All is well with EQ Baltic in Orlando

The EQ Baltic team arrived in Orlando, Fla., yesterday without any major problem. The only minor problem was that 16 bags were delayed about 4 hours. The team arrived back at the Oasis Building and quickly consumed 14 large pizzas and then had a ministry program for the youth that attend Pine Castle United Methodist Church. It was a fun program and the youth group and leaders really enjoyed it. Several of the youth were left asking how they could join in next summer. The team did their program without their props, but with great energy and conviction. No one could tell they had just come off a 17 hour journey from the island of Gotland.

Today the team is enjoying Disney's MGM studios. Tomorrow will continue debriefing until the 4:00 Wycliffe tour, 5:30 dinner and 6:30 celebration service of worship, ministry program and testimonies from the outreach. (Click Here for Directions) Those outside the EQ program will need to pay $6 if attending dinner. Tours and celebration service are free.

Posted By: Dave Nettles on 7/13/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

EpicQuest Baltic Tour Arrives in Gotland, Sweden

Students disembarked safely on the island of Gotland after about 25 hours of travel by bus and by ferry.

The EpicQuest Baltic Tour arrived in the city of Visby in Gotland on Saturday after traveling from Latvian cities of Liepaja and Riga and the Swedish cities of Stockholm and Nynäshamn.

There were many sad goodbyes in Latvia, as the team left their newly acquired friends from Jurmalas Parkas - where they held the majority of their ministry programs - and their Latvian translator teammates.

But there was very little time for the students to miss Latvia or debrief their experiences their last day at Jurmalas Parkas as they held more ministry programs all throughout the city of Visby, including the pier, market place and shopping district.

Students have also have had opportunities to explore the medieval city and all of its attractions, including a night out at a local restaurant to watch the final match of the 2006 World Cup.

A scavenger hunt was held on Tuesday for the students to discover the city one last time before leaving. Students had to take pictures with various objects and people around Visby doing specific things. A few examples include washing the feet of a stranger, taking a picture from a boat and organizing a 20-person wave.

The Baltic Tour participants will leave Gotland Tuesday night by way of ferry to return to mainland Sweden, where they will catch a charter bus to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. They will then take an 8-hour plane back to New Jersey before heading to their final destination of Orlando, Florida.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 7/11/2006 - 2 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Outreach Liepaja: Jurmalas Parkas

Students have been continuing their Liepaja outreach at a local park in the Latvia leg of the 2006 EpicQuest Baltic Tour.

Every night since the July 1 the EpicQuest participants have been doing ministry programs and outreaches at Jurmalas Parkas – or “Seaside Park” – near the beach in Liepaja, Latvia. The performances are held adjacent to the children’s playground and the skate park. Students have drawn a crowd in average of 200 people every night.

Other musicians have also joined some of the ministry programs at Jurmalas Parkas, such as the YWAM Latvia base director’s daughter Kristine Dzelz and singer Santa Pupolberga.

Because students have been returning to the park every night, they have been able to build active friendships and legitimacy with the people of Liepaja instead of adopting a street evangelical style, which has resulted in several people accepting salvation. Several people have returned to watch the ministry program and talk to the students every night since their first night there. One form of relationship building has been friendly games of soccer between the students and their new Latvian friends. Another has been playing with the children on the playground.

It hasn't been all work for the students, however. On July 4 the students were treated to some Latvian pizza as well as a fun day at the local ice skating rink. On July 5 students spent part of the day at the beach.

July 6 will be their last day in Liepaja and their last ministry program at Jurmalas Parkas. Students will travel to Riga, Latvia, where they will ride the Tallink Ferry back to Stockholm, Sweden. From Stockholm, the students will take a 2-hour bus ride to another ferry, which will take them to the island of Gotland.  

Posted By: Tony Kim on 7/5/2006 - 1 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Latvia Outreach Is Fully Underway

After a long – but rewarding – past few days, the EpicQuest Baltic Tour participants said their goodbyes to the Latvian King’s Kids in Valdemarpils and arrived in the coastal city of Liepaja on Wednesday.

