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3 min read

Trusting God To Make A Way

By Tyler Tom on 8 Sep 2023

Sometimes the best thing a leader can do is tell you to seek Jesus for yourself. In reality, as Christians, we should all be trying our best to seek Him first. Kaleigh Seliskar helped disciple students while serving SSTs this summer. Listen as she shares an encouraging testimony of how God increased her faith through a student. 
 
Over this summer, I had the honor of working with YWAM Tyler’s teen summer camp called SST.  During this time, I had many roles. One of them included guiding and encouraging three teenagers to prepare a teaching. They would have the opportunity to share their teaching at a Vacation Bible School (VBS) they would help with during their outreach in Houston.
 
One of the students, "Josh", was preparing a teaching on Moses and the Red Sea. He came to me on the last day of preparation and said to me “Kaleigh, I want to give an altar call at the end of my teaching but I don’t know how to do that. Can you help me?” I asked him to pray about it and then come to me later and we could talk about how to do it.  He never come back, so I assumed that he either decided to skip it all together, or that he went to another leader and talked about it. 
 
The next week we were in Houston and Josh gave his teaching on the final day of VBS. The kids in the group were engaged the whole time, and consumed by what Josh had to say.  Towards the end of his teaching, he began looking around the stage like he was missing something. At this point, I was pretty confused because his teaching appeared to be going as planned and he hadn’t missed anything. Suddenly, he stopped looking around the stage and seemed very excited and he did something that the other leaders and I had not expected. He asked the kids in the VBS if they wanted to accept Jesus, and if they did to raise their hand. Twelve of the nineteen kids responded immediately.
 
 
 
Josh ran to the side of the stage and pulled two cases of water to the center of the stage, got back on the mic and said, “If you just raised your hand, come onto the stage and walk between these cases of water like the Israelites did through the Red Sea to show everyone that you are going to follow Jesus.”  All twelve of those kids got up and ran to the stage to declare their dedication to follow Jesus.
 
 As a staff member for these SST students, I was so impressed with Josh's creativity and on-the-spot thinking. This is just one of the few ways that the teenagers in the SST were able to impact the people of Houston.  Not only did they touch the people of Houston but I was also personally affected by them. At times I felt that I was too young or just didn't have enough experience to share my faith. The SST students blew those thoughts away. Their fearlessness and resilience showed me that age has nothing to do with my ability to talk about Jesus.
 

Did it ever occur to you that when you were all grown up the next generation would look up to you? It doesn't matter what you think you are capable of, God can and will use those with willing hearts to fulfill His plans. If you open yourself up and follow wherever the Lord may lead, He will amaze you every time. Seek Him first and He will always be there to help you.

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Topics: Trust Knowing God Making Him Known Discipleship Opportunities Freedom Faith Teenagers SST Leadership Youth With A Mission ministry youth Red Sea
2 min read

You Can Help Survivors of the Earthquake in Syria

By Tyler Tom on 17 Feb 2023

The ground rocked underneath the feet of millions of people in Syria and Turkey on the fateful day of February 6th. Within minutes rubble from entire blocks of apartment buildings became tombs for families and entire communities. As rescue workers continue to hear voices crying from beneath the debris, our Christian friends and workers are engaged to bring hope in a disparaging time.

Topics: Missions Rescue Mercy Works Strategic Frontiers ywam missions mercy humanitarian humanitarian aid Youth With A Mission earthquake syria turkey foreign missions
2 min read

How DTS Set Me Free

By Jonah Blackwell on 20 Jan 2023

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
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
3 min read

Why We Celebrate Thanksgiving

By Chris Lascelles on 24 Nov 2022

The tradition of celebrating a Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful part of American life. Although this holiday is closely connected to what’s called the First Thanksgiving, held by the Pilgrims and their Native American friends in 1621, we should note that the holiday also reflects a broader culture of giving thanks to God that was more common in times past.

However, regarding the Pilgrims, let’s take a moment to look at three aspects of their story that are not always remembered today, yet make this holiday an important event on America’s calendar.

Topics: YWAM Tyler Thankfulness YWAM America pilgrim Youth With A Mission holidays thanksgiving
3 min read

God Is Moving in Ukraine

By Tyler Tom on 18 Nov 2022

We receive urgent requests for prayer almost daily from Ukraine. It is incredible how God can orchestrate ministry even in such a dire situation. 

Topics: YWAM Tyler Refugees Home YWAM DTS Serving Global Missions ywam missions war short-term missions Youth With A Mission Ukraine
4 min read

How You Know You're A Missionary

By Tyler Tom on 7 Oct 2022

No one says it quite like Darlene Cunningham, co-founder of the largest mission organization on the planet — Youth With A Mission. In her book, Values Matter, the following excerpt makes us as "ywamers," laugh, ponder, and even cry. We think you'll get a kick out this too and perhaps hear God calling you to step out in faith to follow Him to ends of the earth.

_____

Recently, I was pondering some of the unique ways God has equipped YWAM to be a visionary pioneer movement. He has called us to continually be receiving, nurturing and releasing fresh vision from God. Thoughts began to cascade from my mind faster than I could write them down:

Topics: YWAM Core Values YWAM Tyler Missions Adventure YWAM ywam missions Youth With A Mission darlene cunningham mission adventures YWAM Foundational Values
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
4 min read

Is That Really You, God?

By Amy Fish on 6 Oct 2017

Ever wonder if the thought forming in your brain was from the Lord? I know I have many times. Eleven years ago, I did my DTS and read this inspirational book by the founder of YWAM. He addressed the very quesions I had about hearing from God through stories that left me wide-eyed and wonder-filled. I honestly couldn't put it down. I hope the poetic synopsis below, which I wrote during my DTS, will wet your appetite to want to read it for yourself! 

Topics: YWAM Core Values YWAM Tyler YWAM DTS Hearing God's Voice Faith Go Dependence on God World Changer Action Loren Cunningham Youth With A Mission Is That Really You God YWAM Foundational Values
3 min read

Enchanted lakes is not what it seems

By Tyler Tom on 2 Aug 2017

Recently, a group of us from YWAM Tyler went on an outreach to Enchanted Lakes to serve with mercy ministries. We cut hair, handed out food, and provided medicine for those in need. 

Topics: Outreach YWAM Tyler Urban Missions Evangelism YWAM Missions in America east texas Youth With A Mission mission adventures enchanted lakes
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...

2 min read

Being Comfortable with Silence

Mae sat next to me on the passenger side of the car. The silence was thick in the air between us as we drove home. As...