s easy to thank God for what you have. You run to God, you tell others about God, and you kind of feel invincible. Life’s going great. Am I right?
Topics: YWAM Tyler Change Knowing God Life-Changing Missionary Life YWAM Deeper with God
3 min read
Hey Siri! Should I Panic?
Hey Siri! Should I Panic?
In the early days of GPS, there are at least a handful of stories of some poor souls who opted to trust their Global Positioning System over what their eyes and senses were telling them. Most of the stories have decently happy endings (meaning no serious injuries).
Topics: YWAM Tyler Trust God YWAM Family Missions Faith pandemic coronavirus siri panic
9 min read
Urban Missions in the Midst of Social Restrictions
URBAN MISSIONS IN THE MIDST OF Social RESTRICTIONS
How is it even possible to be missional in spite of the restrictions we are facing? Though the physical reach of our activity is blocked, and for good reason, our passion to share the love of Jesus with the nations hasn't diminished at all.
Our urban centers around the country have been seeking creative expressions of how to minister. We are so encouraged by their stories and are praying for more!
Topics: YWAM Tyler Urban Missions YWAM Urban DTS Urbanization YWAM Dallas YWAM West Virginia ywam chicago ywam nola YWAM Houston
1 min read
Our Response to COVID-19
OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Youth With A Mission Tyler TX is monitoring developments of the global Coronavirus outbreak, and is working with our own trained medical staff, as well as, local health professionals to respond.
6 min read
Leftist Punk Becomes Missionary
LEFTIST PUNK BECOMES MISSIONARY
I was a member of the radical underground. While few Americans remember the tumultuous 60s era in our history, I was right in the middle of it. The hippie movement was at its height, and I fit right in doing drugs and participating in protests and demonstrations in Washington D.C. and elsewhere during the Vietnam War.
Topics: Urban Missions Missionary Missionary Life Family Missions Urban DTS Urbanization Transformation nola new orleans city ministry
2 min read
A Gap Year Just Right For You!
Is a Gap Year Right for You?
Need some help discovering if taking a Gap Year is the right thing for you? In this blog, we tackle a few key issues to help you make this decision with confidence.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Gap Year Adventure Travel YWAM College Ministry college gap semester
7 min read
Walking Barefoot | THE SEND BRAZIL
WHEN NATIONS AWAKEN TO JESUS | THE SEND BRAZIL
The rain couldn't stop 140,000 barefoot Brazilians from saying, "I WILL GO!" last weekend at THE SEND gathering...lifting their shoes up as a symbol of surrender to Jesus. We were there. We saw it first hand⎼a move of God calling people with sweet conviction to walk closer, draw nearer, and go further. It was received with reckless enthusiasm.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach Nations YWAM brazil awaken the send mobilization
2 min read
Find Your Life Purpose in a YWAM DTS
FIND YOUR LIFE PURPOSE IN A YWAM DTS
It's crazy how God can change things in your life so fast. This time last year I was doing nothing but wasting my life. Now, I’m living with a purpose and get to have new exciting experiences with God everyday. Setting an example and manifesting God's image in all the things I do brings me great joy.
Topics: Outreach Purpose Life-Changing YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Missionary
9 min read
2020 is the Year of the Bible
2020 is the Year of the Bible
My heart was deeply moved the first time I heard there was a detailed plan and strategy for every person on the planet to have a Bible in their language.
What would it take to get the most important book of all time, into the hands of all people? In every dialect? Talk about a big, hairy, gutsy goal! Well, I'm learning we are living in an unprecedented time in history where that very goal is about to happen.
Topics: Bible Prayer Strategic Frontiers bible translation heart language trauma end bible poverty bible poverty ethnoart arts Wycliffe
2 min read
Creating a Home Away From Home | Family DTS
Josh Barnes and his wife Faraday came to YWAM Tyler, Texas, for the Family DTS. They came with five kids in tow: three boys⎼12, 11, and 9 and two girls⎼7 and 4. Living in community, diving into their relationship with Jesus, and growing stronger as a family was just the beginning of their experience.