On the way to Liepaja, the team picked up a team of Latvian translators and staff – Ieva Grinfelde, Andis Senkans, Joguta Vevere, Anna Seruma, Kristine “Kika” Snorine, Liga Baniska, YWAM Latvia staff Janis and Kristina Ece and American YWAM missionaries Chris and Lydia Bischoff from Ohio – who will be assisting the group during the rest of the Latvia leg of the Baltic tour. The team also stopped in the towns of Kuldiga and Aizpute for ministry programs along the way.

In Kuldiga, the students performed a shortened program before visiting the local attraction – Europe’s widest waterfall. In Aizpute, no dances were performed; rather, Olivia from Arizona, Pilgrim from Michigan and Ryan from Florida gave their testimonies at the local Baptist church.

The team arrived in Liepaja – the third largest city in Latvia – later that night to their home for the rest of their time in Latvia – a college dormitory that is open for visitors during the summers. The dormitory is right in downtown Liepaja and across the bridge from the shopping region of the city, according to Tour Director Creagon Muldoon.

On Thursday, the participants had their first outreaches in Liepaja at the Rimi shopping center, where the students led two people to the Lord. The students’ spirits were stirred most after the second outreach that day at the Liepaja Baptist church, where they four people to the Lord.

After their initial performance at the Liepaja Baptist church, Jessica from Florida felt God calling her to minister to some passersby outside. She then took fellow students Nathan from Michigan and Andy from New Jersey along with staff Grant Brandsen with her to follow the local youth, who led them to a bigger group of adolescents, said Jessica.

Once those EpicQuest participants mentioned that they performed dances and dramas, the local youth became very interested and wanted to watch. So they all rushed back to the church where they held an encore presentation of “Dance Like” and the “Bring Me To Life” drama. Afterwards, four local girls who were ministered to by the EpicQuest students gave their lives to Jesus Christ and over 15 of the local youth engaged in discussion with the students about their spirituality.

Students had Friday off from ministry programs for a team building exercise with local orphans on the Liepaja beach, where they had a scavenger hunt on fortification ruins from World War I and World War II. Afterwards, the team performed two dances for the orphans.

Saturday the students had their second day of outreaches in Liepaja. A ministry program was held in the shopping center of downtown Liepaja, in front of the Latvia 1^st Rock Café, where the students ministered to approximately 150 to 200 passersby and diners. In the evening, the students held a ministry program at Jurmalas Parka – or “Seaside Park,” – where they will be ministering every night for the rest of their stay in Latvia. The program was held next to the children’s playground, where students ministered to approximately 200 people.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 7/2/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

EpicQuest Baltic Tour Students Arrive in Liepaja, Latvia

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/29/2006 - 1 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Students Have Their First Ministry Program

EpicQuest Baltic Tour students finished their first ministry program Tuesday following the end of their practical training the day before.

The ministry program was held in the town of Talsi, Latvia, which lies about 20 minutes to the Latvian YWAM base in Valdemarpils, Latvia. Testimonies were given by students Jessica from Florida, Ashlee from New Mexico, Heather from Florida and Joshua from Florida. Alicia from Texas also gave an explanation to the attending audience of the dance drama to the Cirque du Soleil song, “Pokinoi.”

The students spent the day doing dress rehearsals of the entire ministry program which includes four dramas and four dances. Two of these performance pieces were not performed in Talsi on Tuesday – “Diverse City” and the “Bring Me To Life” drama.

The team will be traveling to the Latvian coastal city of Liepaja – the third largest city in the country. On the way, the students will have two ministry programs in the towns of Kuldiga and Aizpute.

For personal accounts of Tuesday ministry program, please listen to mp3 file of Kristen and Lish.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/27/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 2 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Boot Camp - Take Two

The EpicQuest Baltic team began the second half of their boot camp and practical training Saturday at the YWAM Latvia base in Valdemarpils.

The students began a new set of dance and drama pieces, including dances to TobyMac’s “Diverse City,” L.A. Symphony’s “Dance Like” and a drama to Evanescence’s “Going Under” and “Bring Me to Life.” In addition, EpicQuest staff member Kaitlin Muldoon taught the Latvian King’s Kids a dance to The Tribe’s “God Made Me Funky.”

“I think they are doing a really great job,” said staff member Amy Brandsen of the Evanescence drama participants. “I think they are really getting into their roles and having a good time.

