Here is a message written by someone not affiliated with YWAM, but came as our speaker last week. He is the father of my good friend Jillian who I am staffing with. He simply writes his observations of his time here in Kona. This hopefully will give you a glimpse of how things are run and what this place is all about!
I recently had the opportunity to go to Kona, Hawaii and teach a one week portion of the Discipleship Training School that my daughter Jillian is currently staffing. I returned from this trip more impressed than ever with the YWAM ministry model. I wanted to share with you all, what I have seen, as many of you have already given financial support to Jillian, or perhaps some other YWAMmer.
First, I want to say how deeply Jillian has been changed. After her first round as a student, it was clear on Jillian's return that her own heart, and relationship with the Lord had been deeply impacted. More than just a neat personal experience, she had grown significantly. Many of you could see the light in her eyes. Part of the growth fostered in YWAM's model is the recognition and practical training in how to give an active faith to others. YWAM's training is targeted on teaching people to be Jesus to others, not just internal growth alone. This first experience will always be a significant foundation for my already spiritually mature daughter.
Second, I want to talk about the Model. YWAM does three months discipleship training and three months outreach, in some international mission field. Students learn not only missions, but also leadership. I was most impressed by the fact that a significant part of the DTS (Discipleship Training School) is focused on developing freedom, a powerful active relationship with the Lord, and healthy relationships. Having counseled missionaries who come off the field I have often wished that our missionaries were taught these things before they go on the field. YWAM is preparing mission teams to be a healthy representation of Jesus and community. My job this last week was to teach one week of the three month DTS. The focus of the entire week was on experiencing God as Father. Other weeks focus on Freedom, The Holy Spirit, Healthy Relationships, Seeing the Big Picture, and other practical and powerful aspects of a vital walk of faith. I am very impressed with how equipped these students are.
The base is composed of multiple schools each with a unique focus. Media, Worship and Prayer, Leadership, etc. Each school comprises the primary association for the student. Within each school the students are divided into outreach teams, with different destinations and missions. Each outreach team has a leader or two, who meet regularly one one one with each of a small group of students. This model provides the structure of Community, Large Group, small group, and one on one discipleship. All of them share a common mission, while each smaller group sees clearly their own part of the mission.
Third I want to talk about Money. While we were happy to support Jillian on her initial YWAM journey, we began to grow a bit uncomfortable with some of the follow up requests for financial support. My discomfort about this has completely changed as I have watched and learned. The most important thing that I learned is that NO ONE in YWAM draws a salary. From the head (Loren and Darlene Cunningham) on down, each person is responsible to gather support at any given step of the way. What impresses me about this is that no one person, or entity gets to build a personal fortune off the donations. There is no YWAM mansion, YWAM fleet, and the headquarters is shared by all who are involved. Though at first blush it appears that the students ask often for money, it is clear that this money is immediately being turned into living and ministry costs for each individual. Each team learns financial management of their own funds, and mutual support of one another. NO ONE is Getting Rich off these donations. These students are learning how to plan, organize, budget, implement, a full scale mission trip while developing healthy problem solving, conflict resolution, team development, and leadership skills. All this and they are delivering the same to cultures all around the world. The students are also taught about the importance of giving. I watched multiple examples of the students giving to one another in mutual support, not simply asking to receive all the time.
Finally I want to talk about the Community. This is the part I could not have really known from this side of the ocean. The YWAM base at Kona is the world headquarters. They worship together, pray together, train together, eat together, they handle conflict together, and they celebrate other teams victories together. I saw the Cunningham's on campus, hands on with the community several times. Most impressive to me was the focus on family development. I had no idea that entire families did YWAM together. Parents with small children were as common a sight as any individual. Families were learning together how to live in community and learn together how to broadcast the presence of God as they prepared for the mission field. The 1000+ people on this base seemed to share a healthy balance of interrelatedness and independence. I have not yet seen a church that can demonstrate the level of true community that I witnessed daily on this base.
This YWAM experience can create effective, healthy, and well-equipped leaders who can and often do grow into influential world-changers.
Bob Hamp
And here is a link to the video from Jillian and Campbell about their outreach.
https://vimeo.com/42438528
To help donate for their outreach you can go here! 100% of the money goes directly to their outreach fund here in Kona.
http://uofnkona.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=652&MN=5725
