Our international YWAM gatherings have always been times of seeking God’s face, hearing fresh words from Him, allowing our hearts to encounter Him, renewing and establishing friendships and gaining new vision for our individual and corporate roles in discipling nations. Repeatedly the Lord has challenged our hearts and led us corporately to covenant with Him on issues on His heart when we have gathered before Him. Over the last two years in particular, these events have gathered momentum and brought us together to new places in Him.
Heading to the YWAM Together gathering in Kansas City in September we sense many streams are converging. Representatives of the whole tribe of YWAM, YWAM alumni, and partners in prayer and mission all will come together to seek the Lord and His global purposes for us. They will meet September 4-10 (ywamkc2016.org). This will indeed be a holy convocation if we are humble and seek His face.
To that end, whether you are able to attend or not, we invite you to join us in focused prayer leading up to and during the gathering.
We invite you to pray for:
1) Intense Presence of God
In 2014 at a YWAM leadership gathering in Singapore, participants sensed God speaking about seeking God and His presence above all else.
Pray:
That this will be a time when God deals with His people and that we may have revelation and grace to know how to live godly lives in a post-modern world with a clear conscience (2 Peter 1:3-8).
That the entire gathering will be marked by God’s presence, and that we will hear the word of the Lord, especially as we face sobering challenges of discipling the nations in the critical times we live in.
That prophetic discernment will be clear leading up to and during the event.
That God would have His way among us. Pray that the event will be well-planned, but that we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He wants to redirect us or change the order of the agenda.
2) YWAM Family
Pray:
That YWAMers will fully recognize the value of maintaining relationship and partnering with their alumni, the ones who are currently active in the discipling of nations in all seven spheres. (For more information on spheres of society, go to www.call2all.org/Groups/1000090335/call2All/2012/About/Spheres/Spheres.aspx.)
That YWAM staff and YWAM associates will be “family” as we reach and disciple the nations and take the Kingdom into the spheres.
That the missions movement and the prayer movement will connect and synchronise more than ever.
3) Spheres
Pray:
For revelation, insight and unity as sphere groups come together.
That we will grow in our understanding of the power of influence and authority given to the spheres of society.
That participants will receive greater clarity in their roles in various spheres.
That our appreciation of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit would grow as we apply God’s Word to the whole of life.
4) Delegates
Pray:
For a sense of family and of belonging—for all nations and all generations.
For preparation of hearts. For a heart of humility, prayer, fear of the Lord, and a willingness to change where necessary.
For grace and unity as many expressions of delegates working in prayer, missions, business, government, and education converge.
For those who are unable to attend to still to be able to connect through prayer, friendship and watching the event on live stream.
For safety in travel arrangements, and for visas for those who need them.
That all would encounter the Lord and many would receive greater clarity for God’s call on their lives.
For the full complement of delegates to be released.
For children and teenagers to be transformed through the children’s program.
5) Leadership
Pray:
For unity in the event eldership (Founders’ Circle members, plenary speakers, conveners).
For guidance for the conveners of various spheres and breakout sessions.
Pray for David Hamilton and others who are preparing resources.
6) Logistics
Pray:
For the Kansas City team as they host and prepare for us—especially Mark and Karen Anderson and Barb Livingston as they coordinate logistics.
For teams going to Kansas City to assist in running the event, pray for grace, energy, smooth communication, joy and a heart to serve.
Pray for the full release of resources—finances, equipment, hospitality.
Take Action:
To register for YWAM Together, or to watch the live streaming, go to ywamkc2016.org.
How We Prayed:
Refugees – July 14, 2016:
One YWAM team member had just returned from ministering at the border of Macedonia and Thessaloniki, Greece serving Syrian, Iraqi, Yazidi and Kurdish refugees and encouraged readers on Facebook to pray for and serve refugees.
The following YWAM locations reported that they prayed for refugees: Minneapolis, USA; South Korea; Hong Kong; Buka Island, Papua New Guinea; Lapu-Lapu City Cebu, Philippines; Quezon City, Philippines; Las Vegas, NV USA; Papua New Guinea; Pernambuco, Brazil; Greenville, SC USA; Tanzania; Nigeria; Germany; Redding, CA USA; Cody, WY USA; Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil; Bass Lake, Gowen, MI USA; and Ceará,
Upcoming topics for The Invitation:
September 8 – Universities
October 13 – A Year of Answered Prayer
Don’t Miss The Invitation:
Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Korean or request other languages.)
Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.
