MISSIONS INSIDER BLOG

Read frontline missions stories, watch inspiring videos, and get helpful how to's about missions and discipleship.

Subscribe Today

Anthony Huerta

Anthony Huerta

My name is Anthony Huerta, I am 27 years old and grew up in West Texas. I have had an exciting, eventful life that was spurred by a tumultuous lifestyle. Today, I am living in Tyler, TX as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. I help lead the Mobilization team focusing on helping people activate their faith. My passion is seeing people of all different backgrounds, education levels, social classes, ethnicities, and ages overwhelmed by God's love.

Recent posts by Anthony Huerta

5 min read

4 Earth Shattering Truths I Learned on my DTS Outreach

By Anthony Huerta on 15 Dec 2022

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
5 min read

How I Became a YWAM Missionary

By Anthony Huerta on 7 May 2021

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.

[Photo: Making God known took me to Greece with my Evangelism Training School.]

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.

 

Learn More

 

Other blogs by Anthony:

The War on Inaction has Begun | The SEND

This is My Missionary Life

Alcoholism did not have the Last Word

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

How I Became a YWAM Missionary

By Anthony Huerta on 18 Oct 2019

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.

[Photo: Making God known took me to Greece with my Evangelism Training School.]

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.

 

Learn More

 

Other blogs by Anthony:

The War on Inaction has Begun | The SEND

This is My Missionary Life

Alcoholism did not have the Last Word

Topics: Training School School of Evangelism YWAM Tyler Missions YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Missionary Missionary Life YWAM Missionary Training ywam missions DTS
3 min read

The War on Inaction Has Begun

By Anthony Huerta on 29 Mar 2019

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 My Missionary Life

By Anthony Huerta on 4 Dec 2018

It's been 30 months since I graduated Shiloh Ministries, and boy what a ride it has been. Never could I have possibly imagined, dreamt, or let-alone orchestrated the past 30 months. Thank God He did! I remember the graduating day at Shiloh. I was positive that I wanted to pursue God, but totally clueless about where or what that even looked like. All I knew was that my next step was taking me to Youth With A Mission (YWAM).

Topics: Korean Missionary YWAM Tyler Life-Changing YWAM DTS Missionary Life Deeper with God Transformation Shiloh Ministries
2 min read

Why We Go on Outreaches | YWAM TYLER

By Anthony Huerta on 27 Jul 2018

During this season of my life, very few things are more gratifying than seeing people I have cried for, prayed for, laughed with, counseled, and shared life with for months say “YES” to God. And that is exactly what I have experienced this month with Jonna, Brody, and Landon coming to YWAM Tyler for a Discipleship Training School (DTS).

I met these three in Lubbock on a recent trip where I planted a seed, then watched God lead them over the course of eight months to YWAM. This is exactly what I was hoping for when I went to South Texas on outreach with a team of committed friends from YWAM Tyler.

Topics: YWAM Tyler Purpose YWAM DTS YWAM Outreach Get to Know God
4 min read

Revelation in the Probation Office

By Anthony Huerta on 17 Jan 2018

 A few weeks ago, sitting in the office of my probation officer, we began a conversation much like we do each visit, about current global events/disasters/atrocities, which inevitably leads to the big question, “What really is God’s perspective on it all?”

Topics: Missions Life-Changing YWAM Outreach Discipleship Opportunities Perspective Global Missions
11 min read

Alcoholism did not have the Last Word

By Anthony Huerta on 20 Sep 2017

My name is Anthony Huerta and I am a YWAM Missionary.
 
I grew up blessed in Lubbock, Texas. Looking back I see God's hand all around my upbringing. Sure, my parents have had their issues; definitely, there were some questionable role-models along the way; absolutely, my extended family liked to have a good time, but overall, the issues were no different than nearly all American families. 
Topics: Missions Choice YWAM DTS
5 min read

7 Earth Shattering Truths I Learned in DTS Lecture

By Anthony Huerta on 9 Aug 2017

Globally there are 25,000 full-time YWAM missionaries right now, and every one of them has completed a Discipleship Training School. DTS is remarkable training that is intended to bring you into a more intimate relationship with God. While igniting your passions, you discover your part in God's purposes for the world and learn to follow Jesus in new ways with a different perspective. 

It is intended to challenge us through teachings, community living, practical training, AND that's just the lecture phase. These are just a few of the truths I learned during my DTS Lecture Phase:

Topics: Provision Trust God Direction Knowing God YWAM DTS Overcoming Fear Spiritual Growth Community Truth Prayer Missionary Training Dependence on God Deeper with God God's Love
3 min read

Stop Worrying About Refugees

By Anthony Huerta on 7 Jul 2017

We are blessed here at Youth With A Mission to be exposed to incredible things around the world that few will ever experience. This privilege is what propels many of us out of bed to continue doing what we do as full-time missionaries. However, through this privilege there has been some difficult, inconceivable moments revealing the depths of human depravity. We have taken a glimpse into what Jeremiah 17 is really saying, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

Topics: Outreach Refugees
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...

1 min read

Helping Victims of the Morocco Earthquake

On September 8th, a 6.8 earthquake killed over 2900 people and left many thousands homeless. According to multiple...

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...

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...
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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...