MISSIONS INSIDER BLOG

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Richard Fish

Richard Fish

Richard blogs with the YWAM Tyler writing team and currently serves in Media Communications at the Twin Oaks campus in Garden Valley, Texas. His water bottle is anywhere but in his hands and walking and texting is in his wheelhouse skill set. You may find him directing a play at CHS or trying to get his life sized John Wayne cutout to stay standing in the office.

Recent posts by Richard Fish

1 min read

How to Create with the Holy Spirit

By Richard Fish on 25 May 2023

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?

By Richard Fish on 12 May 2023

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 Life Matters

By Richard Fish on 10 Mar 2023

"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

By Richard Fish on 3 Mar 2023

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
6 min read

Revival Wave at Asbury University 2023

By Richard Fish on 10 Feb 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
2 min read

The Day I Got Saved

By Richard Fish on 13 Jan 2023

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

By Richard Fish on 6 Jan 2023

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
2 min read

Discipleship is the Key to Missions

By Richard Fish on 2 Dec 2022

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
4 min read

What You Need to Know Before Taking a Gap Year

By Richard Fish on 9 Nov 2022

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: 

DOWNLOAD THE GAP YEAR PLANNING GUIDE ebook / pdf

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

By Richard Fish on 4 Nov 2022

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. 

2 min read

The Spirit of Jesus

By Richard Fish on 9 Sep 2022

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
5 min read

Missions on the Ukraine-Poland Border

By Richard Fish on 10 Mar 2022

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
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...

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...

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...

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...

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...
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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...