YWAM News that Bill finds Interesting » Outreach

YWAM Calgary Team in Zambia

Bill Hutchison — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:21:44 +0000

Although my job has me tied in with the YWAM International Chairman’s Team in Harpenden, UK I also connect with the local Youth With A Mission Centre here in Calgary. At the moment they have brought a team to Zambia from Calgary.

Since the team have been in Zambia they have:

Machetti`ed the clearing for the medical clinic. It was hard work clearing the land but very satisfying.
Been busy helping Vinjelu and Kathryn finish building their home.
Visited a the rural village to pray for the people and learn about Zambian culture.
Hosted two afternoons of the Cherish girls program where girls come for an afternoon of love, encouragement and fun times.
Visited a Vineyard house church with the vision to minister to community in creative ways and bringing the kingdom to West Lusaka.

The YWAM community the Calgary team is staying with has 25 people, which includes the staff and students. It’s been a wonderful cultural exchange and sharing of work duties, food and laughter. They are enjoying n^shima, which is like corn based thick potatoes which is eaten with their fingers.

The YWAM centre is a very entrepreneurial centre… there are the ladies who are being taught to sew, a fellow making jewellery and hiring people to build, teaching a few trades along the way… as Vinjelu explained, “Zambians are creative and make what they need as best they can, with the supplies that are here.’”.

There have been many God encounters as they have shared lives with the people there, and everyone is very excited to see what is next. The team has been struck by the perseverance and joy of the people. Life is simple, yet full, and the team is realising the “necessities” of life like internet, phones, and television really aren’t as important as they thought.

The medical clinic that the team is clearing land for is to serve a community in desperate need for additional help with HIV treatment, ante-natal care and nutrition. There are funds and people to continue the work, and there will always be need to keep it going.

There are many stories of how kids cannot go to school and how food is not available as there is no money. The team is working to find a way they can continue to support the vision of this centre to care for those in need and to bring the love of God people.

The team is asking for continued prayer.

For good health, safety, following God`s will in the many areas they can serve
That Vinj and Kathryn could move into their home soon
Health for Vinj and Kathryn’s family
Continued good connections with the YWAM staff and students

Next week will be spent clearing more of the land for the medical clinic and finishing the house. They will also be connecting in the village and experiencing Zambian dancing in the community church times.

YWAM Outreach at the Festival of Life in Lebanon

Bill Hutchison — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:51:00 +0000

YWAM Lebanon participated in the "Festival of Life" on the 26th of June at Lebanon’s Monument Park

The Festival of Live was put on by the Lebanon Pastors Prayer Network. Between 75,000 and 100,000 pounds of free groceries and health-care products are estimated to have been distributed at the event.

YWAM was one of many organisations to participate in the festival. Some of the other organisations included Youth for Christ, Teen Challenge, Career Link, YMCA, and many more.

The goal of the event was to minister to the “Whole Person” and to show the people Jesus and help with other areas of need.

You can read more about the festival and the YWAM Outreach here, and you can find out more about YWAM Lebanon here.

YWAM Next Wave Refit Complete, Sicily Evangelism Outreach has Begun

Bill Hutchison — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:15:00 +0000

The YWAM Ship the s/y Next Wave has completed its recent refit.

During the refit the ship was placed in dry dock to enable the cleaning and repainting the hull, anchor and chains. They also did major work on the engine room, inspections on the generators, recertification of all safety devices and some very heavy duty cleaning jobs.

Not everything was completed and they are having to plan for a further more extensive refit period in the next year to finish items that were postponed and upgrades that had to be cancelled during this last refit.

Now that the refit of the vessel is complete the Marine Reach team has started on their evangelism tour of Sicily, Italy. They are currently hosting two DTS teams, one from Kings Lodge in the UK and the other from Quebec in Canada.

You can find out more about Marine Reach and their ministry on their web-site, www.marinereachministries.com.

YWAM World Cup Outreach

Bill Hutchison — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:57:08 +0000

YWAM Kickoff 2010 is the upcoming outreach for the Football (soccer) world cup coming up in June and July of 2010 in South Africa.

Football (soccer) has already been declared the official sport of YWAM, so there is much anticipation for the world cup. It’s estimated that about 350,000 soccer fans will be visiting South Africa during the world cup, with literally billions of people expected to tune in to watch it on television.

YWAM still has room for volunteers in the areas of fundraising, publicity, web-design, administration, hospitality and outreach / evangelism teams. The plan is to have YWAM teams in each of the host cities for the world cup, with a focus on outreaching to the visitors and locals during the world cup.

If you aren’t excited about it yet, then check out this video:

Unfortunately my mother country of Canada did not make the World Cup (no real surprise), but my adopted country of Australia did make it. So our family will no doubt be following the Socceroos during the tournament. It’s almost enough to make me want to get cable …

You can find out how to get involved in the YWAM World Cup Outreach here.

