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Christian leaders say…
The late Dr. Bill Bright, Founder and former President, Campus Crusade for Christ International
"I thank and praise our wonderful Lord for the world impact YWAM has had in helping to fulfill the Great Commission. Loren Cunningham along with the leadership and staff of YWAM has always been a great inspiration and blessing to me and it has been a great joy and privilege to work alongside them for the gospel. Their faith, boldness and zeal for our dear Lord have been a significant factor in this greatest-of-all-time spiritual harvests for Christ's kingdom in the past 40 years. May God's richest blessings be upon you at this special time of commemoration, and may the wonderful fruit of your work in the past be small compared with what God will do through you in the future for His glory."
David Aikman, author and former TIME Magazine editor, Washington D.C.
"I know of no other organization in the Christian missionary field that has produced and continues to produce such outstanding, mature and Spirit-led young men and women."
Dr. Tony Campolo, Professor of Sociology, Eastern College, St. Davids, Pennsylvania
"Loren Cunningham has been one of the most adventuresome visionaries of our time. What he has accomplished staggers the imagination. God gave him a dream and he lived it out - very few of us do that."
Dr. Dick Eastman, International President, Every Home for Christ
"Thirty-five years ago I spent an entire night in prayer and discussion with Loren Cunningham. As he described his unique vision still in its infancy, I paused at one point and said, 'Loren, if this happens it will change the world.' How I rejoice that we now can look back and declare it has truly happened - and it continues to happen. YWAM, to me, is one of the most significant evangelism strategies in the history of the Church. What an extraordinary work wrought by our extraordinary God!"
Ralph W. Eckardt, DSW, former Executive Director, InterServe USA
"There are two places where I regularly meet YWAMers, on the field and in our organization! You are where the action is and you instill vision and long term commitment in the lives of the people you touch! As a tentmaking mission with a long-term view of ministry in limited access countries, InterServe is thankful for the experiences many of our people have had with YWAM in the formative years of their ministry. Thank you for your Godly example!"
Dr. Hans Finzel, Executive Director, CB International
"Youth With A Mission is one of the most cutting-edge ministries I know. I appreciate their open structure and passion for winning people to Jesus with all and any means possible. I encourage everyone to support and get involved with the exciting ministries of YWAM!"
Gregory Fritz, President, Caleb Project
"YWAM provides a positive alternative for energetic young people. For some, the choice can be as clear and dramatic as rebellion versus submission. The danger and thrill of drugs, gangs and the street seduces them into rebellion from their parents' world. However, YWAM offers similar excitement through an alternative means - submission to Jesus Christ. YWAMers love God and follow him with the same reckless abandon that characterized the first century disciples. Thank God for 40 wonderful years of effective ministry. May God bless you with 40 more!"
Roel and Corila Goris, former South African Ambassador to Thailand, Pretoria, South Africa
"We have come to admire the dedication and effectiveness of the work done by YWAM amongst refugees and other disadvantaged communities in South East Asia. Only Christ-inspired dedication and love for our fellow human beings in distress could result in such wonderful work being done, often under the most difficult circumstances. YWAM truly represents Christianity in action and is making a difference in this world where the need is greatest. Thank you for having enriched our lives. Thank you for having made this world a better place for so many people over the past 40 years. May YWAM and every individual staff member be richly blessed in the years ahead. God bless you!"
Paul C. Kennel, President, World Concern
"When I think of YWAM, I am reminded of the many people that have spread out around the world sharing Christ's love in many new ways and brining the life saving message of the cross to the lost of this world. Ordinary people that are filled with the Holy Spirit doing great things for God."
Dominic Magwada, Africa Regional Director, Opportunity International, Harare, Zimbabwe
"In addition to the many people who have come to know the Lord Jesus as a result of the ministry of YWAM, there has been an amazing work of character-building in the lives of many YWAM staff on the bases and at DTSes."
Ranjan Marwah, Executive Access Limited, Hong Kong
"The world's largest unfunded employer has had me enthralled since my first encounter with Gary and Helen Stephens almost 18 years ago. Through living by faith, putting others first and consistently finding joy in giving to others in need makes all of you YWAMers a daily source of inspiration and faith renewal for me. I pray that many more businessmen in the world have the blessing of encountering YWAM as I have. The world is a better place and even a place of more hope thanks to the unique reflection of Christ's love through YWAM. May it long continue."
