Podcasts about ywam

Andy Mainiero's missional experience started with obedience and small beginnings. He started house churches and clubs for youth. These ministries grew, and as they grew, so did Andy's awareness of trauma and its impact. But when Andy and his wife adopted children from the foster care system, he dove into learning all he could about trauma--or more importantly, what it means to be trauma transformed.Today, Andy is an assistant professor of mission theology at Fuller Seminary, and the founder and director of the Shalom Gospel Network—a global impact network that promotes and facilitates trauma-transforming mission and ministry. Listen in as Andy shares his biblical interpretation of Shalom, wholeness, and what it looks like to enjoy wholeness in the midst of pain. "Shalom is the way things were meant to be..it's never fully complete. It's an ongoing journey of wholing all our parts, putting them back together into its intended shalom."What better way to close the year than with an episode focused on Shalom. Join us for our final episode of 2025! To connect with Andy: ajmainiero2@gmail.com

John and Jenny dive deep into the psychology of manipulation within pseudo-Christian movements, using Youth With A Mission (YWAM) as a case study. Jenny, founder of the Indwell Movement, explains how spiritual leaders exploit trust, empathy, and worship to bypass critical thinking and enforce obedience. Together they explore concepts like mind control, cognitive dissonance, and consent—examining how emotional manipulation, purity culture, and the "always maintain the witness" mentality condition believers to suppress their own intuition.John connects these patterns to historical cult behavior and even ancient paganism, tracing how fear and fabricated "divine wrath" are weaponized to secure loyalty. They also uncover the neurological side of manipulation—how music, repetition, and performance-based spirituality deactivate the brain's critical centers. This powerful conversation invites listeners to question how spiritual systems use psychology, fear, and belonging to shape faith, identity, and submission.______________________Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K ______________________- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

