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,
2 min read
Overcoming Lies through Discipleship
Topics: YWAM Tyler Freedom Sin YWAM Truth Overcoming DTS testimony joy lies
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