“I’m overall impressed with all of the dramas,” she said. “(The students) are really putting on their full effort. I can tell they really want to be good.”

Participants were also introduced to four workers for YWAM Latvia – Chris and Lydia Bischoff and Simona and Guntis Ivanovskis. The Bischoffs will be hosting the participants during their Latvia outreach. The Ivanovskis, who are youth workers and counselors in the coastal Latvian city of Liepaja, gave the students the spiritual lay of the land.

“There are two gates in Liepaja – God’s gates and Satan’s gates,” Simona Ivanovski said. “We want to see you open God’s gates there.”

In the afternoon, the students also received a teaching about how to prepare their outreach testimonies by Tour Director Creagon Muldoon. Students were not only taught about how to write their testimonies, but how to present themselves during the ministry times.

The boot camp phase of the outreach will end on Monday, June 26, with the first ministry program scheduled for June 27.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/24/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Baltic Team Safely in Valdemarpils, Latvia

After clocking approximately 29.5 hours of traveling and over 4000 miles, the 2006 EpicQuest Baltic team safely arrived in Valdemarpils, Latvia, on Thursday morning.

The American participants were greeted at the Stockholm Arlanda airport with the arrival of two new Swedish participants, brother and sister Ann-Sofie and Andreas from Northern Sweden. The two joined the 2006 EpicQuest team after seeing the 2005 EpicQuest Artic Team at their church, said Andreas. The siblings will participate with the group until they return to America on the July 12.

After spending the day in Stockholm, where the participants visited Gamla Stan – or “Old Town” – and the Swedish Salvation Army, the group left Sweden on the M/S Regina Baltica Tallink Ferry. After crossing the Baltic Sea and another time zone to make that a 7-hour difference from Orlando, Fla., the team arrived in Riga, Latvia, where they were greeted by two of the leaders of the Latvia YWAM base.

At the base, the team was greeted by the Latvian King’s Kids – a group of 8 to 17 year olds – as well as another American missions team unaffiliated with YWAM from Wisconsin.

The entire base spent the afternoon and night celebrating “Mid-Summer Nights Eve,” which is a holiday that marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.

The team will resume their practical ministry training on Saturday with the addition of the new team members Ann-Sophi and Andreas as well as the Latvian King’s Kids. After the end of the boot camp phase, the EpicQuest team will begin their outreach in nearby Talsi, Latvia.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/23/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 2 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Team arrives safe in Talsi Latvia

Posted By: Dave Nettles on 6/23/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Baltic Travel Continues

The Baltic team arrived safely in Stockholm and had our two Swedish team members join at the airport.  The team then took a charter bus into the city where they rested a bit at the Salvation Army church in the heart of the city.  The team had several fun hours in the old city with a tour by locals from the Salvation Army.  Currently on the ferry bound for Riga.  They are getting tired, which is good and still laughing and having quite a wonderful time.  Soon they will be taking their places in cabins for a good nights sleep in a real bed.  Ferry travel will take 16 to 17 hours across the Baltic Sea.  Plenty of time for sleeping, eating, praying, playing and getting refreshed.  Once they arrive in Riga the team only has a two hour bus ride left to Tulsi, Latvia which will be home for the next week. 

Keep them in your prayers. 

Pray they will arrive to Tulsi refreshed and ready for the mid summer eve festival they will be a part of.  Pray for the three days following that they will finish learning their parts for our ministry program.  Finally pray for our two Swedish teammates, Andreas and Ann Sofi, to be quickly assimilated into the team. 

Posted By: Dave Nettles on 6/22/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Baltic Team departed

The Baltic team has reported that all is well as they boarded the plane for Stockholm.  They had a fun three plus hours in the Newark airport.  Moving 37 people through airports and planes can be tricky, but the nice people at Continental reported on "how well organized the group was, plus, what a super group of young people."

Posted By: Dave Nettles on 6/21/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Participants Start Practical Training

Students started their practical ministry training Monday morning in Orlando.

The 2006 EpicQuest Baltic Tour participants began their morning with a boot-camp-style wake-up call – a trumpet call – at 6:20 a.m. followed by aerobics and brisk run around the Pine Castle Christian Academy premises.