Danielle (00:02):Hey, Jenny, you and I usually hop on here and you're like, what's happening today? Is there a guest today? Isn't that what you told me at the beginning?And then I sent you this Instagram reel that was talking about, I feel like I've had this, my own therapeutic journey of landing with someone that was very unhelpful, going to someone that I thought was more helpful. And then coming out of that and doing some somatic work and different kind of therapeutic tools, but all in the effort for me at least, it's been like, I want to feel better. I want my body to have less pain. I want to have less PTSD. I want to have a richer life, stay present with my kids and my family. So those are the places pursuit of healing came from for me. What about you? Why did you enter therapy?Jenny (00:53):I entered therapy because of chronic state of dissociation and not feeling real, coupled with pretty incessant intrusive thoughts, kind of OCD tendencies and just fixating and paranoid about so many things that I knew even before I did therapy. I needed therapy. And I came from a world where therapy wasn't really considered very Christian. It was like, you should just pray and if you pray, God will take it away. So I actually remember I went to the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, partly because I knew it was a requirement to get therapy. And so for the first three years I was like, yeah, yeah, my school requires me to go to therapy. And then even after I graduated, I was like, well, I'm just staying in therapy to talk about what's coming up for my clients. And then it was probably five years, six years into therapy when I was finally like, no, I've gone through some really tough things and I just actually need a space to talk about it and process it. And so trying to develop a healthier relationship with my own body and figuring out how I wanted to move with integrity through the world is a big part of my healing journey.Danielle (02:23):I remember when I went to therapy as a kid and well, it was a psychologist and him just kind of asking really direct questions and because they were so direct and pointed, just me just saying like, nah, never happened, never did that, never felt that way, et cetera, et cetera. So I feel like as I've progressed through life, I've had even a better understanding of what's healing for me, what is love life like my imagination for what things could be. But also I think I was very trusting and taught to trust authority figures, even though at the same time my own trauma kept me very distrusting, if that makes sense. So my first recommendations when I went, I was skeptical, but I was also very hopeful. This is going to help.Jenny (03:13):Yeah, totally. Yep. Yeah. And sometimes it's hard for me to know what is my homeschool brain and what is just my brain, because I always think everyone else knows more than me about pretty much everything. And so then I will do crazy amount of research about something and then Sean will be like, yeah, most people don't even know that much about that subject. And I'm like, dang it, I wasted so much effort again. But I think especially in the therapy world, when I first started therapy, and I've seen different therapists over the years, some better experiences than others, and I think I often had that same dissonance where I was like, I think more than me, but I don't want you to know more than me. And so I would feel like this wrestling of you don't know me actually. And so it created a lot of tension in my earlier days of therapy, I think.Danielle (04:16):Yeah, I didn't know too with my faith background how therapy and my faith or theological beliefs might impact therapy. So along the lines of stereotypes for race or stereotypes for gender or what do you do? I am a spiritual person, so what do I do with the thought of I do believe in angels and spiritual beings and evil and good in the world, and what do I do? How does that mix into therapy? And I grew up evangelical. And so there was always this story, I don't know if you watched Heaven's Gates, Hells Flames at your church Ever? No. But it was this play that they came and they did, and you were supposed to invite your friends. And the story was some people came and at the end of their life, they had this choice to choose Jesus or not. And the story of some people choosing Jesus and making it into heaven and some people not choosing Jesus and being sent to hell, and then there was these pictures of these demons and the devil and stuff. So I had a lot of fear around how evil spirits were even just interacting with us on a daily basis.Jenny (05:35):Yeah, I grew up evangelical, but not in a Pentecostal charismatic world at all. And so in my family, things like spiritual warfare or things like that were not often talked about in my faith tradition in my family. But I grew up in Colorado Springs, and so by the time I was in sixth, seventh grade, maybe seventh or eighth grade, I was spending a lot of time at Ted Haggard's New Life Church, which was this huge mega, very charismatic church. And every year they would do this play called The Thorn, and it would have these terrifying hell scenes. It was very common for people to throw up in the audience. They were so freaked out and they'd have demons repelling down from the ceiling. And so I had a lot of fear earlier than that. I always had a fear of hell. I remember on my probably 10th or 11th birthday, I was at Chuck E Cheese and my birthday Wish was that I could live to be a thousand because I thought then I would be good enough to not go to hell.(06:52):I was always so afraid that I would just make the simplest mistake and then I would end up in hell. And even when I went to bed at night, I would tell my parents goodnight and they'd say, see you tomorrow. And I wouldn't say it because I thought as a 9-year-old, what if I die and I don't see them tomorrow? Then the last thing I said was a lie, and then I'm going to go to hell. And so it was always policing everything I did or said to try to avoid this scary, like a fire that I thought awaited me.Yeah, yeah. I mean, I am currently in New York right now, and I remember seeing nine 11 happen on the news, and it was the same year I had watched Left Behind on that same TV with my family. So as I was watching it, my very first thought was, well, these planes ran into these buildings because the pilots were raptured and I was left behind.Danielle (08:09):And so I know we were like, we get to grad school, you're studying therapy. It's mixed with psychology. I remember some people saying to me, Hey, you're going to lose your faith. And I was like, what does that mean? I'm like 40, do you assume because I learned something about my brain that's going to alter my faith. So even then I felt the flavor of that, but at the time I was with seeing a Christian therapist, a therapist that was a Christian and engaging in therapy through that lens. And I think I was grateful for that at the time, but also there were things that just didn't feel right to me or fell off or racially motivated, and I didn't know what to say because when I brought them into the session, that became part of the work as my resistance or my UNC cooperation in therapy. So that was hard for me. I don't know if you noticed similar things in your own therapy journey.Jenny (09:06):I feel sick as you say, that I can feel my stomach clenching and yeah, I think for there to be a sense of this is how I think, and therefore if you as the client don't agree, that's your resistance(09:27):Is itself whiteness being enacted because it's this, I think about Tema, Koon's, white supremacy, cultural norms, and one of them is objectivity and the belief that there is this one capital T objective truth, and it just so happens that white bodies have it apparently. And so then if you differ with that than there is something you aren't seeing, rather than how do I stay in relation to you knowing that we might see this in a very different way and how do we practice being together or not being together because of how our experiences in our worldviews differ? But I can honor that and honor you as a sovereign being to choose your own journey and your self-actualization on that journey.Danielle(10:22):So what are you saying is that a lot of our therapeutic lens, even though maybe it's not Christian, has been developed in this, I think you used the word before we got on here like dominion or capital T. I do believe there is truth, but almost a truth that overrides any experience you might have. How would you describe that? Yeah. Well,Jenny (10:49):When I think about a specific type of saying that things are demonic or they're spiritual, a lot of that language comes from the very charismatic movement of dominion and it uses a lot of spiritual warfare language to justify dominion. And it's saying there's a stronghold of Buddhism in Thailand and that's why we have to go and bring Jesus. And what that means is bring white capitalistic Jesus. And so I think that that plays out on mass scales. And a big part of dominion is that the idea that there's seven spheres of society, it's like family culture, I don't remember all of them education, and the idea is that Christians should be leaders in each those seven spheres of society. And so a lot of the language in that is that there are demons or demonic strongholds. And a lot of that language I think is also racialized because a lot of it is colorism. We are going into this very dark place and the association with darkness always seems to coincide with melanin, You don't often hear that language as much when you're talking about white communities.Danielle (12:29):Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, it's interesting when you talk about nuts and bolts and you're in therapy, then it becomes almost to me, if a trauma happens to you and let's say then the theory is that alongside of that trauma and evil entity or a spirit comes in and places itself in that weak spot, then it feels like we're placing the victim as sharing the blame for what happened to them or how they're impacted by that trauma. I'm not sure if I'm saying it right, but I dunno, maybe you can say it better. (13:25):Well, I think that it's a way of making even the case of sexual assault, for instance, I've been in scenarios where or heard stories where someone shared a story of sexual assault or sexual violence and then their life has been impacted by that trauma in certain patterned ways and in the patterns of how that's been impacted. The lens that's additionally added to that is saying an evil entity or an evil spirit has taken a stronghold or a footing in their life, or it's related to a generational curse. This happened to your mother or your grandma too. And so therefore to even get free of the trauma that happened to you, you also have to take responsibility for your mom or your grandma or for exiting an evil entity out of your life then to get better. Does that make sense or what are you hearing me say?Jenny (14:27):Well, I think I am hearing it on a few different levels. One, there's not really any justification for that. Even if we were to talk about biblical counseling, there's not a sense of in the Bible, a demon came into you because this thing happened or darkness came into you or whatever problematic language you want to use. Those are actually pretty relatively new constructs and ideas. And it makes me think about how it also feels like whiteness because I think about whiteness as a system that disables agency. And so of course there may be symptoms of trauma that will always be with us. And I really like the framework of thinking of trauma more like diabetes where it's something you learn to moderate, it's something you learn to take care of, but it's probably never going to totally leave you. And I think, sorry, there's loud music playing, but even in that, it's like if I know I have diabetes, I know what I can do. If there's some other entity somewhere in me, whatever that means, that is so disempowering to my own agency and my own choice to be able to say, how do I make meaning out of these symptoms and how do I continue living a meaningful life even if I might have difficulties? It's a very victimizing and victim blaming language is what I'm hearing in that.Danielle (16:15):And it also is this idea that somehow, for instance, I hate the word Christian, but people that have faith in Jesus that somewhere wrapped up in his world and his work and his walk on earth, there's some implication that if you do the right things, your life will be pain-free or you can get to a place where you love your life and the life that you're loving no longer has that same struggle. I find that exactly opposite of what Jesus actually said, but in the moment, of course, when you're engaged in that kind of work, whether it's with a spiritual counselor or another kind of counselor, the idea that you could be pain-free is, I mean, who doesn't want to be? Not a lot of people I know that were just consciously bring it on. I love waking up every day and feeling slightly ungrounded, doesn't everyone, or I like having friends and feeling alone who wakes up and consciously says that, but somehow this idea has gotten mixed in that if we live or make enough money, whether it's inside of therapy or outside of healing, looks like the idea of absence of whether I'm not trying to glorify suffering, but I am saying that to have an ongoing struggle feels very normal and very in step with Jesus rather than out of step.Jenny  (17:53):It makes me think of this term I love, and I can't remember who coined it at the moment, but it's the word, and it's the idea that your health and that could kind of be encompassing a lot of different things, relational health, spiritual health, physical health is co-opted by this neoliberal capitalistic idea that you are just this lone island responsible for your health and that your health isn't impacted by colonialism and white supremacy and capitalism and all of these things that are going to be detrimental to the wellness and health of all the different parts of you. And so I think that that's it or hyper spiritualizing it. Not to say there's not a spiritual component, but to say, yes, I've reduced this down to know that this is a stronghold or a demon. I think it abdicates responsibility for the shared relational field and how am I currently contributing and benefiting from those systems that may be harming you or someone else that I'm in relationship with. And so I think about spiritual warfare. Language often is an abdication for holding the tension of that relational field.Danielle  (19:18):Yeah, that's really powerful. It reminds me of, I often think of this because I grew up in these wild, charismatic religion spaces, but people getting prayed for and then them miraculously being healed. I remember one person being healed from healed from marijuana and alcohol, and as a kid I was like, wow. So they just left the church and this person had gotten up in front of the entire church and confessed their struggle or their addiction that they said it was and confessed it out loud with their family standing by them and then left a stage. And sometime later I ran into one of their kids and they're like, yeah, dad didn't drink any alcohol again, but he still hit my mom. He still yelled at us, but at church it was this huge success. It was like you didn't have any other alcohol, but was such a narrow view of what healing actually is or capacity they missed. The bigger what I feel like is the important stuff, whatever