What you need to know about YWAM before you go!! [YWAM Q&A]

[@lynettepettitt655]

If you choose to go to YWAM DTS make sure you connect with a local church & have an independent sounding board outside of YWAM that is spiritually mature and a good theological understanding. Keep in regularly contact with them. Many people have issues with how the organization functions & it can be a very intense bubble that doesn't allow for questions & critical thinking before participating in specific events/ classes/ ministries. You have the right to privacy boundaries & to refuse to participate in something that makes you uncomfortable. Also realized if God wants you to go somewhere or do something He will tell you. Other people claiming that they've "heard from God" about you should be tested & you shouldn't feel pressured into agreeing with them. Training is NOT indoctrination!! Claims or teachings need to be accountability to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will not contradict the Word of God.

[@kennadyperdue160]

Forgot to say I went to YWAM CO (Colorado Springs) hahaha! WOOOOO!

[@heidiluidensmusic2059]

I like how your shirt says Every Nation cause Lindy Conant (Circuit Riders) has a song called Every Nation it's so good!

[@iesukeriso103]

Everything you say is true....i did the DTS in France 13 years ago and still remember how God moves during that time....how he opened up my eyes in to what a real relationship with him is....how i can interact with him, how i can speak To him and he does speak back to me through his word....it was a real eye opener because through the teaching on the father's heart of God....he helpt To undersdand my real identity in CHRIST....Thank you for Sharing this video....God bless you....

[@jessicakelley7658]

You will probably never see this but I am so curious about when you made that decision to start ywam how did it all go down? Money wise and traveling taking care of things before you left etc if there is a video let me know!! Thanks much love💕

[@MsLilpj]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h33VYop3q66ko6c You might wanna see the other side of YWAM as well.

[@joshhanlonn2665]

YOOO!! Come to Sydney bro! I'll catch up with you hahah

[@JoshSeals]

Josh H Ayy haha I would totally be down

[@joshhanlonn2665]

@@JoshSeals Looking forward to it hahha !!

[@lukeacheson2224]

Hey, man thanks so much for these videos they helped a lot.

[@MsLilpj]

I have a question. I hope you guys answer, because most people from Ywam don't have an answer. If knowing God means to learn/ read the Bible. Why doesn't YWAM teach theology? Why are most people from Ywam so repulsive to theology?

[@JoshSeals]

MsLilpj Hey, thanks for asking. Your experience might be different but my experience with YWAM was based in theology. Without that essential theology YWAM is not Christian. I think what you might be referring to is not wanting to dwell on theological discrepancies like Calvinism. I personally want to be spending the majority of my time working on knowing God personally through prayer, scripture, etc rather than trying to understand which boxes of theological understanding I can fit a supernatural God in to. Not to say it shouldn’t be addressed, but YWAM (and I) just believe that it shouldn’t be our main focus

[@lyndagruen2047]

Sound biblical theology may conflict with some of their core beliefs. To my knowledge, those would include doctrines related to submission / obedience to leaders, extra-biblical revelation, probably even issues related to sin and demonology. So, your point is likely quite valid. They may claim to support standard Christian theology but differ enough to have developed the reputation of a cultishly-aberrant group - one that, based on multiple reports, sometimes abuses people - and sometimes quite severely. People's experiences are said to vary quite widely. Food for thought: www.spiritualabuseresources.com/articles/my-experience-in-ywam kzbin.info/www/bejne/h33VYop3q66ko6c changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/lifton_thought_reform.htm freedomofmind.com/bite-model/ The comments by ex-members on the KZbin video are rather telling. There are other alleged abuse testimonies floating around out there as well.

[@lyndagruen2047]

@@JoshSeals Yeah, and that's one of the problems with YWAM and related groups. You all like to go around, acting as if you all just buy into a standard basic theology, but you forget to acknowledge your group's own distinctions from other theological traditions. For example, multiple times, I have been told that your people "hear" from God, in the sense of a direction for one's life, or a direction for one's outreach. Your folks might also re-interpret Scripture to reapply a passage in a modern context, for which it was never intended. That can lead to theological error fairly easily. Frankly, it sets a dangerous precedent that can lend itself very well to spiritual abuse from your group's leaders over those under their authority. So YES, theology DOES matter - especially when you are not being up-front about your theological distinctions from traditional biblical interpretation. That should be a massive red flag right there.