Topics: Outreach Family Family Adventure Home Family Adventures YWAM Outreach Families in Missions Family DTS Family Missions
2 min read
Prayer in a Convenience Store Changed Everything
"I walked down to the local convenience store to buy a Coke when I noticed a man who looked like he was in pain. He said his shoulder was hurting, so I offered to pray for him.
Topics: Healing YWAM Tyler Missionary Life YWAM Prayer YWAM West Virginia
2 min read
My Take Away from the FAMILY DTS
It's surreal, this thing called YWAM!
We just finished pioneering the first Family DTS here at YWAM Tyler. It had its challenges, but when you get 22 parents and 43 children together, God's stirring something amazing up! 12 families graduated, and are being sent out into the world forever changed for the better! Some sold their homes, gave up jobs, and said goodbye to friends, not knowing what was to come in DTS.
Topics: Family Family Adventure Family DTS Family Missions
6 min read
I Was Made For Missions
It was my freshman year of highschool, and I remember sitting in Bio 1, sick to my stomach and trying not to let the tears in my eyes escape. Two days earlier I had come back from a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. After making friends with ladies who raised six kids in a one room shack and playing with schoolgirls who walked five miles a day just to get an education, I was in intense disgust at the upper middle class American reality I had ungracefully reentered.
I didn’t know back then about culture shock or whiplash. I did know, however, that the short two weeks in that colorful, impoverished nation had touched my heart in a way that made snowy Pennsylvania with its Ugg Boot-wearing residents seem like the least satisfying place in the world.
3 min read
YWAM Tyler Department Switch
We thought it would be awesome to take two very different, but vital departments on our campus and switch them for day. You know there are always two sides to every story. Well, this is no different!
Topics: YWAM Tyler Serving YWAM grounds ywam tyler staff hospitality
5 min read
How I Became a YWAM Missionary
Become a Missionary at Youth With A Mission
It was a huge shock to everyone around me when I decided to become a missionary in 2016. Having come out of 6 years of deep addiction before entering 3 rehabs, I was the last person you’d expect to see joining Youth With A Mission, Tyler.
I was totally living for myself. I thought I was the center of the universe back in May of 2015 before I entered my last rehab. I finally came to a point of surrender about four weeks into that program, when I felt God’s love for me for the first time. It was game-over after that! I was hooked.
Prior to that encounter, I was so consumed with myself I did not ever really love, or allow myself to be loved. Everyone and everything around me was a resource to get whatever I was looking to gain in the moment.
My self-absorbed life stifled love from every crevice and corner of my life.
[Photo: I know right? A mug shot. That's how bad my life had spun out of control.]
However, there was a moment which changed everything for me. A true encounter with God can accomplish what one hundred counseling sessions could not. Something changed when I allowed myself to be stripped before God. No mask, no presuppositions, just a real, vulnerable openness to Jesus as my Savior.
[Photo: Graduating from Shiloh Ministries after 1 year of rehab.]
After I graduated from Shiloh, I joined my first Discipleship Training School at YWAM Tyler. Youth With A Mission understands knowing God is paramount. Understanding I am His child is vital. Everything else hinges on this realization.
I believe, “you don’t really know yourself until you know Jesus.” Through my discipleship experience, I finally understood, “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) is a remarkably freeing statement.
While I was still self-centered, caring for no one, stealing, and lying–Jesus died for me! I love Jesus now and do my best to genuinely love the people around me, but Jesus died for the version of me who cared neither for myself, or the people around me.
Whether I am still roaming the streets with a pint of vodka in my belt strap, or I am preaching in front of thousands, Jesus’s love for me is the same! It never changes.
Knowing God, really knowing Him is what life is all about. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and the one whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Each time I read this verse it chips away at the block of religion that has crusted up around me through years of never actually encountering and pursuing God for myself.
To know God, and to make Him known. This is the motto of Youth With A Mission. I love the simplicity of this, because when you boil it all down, it is what life is really all about.
Now do we just spend our time alone in a room, with a Bible and a cup of coffee? Heavens no! James says, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18). Such a confident statement that my personality appreciates!