thatBut that's how I think about it. I think I felt in that type of therapy as I've reflected that it was a problem to be fixed. Whatever I had going on was a problem to be fixed, and my lack of progress or maybe persistent pain sometimes became this symbol that I somehow wasn't engaging in the therapeutic process of showing up, or I somehow have bought in and wanted that pain longterm. And so I think as I've reflected on that viewpoint from therapy, I've had to back out even from my own way of working with clients, I think there are times when we do engage in things and we're choosing, but I do think there's a lot of times when we're not, it's just happening.Jenny (21:29):Yeah, I feel like for me, I was trained in a model that was very aggressive therapy. It was like, you got to go after the hardest part in the story. You have to go dig out the trauma. And it was like this very intense way of being with people. And unfortunately, I caused a lot of harm in that world and have had to do repair with folks will probably have to do more repair with folks in the future. And through somatic experiencing training and learning different nervous system modalities, I've come to believe that it's actually about being receptive and really believing that my client's body is the widest person in the room. And so how do I create a container to just be with and listen and observe and trust that whatever shifts need to happen will come from that and not from whatever I'm trying to project or put into the space.Danielle (22:45):I mean, it's such a wild area of work that it feels now in my job, it feels so profoundly dangerous to bring in spirituality in any sense that says there's an unseen stronghold on you that it takes secret knowledge to get rid of a secret prayer or a specific prayer written down in a certain order or a specific group of people to pray for you, or you have to know, I mean, a part of this frame, I heard there's contracts in heaven that have agreed with whatever spirit might be in you, and you have to break those contracts in order for your therapy to keep moving forward. Now, I think that's so wild. How could I ever bring that to a client in a vulnerable?And so it's just like, where are these ideas coming from? I'm going to take a wild hair of a guest to say some white guy, maybe a white lady. It's probably going to be one or the other. And how has their own psychology and theology formed how they think about that? And if they want to make meaning out of that and that is their thing, great. But I think the problem is whenever we create a dogma around something and then go, and then this is a universal truth that is going to apply to my clients, and if it doesn't apply to my clients, then my clients are doing it wrong. I think that's incredibly harmful.Yeah, I know. I think the audacity and the level of privilege it would be to even bring that up with a client and make that assumption that that could be it. I think it'd be another thing if a client comes and says, Hey, I think this is it, then that's something you can talk about. But to bring it up as a possible reason someone is stuck, that there's demonic in their life, I think, well, I have, I've read recently some studies that actually increases suicidality. It increases self-harming behaviors because it's not the evil spirit, but it's that feeling of I'm powerless. Yeah,Jenny (25:30):Yeah. And I ascribed to that in my early years of therapy and in my own experience I had, I had these very intensive prayer sessions when therapy wasn't cutting it, so I needed to somehow have something even more vigorously digging out whatever it was. And it's kind of this weird both, and some of those experiences were actually very healing for me. But I actually think what was more healing was having attuned kind faces and maybe even hands on me sometimes and these very visceral experiences that my body needed, but then it was ascribed to something ethereal rather than how much power is in ritual and coming together and doing something that we can still acknowledge we are creating this,That we get to put on the meaning that we're making. We don't have to. Yeah, I don't know. I think we can do that. And I think there are gentler ways to do that that still center a sense of agency and less of this kind of paternalistic thinking too, which I think is historical through the field of psychology from Freud onwards, it was this idea that I'm the professional and I know what's best for you. And I think that there's been much work and still as much work to do around decolonizing what healing professions look like. And I find myself honestly more and more skeptical of individual work is this not only, and again, it's of this both, and I think it can be very helpful. And if individual work is all that we're ever doing, how are we then disabling ourselves from stepping into more of those places of our own agency and ability?Danielle (27:48):Man, I feel so many conflicts as you talk. I feel that so much of what we need in therapy is what we don't get from community and friendships, and that if we had people, when we have people and if we have people that can just hold our story for bits at a time, I think often that can really be healing or just as healing is meaning with the therapist. I also feel like getting to talk one-on-one with someone is such a relief at times to just be able to spill everything. And as you know, Jenny, we both have partners that can talk a lot, so having someone else that we can just go to also feels good. And then I think the group setting, I love it when I'm in a trusted place like that, however it looks, and because of so many ethics violations like the ones we're talking about, especially in the spiritual realm, that's one reason I've hung onto my license. But at the same time, I also feel like the license is a hindrance at sometimes that it doesn't allow us to do everything that we could do just as how do you frame groups within that? It just gets more complicated. I'm not saying that's wrong, it's just thoughts I have.Jenny (29:12):Totally. Yeah, and I think it's intentionally complicated. I think that's part of the problem I'm thinking about. I just spent a week with a very, very dear 4-year-old in my life, and Amari, my dog was whining, and the 4-year-old asked Is Amari and Amari just wanted to eat whatever we were eating, and she was tied to the couch so she wouldn't eat a cat. And Sean goes, Amari doesn't think she's okay. And the four-year-old goes, well, if Amari doesn't think she's okay, she's not okay. And it was just like this most precious, empathetic response that was so simple. I was like, yeah, if you don't think you're okay, you're not okay. And just her concern was just being with Amari because she didn't feel okay. And I really think that that's what we need, and yet we live in a world that is so disconnected because we're all grinding just to try to get food and healthcare and water and all of the things that have been commodified. It's really hard to take that time to be in those hospitable environments where those more vulnerable parts of us get to show upDanielle (30:34):And it can't be rushed. Even with good friends sometimes you just can't sit down and just talk about the inner things. Sometimes you need all that warmup time of just having fun, remembering what it's like to be in a space with someone. So I think we underestimate how much contact we actually need with people.Yeah. What are your recommendations then for folks? Say someone's coming out of that therapeutic space or they're wondering about it. What do you tell people?Jenny (31:06):Go to dance class.I do. And I went to a dance class last night, last I cried multiple times. And one of the times the teacher was like, this is $25. This is the cheapest therapy you're ever going to have. And it's very true. And I think it is so therapeutic to be in a space where you can move your body in a way that feels safe and good. And I recognize that shared movement spaces may not feel safe for all bodies. And so that's what I would say from my embodied experience, but I also want to hold that dance spaces are not void of whiteness and all of these other things that we're talking about too. And so I would say find what can feel like a safe enough community for you, because I don't think any community is 100% safe,I think we can hopefully find places of shared interest where we get to bring the parts of us that are alive and passionate. And the more we get to share those, then I think like you're saying, we might have enough space that maybe one day in between classes we start talking about something meaningful or things like that. And so I'm a big fan of people trying to figure out what makes them excited to do what activity makes them excited to do, and is there a way you can invite, maybe it's one, maybe it's two, three people into that. It doesn't have to be this giant group, but how can we practice sharing space and moving through the world in a way that we would want to?Danielle (32:55):Yeah, that's good. I like that. I think for me, while I'm not living in a warm place, I mean, it's not as cold as New York probably, but it's not a warm place Washington state. But when I am in a warm place, I like to float in saltwater. I don't like to do cold plunges to cold for me, but I enjoy that when I feel like in warm salt water, I feel suddenly released and so happy. That's one thing for me, but it's not accessible here. So cooking with my kids, and honestly my regular contact with the same core people at my gym at a class most days of the week, I will go and I arrive 20 minutes early and I'll sit there and people are like, what are you doing? If they don't know me, I'm like, I'm warming up. And they're like, yeah.(33:48):And so now there's a couple other people that are arrive early and they just hang and sit there, and we're all just, I just need to warm up my energy to even be social in a different spot. But once I am, it's not deep convo. Sometimes it is. I showed up, I don't know, last week and cried at class or two weeks ago. So there's the possibility for that. No one judges you in the space that I'm in. So that, for me, that feels good. A little bit of movement and also just being able to sit or be somewhere where I'm with people, but I'm maybe not demanded to say anything. So yeah,Jenny (34:28):It makes me think about, and this may be offensive for some people, so I will give a caveat that this resonates with me. It's not dogma, but I love this podcast called Search for the Slavic Soul, and it is this Polish woman who talks about pre-Christian Slavic religion and tradition. And one of the things that she talks about is that there wasn't a lot of praying, and she's like, in Slavic tradition, you didn't want to bother the gods. The Gods would just tell you, get off your knees and go do something useful. And I'm not against prayer, but I do think in some ways it seems related to what we're talking about, about these hyper spiritualizing things, where it's like, at what point do we actually just get up and go live the life that we want? And it's not going to be void of these symptoms and the difficult things that we have with us, but what if we actually let our emphasis be more on joy and life and pleasure and fulfillment and trust that we will continue metabolizing these things as we do so rather than I have to always focus on the most negative, the most painful, the most traumatic thing ever.(35:47):I think that that's only going to put us more and more in that vortex to use somatic experiencing language rather than how do I grow my counter vortex of pleasure and joy and X, y, Z?Danielle (35:59):Oh yeah, you got all those awards and I know what they are now. Yeah. Yeah. We're wrapping up, but I just wanted to say, if you're listening in, we're not prescribing anything or saying that you can't have a spiritual experience, but we are describing and we are describing instances where it can be harmful or ways that it could be problematic for many, many people. So yeah. Any final thoughts, Jenny? IJenny (36:32):Embrace the mess. Life is messy and it's alright. Buckle up.Kitsap County & Washington State Crisis and Mental Health ResourcesIf you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 911.This resource list provides crisis and mental health contacts for Kitsap County and across Washington State.Kitsap County / Local ResourcesResourceContact InfoWhat They OfferSalish Regional Crisis Line / Kitsap Mental Health 24/7 Crisis Call LinePhone: 1‑888‑910‑0416Website: https://www.kitsapmentalhealth.org/crisis-24-7-services/24/7 emotional support for suicide or mental health crises; mobile crisis outreach; connection to services.KMHS Youth Mobile Crisis Outreach TeamEmergencies via Salish Crisis Line: 1‑888‑910‑0416Website: https://sync.salishbehavioralhealth.org/youth-mobile-crisis-outreach-team/Crisis outreach for minors and youth experiencing behavioral health emergencies.Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS)Main: 360‑373‑5031; Toll‑free: 888‑816‑0488; TDD: 360‑478‑2715Website: https://www.kitsapmentalhealth.org/crisis-24-7-services/Outpatient, inpatient, crisis triage, substance use treatment, stabilization, behavioral health services.Kitsap County Suicide Prevention / “Need Help Now”Call the Salish Regional Crisis Line at 1‑888‑910‑0416Website: https://www.kitsap.gov/hs/Pages/Suicide-Prevention-Website.aspx24/7/365 emotional support; connects people to resources; suicide prevention assistance.Crisis Clinic of the PeninsulasPhone: 360‑479‑3033 or 1‑800‑843‑4793Website: https://www.bainbridgewa.gov/607/Mental-Health-ResourcesLocal crisis intervention services, referrals, and emotional support.NAMI Kitsap CountyWebsite: https://namikitsap.org/Peer support groups, education, and resources for individuals and families affected by mental illness.Statewide & National Crisis ResourcesResourceContact InfoWhat They Offer988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (WA‑988)Call or text 988; Website: https://wa988.org/Free, 24/7 support for suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, relationship problems, and substance concerns.Washington Recovery Help Line1‑866‑789‑1511Website: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/injury-and-violence-prevention/suicide-prevention/hotline-text-and-chat-resourcesHelp for mental health, substance use, and problem gambling; 24/7 statewide support.WA Warm Line877‑500‑9276Website: https://www.crisisconnections.org/wa-warm-line/Peer-support line for emotional or mental health distress; support outside of crisis moments.Native & Strong Crisis LifelineDial 988 then press 4Website: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/injury-and-violence-prevention/suicide-prevention/hotline-text-and-chat-resourcesCulturally relevant crisis counseling by Indigenous counselors.Additional Helpful Tools & Tips• Behavioral Health Services Access: Request assessments and access to outpatient, residential, or inpatient care through the Salish Behavioral Health Organization. Website: https://www.kitsap.gov/hs/Pages/SBHO-Get-Behaviroal-Health-Services.aspx• Deaf / Hard of Hearing: Use your preferred relay service (for example dial 711 then the appropriate number) to access crisis services.• Warning Signs & Risk Factors: If someone is talking about harming themselves, giving away possessions, expressing hopelessness, or showing extreme behavior changes, contact crisis resources immediately.Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that. Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.

