All posts by Bill Hutchison

Pray for the Paris Olympic Outreach

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.

Topic suggested by YWAM Paris Connect, written by Steph Gomez in Paris. Photo of a YWAM outreach event in Paris.

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.

Listen to the Letter
  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.

Pray for Pakistan

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.

Topic suggested by N., and written by J., both in Pakistan. Photo of participants in YWAM Pakistan’s Discipleship Training School praying for the country. Photo by YWAM Pakistan.

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.

Listen to the Letter
  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.

Praises from the Legacy Tour

The Invitation, May 9, 2024

Thank you, YWAM Global Family, for your prayers for Darlene Cunningham and the first 2024 Cunningham Legacy Tour. Darlene and team (Giacomo Coghi, Garth Gustafson, David Hamilton and others) have completed the final leg of the Americas Tour, where several thousand YWAM leaders and staff gathered at the events in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, USA and Brazil. Dar shares that these times with the YWAM family have far exceeded her hopes and expectations as each gathering celebrated Loren’s life and reflected on YWAM’s true leader, Jesus. There have been amazing moves of God’s Spirit among those who attended, and great excitement and anticipation for the bright future God has for YWAM.

Topic suggested by Garth Gustafson in Cambodia and written by Dawn Gauslin in Hawaii.

Please take a moment right now to pray for Darlene and the Legacy Tour, and please also pray with us on May 9, the prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

Listen to the Letter
  1. The first prayer point is praise and thanksgiving! As you may know, Darlene was quite ill for several months following Loren’s graduation. Barely out of the woods from pneumonia–the final ailment that threatened to keep her home–she set out on this Legacy Tour in faith that God would heal and energize her. Thanks to your prayers and His response, she has been wonderfully sustained “on the road,” as she seeks to do the things God asks her to do, and take the rest she needs, leaving some parts for other team members to do. Pray for continued strength and wisdom for Darlene.
  2. Upcoming Cunningham Legacy events are posted on LorenCunningham.com in the “New” section. 2024 includes Central Asia, Norway, Mongolia, South Korea, South Africa, Nigeria and New Zealand. More events are shaping up for 2025. Please pray for each of these events, for fresh words of the Lord to emerge for the thriving future God has for YWAM and for new young leaders to be called and say “Yes.”
  3. Continue to pray for those impacted by the Tanzania tragedy and the fatal car crash last year in Brazil. Honoring these fallen heroes has been a focus of each Legacy Event, sending out a “Macedonian Call” for others to rise up and fill the space their departures created. Pray that God will accomplish the victory He has in His heart to do, to redeem what the enemy intended for evil and defeat.

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 #6.

Global Prayer Initiative

In order to prepare for the YWAM Together meeting in September in the Philippines, please watch this video April’s Update and pray with us.

Pray for Sri Lanka

The Invitation, April 11th, 2024

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island nation just off the southern tip of India whose 22 million inhabitants have been through a lot: decades of ethnic tension and civil war, a devastating tsunami, Islamist terror attacks in 2020, and a major economic and political crisis in 2022. The people of Sri Lanka need your prayer and support! Please take a moment to pray for Sri Lanka right now, and please also join us on the April 11th prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

Topic suggested and written by Eva Rasiah in Sri Lanka. Photo of a YWAM event in a marginalized tea harvester community. Photo by YWAM Sri Lanka.
Listen to the Letter
  1. Pray for the many families, widows and orphans in Sri Lanka who suffer in severe poverty. They live in underserved neighborhoods and have only dirty well water to drink. Without sufficient schooling, thousands of children face a difficult future. Pray for YWAM workers and other Christians around the island to join hands to meet the physical, educational and spiritual needs of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims.
  2. Pray for more drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and facilities, especially in the Tamil-speaking parts of the country. Among young Sri Lankans alcoholism and drug addiction are widespread, resulting in an increase of crime and suicide.
  3. Pray for ministries to train counselors. Often Sri Lankans who suffer the affects of domestic violence or child abuse cannot get mental health services. Please pray for Christian ministries that will train believers and social workers to counsel effectively and to promote inner healing.
  4. Pray for national reconciliation. Though the civil war ended 15 years ago, tensions and mistrust remain among the ethnic groups of Sri Lanka. Join us in prayer for deeper reconciliation, mutual understanding, justice and equality among the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka.  
  5. Please pray for YWAM in Sri Lanka to take root, grow and bear fruit that will give glory to our Father in heaven. Please pray for YWAM to launch training programs such as schools of counseling, School of Biblical Studies, and School of Worship. Pray for young people to bring light into every sphere of society. Also pray for the church of Jesus Christ to grow and shine in this nation.

Take Action

If you are passionate about drug rehabilitation, counseling or training, come and join the YWAM Sri Lanka team. If you would like to bring an outreach team, YWAM Sri Lanka will help you figure out the details. You can contact them at ywamtrinco@yahoo.com.

Global Prayer Initiative

In order to prepare for the YWAM Together meeting in September in the Philippines, please watch this video April’s Update and pray with us.

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.

Pray for Ministries to the Deaf

The Invitation, March 14th, 2024

According to YWAM’s Deaf World ministry, the 70 million Deaf individuals worldwide constitute one of the largest unreached people groups. They form unique cultures, which YWAM Deaf World recognizes by capitalizing the word “Deaf.” There are more than 300 sign languages worldwide, and only one of those has a complete video Bible translation. According to YWAM Deaf World, only an estimated two percent of the Deaf have embraced Christianity. Please take a moment right now to pray for the Deaf, and please also pray with us on March 14th, the prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

Topic suggested by a participant in The Invitation in Liberia; written by Carole McClelland in Jamaica. Photo of a Nepali man signing the word “Jesus.” Photo from YWAM Deaf World.
Listen to the Letter
  1. Pray for the ongoing work of Bible sign language translation. The American Sign Language Version is the only complete Bible available in video format. There are about 80 translation projects in different stages of development all over the world. More people passionate about the Bible and highly skilled in those sign languages are needed.
  2. Pray for YWAM Deaf World, a new ministry and resource to expand YWAM Deaf ministries worldwide. The purpose is to raise up the Deaf and those fluent in sign language to become missionaries by equipping them for success to reach Deaf people groups worldwide. Pray for more staff and finances to provide training and support to those in YWAM locations working with the Deaf and those wanting to get started.
  3. Pray for the multiplication of Deaf Discipleship Training School students and staff around the world. The most effective way to reach the Deaf world is by sending Deaf missionaries as passionate lovers of Jesus, but they first need to be ignited, discipled, and supported. We need more fluent signers to train more leaders.
  4. Pray for unity and collaboration among Christian organizations working to reach the Deaf. The amount of collaboration is growing fast. The different approaches, styles, and strategies among organizations can make partnerships challenging, but the Holy Spirit is breaking down barriers and making a way.

Take Action

To get involved in working with the Deaf through YWAM, visit ywamdeafworld.org. For information on sign-language Bible translation, go to deafbiblesociety.com.

Global Prayer Initiative

In order to prepare for the YWAM Together meeting in September in the Philippines, we are called to a three-day fast, March 26-28. Please watch these videos: Y Global Prayer Initiative #3 (Garth, Paul D & Rachel D), and  Y Global Prayer Initiative #4 (Sun Awh & Josh Cole).

How We Prayer

January, 2024: Oral Bible Translation

“Greetings from Zambia. I would like to join as a Bible translator in Zambia. I have a passion for translation. I hope to hear from you soon” (L.M.).

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.