I love being active, pursuing, and creating alongside God for His name’s sake. Prior to coming to YWAM Tyler, I thought all missionaries were old, white, married couples. I thought a missionary wife wore a bonnet (no slight to bonnet wearers!) and the husband had spent years in seminary and pastoral training. The thought of becoming a missionary wasn’t in the solar system of my thought process, but boy did that change after coming to YWAM Tyler.
My understanding of being a missionary changed when I ran into a former X-Games athlete, met men and women who had struggled with addiction, eating disorders, vanity, homosexuality, been through a divorce, and the list could go on. These people were seasoned missionaries who had been around the world several times over, impacting lives every step of the way, yet had a life transformation with Jesus!
This was me too! I was just like these people!? “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
[Photo: Making God known took me to Korea with my Discipleship Training School.]
Out of an overflow of intimacy with a living God our life begins to move. A true faith—a living faith—has the natural outworking of good works. To Know God and Make Him Known. This really sums up how I became a missionary.
If you are ready to take the next step in your personal life of Knowing God and Making Him known, today is the day to sign up for the next training school at YWAM Tyler. We are here and ready to help you discover God's purpose for your life.
Other blogs by Anthony:
Topics: Training School School of Evangelism YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Missionary Missionary Life YWAM Missionary Training ywam missions DTS
4 min read
Making Memories with God through Worship
Did you know that your nose remembers things? Our sense of smell is closely linked with memory, probably more so than any of our other senses. The smell of freshly cut grass, for example, always brings back memories of my childhood and my endeavor to become a professional soccer player.
Topics: School of Worship Worship Spiritual Growth Encounter God Perspective YWAM Peace Spiritual Father memories
2 min read
Our Urban Missions in Dallas Started with a Drug Deal
It was the drug dealer. He was the reason dozens of cars were lined up in the middle of the street and around the block. Every Friday afternoon his customers would leave their cars running in the improvised drive-thru to run up the rickety staircase in the back alley.
Dave Funke shook his head in disgust. He had seen the apartment where everyone went to score. All of the chaos just added to feelings he could hardly put into words. How was he ever going to make a difference in this crime-infested, impoverished community?
Topics: Urban Missions Urban DTS Urbanization YWAM Dallas Kid's Club
5 min read
My most painful memory became something beautiful!
I have seen firsthand in my life how God can make beauty from ashes. I have experienced joy for mourning in a real and powerful way!
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM DTS Grief regret
2 min read
The Power of Corporate Worship
Have you ever noticed worship songs, at least the good ones, use superlatives within the lyrics like "all nations," or "You're the supreme God," or "most beautiful." It's the kind of language we usually don't use in our everyday conversations? [video 3:12]
Topics: School of Worship Worship
1 min read
I Thought I Was Losing My Daughter!
The unexpected happened with a family attending our Family Discipleship Training School; what a testimony of God's faithfulness! [4:18 video]
Topics: Family Family DTS
2 min read
How to Drive Out Fear in Your Life
Fear can be so debilitating in our lives, but it doesn't have to be. If you're struggling with some type of fear in your life -- fear of failing, fear of deep relationships, or fear of the unknown, there is is hope. God loves you.
Watch this short message from Nate Evans [1:12 video]
Topics: School of the Bible Overcoming Fear Spiritual Growth Love No Fear Truth God's Word God's Love
2 min read
I'm Not The Same Person I Used To Be
E neste fim de semana se fechou um ciclo, uma etapa da minha vida em que várias pessoas fizeram partes, muitos não estão nessa foto, mas estiveram fazendo parte de fora, sempre me apoiando e encorajando mesmo que de longe.
Topics: Missions YWAM Multicultural DTS Transformation brazil discipleship
1 min read
Multicultural Missions Program at YWAM Tyler
Hi! I'm Jacqueline from Tennessee. As an American I've been asked, "Why the Multicultural Discipleship Training School?
Topics: Multicultural DTS
2 min read
I'm 15 and I am a Missionary!