Dave & Sue Cole have been in YWAM for over 45 years, seeing young people empowered and nations transformed for God. On this episode they share wisdom on holding onto the promises of God, keeping a joyful heart through trials and stories of what they are seeing God doing in the earth today. Find out more about YWAM Furnace below

Alex shares the story of how Jesus saved him and how God's timing is good. He and Hunter reflect on the goodness of the logic and rationality of faith in the God of the Bible.--Alex is a lifelong follower of Christ who embarked on a journey of faith at the tender age of 3. From serving the homeless with Church at the Park to joining YWAM, Alex's mission is to illuminate the beauty of God's love and provide a balanced understanding of the entire Bible, not just selective passages.--Connect with Us:contact@parableministries.comParable MinistriesInstagram--If you feel led to give to Parable Ministries, please visit: DonateMusic created by Chad HoffmanArtwork created by Anthony Kuenzi

John invites Jenny McGrath to explore the hidden emotional and psychological damage caused by high-demand religious groups like Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Jenny McGrath, a former YWAM staff member and researcher, opens up about her experiences as a teenage missionary molded by purity culture, colonial attitudes, and spiritual manipulation. Together, they uncover how exhaustion, self-denial, and trauma are often mistaken for holiness and how these organizations can weaponize faith to control both youth and global missions. The conversation dives deep into dissociation, mind control, white saviorism, and the lifelong process of healing from religious trauma—revealing how sincere devotion can be transformed into exploitation under the guise of serving God.______________________Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K ______________________- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

You can purchase my photographic compositions here: https://www.piratechristianphoto.com Support Fighting for the Faith Join Our Crew: http://www.piratechristian.com/join-o... Patreon:   / piratechristian   Merchandise: https://www.moteefe.com/store/pirate-... Fighting for the Faith Radio Program: http://fightingforthefaith.com Social Media Facebook:   / piratechristian   Twitter:   / piratechristian   Instagram:   / piratechristian   Video Sermons    / @kongsvingerlutheran670   Sermons http://www.kongsvingerchurch.org/sermons Sunday Schools http://www.kongsvingerchurch.org/bibl... Bible Software Used in this Video: https://www.accordancebible.com Video Editing Software: https://adobe.ly/2W9lyNa Video Recording Software: https://www.ecamm.com Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com http://netbible.com/ All rights reserved.

One leader said he never saw his group speaking like this before after implementing STS. At a time when reading continues to decrease, Bible storytelling with deep discussion fits well with where Youth With A Mission is heading.  Hear why.   Links: Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …  Moment for Eternity - Training for Evangelism   Follow us on Twitter ~ Feedback ~ Facebook ~ iTunes Podcast ~ Vimeo ~ STS Youtube ~ God's Story Youtube

Steve and Becky Golla sharing at Grace on November 2, 2025

Has the worship industry lost it's soul? In this conversation Steffen & Aleah unpack what worship was originally designed to be. Steffen & Aleah Gastineau are based in Amsterdam and pioneer the School Of Worship in YWAM bases all over the world. You can find out more about the School of Worship at the here https://ywamfurnace.nz/training/school-of-worship/ . Find out more about YWAM Furnace below

Why does Youth With A Mission in Brazil love STS? From the moment one leader said she would go for only a few hours and stayed for the whole training, to the implementation of STS at several bases in Brazil, YWAM has used this methodology with great success. STS has given the people deeper passion for the Lord. Links: Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity … Moment for Eternity - Training for Evangelism Follow us on Twitter ~ Feedback ~ Facebook ~ iTunes Podcast ~ Vimeo ~ STS Youtube ~ God's Story Youtube

Alex takes a brief look at Revelation and reflects on the nature of the book.--Scripture Explored: Revelation 1:3, 12, 16, 20, Luke 21:25-26, 2 Timothy 1:7, Exodus 25:31-40, Philippians 2:15, Revelation 13:1, 16-17, Revelation 22:20--Alex is a lifelong follower of Christ who embarked on a journey of faith at the tender age of 3. From serving the homeless with Church at the Park to joining YWAM, Alex's mission is to illuminate the beauty of God's love and provide a balanced understanding of the entire Bible, not just selective passages.--Connect with Us:contact@parableministries.comParable MinistriesInstagram--If you feel led to give to Parable Ministries, please visit: DonateMusic created by Chad HoffmanArtwork created by Anthony Kuenzi

Episode Summary: What if true government starts not in politics, but in the choices we make every day? Paulo Filion shares how his YWAM School of Government equips Christians to apply biblical principles across every sphere of life—self, family, community, and civil institutions. Drawing on his experiences in Latin America, he shows how good citizens and families, grounded in Scripture, form the foundation for strong governments.This special episode comes from DNA's 2025 Forum in Panama, where Luke and Tim sat down with Paulo Filion, the creator and operator of the YWAM School of Government and Biblical Worldview. Hear powerful stories of how he is actively championing biblical worldview training in Medellín, Colombia.Who is Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA)? Since 1997, DNA's mission has been to equip followers of Jesus around the globe with a biblical worldview, empowering them to build flourishing families, communities, and nations.

