The Invitation, October 10, 2024

This month please join YWAM as we pray for every college student and professor in the world to have the chance to encounter Jesus. The future will be shaped by these students’ ideas and practices as well as by the events that occur on their campuses. Pray also for YWAM Campus Ministries International, which comprises hundreds of YWAMers “reaching the nations by reaching the university.”

Please pray for students and professors right now and please also pray with us on October 10, our prayer day for the YWAM prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for a gospel witness in universities near your community. There are at least 25,000 universities worldwide. Nearly 14,000 are officially recognized universities in Europe, and about 6,000 are in Asia (source: National Center for Education Statistics). Pray for the gospel to be made known in the top-20 ranked university cities: London, Tokyo, Seoul, Melbourne, Munich, Paris, Sydney, Berlin, Zurich, Boston, Toronto, Vienna, Montreal, Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe, Singapore, Edinburgh, New York, Vancouver, Lausanne, and San Francisco (Source: ICEF Monitor). Pray for revivals on university campuses, as happened at Kentucky’s Asbury University last year.
2. Pray for students to know God and make Him known. As of July 2024, UNESCO estimated that there are 254 million students enrolled in universities worldwide, more than double the number of students enrolled 20 years ago. In a 2023 poll of over 90,000 students on 133 college campuses in the USA, 44 percent of all students were experiencing symptoms of depression, 37 percent had anxiety, and 15 percent considered suicide, the highest rate in 15 years (source: The Healthy Minds National Data Report, 2022-2023). Pray for the “Who I Am Weekend Intensive,” a YWAM Campus Ministries retreat that helps students overcome emotional and behavioural obstacles to identity and purpose.
3. Pray for the nations by praying for international students. When students are away from home, they need friendship and prayer. There are one million international students in the USA, including approximately 300,000 Chinese and 300,000 Indian scholars. Pray for YWAMers reaching internationals, like YWAM San Francisco’s ministry to 500 Chinese PhD scholars and their families at UC Berkeley and for YWAM’s Alpha Course for Internationals in Boston, where there are about 26,000 internationals at Northeastern University and Boston University. Pray international students would be empowered to reach their home countries with the gospel.
4. Pray for a new wave of YWAM workers. To date, participants at The Send gatherings (thesend.org) have made 22,623 commitments to help reach universities. Pray that they join or start new YWAM campus ministries, such as YWAM Potchefstroom’s (South Africa) Transformational Prayer, YWAM Philadelphia’s Prayer Stations at Temple University, or YWAM Madison’s Phos House ministry, which is a refuge for 14 students from six nations who need Christian community. Also, pray for laborers to join YWAM Puerto La Cruz (Venezuela) in this challenging time to assist with their RAICES seminars. Also pray for laborers to follow YWAM Toronto’s example, leading student outreaches and retreats. Pray for many more University Discipleship Courses with outreaches, internships, or fellowships that prepare students as witnesses for Christ in their sphere of influence. And pray for the next YWAM Campus Ministries International gathering in Thailand in November 2024.
5. Pray for former YWAMers studying in universities. Pray for their continued spiritual formation and commitment to Christ’s mission and that they study abroad as ambassadors for Christ. Pray that stories of faith and courage on campus would encourage a new generation to join Jesus’ mission.

Take Action

• Keep a prayer list of former YWAMers and others currently in university.
• Give hospitality to international students by providing transport, sharing meals, or offering language practice.
• Host a Who I Am Weekend Intensive for students in your community (ywamconverge.org).
• Pray on campus and post a video or blog about the prayer time (#PraytheCampus).

How We Prayed

June 2024: Pakistan

A participant wrote: “We…have responded to YWAM Pakistan through The Invitation as they pray, facing a mountain to move by their faith.”

Join The Invitation.

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, September 12, 2024

According to the International Labor Association, as many as 50 million people are victimized in slavery today, and 12 million are children. They are enslaved and trafficked for labor, sex, organ removal, or forced marriage. Human trafficking is the second most profitable organized crime in the world, generating around $236 billion annually. Many organizations, including YWAM, seek to rescue victims of trafficking, and to prevent their exploitation in the first place (Luke 4:18-21).