We invite you to pray about the global refugee situation this month. Please join us as we pray for people (asylum seekers, economic migrants, displaced people and others) who have had to leave their home for various reasons – war, persecution, natural disaster, famine, lack of jobs, etc. – from all parts of the world. Just some of the countries include Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia, Iraq, Ukraine, Mexico and South Sudan.
South Sudan Refugee Camp (YWAM Middle East)
We will also pray for those that are impacted by refugee movements: government leaders, families that are left behind, local residents and YWAMers who are ministering to refugees all over the world. He is inviting you to pray!
According to the United Nations, there have been record numbers of displaced people and refugees in recent years, over 60 million estimated in total. Those that flee across international borders are known as refugees (estimated to be over 16 million), while those that flee but stay in-country are known as internally displaced persons. Statistics such as these reported by the New York Times give us a sense of the tremendous needs for prayer:
Approximately half of the refugees are children. A very high percentage of these people are unaccompanied minors: 90% of the migrant children who have recently arrived in Europe via Italy were unaccompanied minors. Over 7,000 unaccompanied minors crossed from North Africa into Italy in the first 5 months of 2016.
More than one million refugees crossed the Mediterranean Sea last year.
Last year there was a record 5,400 deaths of migrants attempting to cross borders and already in 2016 there are 3,100 dead.
Tens of thousands of people are in limbo living in squalid camps in border towns.
In spite of these complex issues, YWAMers and other Christian organizations are seeing a time of great harvest of people coming to Christ.
. . . there has never been a time of greater harvest. Time and again over recent decades, we have said “the nations are coming to us,” but it has never been so overwhelmingly true. Will God’s people be swept up in the fear and protectionism, or will we reach out to reap the harvest?
Lynn Green, YWAM leader
A Syrian Baptized in Germany (posted by David Campbell on YWAM Refugee Circle Facebook)
Prepare to Pray:
Watch this simple video created by World Vision about praying for refugees:
Watch this video created by the documentary filmmaking school in YWAM Harpenden called “Sunday in the Calais Jungle.” It tells the refugee story of a camp in Calais, France called “The Jungle.” It is home to more than 7,000 refugees
Syrian Family that Escaped ISIS-Controlled Territory in 2014
Pray for Refugees:
Pray for refugees that are travelling with risky health situations: pregnant mothers, women who have just delivered, day-old babies and others who are travelling who are sick or weak.
Pray for safety and protection from smugglers who often steal passports and other items from refugees.
Pray for greater freedom in the home countries of refugees so they don’t have to flee and so they can choose whom they will worship.
Pray for refugees who are lonely to experience the family of God and God as their Father.
Pray for government leaders to find workable solutions to refugee issues associated with displacement, transition, etc.
Pray for the hearts of residents in areas where there are refugee camps to be accepting, especially of the children in need of schooling and medical services. Refugees are often misunderstood. Pray for God’s people to be non-judgmental and to hear their stories.
For us, religion is finished. We want to have the freedom to choose like in the West.
A refugee at Lesbos, Greece speaking to a YWAM worker
Blanket Provided to Refugee (YWAM Madison)
Pray for YWAMers and YWAM Locations:
Praise God for the many YWAM teams that have responded to the needs of refugees. Pray for YWAMers to be led by the Spirit so that God’s purposes will prevail.
Pray for God’s love to break down walls as the good news is preached.
Pray for more teams to be sent. Pray for workers for long-term ministry opportunities such as with unaccompanied minors.
YWAM Ireland is teaching Iraqi, Syrian and Palestinian refugees about forgiveness. Pray for open hearts and changed lives.
YWAM Perth, Australia provides counseling on a Facebook page for many Syrians suffering trauma, loss, grief and other issues. Pray for impact in the lives of people who view the material on this page, and pray for more Arabic-speaking staff to work in this ministry.
YWAM Middle East runs a school for Syrian refugee children in a neighborhood where they are not welcome. Pray for peace and comfort for these children and praise God that the children are responding to the loving instruction they are receiving from YWAMers.
YWAM’s Next Wave Docked in Lesbos, Greece
YWAMers in Lesbos and on YWAM’s Next Wave Ship have been given significant responsibility by local leaders over entire refugee compounds. Pray for wisdom as they care for unaccompanied children and families. Praise God for open doors, healing and salvation in the midst of chaos, brokenness and disorder.
Several YWAM locations in Germany are serving refugees. One location is providing a home for teenage refugee boys who have nowhere else to stay, teaching German classes, providing social activities and taking them to church. Pray for wisdom for these young men.