Byrnese stops by to discuss her time at an evangelical, young adult leadership program(think YWAM or Teen Mania), what led her to the Moravian Church, and why is the self-proclaimed Moravian Bread Lady!

Adam & Leah are the leaders of YWAM Paris. In this episode James sits down with them to hear how God is moving across Europe along with stories of God breaking through as they have learned trust Him in their journey pioneering in Paris, France.YWAM Paris - https://www.ywamparisconnect.com/Find out more about YWAM Furnace below

Thank you for joining us this month as we take up “The Invitation” and join together with thousands of YWAMers from around the world as we pray and hear from God. This month we will be praying for YWAM's Prison Ministries. Continue reading →

What happens when a boy raised outside the faith receives a dream that changes his destiny?  In this jaw-dropping episode, Pastor Mike introduces Christophe — a missionary leader born into a family tied to voodoo practices in Haiti, later mentored by YWAM founder Loren Cunningham, and now spreading the gospel across the unreached world. You'll hear about the spiritual battlelines drawn in Haiti, the laws restricting Christian ministry in Canada, and the miracles unfolding in the 10/40 window today. This is more than a testimony — it's a prophetic insight into the future of global missions. Topics we cover: [03:27] How YWAM became one of the largest mission movements in the world [11:11] The spiritual roots of Haiti and why voodoo is still powerful today [21:24] Christophe's salvation story and the power of a praying mom [28:53] The challenges of pastoring in Canada under anti-conversion laws [35:25] A moment in Canada that led 1,000+ people to Christ [42:25] A discussion on political leadership, Trump, and faith in the White House [57:34] The urgency of missions in the 10/40 window [01:01:00] Why Jesus is showing up in dreams — and what it means for the church ● [01:08:00] A call to action to reach the 97% of unreached people Listen now. Share later. Revival is already happening. Find leadership books, master classes, and more resources at: https://www.MikeKai.Tv Inspire Collective: Learn more about how you can be an influencer in your own communities and businesses, visit: https://www.inspirecollective.com To partner with me in bringing the word of God around the world, click here: https://raisedonors.com/poundforpoundministries/partner ———— Stay Connected! ———— Website: http://www.MikeKai.tv https://www.instagram.com/mikekai https://twitter.com/Mike_Kai https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-kai

In Japan, where Christians are a minority and “being gay” carries some different cultural meanings than it does in the US, Aogu Fujihashi offers to LGBTQ people the support and discipleship he would have wanted to receive as a teenager. This week, David and TJ talk with Aogu about Japanese Christianity, his journey toward a Side B understanding of faith and sexuality, his spiritual influences (from Augustine to Calvin to Piper and more), and his LGBTQ+ ministry in Tokyo.Also: Japanese bathhouse culture! We learned some things.We appreciate Aogu's deep care for the church in Japan, and his desire for open dialogue rather than hostility—wherever you find yourself on these questions, we hope you'll join us in listening and learning from each other.Note: This episode uses the terms “Side A” and “Side B” (and X, Y) as shorthand quite a bit. If you're new to the conversation, you might find it helpful to check out episode #3, where we talk through the four “sides”: ⁠#3 - A-B-Y-X | 4 Sides on SSA/Gay Sexuality⁠—★ About Our GuestAogu Fujihashi is a gay Japanese Christian who served on staff with YWAM from 2020 to 2025, after volunteering with them in the 2011 tsunami relief efforts. He focuses on helping the Japanese church have healthier conversations about LGBTQ+ issues. Aogu helped edit the Japanese translation of Two Views on Homosexuality and wrote the foreword for Wesley Hill's Washed and Waiting. He's passionate about creating spaces where people can experience God's love and live whole lives. He can be found on Instagram at @aogufuji.—★ Timestamps(00:00) #66 - Wrestling with Faith and Sexuality in Japan: Aogu Fujihashi's Journey | 信仰とセクシュアリティの葛藤：藤橋仰さんの証し(00:26) "When I realized I was gay..."(12:39) A spiritual lineage of God's heart for the world(21:35) Don't charismatic churches do conversion therapy and such?(30:46) Why not Side A: The Samwise Gamgee approach(38:07) What's the difference between repression and self-control?(45:40) Friendships: The classic trope of Japanese manga(51:52) LGBTQ ministry: being even more "out"(01:03:08) Bathhouse culture in Japan(01:13:50) Looking ahead: Hope for better dialogue in Japan(01:17:29) A post-episode conversation: On literal readings and compelling theology—★ Send us feedback, questions, comments, and support!Email: communionandshalom@gmail.com | Instagram: @newkinship | Substack: @newkinship | Patreon: @newkinship—★ CreditsCreators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza | Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson, carlswensonmusic.com | Podcast Manager: Elena F. | Graphic Designer: Gavin Popken, gavinpopkenart.com ★ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newkinship.substack.com

In conversations around Christian faith and sexuality, especially in the U.S., it can feel like everyone's expected to pick a “side.” But it's not the same—or at least the same lines being drawn—in other places.In this episode, we talked with Aogu Fujihashi and Kaz Okaya about their experiences in the Japanese Christian context, where the conversation around LGBTQ+ identity looks a bit different. We talk about how a culture of conformity impacts same-sex marriage ideas in Japan, how American evangelicals influence Japanese churches, and the quiet struggles many queer Christians face in some church communities. Join us for a thoughtful look at what gets lost—or gained—in translation, on faith and sexuality, in Japan.—Note: This episode uses the terms “Side A” and “Side B” (and X, Y) as shorthand quite a bit. If you're new to the conversation, you might find it helpful to check out episode #3, where we talk through the four “sides”: ⁠#3 - A-B-Y-X | 4 Sides on SSA/Gay Sexuality⁠—About Our GuestsAogu Fujihashi is a gay Japanese Christian who served on staff with YWAM from 2020 to 2025, after volunteering with them in the 2011 tsunami relief efforts. He focuses on helping the Japanese church have healthier conversations about LGBTQ+ issues. Aogu helped edit the Japanese translation of Two Views on Homosexuality and wrote the foreword for Wesley Hill's Washed and Waiting. He's passionate about creating spaces where people can experience God's love and live whole lives. He can be found on Instagram at @aogufuji.Kazusa Okaya is a straight Japanese Christian, translator, and PhD student at Durham University. He translated Washed and Waiting and Andrew Marin's Love Is an Orientation into Japanese and contributed to Two Views on Homosexuality. Kaz formerly served as an IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) staff worker in Japan (KGK - “Kirisutosha Gakusei Kai", which means “Fellowship of Christian Students”). As a former staff pastor in student ministry, Kaz has been a thoughtful voice in ongoing conversations about faith and sexuality in the Japanese church. He participates in conversations on faith and sexuality at Dream Party dialogue.—★ Timestamps(00:00) #65 - Aogu Fujihashi and Kaz Okaya, Japanese Christians on Faith and Sexuality Convos (06:09) When the Japanese Christian bookstore has zero books on LGBTQ (17:31) Challenges of translating: "Christians who wish to be faithful..." (31:20) "Japan is the only G7 country that hasn't legalized same-sex marriage" (41:26) What is an "evangelical" in Japan? (44:21) How do Christians talk about being gay in Japan? Borrow US categories? (57:17) Japanese Christians "coming out", but rarely to a pastor (01:00:43) Kinship beyond marriage in Japan... is mainly outside the church (gang brotherhoods?) (01:08:16) We hope to keep dialogue open between progressive/conservative Christians (01:13:12) Who do we choose to dialogue with? When does it cause harm?—★ Links and ReferencesThe Bible study for LGBTQ+ and same-sex attracted people that Aogu facilitates meets every other week in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Follow on Instagram: @shinjukubaisutaAogu Fujihashi has an occasionally updated blog at https://aogufujihashi.wordpress.com/Kaz has an article in Christianity Today: Japanese Evangelicalism Was Once Nationalistic (May 2025)—★ Send us feedback, questions, comments, and support!Email: communionandshalom@gmail.com | Instagram: @newkinship | Substack: @newkinship | Patreon: @newkinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newkinship.substack.com

