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REACHING THE PACIFIC U N I V E R S I T Y O F T H E N AT I O N S KO N A
Issue 2013
In This Issue Loren Cunningham
September 21, 2013 was a “red letter” day for me, for YWAM, for the University of the Nations Kona, and for Hawaiian Christians. Several streams of God’s promises to us and to generations past converged on that day, as a YWAM sailing vessel destined to reach the islands of the Pacific sailed into Kailua-Kona Bay. It landed right where the first missionaries to Hawaii landed in 1820, with descendants onboard of the “ohana” (family) of Henry Opukaha’ia, the first Hawaiian Christian. My heart leaped with joy at this re-emphasis on a specific word God gave us in 1977 during a prayer time on campus in the old Pavilion: that the university ministry and ship ministry were to be “twins” – both with the same DNA, and both relationally interdependent upon the other to fulfill their destiny in God to reach and train. Read more about the vision and the YWAM ships ministry in this issue of Transformations Magazine. In This Issue… we will seek to give you our “glocal” view of the world, sharing stories about schools, outreaches, ministries and innovations that are both “local” and “global” - from Kona to Palau to Panama. In This Issue… Join us in celebrating the outcomes from the University of the Nations Workshop that took place in September in San Antionio Del Mar, Mexico. There, nearly 700 of our international university leaders gathered to hear God’s heart regarding the worldwide development of the university. Alongside that event, the global spiritual leaders of Youth With A Mission also met. Though the UofN, with its 556 locations in 160 countries is one of the largest ministries in YWAM’s “family of ministries,” we always want to ensure that the development of YWAM, the UofN, our Ship Equipped ministries and ALL our other ministries work together in unity. We must be rooted in the Lord and a Biblical Christian worldview, and united in our understanding of the specific role God has called us to play within the body of Christ to help complete the Great Commission, embodied in our vision, values and covenants. Also In This Issue is a Tribute to my wonderful mother-in-law, Enid Scratch, known around the world as “Mama Dar” (a name the Africans gave her in Kenya in 1992). She went from her own bed, in her own home, straight from Darlene’s arms into the arms of Jesus on August 18th, 2013. In her 99½ years on earth, this little woman had a HUGE impact for the kingdom of God. Join with us in celebrating God’s faithfulness to her and her faithfulness to Him.
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Once again the September 2013 quarter at the UofN Kona Campus is our largest quarter ever, with 548 students in our 10 Discipleship Training Schools and nine upper level courses, plus more than 600 staff. All combined, we represent more than 51 nations. We are also thrilled to have more than 300 kids in our children and youth education programs on campus – preschool through 12th grade – training the next generation of missionary leaders. We need more facilities to house, feed and train them. Read about that In This Issue in the campus development section. Thank you for your prayers and support for individual students and staff members who come through our doors. Thank you for entrusting them to Jesus and to us. And thank you for your prayers and support for the UofN Kona and around the world.
Your brother,
Loren Cunningham UofN Kona Campus leader and International Chancellor, University of the Nations
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M A G A Z I N E
Celebrating a Century of God's Faithfulness
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Enid Scratch, Darlene Cunningham’s mother (and global Grandma to YWAM and UofN), has gone to be with the Lord. 500+ gathered to celebrate her life well lived.
As the number of students and staff increase, positive changes are taking place on the UofN Kona Campus to feed, house and fuel them.
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Giving Orphans a Second Chance in Panama An outreach team from UofN Kona went to Panama with a desire to make a difference and God opened amazing doors of opportunity.
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Leaders Gather in Mexico for UofN Workshop
Campus Development
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REACHING THE PACIFIC U N I V E R S I T Y O F T H E N AT I O N S KO N A
Issue 2013
On The Cover
YWAM Vessel Arrives in Kailua-Kona Bay A new chapter begins as YWAM Ships and the University of the Nations, Kona partner to reach the Pacific.
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YWAM Palau
Miconesia Outreach
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Hawaii’s Mission History
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The Heart of UofN Training
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2014 Course Listing
700+ converged in San Antonio del Mar for the 13th UofN Workshop.
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SphereView Bible A Bible that highlights the spheres of society is in the making, with people from all over the world contributing to its release.
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Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations
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We are so grateful to our many friends from around the world who have joined forces with us through finances, labor, and prayer to support the ongoing expansion of UofN Kona, in order to house, feed, train and send missionaries from this place into all the world. Below is an update drawn from an interview with Pieter Heres, Coordinator of campus development projects, Office of the President, UofN Kona Campus.