Marine Reach Ship s/y Next Wave will Tour Sicily, Italy in May to July 2010

Bill Hutchison — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:16:59 +0000

On the request of several local churches in Sicily, Italy the s/y Next Wave, a Marine Reach YWAM Training Vessel, will be carrying out an evangelistic tour of all nine states in Sicily. The tour will be happening from the 27th of May to around the 15th of July 2010.

The tour will also be part of helping to re-establish YWAM Italy. Some of the events will be televised in Italy and it is hoped that it will encourage young people in Italy to find out more about YWAM and to look at participating in a YWAM DTS (Discipleship Training School).

As part of the evangelistic tour YWAM Marine Reach is looking for individuals as well as YWAM DTS outreach teams to participate in this outreach opportunity.

You can find out more about the outreach opportunity and the YWAM Next Wave Sicily Tour here.

YWAM Australia Schoolies Outreach

Bill Hutchison — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:11:42 +0000

Like Spring break in the USA Schoolies Week in Australia is when year 12 graduates get together for about two week to party. This takes place around end of November and the beginning of December. I’ve been down to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia on a Discipleship Training School outreach during schoolies week and it’s a pretty intense time. There is a lot of opportunity and need for outreach and love to be shown to these kids who are there.

Many churches and organizations in Australia get together during this time to try to make schoolies week a better time for the kids attending. YWAM regularly participates in schoolies week to help try to make a difference in these kid’s lives. Where I used to work at Reef to Outback the Discipleship Training School would run outreaches to Magnetic Island (off the coast of Townsville), quite often partnering with other church ministries and community organisations.

There are plenty of opportunities for people to participate on outreach during schoolies week. One of the busiest places in Australia for Schoolies week is the Gold Coast, in South East Queensland. About 60,000 17 and 18 year olds pack the area during this time.

You can find out more about the YWAM outreach to schoolies on the Gold Coast, and how you, your YWAM centre or church can participate, on their web-site here.

YWAM Team Helps Restore Neighbourhood House in Abilene, Texas

Bill Hutchison — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:23:40 +0000

A team of about 35 YWAM Staff and Students from Youth With A Mission Tyler, Texas were part of a team of volunteers renovating a house in Abilene, Texas that is set to become a centre for neighbourhood outreach.

The was was originally deeded to the First United Methodist Church for their Good Shepherd Healing Ministries. The church is planning to use the house as a focal point of outreach into the neighbourhood. Once the house is completed they are planning to host what is essentially a block party for the neighbours to help get to know them. The house will host many ministry activities, including after-school activities for kids and possibly family events in the evenings.

They are hoping to open the house before the end of the year or earlier.

You can read more about the neighbourhood house and the YWAM involvement to get it restored here.

No related posts.

Five Star Streets and Saving Sparrow Rock Out in Calgary, Canada

Bill Hutchison — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:28:51 +0000

Tonight we had a chance to catch up with some good friends and some good music here in Calgary. Five Star Streets and Saving Sparrow from Reef to Outback in Townsville, Australia were in Calgary as part of their Canadian and American tour.

Here in Calgary they were a part of a local music festival, played at a pub last night and at a local church tonight. From what they’ve said it’s been a great experience so far, but you can see for yourself in this video …

I am a bit worried about turning my kids into YWAM Band groupies though. My son purchased CDs from both of the bands and then went around and got them signed by most of the band members.

You can find out more about Five Star Street and Saving Sparrow, including dates for the rest of their North American Tour, here.

YWAM Ministry in Winnipeg Canada Changes Direction

The Great Gospel Crusade in Nyadri, Uganda

Bill Hutchison — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:28:09 +0000

A YWAM Team had the amazing opportunity to participate in “The Great Gospel Crusade” in the town of Nyadri in the West Nile district of Uganda.

The crusade went for four days and included a lot of preaching, teaching, worship, dancing, prayer and practical ministry. A team from the Colorado Springs YWAM base was working with the staff at YWAM Arua when they heard about the crusade. The team was given chances to preach, share their testimonies and lead worship.

During the crusade there were some amazing stories of healing and faith. Many people came to know Jesus personally and others were healed of long term physical and mental illnesses.

You can read more about The Great Gospel Crusade and some of the stories around it here.

No related posts.

Girl Rescued from Brothel by YWAM Team in India

Bill Hutchison — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:10:56 +0000

An eleven year old orphan girl was recently rescued by a YWAM DTS outreach team in Pune, India. The girls mother had been a prostitute and had died, leaving the girl at the brothel with the other women.

The girl, Monica, is now living at a children’s home in Pune. At the same time as Monica was rescued from the brothel a 3-year old boy also left the brothel with the team to live in the children’s home.

Usually if a child is left alone at a brothel they are sold for the day or for the rest of their lives. For these two children to be rescued from the brothel is a real miracle and will give the children a much better chance at life.

You can read the full story here.

YWAM Team Helps Restore Neighbourhood House in Abilene, Texas