It's Missions Monday on Truth Talk Live! Host Russ East highlights real opportunities for short-term and long-term mission work—from El Salvador to Ghana to Utah. Russ sits down with Paul and Mary Cardenas, YWAM missionaries in El Salvador, to share their powerful testimonies and how you can join their mission. Whether it's a 10-day trip or a year of service, this episode will inspire you to take the Great Commission seriously and consider where God might be calling you next.

In this message, Pastor Jon Cobler welcomes missionaries Uriah and Naomi Lyford from Cambodia to share about their work and personal journeys of faith. The Lyfords discuss their partnership with Living Water Church and highlight the impact of missions both locally and globally.Here's what you'll hear in this video:- How Living Water Church has connected and partnered with the Lyfords and YWAM in Cambodia- The growth and reach of their educational and social media ministries, impacting thousands across Cambodia- Inspiring stories of transformation, including a local orphan's journey from debt to national influencer- Naomi and Uriah's personal paths into missions, emphasizing the importance of family, community, and second chances- Encouragement and practical advice for young adults considering their life's calling and the powerful impact of every small contribution

Happy Father's Day ! Parker Carlson talks about his trip in YWAM.

What if business wasn't a fallback option—but the exact calling God placed on your life?In this episode of the Business as Mission Podcast, Mike Baer interviews Dr. Sean Dwyer, a former CPA turned professor and researcher at the University of Oklahoma. Sean shares his incredible journey—from walking away from medicine, launching a clothing line, and joining YWAM, to now equipping Gen Z entrepreneurs with purpose-driven vision.They explore the tension many believers feel between "real ministry" and the marketplace—and how Sean's story helped him (and now his students) discover that business is not a second-class calling. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone questioning their vocational purpose, struggling with secular vs. sacred work, or longing to make a lasting impact.If you've enjoyed the Business as Mission podcast, please follow us so you won't miss any episodes and give us a rating wherever you listen. We'd also ask you to consider underwriting the costs of the podcast by supporting us at the Spotify link below, on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/thebusinessasmissionpodcast), or Buy Me a Coffee (https://buymeacoffee.com/businessasmissionpodcast).

Thank you for joining us this month as we take up “The Invitation” and join together with thousands of YWAMers from around the world as we pray and hear from God. This month we lift up the nation of Indonesia in prayer. Continue reading →

Live stream recorded on the 2nd of May of 2025 at YWAM Harpenden Studios. • •   ** This is a personal podcast and reflects my thoughts and convictions. It does not represent any official position held by Youth with A Mission.**

Live stream recorded on the 25th of April of 2025 at YWAM Harpenden Studios. • •   ** This is a personal podcast and reflects my thoughts and convictions. It does not represent any official position held by Youth with A Mission.**

In this episode, we sit down with longtime YWAM leaders Edwin Fillies and David Hamilton for a candid Q&A. They share insights from nearly 50 years in missions, discussing longevity, cultivating a secret place with Jesus, and navigating disappointment and betrayal

Mixed messages from QED – new dates announced but we hear this is the last one(!) and we have a hard time accepting it. At least we'll do our best to be there and meet (among others) Chris French whose audiobook is currently on sale. In TWISH we hear about Leonardo da Vinci and specifically about some of the myths surrounding him. Then, it's time for the news:UK: Christian missionary group YWAM accused of public shaming and rituals to ‘cure' sexual sinPOLAND: Sanal Edamaruku's case: what do we know?INTERNATIONAL: Shadowy market for weight-loss drugs has emerged onlineSERBIA: A wave of disinformation surrounding the demonstrationsSWEDEN: Debunked personality test (DISC) refuses to dieINTERNATIONAL: The Global Listening Project on how attitudes towards vaccines have changed since CovidNorwegian-Swedish fundamental Christian zealot Runar Søgaard announces Trump to be God's gift to the US and himself as God's gift to Sweden, and for that receives this week's Really Wrong Award.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-475.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:05:32 TWISH0:17:43 News0:54:22 Really Wrong0:58:55 Quote1:00:09 Outro1:01:32 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Dr. Gregg Mays brings back Mia Baker to get an update on her post high school mission plans. They discuss her plans to join YWAM and how you can support her as she gets ready to move to Australia soon.How can Agape Leaders serve you?  Please find us at:         Website:  http://www.agapeleaders.org/    LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-mays/      Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/agapeleaders.org     Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/agapeleaders10/    Bible Break With Agape Leaders: http://www.agapeleaders.org/daily-devotionTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greggmaysYouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCmM7ETR652mLtDSKSjda-pwRead Dr, Mays' book Practical Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=practical+leadership+lessons+from+an+average+leader&crid=259U5RNS5J5W5&sprefix=Practical+Leadership%2Caps%2C102&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_20Please find Mia at:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mia.cbaker?igsh=Y2VqcHF5azU4NmJy

Sponsored by WatersEdge: Invest with purpose? With WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you can! We offer great rates that multiply your resources and build churches. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3CxWtFzTop headlines for Tuesday, April 8, 2025We delve into Idaho's latest measures to uphold women's-only spaces, examining the implications for transgender rights and safety. Next, we turn to Florida, where the IRS has concluded a high-profile investigation into a church accused of jeopardizing its tax-exempt status, shedding light on the intersection of religion and tax law. Plus, we discuss Georgia's newly enacted Religious Freedom Restoration Act, making it the 30th state to pass such legislation, and explore how this trend influences the broader conversation on religious liberty nationwide. 00:11 Idaho expands ban on trans-identified men in women's spaces01:10 Texas AG sues San Antonio over funding ‘abortion tourism'02:02 IRS ends probe of church that prayed for school board candidate02:56 Sponsor Message WatersEdge03:54 Georgia becomes 30th state with Religious Freedom Restoration Act04:42 Most immigrants vulnerable to deportation are Christian: report05:41 YWAM responds to allegations of spiritual abuse: 'deeply sorry'06:32 'House of David,' 'The Chosen' among Amazon Prime's top 10 showsSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsIdaho expands ban on trans-identified men in women's spaces | PoliticsTexas AG sues San Antonio over funding ‘abortion tourism' | PoliticsIRS ends probe of church that prayed for school board candidate | U.S.Georgia becomes 30th state with Religious Freedom Restoration Act | PoliticsMost immigrants vulnerable to deportation are Christian: report | PoliticsYWAM responds to allegations of spiritual abuse: 'deeply sorry' | World'House of David,' 'The Chosen' among Amazon Prime's top 10 shows | Entertainment