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Transformations
Issue 2013
Sylvia Kay
UofN Kona Campus Development Update
Solar Project: BY THE END of this year Brightleaf Power will install 48 units of intelligent solar panels on 150 x 200 square feet of land above our maintenance area on the UofN Kona Campus. Brightleaf Power, a company from Montrose, Colorado, owned by Christians who specialize in solar energy, has already installed a model unit of four upright panels next to the Banyan Tree Café on campus. The units are designed in a unique way to follow the sun, much like sunflowers do, which means they produce more energy than flat panels on a roof. Each unit of four panels produces ten kilowatts per hour – four kilowatts for electricity and six kilowatts for hot water. This project will power the electricity and hot water for eight of our accommodation buildings above the Ohana Court. It promises to give us a huge savings on our high monthly electricity bill - approximately 30% savings! The cost of this installation will be between $3- to $4-million. Brightleaf Power has already found investors to cover half of the costs for this project, but is looking for more investors to make up the remainder. Once the project is complete they will have the benefit of being able to show hotel owners in the Hawaiian Islands a fully operational model of these solar panels.
Cafeteria: Since the time we began designing a new cafeteria and kitchen, the plans have expanded and improved. We have
added a basement floor to accommodate our 30-some Arts, Media and IT ministries that are currently operating in cramped and lessthan-adequate accommodations. We have also added a half floor above the kitchen for a Culinary Training Center to equip people for food services all around the world. The total square-footage of this building is 68,000 square feet. As you can imagine the costs for this project increased because the size of the project expanded. Pieter Heres says, “I’m not sure if Noah knew all the costs involved when he started building the ark, but he began the project in obedience to the word of the Lord.” We are so grateful for a promise of funding that has been committed to complete the kitchen and cafeteria floor. This is our most urgent need. The rest will be finished as the Lord provides – next the TransMedia floor and finally the Culinary Training Center.
need skilled dry-wallers, finish carpenters, installers, etc. If you would like to help fund any of these projects, please contact donorprocessing@ uofnkona.edu or go online to donate at www. uofnkona.edu. You can designate your gift to the specific project you wish to donate to: solar, cafeteria, dormitory, etc.
If you are a skilled construction worker and you would like to volunteer your help, please contact missionbuilders@uofnkona.edu
New Dormitory: We are currently in the process of building a new dormitory – the “Tuvalu” building (each campus building has a Pacific Island name). It has one large classroom, two family units and many dormitory rooms and will accommodate a total of 80-100 students. Its completion will be a huge and much needed blessing! Financial commitments have been made for the roof, the electrical and the plumbing. We hope to get these things done before the end of 2013. In January we will be welcoming Mission Builders to finish the building. We
Scan with your handheld device to visit and learn more about the Mission Builders program, visit www.UofNKona.edu
Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations
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Dawn Gauslin
Celebrating a Century of God's Faithfulness Enid Scratch / “Mama Dar” February 23, 1914 – August 18, 2013
more and more difficult to make it through the challenges of everyday life with a 99-year-old body! By the end of the day she was worn out. Even so, she was the most disciplined person I’ve ever known – she ate balanced meals on time; exercised daily; faithfully prayed for her family and her prayer list every morning; and did her Bible reading every afternoon. (She loved the SourceView Bible because “it made the Scripture come alive” even after eight decades of loving the Word since she accepted Jesus as her Savior at 12 years of age.) She had a lifetime of scripture passages memorized and packed away for the appropriate word of wisdom at the right time. Most days at breakfast she would claim her life verse “the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b), and God was faithful to keep His promise to give strength for each day. The Thursday night before her home-going, despite a full day of doctor visits, Mama Dar attended the Ohana Gathering Service on the UofN Kona Campus because she wanted to hear the presenters from Word by Heart recite scripture as though from their own first-hand experience of the events. She loved the Bible and had a contagious passion for scripture memorization (that was always the challenge she put before young people, when asked to speak). The final passages that night were from the Passion in the book of Mark. Afterward, the communion elements were made available at tables around the Ohana Court for people to come and remember the Lord’s Supper. Karen wheeled her grandma up to the front, and she and son-in-law Loren took Communion together.