[@JoshSeals]

@@lyndagruen2047 Hey Lynda! Just reading your comments so sorry for the delayed response. But the examples you brought up of straying from sound theology don't seem accurate or like viable reasons for labeling YWAM as adamantly as you have. How is hearing from God unbiblical? We have the same Holy Spirit as Jesus and he heard and talked with God. And misinterpreting scripture is a much wider problem - YWAM definitely isn't the only place that can happen. We are all human, imperfect, and the reality is that can happen in any church (even the most well-intentioned, God loving and honoring ones). It stinks but I just think it's unfair to peg YWAM like they are intentionally trying to lead people astray and purposefully misinterpreting scripture. I am totally on your side though. Theology is hugely important. It's needed and frankly YWAM could find more of a balance between ones feelings and love for God and straight up healthy theology that creates needed structure and clarity and consistency. Also just to note I am not (and was never) on staff with YWAM. I did a DTS for 6 months and have just shared my experience. But I'm also interested because it sounds like you have history with the organization?

[@hannahjohnson513]

Thank you so much for this video!! Did you know anyone at your base or did you go into YWAM not knowing anyone?

[@JoshSeals]

Hannah Johnson hahaha I didn’t know literally anyone there but I had to go for it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mombogalloway]

We went in not knowing anyone but made lifelong friends in a very short time.

[@samanthagrace2168]

Thank you this helps! 🙌🙏

[@JoshSeals]

Samantha Grace No problem! So glad it did!

[@samanthagrace2168]

@@JoshSeals especially your other video The Call

[@blythebee3906]

Cool stuff! I’m off to Ywam in CO in two months, and this video was pretty timely.

[@samanthagrace2168]

@@blythebee3906 I'm off to Ywam in Norway in two months

[@kalistajade4177]

This has been so helpful! Thank you so much!! Just a quick question, is it possible to so a DTS in a language you don’t speak? As in did you know french before going to France? God Bless :))

[@JoshSeals]

Kalista Jade hi! Yes I actually was at an English speaking base so I did not need to know French. If you talk to the base you’re interested in you should be able to figure that out

[@iesukeriso103]

Kalista jade....i encourage you to do the DTS in english because if you do it in a language you do not know you will miss many things God wants to tell you....UNLESS YOU HAVE À TRANSLATOR....Otherwise choose a Belingual DTS....Do not miss the most important things that God wants to reveal to you through the teachings....God bless you....

[@kalistajade4177]

thanks so much for the advice!! :)

[@lyndagruen2047]

Interesting remarks around 17:00 ish - "Satan is trying to get us with this video." Uh, what does rain have to do with Satan? Plants need rain, and the video posted, anyway. So I'm hearing Satan, I'm hearing Loren Cunningham.... uh, did I miss something? Was the name Jesus Christ mentioned in this video? When I hear a group member mention "Satan", it does leave me wondering how much credit a person or group gives to Satan instead of Christ.

[@lyndagruen2047]

11:00 "And as if for, like, a selfish person person to want to go...." - If you want to find God stateside, train to be a senior center or ER nurse during COVID. Serve in the highest-crime urban neighborhoods in the US - especially if you're white, since some folks might distrust you or harass you for your race. Volunteer with an organization that helps to house, feed or provide medical care for the homeless. Advocate for the civil rights of trans people who want to de-transition. Volunteer to babysit for overwhelmed parents. We have plenty of opportunities to build relationships and share Christ here in the US.

[@jillianolson5369]

hi! quick question- if you are trying to decide which base to go to, do you need to know the language of the base you choose?

[@mombogalloway]

Most bases speak English. You can contact that base to make sure. But usually, it is in English and the local language and the training is translated into both. Otherwise, it is just in English usually.

[@TobiasCreed]

New Cam, who dis???

[@JoshSeals]

Tobias Creed 👀👀👀

[@MeMe-ip9rh]

im 20 and havent graduated high school yet due to personal issues... can i still go???