After a quick breakfast, a teaching and quiet time to spend reading the Bible and praying, the students began their practical training for their ministry times in Latvia and Sweden.

Students began their training in five of eight ministry performance pieces expected for the Baltic ministry program.

“I like the dances” said Joshua of Florida, who has participated in Youth With a Mission’s King’s Kids programs over eleven years. “I think the dances are pretty cool because people spent a lot of time on them and they work together very well.”

At the same time, Joshua laments the hard work that goes into perfecting the performance pieces for the outreach.

“The dances are very tiring,” he said.

The five performance pieces the students learned include two dances and three dramas. The two dances are titled “Catch-a-Fire” and “Different Now” – which is a dance of only girls. The three drama performances are “I Deserve?” which is performed to Third Day’s “More Than I Deserve,” “Dance Drama,” which is performed to Cirque Du Soleil’s “Pokino¿” and “Strings,” which is performed to Enya’s “Pax Deorum.”

“I think they are really fun and I think they are really emotional and I think that they will get through to people,” said Ashley of Arizona, who is in all three of the dramas. “The songs make it really powerful and the fact that people are being serious and really putting emotion into it.”

The students are not the only ones who are noticing the power of the performances.

“I’m not being joking, but I think it’s some of the best I’ve ever seen,” said EpicQuest staff member Grant Brandsen. “I’ve done this for a few schools already and this is one of the quickest and most responsive group of students that I’ve personally worked with.”

The students will train again on Tuesday before packing up to prepare for the journey to Sweden and Latvia Wednesday morning.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/19/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

EpicQuest Baltic Tour 2006 Begins!

The Baltic EpicQuest participants arrived Sunday at the Pine Castle Oasis building in Orlando. Students came from places as far away as New York, Michigan and Canada, as well as some as close as Orlando.

Students arrived to music, decorations and the smiling faces of staff, TLT and other participants.

Nathan, one of the newly arrived participants from Michigan, said he was slightly embarrassed at the clapping and shouting as he came into the building.

“I walked in the door and everybody started cheering,” he said. “I was speechless.”

The TLT and staff welcomed Nathan and Micah, who were the first participants to arrive.

“We’re trying to encourage our teammates,” said Ian, who is one of the TLT. “It’s important they feel important that they are part of the team because they are.”

And as the Baltic tour participants started to arrive, they also started to say their goodbyes to the Teen Leadership Training leader Dave Matthews as well as the TLT for the Panama tour, Tamara from Florida.

Matthews staffed last year’s EpicQuest tour to the Arctic, but decided that he would help with YWAM Orlando’s other summer youth outreach, Mission Adventures.

“It’s kind of sad because during the TLT time, he was the main leader so we got so close to him,” said Ryan from Florida. “I know that he has good reasons (that he cannot participate) and he has other things he has to do this summer, but it’s weird he’s not going.”

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/19/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Teen Leadership Training Begins

Eleven students arrived in Orlando on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to take part in the 2006 EpicQuest Teen Leadership Training for the Baltic and Panama tours.

The TLT – as they have come to be referred – disembarked from different regions of the United States, such as Michigan, Texas, New Jersey, Virginia and New Mexico.

Teen Leadership Training is a foundation course for older teenagers that takes place before the rest of the outreach participants arrive for their respective outreaches. Because most of the TLT have prior EpicQuest or missions experience, this will help them bridge the gap between the staff and younger participants, said staff member Alexa Attila.

Friday began for the participants with various teachings by the staff. The myriad teachings included lessons of modesty, the linking of generations, importance of worship, intercession and the servant mindset.

“I think He’s really going to use who I am and things that I like to do,” said Ashlee from New Mexico. “I just see God really revealing Himself to me in this time. I really feel like God is wanting me to do something and I’m up to it.”

The students also participated in role-playing exercises where they were asked to lead in a simulated team situation.

Initial feelings about the upcoming outreach were generally optimistic from the TLT.

“I don’t even want to put expectations on (the outreach) because I know He is greater than I can even think of,” said Jessica from Florida. “I’m ready for Him to stretch me.”