Bill McCartney, Founder & former President, Promise Keepers Professor of International Development, Fuller Theological Seminary
"Over the last 40 years, Youth With A Mission has become one of the premier missionary organizations in the world. Not only has it effectively spread the gospel and ministered to practical needs of the underprivileged around the globe, it has captured the imagination and energy of young people, infusing them with a vision - and providing a unique way - for reaching the lost!"
Bryant Myers, former Vice-President, World Vision
"YWAM is a unique contribution to world mission. YWAM has been highly effective in attracting mission entrepreneurs, especially among young people, and mobilizing them for a wide range of important mission work. Sprawling, sometimes messy and very nimble, YWAM's entrepreneurial spirit is the envy of the larger, more structured missions. YWAM's dependence on the movement of the Spirit of God in directing its work is a witness to all of us."
Dr Lloyd Ogilvie, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood, California
"I have observed first hand the magnificent, mighty way the Lord has used Youth With A Mission. It is Biblical, Christ-centered and Spirit-empowered. Dynamic evangelism is coupled with profound caring for people."
Dr. Jerry Rankin, President, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention
"The expansion of God's kingdom has been accelerated by the phenomenal mobilization efforts of Youth With A Mission. The vision and creativity of YWAM has inspired and challenged other Great Commission organizations to greater boldness and innovation for reaching our world for Jesus Christ."
Karin Lautrip Ramachandra, Colombo, Sri Lanka. International Fellowship of Evangelical Students
"YWAM has done for many what few organizations could do in providing a readily open door to the mission field for anyone with a heart to follow Christ regardless of educational qualifications. My own life has been challenged and greatly changed through this kind of opportunity. People in many different walks of life are found worldwide who look at their DTS experience as a life-changer and -saver. If all YWAM ever does in the future is keep DTS alive and kicking, then YWAM has done the world an immense favor. YWAM leadership has never been afraid to be inspired to do 'impossible projects' (e.g. a worldwide university). The world and the Church cannot do without daring future plans. May YWAM's leadership continue to dream big dreams and give new generations the space to do the same. Then we will have a future where God can continue to work His wonders."
Denny Rydberg, President, Young Life International
"Thank God for Youth With A Mission! It's a clear path for kids in a cluttered world. It's a clear path to Jesus Christ, a clear path to significance and satisfaction and a clear path to discovering what we were created for sacrificial service to God and man. Thank you, YWAM, for 40 years of dynamic ministry to Christ and kids!"
Stephen L. Richardson, U.S. Director, PIONEERS
"Youth With A Mission's versatility and creativity make it a reference point and pace setter in the world missionary movement. The inspiring story of how God has used YWAM to impact the world, training thousands of laborers and generating new missionary movements in every quarter, is surely one of the greatest testimonies in our era."
Dr. Vinay Samuel, The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, England
"YWAM has contributed significantly to the Kingdom through its diverse range of ministries. I have known many YWAM programs and missionaries and appreciate the significant contribution each has made to the growth of the Kingdom of God. I appreciate the significant contribution that you have made to helping the poor and needy. We appreciate the contributions that you have made to the word of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. I join you in praying for the youth, the poor, the needy, your ministry and others who enjoy salvation through Jesus Christ, as a result of your work. May God continue to use and bless you."
Dr. Dallas Willard, author and Professor of Philosophy, University of Southern California
"YWAM's training schools and short-term outreach programs have provided opportunities for thousands of young people who were raised in our affluent society to experience the reality of life in other parts of the world. Through these experiences, the students have found a greater understanding of the breadth of God's love, and many have committed their lives to church ministry or missionary work. I am grateful for their influence on the youth of American culture and around the world."
Reverend Dr. Jon C. Shuler, General Secretary, New Anglican Missionary Society
"When God saw fit to place our ministry in Asia, we did not know who would be our companions in the gospel. We went in obedience to God and he gave us YWAM. It seemed that we were 'a lost tribe' to them and they loved and supported us in every way. Their Kingdom vision has forever blessed us."
Brother Andrew, Open Doors, president
"YWAM... They do things and it is worth writing about. Even more: it's worth supporting! Even more: it's worth joining."
David Cummings, Wycliffe, former president "For breadth of involvement, magnitude and creativity, few organizations can match the dynamic distinctives of YWAM. God has greatly used Loren Cunningham and the thousands who have served with YWAM. And many, many will be eternally grateful as a result."
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