Courageous Teens see their lives changed at Radical Reality camp

July was a busy month around here. One week we had over 400 campers here for Week 1 of Radical Reality camp. Two weeks later we had another 300 for Week 2! This year I attended all of the evening sessions for the first time and I was blown away! The first night about 50 kids went forward to accept Christ for the first time or to recommit their life to Christ. The second night many were healed from past hurts and abuse and chose to forgive those that hurt them. The 3rd night many teens were filled with the Holy Spirit and anointed with his power. The last night was a celebration of what God had done and a commissioning to go home and testify. These kids will NEVER BE THE SAME!!! We've already heard stories of parents getting saved when these kids got home. What a mighty God we serve!

Radical Reality Summer Camp Courageous Week 1

Amazing 1st week of Camp. Words can not describe all that happened in these five days. Take a look at this video of the first week at Radical Reality Summer Camp "Courageous"

Music by Charlie Hall "Marvelous Light" and Bethel Music "You Know Me" feat. Steffany Frizzell.

Here's a beautifully written testimony from a fellow staff member that attended the meetings with me. 

Courageous Teens see their lives changed at Radical Reality camp

by Sharon

Dangerous. Wanted. Transformed. Facing Giants. Courageous. These are just a few of the past themes from Donnie Moore’s Radical Reality camps held here on our base for more than 30 years. In the past five years since we moved here from overseas, I have heard exciting reports of young people coming to Christ and having life-changing, transformational encounters with God. But I had never personally attended even one of the meetings. I was so worn out from serving behind the scenes–chopping vats of lettuce, serving stacks of hamburgers, or washing mountains of dishes—that I convinced myself I was too tired to sit on a metal chair in Ebenezer meeting hall until late into the night. This year, however, I decided I had had enough of second hand testimonies! God put it on my heart to attend all the evening meetings with my husband, my own teens and my teenage YWAM staff students. So, armed with my seat cushion and earplugs (yes, I’m getting old), I headed down to Ebenezer each evening. I have been so blessed to see firsthand what God is doing and all I can say is THANK YOU! Thank you, Donnie Moore, thank you Radical Reality team, and most of all, thank you, God!

My heart has been forever changed by hearing the haunting, heart-breaking cries of a hurting generation with my own ears and witnessing the pain and then the joy as the Holy Spirit met so many of them.

It’s easy to be excited about the general testimonies of all the salvations, etc., but somehow when it is your own precious child (or someone whose story you know) receiving something you want more than anything else in the world for them, well, your gratitude takes on a whole new dimension.

I was blown away by the testimonies voluntarily pouring forth from the kids on the final morning…How one boy had tried to hang himself to escape the pain in his life, only to find an angel must have untied the knot as he blacked out (because he’s sure he tied a really good knot!). He believes God saved his life so he could come to camp and encounter God’s power and love. Another was set free from drug addiction when down at the altar Donnie called out her specific addiction in a word of knowledge. She felt something break free in her spirit as she was prayed over and was touched by God in a way she had never before experienced. All desire for the drugs was gone! Others were able to forgive their abusers for unimaginable hurts and received such freedom, comfort and joy from the Holy Spirit that they were bursting with passion for God. The testimonies continued for over an hour and a half, each story unique in the details but consistent in the transformational healing and joy that the Lord worked in their hearts.

I am so thankful for Donnie Moore and his team—for their many years of faithfulness, their passion for souls and their contagious heart for this generation. I am praying with them for passionate warriors who will impact their generation and the mission field! And I am so very thankful we can partner with them to make these transformational camps happen.

YWAM makes the CBN World News during the World Cup.

Here's an encouraging article about how the Kingdom of God is working together in Brazil. It specifically mentions YWAM.

Outreach update from Brazil

Our DTS just graduated this past Saturday night but here's a sobering report from their outreach in Manaus, Brazil.

Dan's (brief) Debut on the Amarillo, Texas News!

Our YWAM friends in Texas made the news! Dan even has a brief appearance in a group photo from his Mexico trip in March.  Check out the article and video here.

What Christian leaders say about YWAM

Ever wonder what well known Christian leaders think about YWAM, well check this out.

Love Your Neighbor Consultation

In late June Dan and I had the opportunity to attend a YWAM workshop at the beautiful, San Diego/Baja campus just south of Tijuana, Mexico.  The focus of the workshop was “Love Your Neighbor” but our main purpose was to connect with other YWAMers that are doing aquaponics and other related forms of mercy ministry.

The first speaker was Sean Lambert, the director of the San Diego/Baja base.  He said that YWAM can be like the super collider in Geneva.  We can have evangelism going in one direction and mercy ministry and training going in the other direction.  The “explosion” that happens when they collide is what it looks like to love our neighbor.