YWAMers in Sicily with Refugee Mom with Baby Born Aboard A Ship
YWAM Sicily provides clothing and a discipleship program for refugees coming to their city, many of whom are from Africa. Pray for God to lead them.
YWAM Dalarna, Sweden has begun discipling Afghans who have shown an interest in the gospel. Pray for good relationships.
YWAM Calais, France ministers to Sudanese refugees from the Darfur area. Pray for continued favor with the local leaders and that these leaders would have changed lives due to a new faith in God.
YWAM Pittsburgh has purchased a building to help them reach out to some of the 20,000 refugees in their city. Pray for them and watch this video to see their refugee ministry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGPyFEq5ag4.
June 6 – July 5, 2016 – 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World
YWAM Dunham, Quebec spent time searching their own hearts and repenting about how they have condemned Muslims in the past. They have chosen to love Muslims.
YWAM Seamill, Scotland prayed for the Muslim world throughout Ramadan. One day they specifically prayed for the 76,000 Muslims in Scotland.
YWAM Kings Kids, Brazil committed to pray for the Muslim World.
YWAM Uruguay committed to pray each day in their devotionals and schools. They are also promoting 30 Days of Prayer for Muslims to churches in Uruguay and they planned a celebration and time of intercession towards the end of Ramadan.
Upcoming topics for The Invitation:
August 11 – Universities
September 8 – A Year of Answered Prayer
Don’t Miss The Invitation:
Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Korean or request other languages.)
Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.
The Invitation is a bit different this month. Instead of asking you to pray on the second Thursday of the month (or whatever works best for you) we are asking you to pray with us daily from June 6-July 5, 2016 for 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World.
The 30 Days prayer focus began at a gathering of YWAM’s international leaders in 1992. They were meeting in the Middle East and in a time of prayer for the region God spoke to them in a powerful way. This time resulted in the Red Sea Covenant (http://www.ywam.org/about-us/red-sea-covenant/) which was a commitment these leaders made on behalf of YWAM. 30 Days was born out of this commitment and began as a small prayer guide, produced by YWAMers largely for YWAM. Since then 30 days has grown each year and now includes an estimated 500,000 participants across the wider body of Christ, including several agencies and churches that gather content, translate and distribute the guide. 2016 marks the 22nd anniversary of 30 Days.
30 Days of Prayer
Muslims
Over ½ Million Participants
1.6 Billion Muslims
23 Primary Languages
4 Million New Muslim Refugees
22nd Year
49 Muslim Nations
350,000 prayer guides
1,999 Muslim People Groups
30 Days coincides every year with Ramadan (June 6 – July 5 this year) which is an important month of fasting and religious observance for Muslims. The purpose of 30 Days is to call Christians to make an intentional and respectful effort during this period to learn about, pray for and reach out to Muslim neighbors.
In the Muslim world today, we see encouraging answers to prayer. In the book A Wind in the House of Islam, David Garrison notes that the greatest movements of Muslims turning to Christ have happened in the 21st century. Please join us in prayer to be part of God’s work.
Original 30 Days Prayer Guide Cover2009 cover: 30 Days has been growing every year for 22 years!
Preparation for 30 Days of Prayer:
Download the 30 Days prayer guide and encourage others at your location to do the same: www.pray30days.org. Also, take a moment to like the 30 Days Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/30daysprayer. When you do so, you will receive short summaries of the prayer topics each day during the 30 days of prayer. You can share these summaries with others in your community.
Pray to hear from God about how you/your location are being called to participate.
Schedule a meeting at your location to explain and discuss 30 Days.
Determine how your location will “remember” to pray each day. Examples from previous years include prayer bracelets and playing drums at midday to call the location to prayer. (Some locations pray at the beginning of their day and others pray just before lunch.)
Schedule prayer times and meetings. Communicate regularly during 30 Days.
Many new refugees are Muslim and represent an opportunity to love like Christ
Through prayer, we engage in an act of love for Muslim people around the world—sharing their burdens, understanding their concerns and petitioning God to help them.
30 Days of Prayer website
Suggested Prayer Points:
Read the page each day from prayer guide or from the 30 Days Facebook or website www.pray30days.org (a content summary is available each day on the website).
The prayer guide mentions nine “rooms” in Islam
Pray for journeys and movements of Muslims:
Pray for Muslims who are questioning their faith, that they will meet others who have walked that journey and found it led them to Christ.
Pray for those Muslims who decide to follow Jesus, that they will find fellowship and peace within their new faith.
