founder - loren cunningham YWAM began its early days in 1960, in a bedroom-office in California. Today Loren and his wife Darlene head up this organization from their home in Hawaii. It has been an amazing experience. Like ‘Topsy’ it just growed and growed! Loren and Darlene keep up a strenuous schedule of travel and to date Loren has visited every country except Antarctica! He continues to proclaim the gospel, to encourage fellow ywamers and, by example, pursue the Great Commission. Darlene is frequently occupied leading schools. Darlene and Loren work as a team each being gifted with their own ministries. These two dedicated people have the same dynamic as the day they set out on this incredible journey.
about ywam 11,000 staff currently operate in more than 900 locations in over 140 countries. Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international and energetic movement of Christians whose passion is to know God and to make Him known. In 1960, the main focus was to encourage youth into short-term mission work, giving them opportunities to reach out in Jesus' name. Today, our focus is still on youth, but we also involve people of every age, working as teams, pioneering new ideas in new countries, which fits into the three main areas of our ministries; evangelism, training and mercy ministry. We encourage cross-cultural understanding and make the gospel as fresh and relevant as possible. To learn more about YWAM International go to www.ywam.org.
"YWAM stands for Youth With A Mission. When I'm in conversation with people who are unfamiliar with YWAM, I like to actually use the whole name, 'Youth With A Mission,' because I love to see their reaction to those words used together. I think most people find those words just a little dangerous or perhaps exciting. Maybe they think it's not such a good thing for youth to have 'A Mission.' And maybe it would be better if it were 'People' with a mission as 'Youth' are impulsive and hard to control. If they get a 'Mission,' why, they might just change everything! Exactly". - Tre Sheppard, YWAM staff
about uofn YWAM offers training programs in over 300 operating locations in 110 nations. YWAM's global university is called the University of the Nations (UofN). Each of the UofN locations is committed to discipling men and women, while equipping them with the professional skills necessary to serve and reach the world for Christ.
The UofN offers training through studies in Arts, Christian Ministries, Communications, Counseling & Health Care, Education, Humanities & International Studies, and Science & Technology. The university seeks to combine traditional classroom learning with a discipleship atmosphere and practical mission-field experience. Many schools are bilingual. While there are seven main campuses internationally, hundreds of individual YWAM locations host UofN schools.
To apply for a 2nd level UofN course, you must first complete the Discipleship Training School (DTS) and then search online for YWAM training programs that interest you or read the UofN catalog online at www.uofn.edu.