“Last year was a lot about self-discovery and learning things about me and learning about… God and other Christians and stuff,” said Pilgrim from Michigan. “This year, I’m hoping to be more of a servant to the team and… really help everyone else grow.”

Most of the Baltic outreach participants for the will arrive in Orlando, Fla., by Sunday from places such as Kentucky, Arizona, New York and Canada. Four Latvian as well as two Swedish participants will meet up with the other students as they arrive in Europe later on in the week.

The Panama outreach participants will arrive in Orlando, Fla., on July 16 from places such as Illinois, Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan and Singapore.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/16/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 2 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Focus in on Michael Lennartson - Worship Director of EpicQuest 2006

Every good outreach needs good worship and all good worship needs a passionate worship director. Luckily, Youth With a Mission Orlando’s 2006 EpicQuest is blessed with 24 year-old Michael Lennartson.

Since he was around 10 years old, Lennartson has played some form of music and known that he wanted his music to be an offering to God. His early foundation in piano led him to pursue the guitar as his instrument of choice for worship.

“I’ve always really liked music and for the past ten years now I’ve been playing guitar,” Lennartson said. “The reason I wanted to learn guitar was to lead worship.

“My mom inspired it back when I was really young. I grew up with her playing songs in the house all the time and around worship… and from there (I) just developed my own passion.”

After fervently praying to God for guidance and seeing many of his friends enter YWAM’s many Disciple Training School courses, Lennartson took the next step and offered his life to God as well.

After 3 years at the base, the Minneapolis, Minn., native chose to staff this year’s EpicQuest Baltic and Panama tours as part of his Basic Leadership School course. The two months he spends in Latvia, Sweden and Panama will make up the required outreach portion of his BLS course.

“It’s (an) amazing opportunity to work with EpicQuest and to really allow people to see where that passion is going to take them and be a part of that,” he said.

Although Lennartson’s role during both EpicQuest outreaches will be that of worship director, leading worship times with vocals and guitar will not be his only focus. He also hopes for the cultivation and development of more young worship leaders within the group.

“I really think that God doesn’t want to wait until we’re old and not passionate of what we’re doing anymore,” Lennartson said. “There’s a passion in young people and an energy in young people that I think God saw and God used throughout the Old Testament and New Testament.

“….Most of the people God used (were) in their teens and in their twenties and I think we can’t limit what God wants to do with this generation and I really see God raising up an army of young people.”

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/15/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Arrival Times for EpicQuest

Teen Leadership Training Arrival Time

Teen Leadership Training students who plan on arriving for the TLT training must be at the Pine Castle United Methodist Church Oasis building between noon and 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The address for the Pine Castle facilities is:

5933 Randolph Ave.

Orlando, FL 32809

For a map to Pine Castle U.M.C., please click here.

The Oasis building is across the street from the Pine Castle Christian Academy.

Arrival Times for All Participants in EpicQuest

Baltic – Sunday June, 18^th between noon and 3 p.m.

Panama – Sunday July 16^th

Panama Baseball – Sunday July 23^rd

The address for the Pine Castle facilities is:

5933 Randolph Ave.

Orlando, FL 32809

For a map to Pine Castle U.M.C., please click here.

The Oasis building is across the street from the Pine Castle Christian Academy.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/14/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Worship Song List for EpicQuest 2006

Posted are the songs to which the 2006 EpicQuest participants will be worshipping during the outreach.

1. All Who are Thirsty

2. Beautiful

3. Closer

4. Deliver Me

5. The Earth’s Song

6. Enough

7. Famous One

8. Freely

9. Grace Like Rain

10. Held In Your Eyes

11. Here is our King

12. Here I Am to Worship

13. How Great is Our God

14. In The Secret

15. I Will Not Forget You

16. Like You Are

17. Majesty (Here I am)

18. Make a Joyful Noise (I Will Not Be Silent)

19. Marvelous Light

20. My Glorious

21. No One Like You

22. No Sacrifice

23. Nothing But the Blood

24. Not To Us

25. Oh Lord To You

26. Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful

27. Only You

28. Our Love Is Loud

29. Salvation

30. Song of the Redeemed

31. Sweep me Away

32. The Vision

33. To the Deep It Is

34. Undignified

35. We are Hungry

36. Wholly Yours

37. Yearn

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/13/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Tentative Baltic Tour Schedule Posted

Below is the tentative schedule for the 2006 EpicQuest Baltic Tour. Please note that this schedule may change and the dates for certain ministry programs may shift.