Pray that the millions of unreached immigrants leaving their homelands in search of a new life may find new life in Christ there.
Pray for peace in areas where people are having to flee their homeland.
Pray for new Muslim believers to grow in unity, encourage one another in fellowship and love and to be lights for others.
Praise God for the significant movements of Muslims to Christ in this century and pray that the pace of these movements would heighten and expand.
Pray for God to reveal his plans for YWAM locations around the world in reaching Muslims. Pray for provisions for ministries that are focusing on Muslims.
Pray for 30 Days distributors—churches and organizations that translate, print and distribute the guide in many different ways—for wisdom and safety. Praise God for growth in participation in areas known for Muslim/Christian conflict, specifically, Eastern Europe and West Africa.
Pray for more 30 Days participants in the United States where many Muslims have moved.
Pray for wisdom, creativity and perseverance for the workers who create the prayer guide.
Pray for fellow Christians to resist the temptation to exchange hatred for hatred, hostility for hostility.
Pray that God will lead you to Muslim individuals whom you can love in Jesus’ name.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you . . . Ephesians 5:1 – 2 (NASB)
Take Action:
Share the 30 days website with others often during the 30 Days The prayer guide is available in 23 primary languages, some with 30 Days apps.
Talk to leaders at your church about 30 Days and organize a prayer campaign with your congregation.
Mark your calendar for next year early enough to purchase posters, guides and other resources for 30 Days. Ramadan falls May 27 through June 24 in 2017.
On the global prayer day, Mission Builders International received an unexpected check in the mail for $40,000 to pay down their mortgage.
YWAM Mazatlan, Mexico and YWAM Queenstown, New Zealand posted prayer requests on Facebook regarding property needs due to growth of their ministries.
YWAM Bluefields, Nicaragua was encouraged to pray for their own property even though they are a new location. God has led them to property that costs $195,000. Please pray with them for God to provide as they know they can’t do it on their own.
YWAM Pittsburgh, Pensylvania, USA prayed that they would be led by the Spirit as they plan and prepare for various ministries and programs they will run in a new building that they are purchasing. They also noted, as other locations did, that God’s timing was perfect for The Invitation for May.
YWAM San Diego, California, USA reported that they signed the papers to buy four acres of new land on the global prayer day.
Sean Lambert of YWAM San Diego signs the papers
YWAM Nigeria reported that praying for property was very timely for their location.
At the YWAM DNA Europe Infusion Meeting 350 YWAMers from 59 nations started praying on the global prayer day (May 12) and continued into Friday. They thanked God for the properties He has provided and they prayed for 14 properties where finances are needed to bring about God’s plans.
YWAM DNA Europe Infusion Meeting
YWAM King’s Kids, Brazil noted they were grateful for the Portuguese translation of The Invitation and prayed for YWAM property.
YWAM San Francisco, USA prayed and requested other YWAMers to give thanks that God miraculously provided initial funds in 2014 for their property. Please pray with them that God would retire their remaining $2.17 million debt immediately. They have ministered from this location for 20 years which they rented prior to purchasing.
YWAM San Francisco
April 2016 – Global – YWAM Ships
YWAM Ozarks, Arkansas prayed in great detail for YWAM Ships. Here are a few highlights:
Prayed for crews of ships to be alert in the spirit to enemy strongholds.
Prayed that YWAM ships would expect the Lord to do miracles related to providing funding for YWAM Ships.
Correlated Jesus as the bread of life (John 6) with YWAM Ships and the provisions they provide to the people they serve.
Prayed for the crew to be the right people on the vessel and discussed Paul’s journey to Rome and how Paul had to be on the ship to save lives.
Prayed for unity for the crew in dealing with one another in grace.
Upcoming topics for The Invitation:
July 14 – Global Topic – Refugees
August 11 – Local Topic – Universities
Don’t Miss The Invitation:
Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, or request other languages.)
YWAM Restenas, Sweden – “Painting Can Be Fun When YWAMers Work Together”
What an extraordinary thing God has done in giving us city bases and training centers. It’s a gift we can’t take credit for. . .
Lynn Green
Growing to more than 1,100 locations in over 180 countries since 1960, YWAM properties range from rental spaces of a few meters to ownership of hundreds of acres of land with many buildings. From castles several hundred years old to World-War II era military installations, to just-finished construction, God has blessed YWAM abundantly.
To this day and without exception, every YWAM property acquired and cared for has involved some level of prayer to the God who inspires us to dream, and usually reach for the impossible in order to Know Him and Make Him Known throughout the world!