Please take a moment to pray about human trafficking right now, and also pray with us on the September 12 prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for more awareness of the realities of human trafficking and exploitation around the world. For example, buying a cheap tee-shirt may support a child-labor factory, and consuming pornography supports sexual exploitation. (See www.exoduscry.com to learn more.)
2. Pray for initiatives that inform and support people vulnerable to being trafficked. Awareness, education, resources, and support are needed in vulnerable communities.
3. Pray for effective outreach and intervention initiatives. For example, many YWAM teams have outreaches in red-light districts, at strip clubs, and farms. They also do online outreaches. Pray for their safety and discernment, and pray for those they encounter to find freedom.
4. Pray for the rehabilitation of those who have escaped exploitation and trafficking. Many trafficking survivors have mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, or borderline personality disorder. Also pray specifically for the YWAM-affiliated safe home, S-Cape, in Cape Town, South Africa.
5. Policy and research. Pray for brave and godly politicians to stand up for justice and say no to corruption and personal gain. A large policy initiative going on at the moment is regulating the porn industry in the United States and Europe. They are asking organizations addressing lawmakers and politicians to bring age-verification laws to porn websites in an attempt to protect children from porn exposure. Please pray for groundbreaking initiatives started by Christians to continue to flourish and make a radical impact on governments and media.

Take Action

1. Research what’s happening with human trafficking in your community, and support local ministries, initiatives, and nonprofits.
2. Pray for and support YWAM intervention and aftercare ministries: Beloved1 in Wylie, Texas, USA; S-Cape in Cape Town, South Africa; Unstoppable Love in Bali, Indonesia.
3. For a deep-dive into this topic, join Shine Seminar, a six-week annual course focused on sexual exploitation which equips people to work with those in the sex industry. Email shine@ywam.nl with questions.
4. On October 19, the A-21 Campaign hosts Walk for Freedom in cities around the world and has multiple prayer initiatives. You can register here for a Walk for Freedom near you.

Join The Invitation.

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, August 8, 2024.

YWAM Together Manila 2024 will be an epic time as our global community gathers before Jesus as one family. Already by the end of June, 150 nationalities had registered for Manila 2024, speaking more than 70 languages and coming from more than 500 YWAM locations. There is great historical significance in this YWAM family gathering. YWAM’s founder, Loren Cunningham, “graduated” to glory last October, leaving a huge spiritual inheritance for us and the whole body of Christ. It has been a tender time for us in YWAM and a key moment in our journey. We are in a season of transition, similar to that in the book of Joshua. The coordinators of this event sense God emphasizing the book of Joshua for YWAMers to reflect on, and in particular this verse: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5).

 Please take a moment to pray for YWAM Together Manila 2024 right now, and please also pray with us on the August 8 prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for each person and family coming, for release of provision, favour with visas, good health, safe travel, and protection.
2. Pray for our YWAM Philippines family and the wider Filipino body of Christ, that as hosts they would be deeply encouraged, strengthened and blessed through this global gathering in their nation.
3. Pray with us for a deep work of the Holy Spirit in our midst in Manila and consecration to the Lord, resulting in even greater depths of love and unity among us.
4. Pray for God to give a fresh revelation to each person attending, giving them refreshment, courage and understanding of the specific role and task that God has for them in seeing the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
5. Pray for the clear word of the Lord to come to us as the YWAM family as we move together into the future in deep unity and with clarity of vision together.

 Take Action

1. Register now and make plans to be there: https://www.yt2024.com.
2. Sponsor financially those who are coming or desire to come but do not have the resources (see website for details).
3. Send outreach teams to the Philippines to work with the body of Christ to reach the younger generation. Email missions@ywamph.com.

Global Prayer Initiative

Please continue praying with us in preparation for the YWAM global gathering in September in the Philippines. Here is the prayer video for this month: Y Global Prayer Initiative #9.

Join The Invitation.