2006 EpicQuest Baltic Tour Schedule
June 18-21 Training Camp, Orlando 

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/13/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Focus in on the Brandsens - EpicQuest Family Life Directors

Life has changed dramatically the last year for Grant and Amy Brandsen. After their beachfront wedding in Connecticut last August, the couple returned to the Orlando YWAM base to spend their first year together helping out with two Schools of Missions and Evangelism, leading downtown evangelism in the city as well as a small group. This summer, however, the newlyweds felt that God has called them to be a part of the Baltic and Panama EpicQuest outreaches.

Affectionately branded in the office as the combined “Grant-n-Amy,” the Brandsens have become well-known at the YWAM base for their love of children. Although they have no children of their own yet, their passion for children is evident in the love they show to the children of the staff members at the base.

“I have a passion for kids – ever since I was little,” Grant Brandsen said. “I’ve always grown up working with kids in daycares.”

It is from this love of children and the opportunity to work with a younger age group that the Brandsens felt God leading them to staff EpicQuest.

“We never worked with this age group – only college age (students),” said Amy Brandsen. “I think it’s important to get the younger generation involved with missions during their teen years.”

The Brandsens’ role during both the Baltic and Panama outreaches will be that of family life coordinator. Specifically, the Brandsens will be playing the parental role for the students in both outreaches as they keep watch of the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the students.

“We’ll be looking at the well-being of the students,” said Grant Brandsen. “We’ll look at how much rest they are getting, how much fun they are having, how much food they are eating and giving them a family atmosphere.”

Even before they meet the students face-to-face, the Brandsens have been trying to familiarize themselves with the students as much as possible.

“We’ve been getting to know them through the prayer journals and phone calls,” Amy Brandsen said.

And although the duo may be known by the singular name, “Grant-n-Amy,” the two have their own hopes for the EpicQuest outreaches.

“I really hope they get a heart for evangelism,” Grant Brandsen said of the students.  “I hope through this that they not only grow in their walk with God… (but) they learn to evangelize better.”

Amy Brandsen’s hopes for the participants, on the other hand, are a bit more personal.

“I really want to develop friendships with the students who are coming and I want them to get God’s heart for missions,” she said.

For more information on the Brandsens, please watch the video interview.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/13/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Focus in on Grace - Program Director of EpicQuest 2006

If anyone can say that they have been raised as a YWAM kid, then it’s Grace McKinney. After this summer, McKinney, 20, will have 13 years of EpicQuest King’s Kids outreaches under her belt. Obviously, she’s no stranger to the missions life.

McKinney’s parents, Gary and Deanna, have been missionaries for over 25 years in Spain, where she spent most of her childhood. Ever since she was 7 years old, McKinney participated in King’s Kids outreaches in Spain.

She came to YWAM Orlando in 2000, when she found out she would be unable to attend the Spanish King’s Kids outreach that year. She has come back every year since. She finally decided to move down to Orlando to work with the base throughout the year after she took on the position of EpicQuest program director in 2003. 

This summer, McKinney will be choreographing four dances for both the Baltic and the Panama outreaches with the help of Baltic Tour staff member Alissa Petersen and participant Kristen.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” she said of creating and preparing the dances. “But it feels good to see the finished product.”

Although McKinney holds the title of program director, she will also be assisted in teaching the dances to the students by staff members Alissa Petersen, Kaitlin Muldoon, Justin Berg and student Kristin.

“It’s great to have such a diverse team to work with,” she said. “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to put this program together without their help. They add a wonderful flair to this summer’s choreography.”

No matter how many EpicQuest outreaches that she has staffed, McKinney has one constant hope for the participants every year:

“My expectations for EpicQuest are to see the participants step out of their comfort zones – that they would be able to do things that they never knew they could do and see the way that God wants to use them.”

For more information on Grace McKinney, please watch the video interview.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/12/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Focus in on Creagon: Tour Director of the 2006 EpicQuest Baltic Outreach

Not many people leave their home, family and friends to live in a foreign country all by themselves. And an even smaller percentage of people would do that in their sophomore year of high school. But that’s where Creagon Muldoon’s story begins.