Christine Colby was another speaker and she shared about when Jesus fed the 5,000.  She said that while Jesus was praying, the disciples were doing the physical work.  Sometimes we can feel like overworked disciples and miss Jesus’ miracle!  What keeps us fresh is understanding who God is and remembering that we serve Him not just the multitudes.  ‘Value’ in western culture generally comes from success and producing.  ‘Value’ in eastern culture comes from sacrifice.  We need to find our value in God.  We serve others not because they are poor or have needs but because they are created in God’s image and they have value.  When we help build a home for a family (Homes of Hope) the main project isn’t just building a house but it’s loving the people and the transformation that takes place in their lives.  We want to do things with people not just for them.

We attended a workshop about a disaster relief organization called RescueNet.  They talked about how important it is to know what disasters are possible in our area so that we can always be prepared.  If we can’t take care of ourselves we can’t take care of others.  Dan and I would love to work with this organization, maybe after the kids are grown, maybe sooner.

One speaker, Dr. Lindy Backues, shared how “love must be defined by our picture of Jesus as he walked to the cross.”  He shared the story of Mary and Martha and said that our love for our neighbor springs out of our love for and from our Father.  “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  I John 4:8

My favorite part was attending the workshop by Terry Keith, the director of the base in Heredia, Costa Rica.  He shared a number of stats about food, water and sanitation.  Here are some examples:

18,000 people die of starvation daily

852 million people in the world are malnourished

1.3 billion lack clean water

in Latin America only 2% of sewage is treated

hand washing reduces diarrhea cases by 50%

there are 35 million without health care just around Lake Victoria in Africa

1.1  billion live in extreme poverty (less than $1 a day)

Hosea 4:6 “My people perish for lack of knowledge.”  God has created a sustainable kingdom with nitrogen, carbon and water cycles.  We need to build the soil, use organic pesticides and fertilizers and let nothing go to waste.  We learned about sand water filters, composting toilets and appropriate tech aquaponics systems.

            I love how God seems to be refining and focusing the ministry call for our family.  5 years ago we knew he was calling us into missions but didn’t know where or when.  Then we did CDTS with YWAM and felt him calling us to staff in Chico.  We’ve always known we are more equipped for mercy ministries rather than training and evangelism and now he is giving us specific tools and showing us more what our mercy ministries will look like.  We are very close to having our aquaponics system running here and then we’d like to do more with gardening, composting, vermiculture (raising worms), and water purification.  I used to think my like for these things was just personal preference.  Now I know that God has given me these skills and passions to further his kingdom! 

            We can’t stop with just giving aid or we’d be no different than humanitarian groups.  I like to remember something that Sean Lambert shared about ‘Flipping the Switch’ when ministering to the poor.  When we give food or teach how to better grow food we share that Jesus is the bread of life.  When we give the gift of clean water we share that Jesus gives living water.  When we help build shelter we say that Jesus goes to prepare a place for us.  When we provide basic healthcare we tell them that Jesus is their healer.  And when we pass out clothing we teach them that God clothes us in righteousness. This is how we truly love our neighbors.

Intercession for the nations on a giant map.

Environmental Engineering: Help us maintain a place of transformational growth

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Environmental Engineering: Help us maintain a place of transformational growth

By Craig A.

Recently we began building a large greenhouse on our campus that will be used to train missionaries to bring innovative food systems to developing countries to combat world hunger. As I was thinking about the greenhouse I was reminded that it is basically a growth environment. Ultimately, our staff will use the greenhouse, and the components inside of it to create an environment of accelerated growth. In short, they will be environmental engineers. They will use a variety of technologies to control the temperature, water, fertilization, and other factors for the purpose of creating maximum growth. Although they cannot force the plants to grow, they can engineer the environment to have the ideal conditions to promote, not only growth, but rapid growth.

Energy Upgrade
The greenhouse is a great metaphor that describes much of the ministry we are called to here at YWAM—Springs of Living Water. Some might describe this place as a bubble, but it is rather like a greenhouse. The Springs is a greenhouse-like-environment designed to promote transformation growth. Over the years this greenhouse has been the place where many have met Jesus, been filled with the Spirit, experienced renewal and restoration, and been called into ministry and missions. This greenhouse is a place of transformational growth!
To this end we must also be environmental engineers and must pay attention to various factors that all contribute to the growth environment. One of these factors is a rhythm of prayer and worship that began when this ministry was founded by Cecil and Lillian Cooper in the late 60s and has continued under the oversight of Youth With A Mission to the present day. Another factor is the practical stewardship and continuous renovation of the facilities. By paying attention to both factors we seek to provide both a spiritual and physical environment where growth can occur.
One of our current environmental issues, in need of immediate attention, is to replace the air conditioners at our large meeting hall (Ebenezer). Nursed along for the past few years, the air conditioning units have ceased to function. Ebenezer has been the site of many transformational experiences for both young and old alike and functioning air conditioning, especially in the hot California summer months, is an essential part of creating a greenhouse for transformation. Would you consider partnering with us financially in this project? Most of the labor and expertise for this project have been graciously donated, but we still need to raise $25,000 (for the commercial a/c units) during the month of May so that we can complete this project before camps start in mid – June.