John Briggs, Mission Builders International
Please join us this month in praying for your local YWAM property. We have offered several specific prayer points for praying for your local YWAM property, as well as for global YWAM property concerns and some specific YWAM properties in various parts of the world. It’s truly an exciting, yet a challenging process to pray, repent as needed, pray more and co-create with the LORD to envision how to acquire, use and care for property He leads us to, to the glory of God
Preparation for Prayer:
Consider the YWAM property you are most familiar with:
Note how the property was acquired.
Focus on God’s role in this property acquisition.
Ask one of your property workers for urgent and longer-term prayer requests.
Identify future property needs that align with the vision of this property.
Pray as you feel led.
Look at the map of YWAM locations around the world (ywam.org/map). Choose 5 locations for which you have little or no familiarity. Get a sense for their ministries. Pray for them using the points below or as you feel led.
Consider Hebrews 3:4 (below).
For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
Hebrews 3:4 NASB
Suggested Prayer Points:
Your local YWAM property:
Pray for your location to have the ability to clearly and simply communicate the call of your location and ministry goals over time.
Pray for your location’s planning efforts and time spent with God so that the Lord’s purposes will prevail.
Pray for wisdom for your location’s leadership and administration to:
help steward property acquisition and development in concert with ministry goals
help identify and prioritize the issues of maintenance, repair or replacement beforethey become real problems
Pray for affordable, safe housing for YWAMers and their families at your location.
Pray for your ministry location to be debt free and offer thanksgiving for the ministry locations that are debt free!
Pray for the Lord to lead the right people to the right occupations, particularly for harder “property” positions to fill such as maintenance leader, construction workers, groundskeepers, administrator, or operations/property manager.
Pray for those who have responded by working “behind the scenes” or in service positions we tend to take for granted, such as: administration, maintenance, grounds, facilities, housekeeping, kitchen, accounting, and hospitality to name a few.
Pray that all YWAMers at your location will have a heart of gratitude for those who have served in the past and for those who are currently serving in positions that have contributed to making your ministry location what it is today.
Pray for your ministry location to give honor where honor is due by recognizing, appreciating and celebrating the gifts God has brought to us through the people He has sent.
Mission Builders International Construction
Needs of specific YWAM properties:
YWAM – Berlin, Germany where the ministry team is believing for the release workers and finances to rebuild a ministry center and an adjacent hotel to house hundreds of long-term staff and visiting teams from around the world to reach the heart of Germany for Christ.
YWAM – Riga, Latviaand their “Freedom 61” project believing for the finances and Mission Builder volunteers for building a transition center for housing women and girls caught in human trafficking.
YWAM – Battambang, Cambodia continues its campus development constructing a training center serving the four remaining Communist nations in the region. Pray for the continued release of workers and the finances for construction materials to continue.
YWAM – Jinja, Uganda. Praise God with this location as they celebrate receiving 40% (or $100,000) to buy the building they have been renting. They call this the Time2Own Pray for God to provide remaining funds.
YWAM – Jinja, Uganda; ClinicTime2Own Building Campaign
Global concerns – YWAM property:
Obtaining properties in most cities is very difficult due to price, availability, regulations and other factors. Pray for the Lord to provide breakthroughs for YWAM ministries. As an example, that God would stir the hearts of owners to donate their properties, as opposed to keeping the property as an asset. Pray for churches or ministries with available property to be open to offering property to YWAM.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring revelation and a heart of repentance where we have made our own plans without God or “used” people instead of waiting for the best God may have desired for our ministry location.
Pray for the LORD to release tens of thousands of workers (with gifts of administration, maintenance, facilities management, housekeeping, kitchen service, accounting, and hospitality to name a few) into the fields white with harvest – and that He would direct them toward YWAM ministry locations and our partner ministries worldwide.
Pray that short-term workers (like Mission Builders!) would be positively impacted by serving alongside YWAM ministry locations worldwide so much so that they would return as students and long-term YWAMers. Pray for the ministry of Mission Builders (missionbuilders.org).
Pray that YWAM locations and YWAMers with gifts of maintenance and construction skills will catch the vision to partner with other YWAM ministries by traveling to other locations needing short-term help. (In the USA, those events when family and friends gather to build a barn in a day or two, are called “barn raisers.”) Pray that YWAMers partner together to be “barn raisers” in their region.
Take Action:
Learn more about Mission Builders International (MBI). MBI has been connecting Christians to frontline missions since 1978. MBI averages 900 to a 1,000 volunteers placed in 85-120 locations each year.