YWAMERS AROUND THE GLOBE have mourned the passing and celebrated the life of Darlene Cunningham’s mother, affectionately known by the name she was given in Kenya in 1992 “Mama Dar.” She was truly a grandmother to the mission as a whole, and at 99½, she was the oldest full-time YWAMer. Enid and her husband, E.R. Scratch, had been pastors and involved in YWAM ministry throughout their 58 years of marriage. After his death in 1991, she began traveling with Darlene to staff Leadership Training Schools around the world, which she wrote about in her wonderful book The Worldwide Wanderings of a YWAM Widow. During her lifetime, she traveled to 44 countries, 5 continents and all 50 States. In each location, she loved and was loved by many! As she lived, so she left. Mama Dar was mentally sharp, humorous and filled with gratitude right to the very end – she was just finding it
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On Saturday, Darlene spent the whole day with her mom. Then on Sunday morning, August 18th, when Mama Dar awoke, she was not feeling well. Soon after Darlene arrived and took her mom into her arms, she passed into eternity. There was no trauma of an ambulance or hospitalization - she just peacefully slipped into the arms of Jesus. On the evening of August 25th - one week from the date of her “graduation” - the YWAM/UofN Kona “ohana” (Hawaiian word for “family”) gathered to celebrate her life with stories, hula, scripture recitation, hymns (in English, Hawaiian and Korean), tributes…and birthday cake! Although she was 99½ according to her country of birth (Wales), she was well into her 100th year according to Koreans. Korea was the last nation she visited in 2010 for YWAM’s 50th anniversary event. A word from Darlene Cunningham: “Thank you so much for the flood of condolences that have come from around the world upon hearing of the home-going of my dear Mama…. These are days of sweet sorrow and rejoicing. Surely this tiny little lady with her big, big heart has
been well loved by thousands of people all over the world! Her legacy and impartation is truly global and yet personal to each and every one of us! We as a family miss her so much, but rejoice at the thought of her being with Jesus, reunited with my dad and so many of her family and friends who were waiting to welcome her home! These are days of celebrating the faithfulness of Jesus to Mom, and the joy of a life lived fully in service to Him.” Here is a direct link to the tribute video by grandson David Cunningham/TFI: https://vimeo.com/72869699 As many have rehearsed Mama Dar’s last days and weeks on earth, we are all so amazed at the faithfulness of God to put every little detail into place! Recently, I was reminded of a promise Mama Dar told me she had received from the Lord a few months back. She was having a “conversation” with Him about the timing of her home going. God promised her, “I have your days planned for you, and when I choose
The Joy of the Lord is my Strength Nehemiah 8:10b to take you home, it will be perfect for you, and for everyone else.” She was at peace after that regarding the comings and goings of family… and He was surely faithful to His word! Darlene, Loren, granddaughter Karen, and grandson David and his family were all in Kona at the time of her home going! May we all be encouraged to know that our times, too, are in God’s hands. May we run the race and finish well, as Mama Dar did! And may we rejoice in the blessed hope of eternity together with Jesus and one another!
Scan with your handheld device to watch for the first time or revisit the event that took place in celebration of Mama Dar’s life.
Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations
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Jeff Rogers
A Second Chance For Children
PANAMA wasn’t Sam’s first choice for outreach. Africa was his passion. But after serious soul searching, Sam, from the UK, decided to join the Voice for the Voiceless Discipleship Training School (DTS) team to Panama as the outreach leader. Michael, a big Norwegian guy from a Liberian immigrant family, had never been focused on video or photography. Rap is his thing. But as Michael took the Voice for the Voiceless DTS media classes, he showed a natural talent for camera work. Noe, a young Mexican artist, was headed home. The cost of going to Panama seemed too much. Beside that, his father was set against it. But during some last-minute prayer with Sam and the school, Noe resolved to go. Determined, Noe called home again. The family agreed, and soon the money came in. Noe changed his ticket home for a trip to Panama instead. Their DTS team gathered to pray at the Banyan Tree Café on the University of the Nations Kona campus. After quieting their hearts to pray for Panama, the team felt God guiding them to focus their missions work on children and government leaders. But no one knew exactly how. Sam, Noe and Michael all had to leave the US soon to honor their visas — three weeks before the rest of the team would travel to Panama. With no other option, they set off early to the unfamiliar nation. They arrived in the capital, Panama City, and learned about a medical crisis that had just begun. The nation had run out of its entire supply of AZT, a crucial drug for HIV patients receiving “triple therapy” antiviral medication. YWAM Panama’s director, David Tracy, and a foster mother named Brittany took the three young men to film at Malambo orphanage, where infants and
Photographs: Samuel Rich
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youth with HIV faced a shortage of the lifesaving medicine. The three young YWAM missionaries (who were still supposed to be in Kona) had arrived just in time to use their media training. They interviewed doctors, nurses and NGO workers about the urgent need for HIV medication. Next they were invited to interview Sister Lourdes, called by some the “Panamanian Mother Teresa” who has managed the orphanage for more than 30 years. Soon the three guys had powerful footage and interviews to edit into a Grassroots News story. Once the story was posted online, friends and contacts began forwarding the story to everyone that could possibly help. With people seeing the urgent need one NGO, Heart’s Cry International, was able to get the needed HIV medicine and quickly deliver it, averting the medical crisis. Emboldened by this success, Brittany encouraged the arriving Voice for the Voiceless team to go after a bigger challenge: filming a documentary on the dysfunctional Panamanian orphan care system and its maze of legal hurdles. 98% of the children never escape the system. Even when eligible Panamanian families applied to adopt children without family, it would take four years at a minimum. Most children stuck in the system suffered developmental problems and would finally “age out,” being sent to the streets where they were vulnerable to sex trafficking, addictions, criminal behavior and suicide. Though most of these UofN Kona DTS students had never interviewed, edited video or filmed a documentary, they were soon doing exactly that. With prayer, research and persistence each interview escalated in importance: from families and
caretakers, to child psychologists, lawyers and NGO directors. Soon the team found themselves interviewing mayoral candidates and lawmakers about how Panama could transform the children’s situations. The team’s prayers for children and government leaders were answered, but the story was far from complete. While most short documentaries take months or years to make, Sam and the team had only six weeks left to finish the film. With the team’s invitation, Brittany took on the role of producer and Sam became the director. Michael, Dorte (a team member from Denmark), and others became fast and capable video editors, while Noe translated tirelessly. After weeks of working through the night, praying through technical problems, and a whole lot of caffeine, the team completed the film less than an hour before the premiere. It was screened at an art house in Panama City where key Panamanian officials, artists, media icons and religious leaders gathered to watch. The movie was titled “Dear Panama,” and featured the families, social workers and political leaders asking for the amendment of Panama’s orphan care laws to allow safe and speedy family reunifications, adoptions and foster care.