[@Fishy-with-spaghetti]

I’m sure you can. I would strongly recommend taking a moment to pray about it but I would go for it. Just reach out and explore. Good luck on your journeys, God bless

[@lynettepettitt655]

Person issues? If you have issues with mental health, or are struggling with questions about your faith DON'T go to YWAM. It has a number of practices that can be extremely intense & psychologically/emotionally/spiritually manipulative. Find counseling or a good bible college or church. Even a spiritual director or mentor would be better. The reason I say that is YWAM isn't equipped to council people & the program is heavy structured, so it doesn't have room for individual needs or allowing critical thinking that requires time.

[@j-life8502]

DONT GO! THEY ARE A CULT!! dont take my word for it 😤 do your research!! These people will isolate you from your family/ friends , tear you apart spiritually and make YOU THINK ITS YOUR FAULT... this is scary. DONT GO

[@MeMe-ip9rh]

@@j-life8502 i just realized its different each country, some do that, some dont

[@Mcgrandma]

My granddaughter went to YWAM Salem so I thought I’d watch some YWAM videos but the more I watch them, the more I’m convinced this program is abusing people’s hard earned donation money on themselves, taking personality classes and having fun when they could be out in the mission field serving the Lord, building, cleaning, teaching and loving those who don’t know Jesus. I’d be embarrassed to be a part of YWAM.

[@mombogalloway]

Any organization with 20 thousand people will have happy and sad people with varied experiences. Having worked with YWAM globally for over 30 years, I have to say it's for the most part amazing. with fantastic fruit. The media tends to slant negative. For example, most people connect priests with being child molesters due to media coverage where more likely 99% or more of priests are men of God who are doing very good sacrificial work. I have personally learned some of the negaitive videos are by people who have mental illness before even joining. One young woman who has the most hits on her video was only at DTS for a few weeks before taking off. My friends daughter was in that same DTS and said her experience was wonderful and that the girl who made the most popular anti-ywam video on youtube was acting crazy yelling at people on day one and left pretty quickly. She was off her meds while there and lost it. Anyways, it's good to know the facts behind some of these stories on youtube. The training is very Biblical and the outreach is very challenging and full of outreach and helping people. How was your granddaughters experience?

[@Mcgrandma]

@@mombogalloway I appreciate your reply. I’m aware every organization has its wierd people, but personally think YWAM takes too much time training and not enough service in the field. My granddaughter is a godly young lady and put her heart into it, but I still think there’s too much “schooling”using other people’s money. Leans towards free loading. People should pay for their own schooling. I’m not a Mormon, but they have a much better program where their missionaries mostly pay for their own missions and serve in the field except for a short orientation time and have adults as leaders not young early twenty year olds. Plus I got the impression the trainers weren’t qualified enough, and it was the blind leading the blind even to the point of getting into the kid’s emotions. Not good.

[@lyndagruen2047]

So, I'm probably a bit older, and more of a skeptic troll, I suppose. First, my understanding is that this school is not an accredited seminary. The young man, Josh, speaks of some of the topics. The problem? Christians aren't supposed to add to the Bible. So, why spend money on these speakers and apply teachings that are human interpretations of what *might* be biblical teaching (or might be twisted teaching)? As for evangelism, you just do it. You go up to someone, introduce yourself, and share Christ with them. The more you do it, the easier it gets. You can do that in your own neighborhood.

[@firebasetc]

you said it (the troll part). who cares if its accredited. its not about getting a college degree. that is so religious. clearly the Bible contemplates teachers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit giving people practical ways to apply the truth of the Scripture to their cultural and generational context. you don't just do evangelism. you hear good theology on evangelism. you see evangelism modeled and then you get activated. you know, how Jesus did it. you can do it in your own neighborhood but being out of your own cultural context forces you into a situation where you are less comfortable and more dependent on God. why come against what God is doing in another part of the body of Christ? why not celebrate it. I am personally super grateful God is moving through YWAM to activate young people in the Great Commandments and the Great Commission.

[@mombogalloway]

University of the Nations is accredited in many countries like Australia. Most Christian Universities in America accept some of the credits from the University of the Nations. It is not a seminary but a missionary training school :)