Have you ever entered an event or season of life with a certain expectation and left it with the complete opposite result of that former belief?
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missionary Missionary Life YWAM Missionary Training SST World Changer Deeper with God
2 min read
God's Plan Was Better Than My Own!
When you’re a little kid, someone always questions, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" There’s the popular options of firefighter, policeman, or cook, but for me it was a forensic scientist. It wasn't a popular choice amongst young people, but I always knew what I wanted to be. After graduating high school, I went to college at Sam Houston State University in the fall of 2018, full of dreams and plans for the next four years of my life.
Topics: Missions Purpose YWAM DTS Missionary Get to Know God Transformation
2 min read
What an Ice Cream Cone Taught Me About Relationships
It’s been exhausting, amazing, hard, and difficult, but I am thankful for every step taken and the people I get to do this with. I am thankful for the people praying and supporting financially. I am thankful for the transformation God is doing in mine and other's lives. I am thankful for God allowing us to be a vessel for Him.
Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach Missionary Multicultural DTS God's Love MDTS
4 min read
2 Questions to Ask When Thinking About Taking a Gap Year
If you've been thinking of taking a semester off or even a year between high school and college or college and career, you are not alone. Taking a gap year is a hot topic, and since we've talked to students from all over the world who've chosen to do YWAM for their gap experience, we want to help you plan your gap year the right way.
Topics: Purpose Gap Year YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach YWAM Inspire FOMO
2 min read
A Spiritual Father to Many
There are certain people who simply make an extraordinary impact on the lives they meet. Being in their presence is like warmth on a cold day. It never grows old. These people are the ones who seem to have the perfect balance of loving you and also challenging you, encouraging you and pointing out when you need a new direction. They listen well, but they also pour joy and vision into you with the revelation of God’s love, not because they need to be heard, but because they want everyone around to discover the same wonder of who God really is. For me, this describes Ed Sinke.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Mentor Spiritual Father
5 min read
What Every Kid Needs to Know When Their Family does YWAM
MOVING. I couldn’t believe it when my parents told me we were moving. My family and I were living in a beautiful, mountainous valley in North Carolina at the time. The view of the Smoky Mountains from our house was breathtaking. Relocating to Texas with my parents did not sound like a good idea to a stubborn eleven-year-old like me - especially when I heard we were going to be missionaries and live in tight quarters for a season.
Topics: Family YWAM Tyler Trust God YWAM DTS Family DTS YWAM Kids in Missions Family Missions
2 min read
God Fulfills the Desires of Our Heart!
I was living in Tennessee as part of a very small church when my heart began to stir for missions. One day during Sunday school, a missionary came to our church and heard me share how I would love to do foreign missions someday. I was on fire and ready to go!
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM DTS Missionary Missionary Life YWAM Missionary Training Marriage
3 min read
We Are Missionaries Doing Things We Never Dreamed Possible!
Do you ever wake up and forget where you are?
This happens to me often, particularly when I find myself doing crazy things, things I never thought I would have the time, finances, or abilities to do. I'll think, “What am I doing here?” “How did I get here...ME...here doing this right now?!?”
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Global Missions Transformation
2 min read
Beyond Blessed // Multicultural DTS
I cannot believe it’s been five weeks since the Multicultural Discipleship Training School (MDTS) started. All I can say is that GOD IS FAITHFUL!
Topics: YWAM DTS YWAM Blessing Make Disciples Multicultural DTS Leadership MDTS
3 min read
Radio Celebrity Missionary
As I prepared for my guest appearance on the radio talk show last weekend, though I felt nervous, I could not help but be amazed by God’s care for me … again!
Topics: Families in Missions Education Make Disciples Missionary Training Christian Heritage School
4 min read
The Dream Committee // Debut Song
YWAM Tyler's very own The Dream Committee has just released their first debut song, "Traded," and we just couldn't wait to share it with you. I had the opportunity to sit down with Stephanie and Josh of the band and ask them some thoughts about this new song and how the band is doing. You'll want to give this a listen after hearing the heart behind the tune.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Worship Band The Dream Committee Music Traded
1 min read
What is Being a Missionary About?
