Who Is YWAM?

YWAM (Youth With A Mission) is an international movement of Christians working to help make a difference in a needy world. Founded in 1960, it is now one of the largest interdenominational and international Christian ministries, with about 18,000 volunteer staff (and thousands more affiliated workers) based in over 800 locations in over 135 countries. In addition, tens of thousands more people from scores of nations are involved on a short-term basis each year.

Coming from many different backgrounds and working in a wide range of situations, YWAMers are united in their desire to be part of changing people's lives for the better. They have responded to the "Great Commission" - Jesus' command to His disciples to go into all the world and tell the Good News. They believe the gospel of Jesus is not just about words, but also actions. So they share their faith through many different kinds of practical help--from agricultural training to running medical clinics--as well as telling about the Christian beliefs that inspire their actions.

There are three strands of ministry weaving throughout all that YWAM does:

Training and Education aims to better equip Christians to serve others in everything from agriculture and health care, to drug rehabilitation and biblical counseling. Through the mission's degree-granting University of the Nations staff can study in specialized areas such as science and technology, communications, the humanities, and Christian ministry.DTS is the first step to anything else in YWAM followed by 2nd level schools such as the School of Evangelism, School of Frontier Missions, the BIblical Course and many more......

Mercy Ministry meets some of the practical and physical needs of over 400,000 people annually. Caring for street children in South America; aiding in the recovery of drug addicts in North America and Western Europe; feeding and housing refugees and women in need in Africa and Asia, operating ocean-traversing ships demonstrating and declaring the Good News practically and verbally, are just some of the ways in which helping hands are extended. Check out related sites at Mercy Ministry International Mercy Ships Marine Reach UN statistics

Evangelism is an integral part of both training and mercy ministries, but also an emphasis of its own. Drama, music, performing arts and sports camps are among the creative tools that YWAM staff use to share their faith in a way that makes sense to their audience--whether it be teenagers, elderly refugees, or an unreached people group. YWAM also engages in church planting, in coordination with churches and denominations, or on its own among people groups who don't have churches among them yet. Check out related sites at YWAM Church Planting Coaches Create International YWAM Frontier Missions

The basic YWAM school that is a requirement for applying as YWAM staff, and serves as a prerequisite to all other training programs, is called Discipleship Training School (DTS).

Each year some 10,000 students follow one or more of several hundred schools--in about 250 different locations. Most YWAM schools combine classroom teaching with practical service application.

What does YWAM do?

Youth With A Mission's activities span the globe and the dictionary. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe everything from accountancy spreadsheets to zoom lenses finds its place in the work of taking the good news to the world--by word and deed. While many staff continue to work in remote places that are traditionally seen as "missionary fields," a large number are also focusing on the world's needy, vast urban centers. Although varying widely, all YWAM projects and events help form one of the three main strands which weave together throughout the mission: Training, Mercy Ministries and Evangelism