MISSIONS INSIDER BLOG

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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
3 min read

The Greatest New Year’s Resolution I Ever Made

By Jonna Russell on 30 Dec 2022

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

Fundraising Doesn't Have To Suck

By Tyler Tom on 9 Dec 2022

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

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
2 min read

God's Smuggler | A Real Life Hero

By Tyler Tom on 29 Sep 2022

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

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
3 min read

The Send: Joining the War Against Inaction

By Amanda Pearl on 20 May 2022

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
5 min read

Is That Really You, God?

By Amy Fish on 17 Dec 2021

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
3 min read

Evangelism Outreach Gone Bad

By Richard Fish on 8 Oct 2021

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

Let's Talk About Worship, Discipleship, and Missions.

By Richard Fish on 30 Jul 2021

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
4 min read

Rescuing the Perishing | YWAM Houston

By Tyler Tom on 4 Jun 2021

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
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
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...