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50 Years
Since its founding in 1960 by Loren Cunningham, Youth With A Mission has seen thousands of people get involved in the fulfillment of Christ’s commandment:



"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature"



THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS MISSION

Youth With A Mission is an International and interdenominational Christian organization whose primary objective is to train, equip and mobilize as many as possible to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the World and to offer physical, material and psychological help to anyone in need.

Each year around 32,000 volunteers get involved in YWAM in short-term projects inspired by the global vision and initiative and at the same time, the willingness to embrace the cooperation and unity with other Christians in order to hear from God. Around 16,000 fulltime workers are working with YWAM in more than 630 centers, in around 150 countries.

In the last 40 years, YWAM has mobilized an innumerable number of Christians around the world. YWAM’s mission is that people would achieve a productive life of spiritual, mental, social, emotional and physical fullness.

To reach its objectives, the organization acts by means of:


Evangelism

YWAM Works sharing God’s message in cities, in university campus sites, handing out free Bibles in homes, preaching in international sports events and sharing door to door in an African village, or in an Asian town. YWAM’s teams can be small or large, mobile or stable, short- or long-term volunteers. Each team works together with other YWAM centers, with the national and provincial churches in each country and with other missionary organizations and institutions.



Training

YWAM has developed schools with 5 month durations destined to offer training in diverse disciplines. In specific countries it offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees that are accredited by the University of the Nations.




Mercy Ministries

YWAM is working so that each and every human being may enjoy their individual rights and may have their basic needs fulfilled: food, water, clothing, a roof over their head, and hygiene and healthcare services. The goal is to show God’s love through practical help towards the poor and needy anywhere in the world. This includes anything from agricultural training programs, nutrition services, vocational services, construction and maintenance, as well as medical care teams, counseling teams, vocational rehabilitation, language classes and work with refugee camps.

Organizational Structure

Each of its centers develops independent action strategies. The function, organization, financial, administrative and legal development of each center is autonomous and independent, on one hand pertaining to the political, social and economic aspects of each country and responding to the specific social needs of its surroundings. In Argentina, Youth With A Mission constitutes a non-profit Civil Association.

Work with Churches

YWAM Works “hand in hand” with national and local churches in each country. Each and every volunteer in YWAM is an active member in his or her church and the missionaries, short- or long-term, are sent to the mission field by their respective churches.

Economic/Financial Area

YWAM is a Non-profit International Christian Organization. Those working directly with the organization work as volunteers and do not receive financial payment from the organization. The Mission’s Structure.

The Mission's Structure

YWAM is an International movement of Christians from many denominations, dedicated to personally present Jesus Christ to this generation. We are committed to mobilize as many people as possible to help out in this task, and to train and equip believers in order to do their part in the fulfilling of the Great Commission. As Christians, we have been called to love, worship and obey our Lord, to love and serve his body (the church) and to present the complete gospel to the whole world.

We, the member of YWAM, believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and that He created us to have eternal life through Jesus Christ. All men have sinned and have been deprived of the glory of God; He made salvation possible by way of the death of Jesus on the cross. We believe that God desires that each human being may be saved and come into the knowledge of the Truth; we also believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is shown through us for the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s mandate:


“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”
(Mark 16:15).




The University of the Nations

Created with a unique International emphasis and oriented toward missions, the University of the Nations equips men and women, inspiring them to use the giftings and abilities that God has given them to communicate the Good News to all nations. It is an international university with centers in more than 70 countries.

It offers courses in the following faculties:




The YWAM centers throughout the world provide places and resources for all the schools of the University of the Nations.




The Foundational Values of Youth With A Mission

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) affirms the Bible as the authoritative word of God and, with the Holy Spirit's inspiration, the absolute reference point for every aspect of life and ministry. Based upon God's word, who He is, and His initiative of salvation, the following responses are strongly emphasized in YWAM:


The Foundational Values of Youth With A Mission are the expression of our basic beliefs coupled with specific directives given by God since YWAM's beginning in 1960. They are recorded here in order to pass on to successive generations that which God has emphasized to us. These shared beliefs and values are the guiding principles for both the past and future growth of our mission. Some are common to all Christians everywhere; others are distinctive to Youth With A Mission. The combination of these beliefs and values make up the unique family characteristics of YWAM--our "DNA." They are values we hold in high regard which determine who we are, how we live and how we make decisions.

1. Know God
2. Make God Know
3. Hear God's Voice
4. Practice Worship and Intercessory Prayer
5. Be Visionary
6. Champion Young People
7. Be Broad-Structure and Descentralized
8. Be Internatinal and Interdenominational
9. Have a Biblical Worldview
10. Function in Teams
11. Exhibit Servant Leadership
12. Do First, Then Teach
13. Be Relationship-Oriented
14. Value the Individual
15. Value Families
16. Rely on Relaionship-Based Support
17. Practice Hospitality


1. Know God

YWAM is committed to know God, His nature, His character and His ways. We seek to reflect who He is in every aspect of our lives and ministry. The automatic overflow of knowing and enjoying fellowship with God is a desire to share Him with others.

