YWAM 50th Celebration

It is always humbling and refreshing to realize that you are part of something that is much bigger than you are. We were able to experience that this last week at the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) 50th Anniversary Celebration in Tijuana México. Along with Loren and Darlene Cunningham (founders if YWAM) and 500 other YWAM missionaries (YWAMers) we celebrated a ministry that was born from the heart of God 50 years ago. It is always an incredible experience to be in a room full of YWAMers loving and praising God. It was even more special to spend this time with the founders of our mission. Loren and Darlene have co-created with God for 50 years and YWAM has grown leaps and bounds above what they expected. In their words they have only done one thing for 50 years, listen and obey the voice of God! That is the legacy that they have passed on to the over 20,000 full-time YWAMers around the world. Loren reported that YWAM is currently in over 200 nations and YWAMers hold over 220 different passports! He also said that YWAM is involved in ministry in every nation every year through short-term works!

You might expect a 50-year anniversary celebration to be a time to look to the past and remember all that God has done. This celebration was exactly opposite. Yes we took the time to remember the faithfulness of God, but the focus was defiantly on the future. Loren and Darlene along with John Dawson (YWAM international president) informed us of what is happening in the present and always looked to the future of the Great Commission and YWAM's part in fulfilling it.

Even being a YWAMer it is hard for me to comprehend that a mission’s organization can spearhead new technologies. YWAM is currently working on a new technology called GVS that is looking to change the way major Hollywood films are made while providing job opportunities for talented artist in countries like Rwanda, Chile, etc. I could try to explain all the technological stuff, but that is way over my head. All I know is that the Sony Corporation is working very closely with YWAM and the University of the Nations to develop this technology. YWAM is also working on a news network that will give us (YWAMers) the opportunity to report on the true news happening around the world. With workers in over 200 countries breaking news will be reported sooner and with God's perspective before the secular news can even arrive on the scene. This is an incredible opportunity to influence the area of media. Apart from these reports we also heard YWAMers from Gleanings International share about packing thousands of tons of food and sending it to nations struck with hunger and famine. We also heard of amazing that is happening in Nigeria and in Asia! It was so amazing to know that YWAM El Paso-Juarez and our work in this small corner of the world is part of such a huge global movement of God.

After looking at where is Loren and Darlene didn't hesitate one bit to look to the future. A few years ago YWAM lead a project to divide the globe according to population and access to the gospel. Out of this project came the 4,000+ Omega Zones. This is a way to track getting missionaries involved in works with all people groups in all nations of the world. Along with the Call2All ministry YWAM has committed to have works in all 4,000+ omega zones. Along with 17 other organizations YWAM has committed to doing everything possible to have a Bible in every home by the year 2020. These sound like large tasks, but in true YWAMer fashion I can say, "If God spoke it, it is possible."

I hope that this update encourages you as much as the celebration encouraged Lea and I. Through your prayers and support you to are apart of what God is doing through YWAM around the world! YWAM's story is your story because it is God's story! Thank you so much for prayers and support!!

Ty, Lea, and Eli Thurman

Welcome!!!

Welcome to our blog! We have started this site so that we can keep you up to date with what we are doing as we serve with Youth With A Mission El Paso-Juarez. We will be posting updates frequently so please check out the blog regularly. Most of all thank you for your prayers and support!!!
Bienvenidos a nuestra pagina! hemos iniciado este sitio para mantenerte informado con lo que hacemos mientras servimos con Juventud Con Una Mision El Paso-Juarez. Estaremos poniendo actualizaciones frecuentemente asi que por favor checa nuestra pagina regularmente. aparte de todo lo mas importante es que queremos agradecerte por tus oraciones y apoyo!!!

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