This episode has been in the pipeline for so long and finally we have made it happen. James interviews two generals in the YWAM world who have together been in the mission for over 50+ years. Barry & Kay share wisdom from decades in ministry and following Jesus, providing gold nuggets on staying in the race for the long haul. We hope you enjoy todays episode!Find out more about YWAM Furnace below

Thank you for joining us this month as we take up “The Invitation” and join together with thousands of YWAMers from around the world as we pray and hear from God. This month we will be praying for Myanmar. Continue reading →

Live stream recorded on the 4th of April of 2025 at YWAM Harpenden Studios. • •   ** This is a personal podcast and reflects my thoughts and convictions. It does not represent any official position held by Youth with A Mission.**

Live stream recorded on the 28th of March of 2025 at YWAM Harpenden Studios. • •   ** This is a personal podcast and reflects my thoughts and convictions. It does not represent any official position held by Youth with A Mission.**

Brother Nathan had a ministry sharing the gospel and praying with Muslims in the Middle East. He and other believers had been evangelizing for more than eight years. The responses were almost completely positive. Then, as he was ministering with two others last year, they ran into a very different response. Nathan and his two friends found themselves in a police office, their hands behind their backs, facing a serious charge of “heralding Christianity.” Nathan's missionary journey started long before his arrest. At 19, Nathan joined YWAM to experience short-term mission work after deciding to give his entire life to be used by the Lord—wherever He asked Nathan to go. Nathan will share how Peter's choice to step out of the boat on the water with Jesus inspired him to be all in with Christ. As a young man and zealous missionary, Nathan didn't think much about the risk of Christian persecution—until it happened. Nathan will share advice and encouragement to future missionaries and describe his missionary work each day in the Middle East. “Muslims are hungry for prayer,” Nathan shares. “They are real people with real issues who long for prayer.” Nathan had many opportunities to pray healing over Muslims and see the Lord at work. Listen as he tells the story of his arrest and what he felt when as he realized he could be facing years in prison. Nathan will also share how the Lord relieved fear and anxiety when they took their prison bread and the water and turned it into a remembrance of Christ's suffering. Since they didn't have a Bible, the scripture they knew in their heart was all they had to hold onto during their worship and prayers to the Lord in prison. Join us next week to hear more of Nathan's experience in prison and how it became their mission field for Christ!

Brother Nathan had a ministry sharing the gospel and praying with Muslims in the Middle East. He and other believers had been evangelizing for more than eight years. The responses were almost completely positive. Then, as he was ministering with two others last year, they ran into a very different response. Nathan and his two friends found themselves in a police office, their hands behind their backs, facing a serious charge of “heralding Christianity.” Nathan's missionary journey started long before his arrest. At 19, Nathan joined YWAM to experience short-term mission work after deciding to give his entire life to be used by the Lord—wherever He asked Nathan to go. Nathan will share how Peter's choice to step out of the boat on the water with Jesus inspired him to be all in with Christ. As a young man and zealous missionary, Nathan didn't think much about the risk of Christian persecution—until it happened. Nathan will share advice and encouragement to future missionaries and describe his missionary work each day in the Middle East. “Muslims are hungry for prayer,” Nathan shares. “They are real people with real issues who long for prayer.” Nathan had many opportunities to pray healing over Muslims and see the Lord at work. Listen as he tells the story of his arrest and what he felt when as he realized he could be facing years in prison. Nathan will also share how the Lord relieved fear and anxiety when they took their prison bread and the water and turned it into a remembrance of Christ's suffering. Since they didn't have a Bible, the scripture they knew in their heart was all they had to hold onto during their worship and prayers to the Lord in prison. Join us next week to hear more of Nathan's experience in prison and how it became their mission field for Christ! The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in Syria, North Korea, Iran, China and other nations throughout the year, as well as giving free access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Live stream recorded on the 21st of March of 2025 at YWAM Harpenden Studios. • •   ** This is a personal podcast and reflects my thoughts and convictions. It does not represent any official position held by Youth with A Mission.**

In this episode of The Collide Podcast, we sit down with JenDorrough, the Executive Director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) North Cascades. Jen's nearly two decades in ministry have taken her across the globe to 18 nations, working in Discipleship Training Schools, teaching, coaching, and leading young people in discovering God's heart for the world. We discuss what it means to be a missionary today, the challenges and rewards of ministry, and how Jen's transformative experiences—like teaching English to Muslim women in the Middle East—have shaped her faith and her approach to missions. Jen also shares her insights on how young people engage with their faith today, the hurtful and heroic aspects of mission work, and how Jesus' example informs her approach to connecting with those who are different. Whether you're curious about global missions, wrestling with the idea of being a missionary or looking for inspiration to follow God's call in your own life, this episode offers powerful insights and encouragement. What We Talked About: God's heart for the world and reaching the unreached Addressing negative perceptions of missionaries How Jesus' example guides meeting and loving people who are different Mobilizing young people to serve in the hardest and darkest places   Episode Links: Learn more about YWAM  Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

In this episode the Smiths have special guests Chase and Lindy Cofer on the podcast to discuss worship. The Cofers serve within YWAM on the Circuit Riders staff in Huntington Beach California. The 4 answer the question: ‘How do you not idolize worship leading?” (Submitted by: anonymous, 16, Pasadena California)Check out our website, Thehandlebarpodcast.com for more information, merch, how to partner with us and more. You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thehandlebarpodcast

This week on Las Vegas United, we're excited to welcome Haruna Aminda from YWAM Las Vegas. He shares how he heard God's call and moved from Ghana to Las Vegas, NV. Listen in on this powerful conversation on following God's call and how we can be a missionary here, in our own city. Welcome to Episode #98 of Las Vegas United, where we invite leaders all over Las Vegas to share their hearts for God and this city. If you would like to be a part of our show: Check out our Website ➡️ https://www.ctnonline.com/affiliate/keen-las-vegas/ Email Us ✉️ lvunited@ctn.net ⬇️ ⬇️ SHOW NOTES ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️⬇️ YWAM Las Vegas ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://ywamlasvegas.org/ ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Connection Church LV ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Instagram

Thanks for listening to the River in the Hills Church podcast. We hope you are encouraged and edified by this message brought to you by Josh Cole, YWAM.org guest speaker.