Though the team returned to Kona to finish their DTS, spurred on by their efforts, Brittany and her many friends in Panama began a strategic media campaign through social networks and local interviews for print and broadcast media. Before long a chorus of tweets and posts were echoing the call to support legal reform for Panama’s children stuck in the system. Within one year of the screening of Dear Panama, a new law was passed with every single article needed to reform the system. Now more than 9,900 people have seen Dear Panama online (www.DearPanama.com). It has also been played on national television in Panama. A new UofN Kona DTS team worked in Panama the following summer (2013). And a new Voice for the Voiceless documentary team has begun filming “Eloy,” about the global need for family care for children without parents. Most importantly, with the new law passed, once abandoned children in Panama now have a voice and another chance for the care of a family.
After the celebrations of that night, an unsettled waiting period began. Would the law be changed? Or would the momentum gathered be lost in political wrangling and the public’s wandering attention?
Panama
Scan with your handheld device to visit the site that will give you access to Dear Panama. You will be able to watch this impactful film.
Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations 9
EVERY SEAT in the old Congregational Church in Puako, Hawaii was packed the evening of June 5, 2013. The President of Palau was coming to visit, to meet with dignitaries and governmental officials to discuss the environment and how Hawaii and Palau may partner in the Pacific. Flanking his right, President Tommy Remengesau Jr. was joined by various members of his cabinet, welcomed with lei and official greetings. A van full of staff from the University of the Nations Kona representing Science and Technology, Community Development, the College of Counseling and Healthcare and the College of Education squeezed into the very back pews of the church. The emcee welcomed the officials from the Big Island and other islands. He informed the audience that only five questions would be taken that evening. Most of the questions were voiced by officials from University of Hawaii and international environmental groups. But one came from a 20-year-old Discipleship Training School staff member, Max Battle. As he posed his question, every head in the building turned. It wasn’t just that he was much younger than the other participants. It was his first words: “Greetings, Mr. President! The last time we spoke….”
Kris Richards
Turning Hearts and Heads in Palau
Asia Pacific DTS and Awaken DTS have either taken outreach teams there in the past year or are planning to go there in the coming year. Land has recently been donated for YWAM Palau to have its first piece of property as a ministry. The donated land is advantageous for YWAM locally, for hosting international teams and for YWAM Ships. The approximately eight-acre parcel on the island of Babulthuap is quite near the only opening in the coral atolls surrounding Palau that is large enough for ships to enter. Director of YWAM Ships, Brett Curtis is thrilled to be investing ships toward Palau and Micronesia. “YWAM Ships is committed to a five-year focus on Micronesia beginning December 2013. We believe God has indicated clearly we are to provide access to the isolated islands in this most remote corner of the Pacific - sometimes referred to as “the liquid continent.” Ever since we committed to this strategy we have experienced tremendous growth [in our number of staff and students] and also the addition of our second vessel.