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, July 11, 2024

As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11) draw near, YWAM’s teams in Paris ask for your prayers. Many YWAM teams will come to Paris to share the message of Jesus with visitors from many nations. YWAM missionaries in Paris report seeing more openness, salvations, healings, and fruitfulness in their city than ever before. According to one YWAMer, “Paris seems ready for an incredible move of God.” A century ago, during the previous 1924 Olympics in Paris, Olympian Eric Liddell chose not to compete in the 100-meter run because the race was scheduled on a Sunday. Although it was his strongest event, he held to his conviction. Many have been inspired by his devotion.

Please join us in prayer that people will remember moves of God at the 2024 Olympics, not just the medals. Please take a moment to pray right now and also join us on July 11 for our prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for gospel impact. Pray that we can share the message of Jesus with visitors from every nation represented in Paris during the Olympics and that the fruit may multiply in individuals’ home nations. Also pray that the Word bears fruit in many hearts and minds.
2. Pray for safety. Pray that no threats of terrorism would come to fruition and that no act of violence or destruction would take place. Also pray that every person would be safe during the games.
3. Pray for youth empowerment. Ask Jesus that during this time young people will boldly share the radical love of Jesus with others. Pray that youth would be on fire for the Lord and would have a growing passion for missions.
4. Pray for church unity and collaboration. Pray for greater unity among French and international churches, that they would work together in collaborative projects that serve the city of Paris and the nations with the love of Jesus.
5. Pray for city-wide impact. YWAM Paris Connect hopes to impact all areas of Parisian society strategically with the gospel of Jesus, promoting change and transformation through service and compassion.

Take Action

YWAM Paris Connect invites you to pray for the outreach every day of the Olympics. You can follow them on Instagram @jemparisconnect and @ywamparisconnect or visit their outreach website: www.ywamparisjetaime.com.

Global Prayer Initiative

Please continue praying with us in preparation for the YWAM global gathering in September in the Philippines. Here is the prayer video for this month: Y Global Prayer Initiative #8.

Join The Invitation.

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, June 13, 2024

YWAM in Pakistan, numbering more than 100 workers, brings discipleship to a persecuted church, and practical assistance to those struggling with poverty and natural disasters. They work in a country that is 96 percent Muslim, with the second highest population of Muslims in the world, after Indonesia.

Please take a moment to pray for Pakistan right now, and also pray with us on June 13, the prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for the church in Pakistan. Pray for provision: many members are very poor, holding jobs such as street sweepers or workers in brick factories. Pray for protection: many face discrimination, persecution, and the threat of legal action against them. Pray for multiplication: pray for the Lord to raise up believers to share the gospel and influence society.
2. Pray for ministry among the unreached. Joshua Project says there are 236 million unreached people in Pakistan. Pray for Bible translation. Pray for fruitful partnerships among the unreached.
3. Pray for YWAM’s Discipleship Training School. Churches have been planted in different parts of the country through Discipleship Training School (DTS) graduates and YWAM staff. Through DTS, YWAM Pakistan hopes to train and equip 30 Pakistani young men and women from across the country each year. They also hope to add DTS programs with a special focus, such as the Tribal DTS.
4. Pray for YWAM’s training and mercy ministry. Currently YWAM Pakistan is involved in community development, sewing centers, elementary schools, women’s seminars, outreaches, sports ministry, and children’s ministry.They also currently run a School of Worship and hope to add the School of Biblical Studies, School of Frontier Mission, and other training programs. Prayer and financial support are needed.

Take Action

If you would like to support YWAM Pakistan or get involved with them, you can reach them at pakistan@ywam.org.

Global Prayer Initiative

Please continue praying with us in preparation for the YWAM global gathering in September in the Philippines. Here is the prayer video for this month: Y Global Prayer Initiative #7.

How We Prayed

Sri Lanka (April, 2024)

YWAM in Madison, USA, formed small prayer groups to pray for Sri Lanka. They sensed that Christians would be reconcilers in that nation: “You will be known by your love for one another.”

Join The Invitation

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.