What is YWAM

Youth With A Mission is a global movement of Christians from many cultures; age groups; and Christian traditions; dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced “WHY-wham”); we unite in a common purpose to know God and to make Him known.

Back when we began in 1960; our main focus was to get youth involved in missions. Today; we still focus on youth; and we also involve people aged 9 to 90. We currently have tens of thousands of staff (called “YWAMers”) and we work in thousands of teams and locations.;

One of the joys of participating in YWAM is to work with people from many nations. YWAM’s staff come from nearly every country in the world.

Our beliefs

As citizens of God’s kingdom; we are called to love; worship; and obey our Lord; to love and serve His Body; and to present the whole gospel for the whole person throughout the whole world.

We of Youth With A Mission believe that the Bible is God’s inspired and authoritative word; revealing that Jesus Christ is God’s son; that people are created in God’s image; that He created us to have eternal life through Jesus Christ; that although all people have sinned and come short of God’s glory; God has made salvation possible through the death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ; that repentance; faith; love and obedience are fitting responses to God’s initiative of grace towards us; that God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth; and that the Holy Spirit’s power is demonstrated in and through us for the accomplishment of Christ’s last commandment; “Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone” (Mark 16:15 NLT).

Based upon God’s word; who He is; and His initiative of salvation through the atoning work of Jesus (His death; burial; and resurrection); the following responses are strongly emphasized in YWAM:

Worship: We are called to praise and worship God alone.

Exodus 20:2-3; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; 2 Kings 17:35-39; 1 Chronicles 16:28-30; Nehemiah 8:2-10; Mark 12:29-30; Romans 15:5-13; Jude 24-25; Revelation 5:6-14; Revelation 19:5-8

Holiness: We are called to lead holy and righteous lives that exemplify the nature and character of God.

Leviticus 19:1-2; Psalms 51:7-11; Jeremiah 18:1-11; Ezekiel 20:10-12; Zechariah 13:9; Luke 1:68 75; Ephesians 4:21-32; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9; 21-25; 1 John 3:1-3

Witness: We are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him.

Psalms 78:1-7; Isaiah 40:3-11; Micah 4:1-2; Habakkuk 2:14; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 2:32-26; Acts 10:39-43; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18

Prayer: We are called to engage in intercessory prayer for the people and causes on God’s heart; including standing against evil in every form.

Genesis 18:20-33; Exodus 32:1-16; Judges 3:9; 15; 1 Kings 8:22-61; Ezekiel 22:30-31; Ezekiel 33:1-11; Matthew 6:5-15; Matthew 9:36-38; Ephesians 3:14 21; 2Thessalonians 3:1-5

Fellowship: We are called to commit to the Church in both its local nurturing expression and its mobile multiplying expression.

2 Chronicles 29:20-30; Psalms 22:25-28; Psalms 122:1-4; Joel 2:15 17; Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 2:44-47; Acts 4:32-35; 1 Corinthians 14:26-40; Ephesians 2:11-18; Hebrews 10:23-25

Service: We are called to contribute toward God’s kingdom purposes in every area of life.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Deuteronomy 24:17-22; Psalms 112:4-9; Proverbs 11:10-11; Zechariah 7:8-10; Matthew 5:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; Titus 3:4-8; Hebrews 13:15-16; James 2:14-26