The President remembered Max and referred to him by name that evening. It wasn’t difficult, as Max and his outreach team from the YWAM Ships DTS had enjoyed a beach picnic with the new president at his home in Palau weeks earlier. Max had spoken with him about the youth, and how they are the hope of the nation of Palau. UofN Kona’s Science and Technology director Vernon Byrd spoke with the president, along with Palauan YWAMer Linda Subris. Later Vernon reported, “[The President and I] talked about the marine conservation initiative he had started in Micronesia and how we were pleased to work with them through outreach teams, etc. I then spent time talking to the Minister of Environment about their specific programs. He was very open to connect with the University of the Nations Kona.” West Hawaii Today later wrote about that evening, including several photos of Vae Eli from Samoa, Linda Subris and other UofN Kona leaders who met with the President that night. Palauan YWAMers have been intentionally connecting with civic and national leaders, building relationships of trust across their island chain for years. And with many teams now arriving from UofN Kona and other international locations, there is a growing momentum of YWAM’s presence in Palau. In the summer of 2012, several UofN Kona staff were able to meet the former president when they were invited by Palauan YWAMer Fuana Tmarsel to a company BBQ she had been asked to organize for the nation’s Public Utilities District. UofN Kona’s
“So with two vessels relocating from the Americas to Kona, Hawaii then making the seven-day trip south to Micronesia, we will regularly reach out with teams from the UofN Kona and YWAM Ships. Together [we will] provide help to island people who would otherwise see only four to five boats a year. “Teams can apply now to sail with us: ywamships@gmail.com. We are also interested in hearing from healthcare workers, development [workers] and educational trainers. Each will play their part in sharing God’s love on the teams. Deployments can be from two weeks to nine months.” It’s no little thing that YWAM and the University of the Nations Kona has a growing influence with the leadership of this small Micronesian nation. May we serve in unity with God’s Spirit for the nation of Palau.
Scan with your handheld device to find out more about YWAM Ships DTS, visit www.UofNKona.edu Photograph used with permission from West Hawaii Today
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Caleb Yates
God Pursues the Remote
A SMALL TEAM from Engage DTS 2013 followed the word of the Lord to go to Palau, an island chain in Micronesia with a population of just over 20,000. Once they heard the call to go, they followed it with many hours of intercessory prayer for the islands. Although a tiny place on the map, Palau is not forgotten by God! It took more than two hours by speedboat to get from the main island to the tiny island of Kayangel – population 42 - but when they arrived, they knew that it was worth the effort. The islanders have little interaction with foreigners. There is only one store which sells mainly soda pop and mosquito spray. Most of the food the islanders eat is caught in the surrounding waters.
character. After listening carefully with a hungry heart, the younger sister finally opened the door for Jesus to come into her life too. Kelly concluded that we should never miss the opportunity to speak the truth to anyone/everyone “because when we simply step out in faith, people can simply step into the Kingdom of God!” That is exactly what happened with Omptillo and Thelockaloi. Jesus never forgot them, but continually and forevermore pursued them with fervent love.
One of the first Palauan women they met, after only five minutes of conversation with team members Kelly and Calandra, blurted out “So, can I accept Jesus now?” Kelly wrote, “What [attracted] these people was…the fact that we would travel so far just to sit and talk. I think a lot of them have felt forgotten.” The team also met two long-haired, deeply tanned women named Omptillo and Thelockaloi. They were sisters, and both over 80-yearsold. Donna translated for Kelly and Calandra as they shared their faith with the sisters. They seemed torn, their thoughts rested on past afflictions and on present condemnation. Did they understand the love of the Father for them and that they were created wonderfully and fearfully? The Father was not mad at them; He was madly in love with these two! As they invited Omptillo and Thelockaloi into a relationship with Jesus, they discovered that the older sister had once received Jesus. They encouraged her to deepen in relationship with Him, and gave her an expanded understanding of God’s nature and
Palau
Micronesia
Scan with your handheld device to access the Engage DTS page on YWAM Kona’s website, www.UofNKona.edu
Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations 11
Decades of Youth With A Mission’s (YWAM’s) story here at University of the Nations Kona, came into a new season of life on Saturday September 21, 2013, as a vessel under sail, arrived into Kona Bay flying the flags of the USA, of Hawaii and of YWAM. (See accompanying article.) This marked a new chapter in a much loved and prayed into story. For Hawaiians it continued a heritage of missionary sailing vessels spanning two centuries.
