Fishers of Men in Romania

MEDIAS AND CONSTANTA, ROMANIA: Our Discipleship Training School has divided into two teams in Romania-- one in Mediaș,  and the other further south in Constanța. A main focus of the Mediaș outreach has been reaching out to the Gypsies who have had a history of being rejected and marginalized from society.  Serving in orphanages, hospitals, schools, churches and on the streets, the teams have had much favor as God continues to open doors. “One of the ministries I got to be a part of while being here is going to a nearby village and work with gypsy kids,” says Anna from Minnesota. “As soon as I got out of the van, kids were running up to me and giving me hugs and asking my name. It was wonderful!  These kids were craving love and so I got to love on them for a couple of hours. It was very sad to see the poor dirty place they are living in and that they aren’t receiving the love and compassion that they need. It was a great experience for me.”
The team in Constanța has had great evangelism opportunities. Sarah from Colorado writes, “Sunday we attended a bilingual church with worship, prayer, and a message in Romanian and English. At the beginning of the service, the pastor began sharing about their evangelism team and that they were looking for people to join in the ministry. The six of us students all heard from God at that moment and He said, ‘Go.’
“The church group does park evangelism, hospital visits, and other outreaches.  We went out with them on Wednesday to a park, sharing with and praying for people. We divided into groups of four and each came back with testimonies of how God had moved.” Carolina from Brazil says “Even though we are in Romania, language wasn’t a problem. I had the opportunity to relate with people and to pray for them.”
“I was blessed by talking with people about Easter,” says Sarah, “and was able to connect with a young couple who expressed interest in meeting again in the future to talk more. God provided an open door for conversation.  Here in Romania, they celebrate Easter the Sunday after Easter in the US (the 15th) and the subject of Easter was a great conversation starter with people in the park.  For example, we asked people how they celebrate the holiday, what it means to them, if they understand what Easter is, etc. We will have the chance to work with this church several more times including some hospital visits. Our team is very excited to do more evangelism as we are called to be a team that walks in the supernatural. We love to pray for people, call out their treasures (God’s value for them), and we fully expect to see God using us in healings and other signs and wonders.”

The teams will return in May and we’ll spend a couple of weeks ministering through some of our cities in Northern California, calling out the Spiritual giant of the body of Christ to awaken to its destiny in this region of the world. 
We will be graduating our students at the end of May and many will continue on into their life of ministry where God is planning to settle them.  Join us in prayer as we continue to carry out Jesus’ commandment to “love one another, just as I have loved you” John 15:12.




Thanks to Sarah and Jarrett for this story.

Sharing God's Love in a Tangible Way During a Time of Great Need

NADI, FIJI: The South Pacific island nation of Fiji was hit hard by heavy rains and major flooding just after our YWAM team arrived there for outreach.  The national disaster has devastated many villages all over the islands. They’ve had the opportunity to share with many Hindu families and Fijian communities the love of our incredible Father by bringing practical help during this time of great need.

“Monday was a long day for the YWAM team in Fiji,” says Ralph from California.  “In the morning we went to Navacai.  This was our third visit to this squatter village hit hard by the flood.  There are many needs, too much to even understand.  Most of the families do not have a man of the house; he is dead or just left leaving a single mother to take care of several children.”
“In the evening we went to a farm just past Sigatoka, an hour-an-a-half drive from Nadi. The last part of the journey was through mud with many up-rooted trees and broken bridges. We arrived at a vegetable farm tended by the pastor of a church, planted by Pastor Paula and Fane. His house was not flooded, but all the fields around were. It was a humble place, however, it was amazing. There was great joy and peace even though I think they used the last of their food for a snack for our team. It was a good thing that we had stopped by a local market and had come with several bags of food.  The farmer/pastor was a strong man and did not let me leave without three big hugs”

Thanks to Ralph LeMeur, CDTS student for this story.

Time to Make History

When I was in 3rd grade, I did a history report on Mohammar al-Qadaffi (Muammar Gaddafi). I drew a detailed portrait of the dictator; my written report consisted of photocopied pages of World Book Encyclopedia. (I have since learned not to plagiarize.) This dictator who had been in power for my entire life, is dead today.

Earlier this week, our staff and students met with other YWAMers from all over Northern California to seek God and hear from Him about where we are, who we are and where we are headed as a mission.
It has been said that we are going to see a great influx into missions from North America in the very near future. We are looking forward to 200,000 young people who will be trained and sent out to the world, to reach those unreached places, to go where we have not yet gone.
Our world is changing, and by God's grace is becoming open to His gospel. Are we prepared to bring it?

YWAM Chico | on Social Media

One of my projects lately as the Media Arts and Communications coordinator for YWAM Chico, has been to pump up our social media presence. The three main things I have been working on are our Facebook page, our Twitter account and our News Blog.
If you get a chance, I highly encourage you to check these things out! We have pictures & videos posted, and put updates fairly often.
Seeing how I AM a "words of affirmation"-type person, I would LOVE to hear your comments. :)

Our Facebook page has surprised me the most. I opened it with the goal of having 300 "likes". (I did have a hidden hope that maybe I could get as many as 500, but I didn't say that!) As of today (8/30/11) we have 1,284!!!! It is still rather hard to believe.
The purpose for this page is to communicate with people all over the world, to let them know who we are as a mission, as well as to let people know what we have to offer to the body of Christ. As a training campus, we currently have four missions training schools, some of which run twice a year, and are looking to develop more.
It is also useful for letting people know how to pray for us--and we have found, that people let us know there how we can pray for them!

Our Twitter account is similar, and helps us communicate with people-- in 140 characters or fewer :)--what's going on at the moment. I've found that it also helps us to stay connected with our extended YWAM family all over the world, since many of them are also using Twitter now.