Youth With A Mission is registered as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. All donations to this ministry are therefore tax-deductible. For more information, call 530.893.6750 x111

Online donations require a 3% convenience fee. If you would rather your full donation go to YWAM, you may send a check to:
YWAM, 15850 Richardson Springs Rd, Chico, CA 95973.

Thank you for your partnership and support, and for continuing to pray for the many lives which are touched through this ministry.

Update!!!

Here's a link to our latest newsletter. Enjoy!!! Oosterhouse Adventures

Local high school kids Reach for the Future!

Here's a quote from a fellow staff member after working with high school students here at their Reach for the Future retreat.  We have 350 public high school kids from northern California here this week learning how to be a positive influence in their schools.

"What a great day yesterday. Great to see young people face their fears, overcome them and live their life's to the fullest! Lots of tears and lots of happiness!"   -Patrick Danielsen

Crazy week but God is faithful!

God's promises are faithful! And it's Plumbline (Inner Healing/Forgiveness) week for C/DTS, and Butte County Reach is on campus, too, training teens how to reach up for their potential by knowing who they are (identity!). Good stuff. Thanks, Father, for Your promises that are true!
(photo courtesy of Dayne Boyden)

Spring at the Springs

This has been a beautiful, warm and sunny spring.  I brought the boys up to the aquaponics field with some friends.  They looked so cute on the cow gate and we even saw the cows close by.  Josh caught the first friendly garter snake of the year.

News from the aquaponics field.

Exciting progress on the aquaponics field! The rest of the fence posts were put in last week and the trench was dug for the water line.  The fencing is half done and the greenhouse is taking shape.  This week is pretty rainy so our progress is on pause.  

Here's some volunteers digging holes for the fencing.

Dan is digging the trench for the water line.

Mike is cleaning out the trench.

Pounding rebar for the greenhouse.

Trying to cut a piece of rebar that was stuck on a rock.  It didn't work.

Mike is hooking up the water line!

Robin is cutting PVC for the greenhouse.

Progress on our YWAM Chico aquaponics project

We're making some progress on our own aquaponics project.  This past week a couple of our dedicated mission builders (volunteers) dug the holes and placed the fence posts around most of the area.  The water holding tank is ready to be put on the hillside to gravity feed the system as needed.  We have a couple of PVC hoops in place where we experimented with PVC pipe size for the greenhouse.  We hope to make plenty more headway this coming week with the greenhouse and the fence.  Then we'll build the actual aquaponics system the first week in April.  This is an exciting spring!

Dan's Aquaponics Project in Mexico

Dan just spent a week helping to build an aquaponics system in a village near the YWAM base in Creel, Mexico.  He joined a team from Amarillo, Texas led by our friends Jimmy and Teresa Heisler who used to be on staff in Creel. They were able to get a lot accomplished and I'm sure that Dan learned a lot from Jimmy throughout the week. The boys and I had a pretty good week but we'll be glad to have Dan home again tomorrow!  Here's some photos from the project:

This is a flexible, PVC liner that needs to be carefully folded in the corners of the grow beds.

The plastic containers will hold the fish and the wooden troughs (grow beds) will hold the plants.

When's the last time you went rollar skating?

Skate Night in Hamilton City, CA

by Carol M.

photo by Adam Mansfield

It was a great way to end the first month of 2014. We, as Youth With A Mission, rented the North Valley Hockey Rink in Hamilton City and invited the town for a free family night of skating, hot dogs, fun and fellowship. We didn’t head out there with any sort of agenda. We just wanted to show the families of Hamilton City the love of Jesus.

The owner remarked that the crowd was double what he has ever seen there on a Friday. So many families with kids from 1 – 99 showed up, waited patiently in line to state their shoe size and don a pair of retro quad skates or inline hockey style skates. The sound of laughter quickly filled the air as the crowd in the rink grew.