MBI is a ministry of YWAM, celebrating 56 years of Knowing God and Making Him Known. Contact MBI to find out how you or your location could come alongside another YWAM location for a “property” project. MBI@MissionBuilders.net or MissionBuilders.org or 406-844-2683
Refer someone not currently in YWAM to MBI. MBI connects Christians with frontline missions and serves YWAM by recruiting and placing mission builder volunteers alongside YWAM ministry locations worldwide. missionbuilders.org
Coordinate appreciation efforts for your location:
Send written thank you notes to people who have funded your property.
Hold an appreciation dinner for your location’s “property” workers.
Talk to your base leader or other property leader. Identify a “property” project that you could plan, organize and execute with others.
Research YWAM locations that have property needs. Adopt one of them and seek the Lord for how your location could pray, provide, partner with them regarding their property.
Share how God spoke to you.
Share on facebook.com/youthwithamission, find the post for May 12, and add a comment about how you prayed.
Go to twitter.com; search for #praywithywam and tweet about your prayer time/post a picture.
Send an email to prayer@ywam.org.
Share with other YWAMers in person or through other channels.
How We Prayed:
April 2016 – Global – YWAM Ships
Kids at YWAM Medical Ships Australia made cutout pictures of each of the vessels and sailed them around, praying for where they would go and the people they would see!
YWAM – Georgia (republic of) prayed for a ship for the Black Sea.
YWAM at Outpost Panama welcomed Making Waves last month: “What an amazing answer to prayer and the joint effort of 5 YWAM bases. We are asking God for workers for the harvest here at Outpost Panama for all departments including Making Waves.”
A group of YWAM leaders prayed during the recent DNA conference in Missouri, USA. They watched videos about YWAM Ship ministries and then prayed based upon the prayer points in The Invitation for April. They also noted that the Pacific Hope ship was headed to do some fundraising before ending up in Vanuatu (republic of) where there are Bibleless people groups.
YWAM – Togo, West Africa prayed for a new boat for the Amazon and a boat for West Af They also sensed God giving them Haggai 2:8 when praying for funds and Matthew 9:37-38 when praying for crew.
YWAM – Chicago, Illinois prayed for the fleet (Habakkuk 2:14) and for Papua New Guinea, specifically for unity among leaders.
YWAM Perth, Australia prayed for the resources and abundance of the Papua New Guinea ship to be multiplied to all the ships and for even MORE ships with different and unique purposes to be birthed.
YWAM – Antigua praying for YWAM ships in April
YWAMers requested prayers for these ships:
Please pray that we get the M/V Amazing Grace into the shipyard this month so we can get her to YWAM – Mazatlan, Mexicoand begin ministering to the isolated.
Next Wave needs short and long term volunteers to help in the boat and with the refugees. Please also pray for Finances.
Pacific Link held their first ophthalmology clinic in the Karkar Island region in March. Pray for solid relationships with these people over time.
Pray for new training vessel for YWAM Ships Kona.
YWAM – Åland Islands (autonomous region of Finland, between Finland and Sweden, Baltic Sea) asked for prayer for their vision to start a ship ministry. They note that the Åland islands have a population of only 29 000 and still during the interwar period it had the world´s largest sailing ship fleet. The YWAMers say, “We do believe that this is a part of Ålands’ calling; travel to the unreached people groups by the ships and preach the gospel! So please pray, as we are right now taking our first steps to pioneer YWAM there.”
One YWAMer noted on Facebook: “The need is obviously greater than I could imagine, and it is comforting to know that our God is much greater still! Thank you for ALL involved in this amazing ministry – for your precious time, love, obedience and willingness to GO!”
Upcoming topics for The Invitation:
June 2016 – Area Topic – 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World
July 14 – Global Topic
The second Thursday is just a suggestion. Feel free to pray close to that date at a time that works well for your location’s schedule.
Don’t Miss The Invitation:
Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, or request other languages.)
Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.
YWAM has 22 vessels serving in a wide variety of conditions around the world. We have small cruise ships, river boats and deep-sea yachts all working in a cyclical pattern within their region. Some go out for two weeks at a time, others are deployed for months far from home relying on containers for supplies.
Some are linked to just one YWAM center, while others have the support of several. Most vessels host teams of University of the Nations students on their field assignments alongside crew and medical volunteers. Some vessels look like floating YWAM bases, while others simply carry students to isolated villages like the boat at Outpost Panama serving the Ngobe Indians.