At the age of 15, Muldoon left his home of Benton Harbor, Mich., as well as his parents and sister to follow a Swedish Youth With a Mission King’s Kids group across the Atlantic Ocean to their country.

Initially, his parents were hesitant and cautious, said Muldoon. But after praying fervently for guidance, God provided his parents one of the signs that this was His will – peace.

“It had to be from God,” Muldoon said of his parents support.

“I felt like God was leading me, but also the desire to be discipled and see the world led me to Sweden. I had never fully engaged in more than a shallow relationship with God and this was God trying to disciple me. I believe He kind of supernaturally drew me (to Sweden).”

Muldoon spent two years in Sweden – particularly the island of Gotland – working with the King’s Kids program and the Salvation Army as a youth worker during his sophomore and junior years of high school.

Muldoon came back from Sweden after two years to finish his high school education. Right afterwards, he decided to continue working with Youth With a Mission by moving down to the Orlando base for Discipleship Training School.

Muldoon soon became a staff member at the base. His primary focus on staff was to recruit and invite new missionaries to the base and helping staff raise financial support.

In 2005, Muldoon finally returned to Sweden as a staff member for that year’s EpicQuest Arctic Tour. After seeing his deep spiritual and sentimental connection to the region, EpicQuest Director Dave Nettles felt it right to pass on the next year’s outreach to Muldoon.

“Creagon has been with YWAM for a lot of years and has a real heart for God and has a desire for seeing youth for God,” said Nettles. “He’s a good guy to do that, and I believe that in every regard.

“Creagon is leading (the Baltic Tour) because he has a heart for that part of the world and he lived in Gotland for two years. He did a great job as far as with our outreach last year and coordinating a lot of the ministry and logistical things last year.”

Muldoon realizes the important role that he has inherited as the tour director of the EpicQuest team and feels fully prepared to take on the role.

“Dave has been wonderful in releasing and launching me and this team to go out this summer,” said Muldoon. “….I really look forward to actually seeing all the students do all the things that I’ve been setting up for.”

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/9/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

EpicQuest Staff Visit the Oasis Building

The EpicQuest staff visited the Oasis building, where the participants of all three EpicQuest outreaches will be sleeping, worshipping and training during their stay in Orlando, Fla.

The Oasis building is the youth building for Pine Castle United Methodist Church, located 4 miles away from the YWAM Orlando base. The building was offered for the 2006 EpicQuest outreaches by Pastor Ozvaldo “Ozy” Alvarado, the associate generational pastor of the church.

“Oasis – the building itself – is a safe place in a safe community,” Pastor Ozy said. “It’s a convenient place for missions training.”

The Oasis building is an optimal place to hold a portion of the Baltic Tour boot camp, according to EpicQuest director Dave Nettles. The facility has many resources available to the participants, including multiple showers, a kitchen, a sound system and projectors.

“I just really love missions and love seeing youth on mission,” Pastor Ozy said. “I really believe youth can make a difference in the world today, so I’m all about helping any agency and missions organization.”

For more information on Pastor Alvarado and the Oasis building, please watch the video interview

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/7/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Staff Training For EpicQuest 2006 Begins

The summer outreach season officially began Monday at Youth With A Mission Orlando as the staff for the base’s three summer outreaches arrived at the base to begin training and preparations for three EpicQuest ministries as well as 14 Mission Adventures outreaches.

The 14 EpicQuest staff began a one-and-a-half week training session which will prepare the staff with the spiritual, physical and mental knowledge crucial for an effective and smooth outreach.

EpicQuest Director Dave Nettles reiterated the focus of the outreaches not as a performance for the people of Latvia and Sweden, but as an act of worship to God. It is as they experience sharing their faith with others through performing arts and witnessing that they develop a deeper relationship with God, he said.

“The energy – the synergism – between the kids and how fast it’s going… it’s amazing to see the growth and how fast they are growing,” Nettles said. “I find it incredibly rewarding.”

Many of the staff repeated the same message as they stated that their main hopes for the outreach was to see the faiths of the participants to grow, as well as their own.