Jeff Tharp was raised in a Christian home, but at seven years old, his parents divorced which brought instability to his life for some time until he encountered Jesus at the age of eighteen. A year later, Jeff found himself in a situation where he was groomed by a closeted homosexual man, which the Lord delivered him from. Since then, Jeff has married his beautiful wife, Lauren, served on missions with YWAM, become the host of ElijahFire, and walked with the Lord faithfully for over twenty years. FOLLOW US: https://linktr.ee/elijahfireshow /// ElijahFire and ElijahStreams are part of Elijah List Ministries. Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible! Click here to learn how to partner with us: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/elijahfirepodcast

This week, we look back on some of the most moving moments shared on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio in 2024: Aaron Miller, VOM's Vice President of International Ministry, gives a glimpse of his time with an African ministry partner and an African word that describes how VOM serves persecuted Christians. Paul Dangtoumba, leader for YWAM's work in Nigeria, shares his own story of persecution even before he was born and scars he bears today. An expert in trauma care, Brother Philip serves as a field minister in Africa, helping VOM respond to the spiritual and emotional needs of persecuted Christians. Jeff Woodke served as a gospel and humanitarian worker in Niger until terrorists took him hostage. Jeff and his wife, Els, share their experiences during Jeff's six and a half years in captivity. On a visit to China, Brother Kevin and his family were told of the Hui people who had never heard of the gospel. God called them to go to the Hui, but as the Chinese government imposed more restrictions, their missionary work in China was forcibly ended. Luke and Kate served as medical gospel workers in Myanmar but were also forced to leave. They continue, from a distance, to see God bringing forth fruit. Hearing the gospel on a TV program, Brother Job came to faith. He was boldly sharing the good news via social media when he was kidnapped and threatened by terrorists. As a child, Pastor Nouh Yattara in Mali was drawn to the gospel by a simple gift of a ballpoint pen. He heard the gospel and decades later he still shares the hope he found as a child. After hearing these brief excerpts, you'll want to listen to the entire conversations with guests from 2024. Click on the links below to listen on VOMRADIO.net or listen in the VOM APP. Aaron Miller, Vice President of International Ministry at VOM Paul Dangtoumda, leader for YWAM's work in Nigeria Brother Philip, field minister in Africa for VOM Jeff Woodke, taken hostage by Islamic extremists, and his wife, Els Brother Kevin, missionary to the Hui people in China Luke and Kate, medical gospel workers to Myanmar (Burma) Brother Job, gospel worker in North Africa Nouh Yattara, pastor in Mali We thank the Lord for allowing VOM Radio to encourage and challenge listeners all over the world this year. Thank you for faithfully listening and praying for our persecuted family in restricted nations and hostile areas around the world! We'd love to hear from you! Let us know what conversation in 2024 most inspired your faith or equipped you to pray. You can also give online to support persecuted Christians through the work of The Voice of the Martyrs. NEW PODCAST BEGINS JANUARY 1! Subscribe now to Extreme Devotion, a short, daily devotional podcast from The Voice of the Martyrs coming in 2025. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Welcome to the final episode of 2024! Today we have a special interview with our new friends Katie and Daniel. Following a less than ideal ministry experience, Katie and Daniel have been working to rebuild their faith and make sense of God. In this process, Katie launched a podcast (see below) to expose the toxic cultural patterns of their last ministry. Today, Katie and Daniel join the show to discuss their relationship, experiences with YWAM, and what faith means to this at this time. Enjoy! The Road Out Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/2ezBPyspnMJptaAukBs7La

At only 24 years old Ethan heard the call to go to the nations and reach a new generation in Fiji for the Lord. Going with only a clear word from God and a whole lot of faith Ethan has pioneered a thriving YWAM community in the South Pacific. Hear insights from his journey trusting God and walking in obedience. Find out more about YWAM Furnace below

Join the Deep-dive team as they discuss Towards an Institutional or Apostolic Vision by Alejandro Rodríguez, a long-time member of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) since 1989. The book is addressed to fellow "warriors" in YWAM, encouraging them to reflect on the organization's vision and remove practices that are commonplace in ministry but do not align with God's expectations.Become a paid subscriber to The Kingdom Reformation leader's community and download the book for free! Sign up at https://kingdomreformation.org The book argues that YWAM is best understood not as a Christian organization but as an "apostolic mission.". This distinction is important because it impacts how the organization and its members see themselves. Rodríguez warns against falling into a "Para-church" mentality, where YWAMers view themselves as separate from or superior to the local church. Instead, YWAM should be "part of something greater" -- namely, the global church.An apostolic vision, according to the sources, has several key characteristics:It involves recognizing that God has already been at work and that YWAM has "a glorious inheritance" to build on and pass on to future generations It requires seeing YWAM as a family, not just a hotel where people come and go as they please It prioritizes discipleship, which is "a lifestyle," not just a six-month or one-year programIt calls for "passing on a legacy," not just delegating tasksIt means impacting society beyond just church activities, striving to be "relevant in society"It involves dependence on God, not moneyOne of the biggest threats to this apostolic vision is the tendency to become "institutionalized". Rodríguez draws contrasts between an institutional and an apostolic approach to various aspects of YWAM life and ministry:Institutional vs. ApostolicChristian Organization vs. Apostolic Mission [4]Looking Out for One's Own Ministry vs. Being Part of Something Greater [7]Bases vs. Missionary Communities [17]Leaders vs. Pastors/Spiritual Parents [18]Training vs. Discipleship [19]Staff Members vs. Servants of God [20]Pastoral Care vs. Pastoral Life [21]Delegating a Task vs. Passing on a Legacy [22]Students vs. Disciples [23]Institutional Presence vs. A Mission that is Relevant in Society [14]Ministerial Activities vs. A Vision to Follow [24]Bound to Money vs. Depending on God [16]Rodríguez uses numerous examples and anecdotes to illustrate his points. These range from personal experiences in YWAM Argentina to biblical stories. Notably, he emphasizes the role of families in YWAM, highlighting the challenges and opportunities they face [25, 26]. He also stresses the importance of recognizing "openings, opportunities, and urgency" in missions [27]. By responding to these, YWAM can truly make a difference in society and be part of God's work of transforming nations.The sources conclude with a call to action, urging YWAMers to reflect on what they have read and to allow the Holy Spirit to renew their lives and ministries [28]. Rodríguez encourages...

Connect with Christian or find her new book "Break Up with What Broke You" at ChristianBevere.com

Welcome to Exploring the Marketplace with Shawn Bolz and Bob Hasson! Today, we're joined by the remarkable Michael Acker. Michael's parents turned their lives around, leaving behind drug smuggling and new-age witchcraft to dedicate themselves to Christ through YWAM and missionary work in Mexico. This profound transformation set Michael on his path to ministry.After college and nearly two decades in pastoral ministry, Michael transitioned into corporate sales and executive communication coaching, while still volunteering at GO and his local church. In 2023, Michael and Taylor engaged with the leadership at GO, leading Michael to become the Executive Director at Go On The Mission, focusing on aiding impoverished children and breaking the cycle of poverty.Michael shares his journey of integrating faith into his sales career, overcoming burnout after 18 years in ministry, and finding success in corporate work, writing, and coaching. Join us as we dive into Michael's inspiring story of faith, resilience, and God's provision. This episode is packed with insights and encouragement for anyone navigating their marketplace journey.www.michaelacker.com www.goonthemission.comWatch full episode here: https://youtu.be/bcmM4qGr6iwRSS: https://bit.ly/3Q0wnPoiTunes: http://apple.co/2A6QJRzGoogle Podcast: http://bit.ly/2L3dvRaSpotify: https://bit.ly/3U0ANGTCome join me on my Social Media:Facebook: ShawnbolzTwitter: ShawnBolzInstagram: ShawnBolzTikTok: ShawnBolzYouTube: ShawnBolzofficialYouTube: Exploring the Marketplace with Shawn and BobTake a class or attend an event at our Spiritual Growth Academy: Our 4 week classes and monthly events are designed to do the heavy lifting in your spiritual growth journey. Learn how to hear from God, stay spiritually healthy, and impact the world around you: https://bit.ly/3B2luDRTake a read:Translating God - Hearing God's voice for yourself and the world around you https://bit.ly/3RU2X3FEncounter - A spiritual encounter that will shape your faith https://bit.ly/3tNAW4YKeys to Heaven's Economy - Understanding the resources for your destiny: https://bit.ly/3TZAc7uOur resources: resources@bolzministries.comOur office: info@bolzministries.com