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Issue 2013
Karen Curtis
YWAM Twins Reaching the Liquid Continent
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WHEN THE OLD PACIFIC Empress Hotel was purchased in 1977, the property on which the University of the Nations Kona would be established, the words of God to those assembled were clearly about “twins” – of a university ministry and of a ship ministry being birthed together. So in faith, they named their campus snack shop “The Porthole” and they painted games in the children’s play area that are usually found on cruise ship decks, such as shuffleboard. Fast-forward to today and you will find there is a tree house that is built as a ship, in one of the old banyan trees presiding over the deck of the café at the University of the Nations Kona. In late 1983, YWAM’s flagship Anastasis visited Kona before stopping in Honolulu for extensive technical work. Over the following decades, several ships were active in other parts of the world, but not in Kona. Then near the end of 2010 as Youth With A Mission was completing its 50th anniversary celebrations globally, a remarkable event occurred in the Pacific that unlocked a new era in the story of the YWAM twins. Marine Reach New Zealand, in an act of radical
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generosity gave their only vessel away to YWAM Australia. It seemed at that moment in time, a new story began for YWAM’s ship equipped ministries and ship activity began accelerating globally. To date there are 16 known vessels in various locations, with several more vessels in the process of being purchased. In the thriving ministries of University of the Nations Kona however, no ships apart from the one nestled in the great banyan tree were present. Yet this place has carried so many years of prayers and promises regarding vessels. Along this coastline too, the Hawaiian people have a history with missionary ships from the Thaddeus arriving with the first missionaries in 1820 to their amazing support of launching a series of missionary vessels known as the Morning Stars. These were sailing ships sent out from Hawaii to minister in Micronesia from 1856 over a 50 year period. So it is into this history that a small group of YWAMers headed out from Orange County California to Kona, believing God had called them into the ship story and seeking to discover what some of those lingering words
and promises on ships in YWAM might be. As conversation flowed into everyday life in this place, newness was forged in the decades-old word about “twins.” Hearts began to beat as one as God breathed fresh life and understanding into what a university twin and a ship twin could accomplish together. Though we are only beginning to understand the depth and scope of this twin calling, the power of it is hovering over all that is unfolding in this place. In the well known YWAM book Is That Really You, God? Loren Cunningham tells the story of a Mr. Ainsworth who travelled from Canada in 1978 to deliver a message to the islands. It was before the use of cell phones and email that he embarked on this journey, not sure who he was going to deliver the message to until, while waiting at the airport, someone passed him a name of a contact in Hawaii. That name was Loren Cunningham and the message Mr. Ainsworth carried to Hawaii, and ultimately delivered to Loren, involved ships, the Pacific and what God said He was going to do. It is a story yet to be realized. Fast forward to January 2013 and a vessel set
“Sailing into a new destiny many weeks later, she was welcomed by the people of Kona on September 21st and celebrated by her twin.” sail from the island of Grenada located just north of the Amazon River mouth, traversing seven time zones over nine months, being retrofitted along the way to sustain life at sea for long voyages. This vessel too was a gift of generosity, gifted to the Pacific from YWAMers in the Caribbean. Sailing into a new destiny many weeks later, she was welcomed by the people of Kona on September 21st and celebrated by her twin. Now her sights are set on the islands of Micronesia, just five to seven days southwest. These Micronesian islands are described as the most isolated corner of the Pacific, 700 of the 1000 known inhabited islands have no airport. Most of the islands are atolls with very shallow depth and strong currents. With no airports and very little population, it is
not viable for commercial shipping routes to tend their needs more than 3-4 times a year. With this kind of extreme isolation they need help in many categories. Ships are the logical solution for missions in this part of the world, especially when outfitted to be deployed for long periods of time. Teams from around the world can fly into an island serviced with an airport, then board a YWAM vessel that sails under wind, energized with solar power, that can make its own water as it sails. They can be delivered to an outer island, to places that rarely get any visitors let alone missionaries. Not only can teams engage in solutions to basic issues of sustaining life, they can run educational seminars, bring training, teach the word of God and help eliminate Bible poverty throughout the region.
will come via the vessel that now graces Kona Bay, sailing under the YWAM logo, bearing a new Hawaiian name yet to be bestowed by the people of this land, carrying a new generation of courageous seafaring missionaries and the living word of God to people who yet wait.
Summer 2014, in conjunction with Wycliffe Bible Translators, a trip is being planned to a fringe island south of Ponepei, where the islanders will receive for the first time ever, a Bible in their heart language. This delivery
Scan with your handheld device to visit official YWAM Ships website by going to the follwoing, www.YWAMShips.net
Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations 15
Maria Teresa Blay
YWAM Vessel Arrives, Renewing Hawaii's Mission History The pier in Kailua-Kona was packed with 500-600 people, September 21, 2013, as Hawaiians welcomed a 74-foot sailing vessel from YWAM Ships arriving all the way from the island of Grenada in the southeastern Caribbean to make Kona its new home port. THE ATMOSPHERE ON the pier was full of excitement in anticipation of the vessel’s arrival. Island Breeze performed a protocol with the sounding of the conch, music and dance to welcome her into KailuaKona. Onboard were descendants of the “ohana” (family) of Henry Opukaha’ia, one of the first Hawaiian Christians, making this event the full circle of nearly 200 years of missionary history in Hawaii. Long-time friends of YWAM, Mary Boyd, Bobby Macomber and many other “kapunas” (Hawaiian elders) were a part of the celebration. Many “kahus” (pastors) from Big Island churches were also involved, including Kahu David de Carvalho, a former YWAMer who now pastors Mokuaikaua, the first Christian church established in Hawaii.
In the meantime, King Kamehameha I had died. The ancient Hawaiian religion and places of worship had been dismantled by the Hawaiians themselves, and the islands were waiting for the true God to arrive, according to an ancient prophecy handed down through their own oral history. Nearly six months after setting sail, the brig Thaddeus arrived into the bay at Kailua-Kona in March of 1820. The Hawaiians welcomed the missionaries and their God and a move of God’s Spirit swept the islands with tens of thousands receiving Jesus as Lord.