D.J. Daniel was the man on the mic telling the crowd in English and Spanish it was time to limbo. That’s always a source of good entertainment as people see how low they can go.

photo by Dai Sup Han

photo by Adam Mansfield

The grill just outside the garage door filled the atmosphere with a mini bonfire as Carlos and Dan roasted hundreds of hot dogs for hungry skaters. God had a divine appointment arranged for Carlos on Friday night. He met a man who had recently been released from prison and wanted very much to reunite and heal his hurting family. Carlos prayed with him and encouraged him and lovingly told him that he needs Jesus to make this endeavor work. He told him that alone he will strive and work hard, but it will be a difficult road that must be walked with The Savior in order to be successful. The man asked Carlos to recommend some churches. Sunday morning, the man and his family walked the through the doors of New Beginnings Fellowship. What the enemy intends for evil, God can and will use for His good. Please keep in your prayers this man and others who are sincerely trying to turn their lives around, that they will humble themselves and allow Jesus to direct their steps.

I myself was taking a break from skating and enjoying watching my young boys go around and around with huge smiles of satisfaction on their faces when I noticed a young lady of about 13. She colorfully shared the details of big kids picking on little kids and how she was trying to stop it and it turned into a mess. I asked if I could pray with her. At first she said no but soon changed her mind, and said, ok. The countenance of this young lady quickly changed. She softened and even smiled and said thanks. This gal and her friend soon were saying hi to me every time they skated past and stopped to meet my kids and say what a good time they had.

photo by Dai Sup Han

Shawn and Ginger and Robin handed out skates most of the night and blessed all the recipients with their sincere smiles and heart felt joy. Many members of YWAM joined in the skating fun and brought a lot of joy and proof that Christians know how to have good, clean fun.

As we continue to pray for Hamilton City, let’s also keep asking God for more creative ways to participate in and bring Jesus into the community.

Guatemala outreach update

by Jake Findley

You take away all the other luxuries in life, and if you can make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift: happiness.*

 

While in Puerto Abajo, Guatemala, doing a Vacation Bible School with the DTS outreach team, I met a young boy named Francisco.

He was eight years old, and looked small for his age. His bare feet, dirty sweater and khakis that brushed his ankles proclaimed his poverty, but he was full of joy, and wanted to know more of the Lord.

We found out his birthday was at the end of the week, so some of our team went to town and bought a birthday cake. That night, we invited Francisco, and his family to our outreach home, a two bedroom house across the road from the ministry’s clinic. We were planning a surprise birthday party.

When they arrived, we greeted them, and told Francisco that we had something special for him. We brought out the cake, and then, the birthday presents. The joy that was on his face was like nothing I have ever seen before. When he opened the remote control car we gave him, he became king of the block for the day.

The way he and the other kids responded was better than we could hope for. The other neighborhood kids, though they surrounded Francisco and his hotrod with oohs and ahs, were very respectful of him and his new toy. And he shared turns willingly.

We soon found out that he had never had a birthday celebration before, with a cake and gifts. He lives in a two room adobe house with his family. Their diet consists mostly of tortillas, beans and coffee. They rarely eat fresh vegetables or fruit. His is a situation where there is little money to do extra things like a birthday party.

It was staggering to see that something we can easily take for granted—like a simple cake and two gifts for a birthday—meant everything for this little boy, and was such a blessing for his family.

*quote by Brad Garrett

Brazil outreach update

One of our recent CDTS graduates shares a story from outreach in Brazil.

By Jaime B.

As night closes in, our team is gathering roses, and putting a scripture verse on each one. Later, we will hand out the roses to the ladies of the night.

Our DTS leaders brief our team on the intense encounter that is about to take place. We are going to hand out roses to high class prostitutes in the red light district of Sao Paolo, Brazil.

As a team, we start to intercede, praying for God’s heart for how we need to walk out this intense evening. This is spiritual war! I’m thinking, “These are the daughters of a living God, who have a chance to turn their hearts toward God.”

As our DTS team arrives to our destination, tears begin to flow down my face as we pass so many girls! God is showing me a glimpse of His heart at this time. So many ladies, where do we start? These girls are from the age of 14 to late 30s and they will do anything for money. The police drive by, but they pay no attention to the girls, or to us. The streets are lit up with lust and darkened by brokenness.

As I hand a rose to one lady—I will not mention her name—I find out through the interpreter that she is a pastor’s daughter. Tears are flowing down her face from guilt and shame.

We find out she charges USD$5,000, and uses that money to supply her lavish lifestyle.

The Holy Spirit is doing a deep work as we pray with her. I tell her that God has come to tell her tonight that it is time for God’s daughter to come home to His arms. We pray together a prayer of repentance, and she cries as she repeats it after me.

She gives her heart back to the Lord tonight. I remind her that God will take care of all of her needs. My teammates have many more victories. Heaven is rejoicing!

Aquaponics progress

by Craig Anderson
On January 5, Peter Konrad brought his tractor with add-ons to level out our Aquaponics site. Basically he drove the tractor all day while I picked up rocks. :) The site looks significantly better and we can hopefully start building soon.