Most YWAMers are unaware of the growth of our fleet that has happened over the last several years. By the time you read this we should have three additional yachts joining our fleet, one each from Germany, Australia and Hawaii.
PNG Asks for a University
M/V YWAM PNG
Today we are experiencing unprecedented favor in Papua New Guinea (PNG)! As a result of seven years of trust being built up by YWAM Medical Ships Australia serving in PNG, government officials, specifically the Prime Minister and his cabinet, have asked YWAM to come in through the front door of education and establish a university system throughout the nation where only 1% have traditionally had the opportunity to attend higher education.
The University of the Nations and Ships were born to work together in such a partnership as “twins” since 1978. We read all about it in Loren Cunningham’s book Is That Really You God? Serving PNG is an amazing window of opportunity to significantly effect a nation and because of the good will that has been created, other doors are swinging wide open too!
YWAM, this is what we were made for, what we are designed to do and what we train for!
–Brett Curtis, YWAM Ships Kona
Preparation for Prayer:
Review the map graphic above, noting where our ships are.
Review the pictures and details about each ship below and recognize the differences in roles that each of these ships have. Usually our larger ships take on ambassadorial functions, opening nations to the spheres we train to impact, as with YWAM PNG. Our smaller ships reach some of the most isolated people in some of the most remote areas in the world. Our ships travel to some of the most beautiful and some of the coldest places on earth. One ship is currently serving refugees in Greece, while another provides hope to small fishing villages, and many provide medical services and supplies.
Ask God to speak to you regarding how to pray for the Papua New Guinea opportunity.
Ask God to reveal how to pray for the remaining YWAM fleet: A specific ship? Ships near you? All ships? New ships? One day? For the rest of this month? On an ongoing basis?
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.
Isaiah 42:10, ESV
Suggested Prayer Points:
Papua New Guinea (PNG):
Pray for:
Key strategies
Innovative University of Nations courses sending students on field assignments
Leaders to come walk the land and pray how they should engage
Resources in the hands of servant-hearted YWAMers
Partners from around the world
YWAMers to move in obedience to His words on the “twin” ministries of YWAM
Continued fruit from this ministry
Twenty Two YWAM vessels:
Pray for:
Each ship, or particular ships as the Lord leads you.
Needs all ships have in common:
Funding
Crew
Supplies
Teams to deploy with them
God to engage our hearts for Ship Equipped Ministries
New ships and the process of receiving the ships
Security, especially for the ship quietly serving a Muslim country
Connection with the people being served in a way that they see Jesus
VESSELS SERVING IN YWAM
The largest vessel in the fleet is the M/V (motor vessel) YWAM PNG. She is deployed in Papua New Guinea in the southern region of the country. She is operated out of YWAM Townsville Australia and well known both in PNG and along the east coast of Australia. She has recently been outfitted with new operating rooms and is currently deployed with over 100 volunteers. Reach out to Ken at info@ywamships.org.au
The M/V PACIFIC HOPE is operated by Marine Reach out of Tauranga New Zealand and focuses her efforts primarily on the nation of Vanuatu. She is our second largest ship in the fleet with surgical suites on board and conducts primary health care clinics ashore. You can reach David at info@marinereach.com
The M/V PACIFIC LINK is deployed among the islands of Papua New Guinea in the north. She has been operated by YWAM Ships Kona since October 2015 with an operating room on board and mobile clinics ashore. She has 50 beds and is deployed 10 months of the year in PNG. Reach Brett at info@ywamships.net
The sailing yacht S/Y (sailing yacht) NEXT WAVE – Serving the multitude of Syrian refugees arriving daily in Lesvos, Greece. This schooner is uniquely positioned to host teams as they provide assistance to the 2,000+ refugees pouring into the region close to where the ship is docked. You can reach their office at inquiries@ywamnextwave.org
The M/V AMAZING GRACE is a new vessel that will soon run Homes of Hope as her unique contribution to ministry around the Sea of Cortez – Baja Mexico. She is ideally situated to bring hope to remote fishing villages within a few days sail of Mazatlan. Reach Ikaika at doriandikaika@gmail.com
The S/Y CLOUD NINE works among the remote atolls of the Marshall Islands. She partners with YWAM Ships Kona in the Pacific and conducts clinic work from the Kwajalein Atoll in some of the most beautiful yet isolated locations in the world. Connect with Scott Suderno at scott.suderno@ywamships.net
The M/V WILDERNESS EXPLORER is operated by YWAM Ships Catalina Island, 26 miles off the Los Angeles coast running schools and camps at Emerald Bay and Avalon. Outreaches are to Baja Mexico. Reach Fran at frantablas@gmail.com