Our blog is a place for communications that are, well, longer than 140 characters. There, we put up stories and testimonies of things that are happening in our mission, our schools, conferences, etc.

24Seven Student Testimonials

by Elaine Morency

YWAM Chico staff writer

This summer's theme for the 24Seven (our yearly high-school student discipleship and leadership development program in June & July) was ROYALTY, from Romans 8:19 "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."

In early June, 16 teens arrived on our campus ready for a summer that would change their lives forever.  In early August, the 16 teens who we were privileged to know and serve with headed home across the USA and internationally.  Rather than tell their story for them, I'd like to share some of their responses as they transitioned back home and prepared for school/what's next for them.....
  

"This summer has been AMAZING!  I'm so glad that I came and met you all.  We've all grown so much in the Lord and I can't wait to see what he does in our communities when we go back home.  However, I will miss you all terribly... This summer has been the most radically life changing experience of my life. I saw the love of God during this experience and got to meet incredible people along the way and do some crazy things! Everyone should get an opportunity to do something like this! Come!!"
- Shaela / California
  

 

"Well, I gotta say... I will NEVER regret going and I never regret meeting you guys!!  That summer was well worth giving to God and seeing how much He has changed me...  this summer is going to be remembered.  I have one more thing to say............... 24Seven 2012, here I come!!!!"
- Caleb P / California

 
"Thank you 24Seven for the best summer of my life!"
- Johanna / Washington

"24Seven helped outline a path for my life, showed me who I was in my identity and in Christ. Jesus has done miracles, healings, gotten me through "fun" hikes; I've made some of the best relationships with other people I would never exchange, who I would give my life for. It has been an experience of a lifetime!"
- Connor / California

"I am so happy I got to be part of the 24Seven program, and I'm also thankful to have experienced the change God has placed in me.  I pray God will bring me back next year... I want to thank the 24Seven program for deepening my relationship with God and I also want to say thank you to God for bringing me here for this training; it has helped me a lot and I'm going to apply it at home, school, church and everywhere I go.  THANK YOU!"
- Grace / Fiji

"24Seven was definitely a life changing experience. God totally transformed my heart and opened my eyes to the depths of His love. I no longer look at myself based on what I think I am or what others say I am, but what God calls me...royalty!"
- Trinity / California 

"24/Seven was an amazing experience for me. I grew so much through the different challenges and ministries we stepped out in--and best of all I grew closer to God and my fellow students and staff/interns through it. It's an amazing opportunity for any teenager who wants to give his/her life to God!" 
- Caleb A / California

YWAM Chico 24Seven 2011

Generation of Destiny

 

by Elaine Morency

YWAM Chico staff writer

Our heart for the youth we disciple at YWAM Chico is that each one will grow in relationship and intimacy with God, gain a solid foundation of their identity in HIM - and take that reality out into their everyday lives for years and years to come...

In light of that, we invite you to ponder the following truths, as shared by one of the 2nd-year 24Seven-ers at the end-of-summer celebration we had for the students: 


MY IDENTITY IS ANCHORED IN CHRIST AND SECURE IN HIS LOVE.

I AM AS BOLD AS A LION.

I AM NOT AFRAID OF BEING AROUND PEOPLE WHO ARE GREATER THAN ME.

I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE GOLD GOD HAS PLACED IN ME.

I TELL MYSELF WHAT I CAN DO AND THEN I DO IT

I LOOK FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO IMPACT THE WORLD AROUND ME

I LOOK FOR WAYS TO SERVE OTHERS SO I CAN SEE THEM STEP INTO THEIR GREATNESS.

I BELIEVE THAT THE GREAT " I AM" WHO LIVES INSIDE ME PRODUCES GREAT WORKS THROUGH ME (John 14:12).

I DON'T HAVE TO WORK FOR LOVE ; I WORK FROM LOVE.

I KNOW THAT WHEN I WALK INTO A ROOM, I CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE BECAUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES IN ME.

I HAVE THE UNLIMITED RESOURCES OF HEAVEN TO GIVE AWAY TO ANYONE, IN ANY PLACE, AT ANY TIME.

I WILL NOT COMPARE MYSELF WITH OTHERS BECAUSE I AM UNIQUE AND SIGNIFICANT.

I WILL NOT BE JEALOUS OF OTHERS WHO ARE GREATER THAN MYSELF, BUT I WILL REJOICE WITH THEM IN THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

I AM A WALKING ENCOUNTER.

I HAVE THE FAVOR OF GOD IN MY LIFE.

I AM WHO HE SAYS I AM, AND I WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS I CAN DO.

MIRACLES, SIGNS, AND WONDERS ARE A NORMAL PART OF MY LIFE, AND THEY FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST.

I LIVE BY FAITH AND TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE SO FAR.

(---note: the above truths were shared by Jarrett, as heard from Chris Overstreet during the 24Seven ---)

Building a home for a Family- Micah's Outreach Journal

Here's the latest installment of Micah's outreach journal.

Tuesday December 7, 2010

Last week, the DTS bilte a house for a family. I helped by helping on the roof and making some furniture. I made a table, a door step, and a picture for a little boy named Felipe. The family was happy even Felipe was happy. My favorite part was helping on the roof because I could be on the roof. I felt happy for the family.

 

Micah and Liam play with Felipe, chasing and catching chickens

Micah paints the door step he helped build. It was Bill, our construction leader who took time to sit down with Micah and show him how to make this.

Micah and Felipe are standing in Felipe's new room, in front of the picture Micah drew for him.

This is the picture Micah made- it's about 3 feet wide. He drew it and then said, "Mommy, now write a bible verse in Spanish on it." So we wrote Psalm 121:1 "I lift my eyes up to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth."