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?
3 min read
The Greatest New Year’s Resolution I Ever Made
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!"