Deborah Lee, the seventh generation first cousin to Henry Opukaha’ia said: “It’s a very wonderful thing that the word, the love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be able to reach many with the help [from] YWAM Ships.”
Answering the Call of Henry Opukaha’ia
In 1807, young Opukaha’ia fled the harsh “kapu” system imposed by King Kamehameha I, after seeing his family members killed by the king’s warriors. In 1808 he swam to a ship in Kealakekua Bay and was granted passage onboard in exchange for labor, eventually ending up in New England of the United States. There, he was taken in by Edwin Dwight and his father Timothy Dwight, the President of Yale, which was a strong Christian university at that time. Henry met Jesus and developed an unquenchable hunger for the Word. Learning English, Latin, Greek and Hebrew, he translated the book of Genesis from the original Hebrew into the Hawaiian language. In 1816, Henry enrolled in the foreign mission school run by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions at Cornwall, Connecticut, as he had a heart to see native Hawaiians come to know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was passionate in his call for missionaries to go share the Good News in his home islands. Unfortunately Henry died of typhus fever at the age of 26 and never made it back to Hawaii. Young missionaries from his school in Connecticut took up his plea and set sail for Hawaii in October of 1819 to honor the call of God and the life of their friend Henry Opukaha’ia.
Scan with your handheld device to visit official YWAM Ships website by going to the follwoing, www.YWAMShips.net
16 Transformations Issue 2013
Missions Full Circle
Fast forward to September 21, 2013: when the YWAM ship was safely tied to the pier and the passengers had disembarked, the protocol continued. The passengers were welcomed with lei and gifts. Loren and Darlene Cunningham, founders of YWAM and pioneers of the UofN Kona campus, were onboard as it harbored at the pier. Loren said, “God spoke to us to have ships, and now this is another one of our [YWAM] ships. But this one is coming into Kailua-Kona where the first missionaries came to Hawaii on a ship, just about this size, from New England. When they arrived in 1820, the Gospel was preached and the Bible was read and revival came and people started to follow Jesus. I see this [day] as picking up from those early days what God wanted to do.”
Danny Lehmann
The Heart of Our Training
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
PAUL’S FINAL LETTER to his young disciple Timothy expresses the heart of what we do in our training at UofN Kona. Summed up in one of our main values of “Do, and then Teach,” Paul notes a distinction between teaching and training. Teaching transmits information while training emphasizes formation. Teaching tells us what is right and training shows us how to do what is right with the emphasis being on the usefulness of the scriptures to help us be equipped to do good works.
All the good works God has called us to do have their ultimate goal in the completion of the Great Commission which is to: 1. Reach every person on the planet with the gospel (Mark 16:15), 2. Disciple all the nations (Matthew 28:18-20), and 3. Establish communities of believers in every inhabited geographical region of the world (Acts 1:8).
The word of the Lord to YWAM from the beginning was to serve in three different arenas: evangelism, training and mercy ministries. So consequently, we need training in these three areas not only to help us in character development (who we are) but competence development (what we do).
philosophy of ministry is likewise a blend of the Great Commission (to reach every person, meeting their spiritual needs) with the Great Commandment (to love our neighbor and thereby meet their physical needs). Paul wrote to the Galatians, using the imagery of a mother giving birth, when he said, “I am in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). The heart of YWAM training is to “give birth” and multiply new ministries of evangelism, training and mercy wherever we are not. We need training along with our teaching, formation as well as information while taking great pains to be doers of the word and not hearers only. Both Jesus and the apostle James warned us about the dangers of hearing without doing and claimed that by doing so, we open ourselves up to both self-deception and selfdestruction (see James 1:22-25 and Matthew 7:24-27). So the heart of YWAM training is summed up in Jesus’ last command: “...make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey all I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19).
Danny Lehmann is the International Dean of the UofN College of Christian Ministries and gives oversight to the area of Training at UofN Kona.