The S/Y MANDOLIN serves out of New Zealand up into Fiji carrying Bibles and conducting water testing on wells with an onboard lab as she sails from island to island. She is in her first year of service within the liquid continent. You may reach out to Hinrich at hkraenzlin@gmail.com
From the YWAM Mendocino base comes MAKING WAVES. She is a boat ideally suited to gain access to the Ngobe Indian tribes living along the rivers and inner coastal waters of northern Panama (Caribbean Sea). She makes day trips from YWAM’s Outpost Panama base. There are over 50 Ngobe tribes living within a day’s sail. Access otherwise means at least two days in a four wheeled drive vehicle then hiking a day to reach some of them. Reach Tom at Thomas.schmidt@ywamships.net or Nathan at wagnern@azlearn.org
The river boat NADEZHDA serves on the 3400 mile Ob River in Siberia. The climate is harsh enough that they can only serve for a small number of months each year before stopping for the annual freeze. These places are VERY isolated and cold. Andy would love to hear from you: andyfrecka@gmail.com
There are three river boats at the Iquitos base on the Amazon River. Their first boat is called FILIPE. They run volunteers up tributaries deep into the Amazon and are situated in Peru. These long fast boats are ideal for their environment serving some of the most challenged villages you can find. You can reach Clark at clarkbarnard@gmail.com.
The river boat SAO MATEUS is a familiar sight on the Amazon carrying medical teams up and down the river for years. She is situated at the base in Manaus 1,000 miles from the ocean. You may reach Belino at the Manaus base at belinojocum@yahoo.com.br
The river boat AUSTRALIA II also works on the Amazon from Manaus. She is an aluminum boat taking day trips along the tributaries of the Amazon with teams of volunteers and students. You can reach the Manaus base concerning this vessel by contacting Belino at belinojocum@yahoo.com.br
The river boat BETESADA works at the mouth of the Amazon and takes medical teams for two weeks at a time deep up the tributaries ministering to the tribes along the river banks. You sleep in the villages and move to new locations during the day. Amazon Reach is in the process of adding an additional boat for work from the same location. Email Joe at jnovelo@mac.com
The river boatsLETICIA. There are two boats that work along the banks of the Amazon river in southern Colombia reaching villages that are remote with their students and volunteers. Reach out to Jamie at ywamleticia@gmail.com
In South East Asia there is a medical river boat that serves quietly in a Muslim nation out of YWAM. Her crew are all heroes. Pray for their safety and funding needs.
Take Action:
Contact Brett Curtis or Ken Mulligan for more information if you sense God leading you to investigate ministry opportunities in Papua New Guinea.
Seek the Lord for how He may be calling you or your location to serve, pray for, or partner with one of the ministries associated with one of YWAM’s 22 and growing number of vessels. Contact the appropriate resource person provided.
Find out more about YWAM ships and opportunities to serve: http://ywamships.net/global (You can even find out where the YWAM ships currently are!)
Visit the YWAM Ships Kona Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ywamships and view the March 21 post to read about the first 100 days at PNG.
Reread Loren’s book Is That Really You God? to learn more about the “twin” partnership between the University of Nations and YWAM Ships and how they were born at the same time to our mission.
YWAM – San Jose, Costa Rica prayed to End Bible Poverty in specific counties and shared notes from their prayer time. God revealed several verses from Psalms and the book of John as they prayed.
YWAM – Create Thailand posted on Facebook and prayed for the village near Chiang Rai, for further discipleship after the Bible distribution and for God’s word to catch in their hearts.
YWAM – Hong Kong National Office posted on Facebook and spent time praying for a One Story team close by, and repenting of distractions that keep them from His Word. They also obtained more ideas on distribution strategies.
YWAM – Harbour City, Hong Kong prayed and tweeted Psalm 119:160 All your words are true.
YWAM – Seamill, Scotland prayed and tweeted that ending Bible poverty is possible in our generation!
February 2016 – Local – Governments
YWAM – Island Breeze, and YWAM – Constanta, Romania prayed for their government as a community.
Upcoming topics for The Invitation:
May 12, 2016 – Praying for Local Concerns (Location and Community)
June 9, 2016 – Area Topic
The second Thursday is just a suggestion. Feel free to pray close to that date at a time that works well for your location’s schedule.
Don’t Miss The Invitation
Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go toywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, or request other languages.)
Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook post on the second Thursday atfacebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.