During my Discipleship Training School (DTS), God really showed me His heart for America. I’ve always dreamed of being the missionary that traveled to faraway lands to preach the Gospel where it’s never been heard, but God showed me that He cares as much about the people of America as He does the ones in far off lands. God cares about every nation tribe and tongue, including my own!
Topics: YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach YWAM Missionary Training Urbanization Missions in America College Ministry God's Love America
2 min read
Treasure Hunting
I first went to Vegas in the Spring of 2016. As we were walking, I passed some show girls and told my grandparents I wanted to stop and talk to them, but they told me to just keep walking. I boarded the plane shattered, knowing I should have stopped.
A couple years later, during my YWAM Discipleship Training School, we were being told our outreach locations. Vegas was going to be one of them for the West Coast. My heart leapt for joy, and I started praying. I prayed for an encounter.
Topics: YWAM Outreach Love Treasure Hunting
3 min read
Something Within Needed to be Unearthed
Unearth ~ To find something buried by digging
This past weekend, a lot of digging took place at YWAM Tyler during the Inspire Worship & Missions Conference. We were challenged to pick up our shovels and excavate because something within us all needed to be unearthed.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Worship Unearthed YWAM Inspire
2 min read
A Tribal Village Welcomes God's Word
Earlier this year, a team from YWAM Tyler traveled to India to commemorate an extraordinary moment in history. As the tribal village of Depachara and visiting Uchoi churches celebrated 75 years of Christianity, they welcomed the translation of the Word of God into their own language.
Topics: Bible Travel Strategic Frontiers God's Word
3 min read
The War on Inaction Has Begun
Words like “fire, passion, movement, momentum, signs, wonders, uncompromising, and revival” have been used to describe the two weeks I just spent in Florida.
I can only imagine this is how the beginning moments of the “Jesus Movement” of the late ’60’s looked – in fact, those that have been involved with both have said so much.
Topics: YWAM Tyler YWAM Outreach Deeper with God Action
3 min read
This is Me
If you're one of the millions of people that have seen The Greatest Showman, you may recognize the lyrics from the song "This is Me." The individuals in the movie are facing challenges in their life and are seen as outcasts, but they refuse to let what others think about them define who they are.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Relationship with God Deeper with God
2 min read
State of Creation Address
A few week's ago, we were treated to the President’s State of the Union Address before live television and a joint session of Congress. President Trump brought us up to speed on the progress we’ve made in areas of economy, employment, defense, border security, and foreign relations. He then reminded us of the work that still needs to be done, calling all Americans to unite for the common good of the nation.
Topics: YWAM Tyler Teacher Appreciation Deeper with God
2 min read
Make the Most of Your YWAM Discipleship Training School
So you've been thinking about a Discipleship Training School (DTS), but you're still on the fence with jumping in and doing it. Hey, I get it. There's a lot to think about and huge transitions to consider when carving out space and time to get to know God better.
Topics: YWAM DTS Missionary Training
3 min read
Be an AgTech Missionary
Growing up in Chicago and moving to a little town in Texas was quite the change! During my two training schools at YWAM Tyler, I discovered in a deeper way who God is and how to have a relationship with Him!
Topics: YWAM Tyler World Changer Agriculture
3 min read
What Are You Doing After High School?
GOD IS SO GOOD...Isn’t He? 😁 Since graduation, I had been praying about where God wanted me to go for college. After a few mission trips, God spoke to me about an organization called Youth With a Mission (YWAM). I arrived in January to begin a Discipleship Training School (DTS) here at YWAM Tyler, and it has rocked my world!
Topics: YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS Missionary Perspective Missionary Training Deeper with God
1 min read
A Story of Transformation in a Classroom
"My family and I are very happy to be part of this place. This place is very special; it brings life and freedom. The influence in the classroom transformed my daughter's life, turning the dark colors she had in her emotions into a rainbow again bringing life, joy, and security. She had lost all of this, and she found it all again here." ~ A grateful mother of one of Heather's students from Brazil.