Alexa Attila, 20, from Benton Harbor, Mich., was a former EpicQuest participant who has transitioned into a staff position for this year’s outreach.

“I’ve grown up loving it,” said Attila, of the EpicQuest program. “It’s really changed my life and my walk with the Lord.

“One of the biggest things I’d like to do (this summer) is inspire the kids and their relationships with the Lord and learn from them. The Lord really challenged me to learn from the youth.”

Others, like Cynda Muldoon, 54, of Benton Harbor, Mich., for whom this outreach is their first staffing experience, hope to become encouraged by the participants to openly share her faith as they will during the outreach.

“I’ve always had a passion for children,” Muldoon said. “I’m anxious to see these kids (share their faith) and learn from them.

“I feel like our role is like a grandparent role in this family and that thrills me.”

Even as the past EpicQuest participants were remembered for their synergy, YWAM Orlando staff member Dave Matthews, 25, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, saw more opportunities for the youth to grow in their spirituality.

“I got to meet a whole bunch of youth that got me really excited about what we were doing and kind of envious about what they were doing as youths,” Matthews said of last years Arctic tour.

 “Last year I kind of saw the opportunity to see more youth to realize what they could be and grow more in that. We had an opportunity last year with the Teen Leadership Training to lead more and I’d like to see that grow more. All it takes is one person to speak to another through the power of their testimony and the power of the Holy Spirit. They have the power to change people’s lives.”

Matthews particularly remembered the earnestness of 16 year-old Kristen Berg as she witnessed to the people of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this girl is just crazy for that,’” referring to her forthright faith.

The staff – in addition to praising the participants – also commenced leadership training exercises and reviewed footage of previous EpicQuest outreaches to discern how to prepare for this year.

Staff training will continue until the 14^th of June, which is when some of the older, experienced participants for the three EpicQuest outreaches will arrive in Orlando for Teen Leadership Training, which prepares those students in leadership roles during their outreaches.

For more information on Dave Matthews, please watch the video interview.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/6/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 2 Flickr - 10 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)

Focus in on Dave - EpicQuest Director of YWAM Orlando

A staple at the Youth with a Mission Orlando office, EpicQuest director Dave Nettles, 44, is no stranger to the mission field.

Nettles started to seriously consider a career in the mission field after a church member back at his hometown of Louisville, KT, gave him a book by YWAM founder Loren Cunningham, “Is That Really You, God?”

“I’d always thought that it would be a fascinating thing to do, to be on the front lines of evangelism and sharing the gospel with people,” he said. “(The book) gave me insight and realization that, ‘Hey, I can do this’ and that God was really calling me to do it.”

Before he became involved with YWAM in 1992 Nettles worked in Louisville, KT, as a youth pastor. After joining with YWAM, Nettles and his family moved to the former Soviet-country of Belarus to establish a new base there. Now, the Belarus YWAM base is the largest King’s Kids office in Europe.

Dave recalled the most poignant moments during his time in Belarus.

“(I remember) seeing God work in the lives of the kids (in Belarus) and – more importantly I believe – in the lives of the adults in the churches that we started to work with and seeing them catch a vision of working with young people,” he said.

Nettles joined the Orlando base on October of 2002, where he has led three King’s Kids EpicQuest trips. The last two trips – the Arctic Tours – led Nettles back to the Europe to the countries of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia.

This year, however, Nettles will not be going on the EpicQuest Baltic trip to Latvia and Sweden.

“I’m not going on the Baltic Tour, which is the first one here in Florida that I haven’t been on, so it’s fun to be able to release that and watch that go,” he said.

The director instead will be working with various YWAM Orlando summer outreaches in different roles. Starting Monday, June 5^th, staff for the EpicQuest outreaches to the Baltic and Panama will start their training to prepare for the arrival of the participants and the ministry times, where Nettles will be one of the main teachers.

One of the summer outreaches with which Nettles will be involved is the new EpicQuest Panama baseball outreach, which will focus on bringing together participants with a love for God and sport with others who long to possess both of those passions.

“The growth of the youth ministries department and the youth ministries programs that have gone on – I’m excited to be a part of that,” he said.

Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/2/2006 - 1 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 3 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 1 Video - 0 Other File(s)