Is anyone familiar with YWAM-please help

[Only me]

I was hoping that someone would be familiar with this organization. My 18 year old nephew is leaving in a few weeks to spend 5 months with Youth With a Mission. He will spend 3 months training and then 2 months overseas. My brother really hasn't done any research into this organization but my mom looked it up online and what she found was very disturbing (moral government, a lot of doctrine that is very different from our beliefs, etc.)

 

I don't want to start a debate here but I would really like feedback from anyone who has experience with them. I'm hoping things have changed from back when some of these articles were written. My mom found some from the 1980's that were pretty negative. If things are still the same I am truly worried about his safety.

[Legomom]

My stepdaughter and her husband were in it for five years and just came back in 2005. Generally it was fine, but the reason that they left was that there was no room for disagreement with leadership. For someone staying 5 mos I would guess this isn't such an issue, because their issue was more the direction of the base etc since they had been there so long.

 

Personally I wasn't a huge fan of YWAM, due to some of YWAM's beliefs and the rigidity of policies (dating for example), but from a safety standpoint we were never worried about her.

[Soph the vet]

I know lots of kids who have gone through YWAM DTS (Discipleship Training School) and then the outreach to different parts of the world. I think it is a great experience for young adults to go see what is out there, share the gospel, see how God can use them in other cultures. I wouldn't agree with all that YWAM stands for but it certainly doesn't have a bad reputation among the evangelical community as far as I know.

[Ellie]

I was hoping that someone would be familiar with this organization. My 18 year old nephew is leaving in a few weeks to spend 5 months with Youth With a Mission. He will spend 3 months training and then 2 months overseas. My brother really hasn't done any research into this organization but my mom looked it up online and what she found was very disturbing (moral government, a lot of doctrine that is very different from our beliefs, etc.)

 

I don't want to start a debate here but I would really like feedback from anyone who has experience with them. I'm hoping things have changed from back when some of these articles were written. My mom found some from the 1980's that were pretty negative. If things are still the same I am truly worried about his safety.

 

I would want to know who wrote the articles you're referring to (I wasn't able to find anything negative).

 

I would be thrilled to death if one of my dc felt called to be part of YWAM. Of course, if your doctrine is so different, I can see why that might be a problem for you; YWAM's doctrine agrees with every church I've attended for over 30 years.

[Only me]

I haven't really been able to find as much negative as she has. She gave me one article by Gregory L. Robertson but he was part of YWAM in the 80's. I guess what worries me is Moral Government's presence. I had never even heard of them before but after talking to my mom this morning it has me quite worried.

 

I won't get into here because I'm sure there are varied religious reliefs on this board. I am a christian and I'll just put it this way one of the main differences is their belief on how how people get into heaven, how God doesn't really have any control over man, etc. My mom has the article at her home so I don't have a website to give but just from hearing what she read it makes me a little uneasy without a little more research on my brother's part.

[Ellie]

and found this. I don't agree with "moral government" theology, either.

 

This does concern me, although if you read the whole article I linked, the author said he went to another YWAM group and had a wonderful time.

 

I guess you'd need to investigate the specific YWAM group your dc would be going to.

 

I haven't really been able to find as much negative as she has. She gave me one article by Gregory L. Robertson but he was part of YWAM in the 80's. I guess what worries me is Moral Government's presence. I had never even heard of them before but after talking to my mom this morning it has me quite worried.

 

I won't get into here because I'm sure there are varied religious reliefs on this board. I am a christian and I'll just put it this way one of the main differences is their belief on how how people get into heaven, how God doesn't really have any control over man, etc. My mom has the article at her home so I don't have a website to give but just from hearing what she read it makes me a little uneasy without a little more research on my brother's part.

[Beth in OH]

My dd went to Guatemala with YWAM last summer. She stayed at the Antigua base, and spent two weeks participating in its regular, evangelical mission work. Dayle in Guatemala (from this board) is a "permanent" YWAM missionary in Antigua--send her a private email. I can't say enough wonderful things about this organization and my dd's experience. No doctrinal issues here. I consider myself an "empowered evangelical". Also, I don't know what Moral Government is, but my dd found the local base to be very knowledgeable about local politics, but focused on Christian evangelism, not activism.

 

HTH,

Beth

[Becca]

My SIL went to a DTS program in Hawaii and then later began working on staff in both Hawaii and Montana. This was all during the last 10ish years or so. She never mentioned anything negative about her experience as a student or employee and I didn't pick up on anything negative as well. To me it sounded like a very solid ministry/organization and I have heard nothing but positive reviews from anyone about YWAM.

[Colleen in NS]

I was hoping that someone would be familiar with this organization. My 18 year old nephew is leaving in a few weeks to spend 5 months with Youth With a Mission. He will spend 3 months training and then 2 months overseas. My brother really hasn't done any research into this organization but my mom looked it up online and what she found was very disturbing (moral government, a lot of doctrine that is very different from our beliefs, etc.)

 

I don't want to start a debate here but I would really like feedback from anyone who has experience with them. I'm hoping things have changed from back when some of these articles were written. My mom found some from the 1980's that were pretty negative. If things are still the same I am truly worried about his safety.

 

I worked with YWAM from 1986 to 1994 in various parts of the world, with hundreds of different people. I still have friendships with many of my YWAM friends around the world. I had great experiences with YWAM (including meeting my husband ;)! :)

 

I've seen some of the negative articles online, but they are not representative of the majority of YWAM bases/leaders around the world. Where is your nephew going to do his DTS training?

 

Please feel free to PM me if you want to chat off-board about it. I'd love to talk with you.

[Guest jan]

I was able to find the YWAM values listed on this site.

 

http://www.ywammontana.org/ywammontana/ywamvalues.html

 

It is too lengthy to post here, but I was encouraged to see that they say....

 

"Youth with a Mission (YWAM) affirms the Bible as the authoritative word of God and, with the Holy Spirit's inspiration, the absolute reference point for every aspect of life and ministry. Based upon the God's word, who He is, and His initiative of salvation"

 

I think that YWAM is so large that is possible that bad teaching may have taken place in some areas. However, I also see that YWAM pushed an initiative to help ensure their "standard doctrine" about 10 years ago.

 

Yet, I sure see a mixed message when I review the web. I have been considering the DTS site in Montana. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of this site?

[Colleen in NS]

I think that YWAM is so large that is possible that bad teaching may have taken place in some areas. However, I also see that YWAM pushed an initiative to help ensure their "standard doctrine" about 10 years ago.

 

I agree. It's a huge organization now, after almost 50 years. Any organization, big or small, is going to have its growing pains, problems, etc. simply because organizations involve people. :) But I still think YWAM overall is a great organization. Those foundational values that you found have been around for quite a few years, too.

 

As for the Montana base - I've known several people who have either gone through the training programs there or have taught in them. I even considered their dance school for myself many moons ago. I've never heard negative reports about that base, and it's been around for quite awhile.

[Only me]

I haven't had the time to find out more information from my brother but I think my nephew was going somewhere in Montana. I would be interested to hear more information about it.