2. Make God Know

YWAM is called to make God known throughout the whole world, and into every arena of society through evangelism, training and mercy ministries. We believe that salvation of souls should result in transformation of societies, thus obeying Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations.

3. Hear God's Voice

YWAM is committed to creating with God through listening to Him, praying His prayers and obeying His commands in matters great and small. We are dependent upon hearing His voice as individuals, together in team contexts and in larger corporate gatherings. This is an integral part of our process for decision making.

4. Practice Worship and Intercessory Prayer

YWAM is dedicated to worship Jesus and engage in intercessory prayer as integral aspects of daily life. We also recognize the intent of Satan to destroy the work of God and we call upon God's power and the Holy Spirit to overcome his strategies in the lives of individuals and in the affairs of nations.

5. Be Visionary

YWAM is called to be visionary, continually receiving, nurturing and releasing fresh vision from God. We support the pioneering of new ministries and methods, always willing to be radical in order to be relevant to every generation, people group, and sphere of society. We believe that the apostolic call of YWAM requires the integration of spiritual eldership, freedom in the Spirit and relationship, centered on the Word of God.

6. Champion Young People

YWAM is called to champion youth. We believe God has gifted and called young people to spearhead vision and ministry. We are committed to value them, trust them, train them, support them, make space for them and release them. They are not only the Church of the future; they are the Church of today. We commit to follow where they lead, in the will of God.

7. Be Broad-Structure and Descentralized

YWAM is broad-structured and diverse, yet integrated. We are a global family of ministries held together by shared purpose, vision, values and relationship. We believe that structures should serve the people and the purposes of God. Every ministry at every level has the privilege and responsibility of accountability to a circle of elders, with overall international accountability to the YWAM Global Leadership Team.

8. Be Internatinal and Interdenominational

YWAM is international and interdenominational in its global scope as well as its local constituency. We believe that ethnic, linguistic and denominational diversity, along with redeemed aspects of culture, are positive factors that contribute to the health and growth of the mission.

9. Have a Biblical Worldview

YWAM is called to a Biblical worldview. We believe that the Bible makes a clear division between good and evil; right and wrong. The practical dimensions of life are no less spiritual than the ministry expressions. Everything done in obedience to God is spiritual. We seek to honor God with all that we do, equipping and mobilizing men and women of God to take roles of service and influence in every arena of society.

10. Function in Teams

YWAM is called to function in teams in all aspects of ministry and leadership. We believe that a combination of complementary gifts, callings, perspectives, ministries and generations working together in unity at all levels of our mission provides wisdom and safety . Seeking God's will and making decisions in a team context allows accountability and contributes to greater relationship, motivation, responsibility and ownership of the vision.

11. Exhibit Servant Leadership

YWAM is called to servant leadership as a lifestyle, rather than a leadership hierarchy. A servant leader is one who honors the gifts and callings of those under his/her care and guards their rights and privileges. Just as Jesus served His disciples, we stress the importance of those with leadership responsibilities serving those whom they lead.

12. Do First, Then Teach

YWAM is committed to doing first, then teaching. We believe that firsthand experience gives authority to our words. Godly character and a call from God are more important than an individual's gifts, abilities and expertise.

13. Be Relationship-Oriented

YWAM is dedicated to being relationship-oriented in our living and working together. We desire to be united through lives of holiness, mutual support, transparency, humility, and open communication, rather than a dependence on structures or rules.

14. Value the Individual

YWAM is called to value each individual. We believe in equal opportunity and justice for all. Created in the image of God, people of all nationalities, ages and functions have distinctive contributions and callings. We are committed to honoring God-given leadership and ministry gifts in both men and women.

15. Value Families

YWAM affirms the importance of families serving God together in missions, not just the father and/or mother. We encourage the development of strong and healthy family units, with each member sharing the call to missions and contributing their gifts in unique and complementary ways.

16. Rely on Relaionship-Based Support

YWAM is called to a relationship-based support system, depending upon God and His people for financial provision, both corporately and individually. We believe that relationship-based support promotes responsibility, accountability, communication, and mutual prayer. It involves the donor as a partner in ministry. As God and others have been generous toward us, so we desire to be generous. YWAMers give themselves, their time and talents to God through the mission with no expectation of remuneration.

17. Practice Hospitality

YWAM affirms the ministry of hospitality as an expression of God's character and the value of people. We believe it is important to open our hearts, homes and campuses to serve and honor one another, our guests and the poor and needy, not as acts of social protocol, but as expressions of generosity.



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