For instance, a new ministry that we are encouraging here at UofN Kona is Crisis Response International (CRI), which launched its first DTS in the September quarter of 2013. Sean and Laura Malone, CRI’s founders, along with DTS leaders Daks and Rachel Fears and Lucas and Grace Myers are blending classic YWAM DTS training with a focus on equipping their students in disaster response and relief. Sean states, “This generation is seeing [devastating] disasters and crises, but I believe that we potentially could see the greatest harvest ever seen in the context of it all.” Much like the Good Samaritan in Jesus’ story, the CRI students are to be ready with God’s heart and hands when disaster strikes. Likewise, our “Justice Water” ministry, under the leadership of Jon Morris, equips our students in practical skills on providing clean water to those who otherwise would have no access to it. Justice Water’s
Scan with your handheld device to find out more about the different training available,, visit www.UofNKona.edu
Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations 17
MORE THAN 700 GATHERED at the beautiful YWAM campus in San Antionio Del Mar, Mexico September 3-8, 2013 for the thirteenth University of the Nations Workshop. The theme “EXPAND: Intimacy and Impact!” was designed to lead those gathered into fresh approaches in intimacy with God and impact in the world, exploring the YWAM motto “to know God and to make Him known.” A traditional Mexican “mariachi” band opened the event with the celebrative music embedded in the culture, followed by Sean and Janet Lambert, founders of YWAM San Diego/Baja, telling how they began the work. “Five years ago,” said Janet, “the Lord showed us [that this property] would be a place where the nations would gather. They have been coming in a trickle each year. But today...you have arrived, and you guys are the flood. Welcome to Mexico!” Tom Bloomer, UofN Provost, later echoed this thought, recounting “40 years ago YWAM teams met on this place, right here on this hill…on their way to Mexico with Bibles. Year after year they came to this place to pray… They forged something in the Spirit, and this became a “high place” - an altar of prayer. And [now] God has gathered us [here] from 50 nations, praying in many languages.” Sean Lambert told of the beginnings of Homes of Hope, a ministry of YWAM San Diego/Baja that has built more than 4,000 homes for needy families. He showed a short video about a home they built for the fourmember Ochoa family in 2010. The crowd was then surprised when the Ochoa family walked onto the stage and shared how receiving their new home changed their relationship with God. The mother, Josephina said, “One day I was carrying a bucket of water. I asked God, ‘Don’t you see my situation...what my husband and I, and my children are going through?’ Well, this evening I can prove to you that God does listen. This is what the Lord can do!” Also on the opening night, Bruce Kuhn, a professional Broadway actor performed a dramatized recitation from the Gospel of Matthew that captivated the crowd and brought an increased love for the Bible. Bruce and others have created a new UofN course called Word by Heart where students learn how to make the Scriptures come alive by telling its stories as eye-witness accounts. (www.uofnkona.edu/training/wordby-heart/) UofN President Markus Steffen from Switzerland gave the keynote message that night, centering on the compassion of Jesus: “When Jesus saw the crowd, He was moved with great compassion. That’s what drove
18 Transformations Issue 2013
Jeff Rogers, Grassroots News
EXPAND: Intimacy and Impact!
Him to work with the people…to disciple them, to engage them, and to look for their best…. He saw how people were confused because they had no truth to build the house of their life on.” Markus went on to say “Today…the multitudes are truly confused because they don’t know their Maker…. There is an amazing harvest out there, do you see it?... [People] are hungry to learn, to experience knowledge in a fulfilling and empowering way to live a life that is fruitful. God is calling [University of the Nations] to have a much bigger impact.” Guest speaker Bruce Wilkinson, founder of Walk Through the Bible and author of many best-selling books including The Prayer of Jabez, travelled three days from South Africa because he had a message burning in his heart for the Workshop participants. He used the parable of the talents, stressing that God is looking for those servants who can multiply His investments by 10-, 30- and even 100-fold. He affirmed that YWAM/UofN is uniquely poised for multiplication, but encouraged us not to be satisfied with results that don’t require the intervention of God and His miracles. There was an immediate embracing of this “word of the Lord,” as many stood and responded with humbled hearts, repenting of unbelief and asking God to help them be more diligent in multiplication. Throughout the five days, there were morning Bible studies led by Maureen Menard, UofN Vice President for Staff and Leadership Development. She articulated the purpose of the UofN and YWAM itself: “We want to be a university - we want to be a mission - who lives and loves like Jesus!” The Workshop afternoons were filled with seminars on a broad variety of topics to help equip those who are leading and staffing UofN schools around the world. Since its inception in 1978, the UofN now has more than 800 different kinds of courses and seminars (some of which are offered in 97 languages), held at approximately 556 locations in 160 countries. One specific outcome of the Workshop was the unveiling of extension courses - a new plan to offer UofN training to professionals who are already strategically placed in influential jobs within the various spheres of society. Toward the end of the Workshop, standing with all 700+ participants on a soccer-field sized 4K world map, UofN Vice President for Strategic Innovation, David Hamilton summed up the Workshop: “[Today] we are walking, making declarations of faith that it will not be long before there is a DTS occurring in every single Omega Zone on this earth, that there will be extension courses being offered, acts of evangelism and
mercy all over this world.” (www.4kworldmap.com) The final session of the Workshop kicked off with a motivating video “I Am a Missionary” narrated by UofN International Chancellor, Loren Cunningham, with the Fire and Fragrance media team. It describes God’s search for those who will embrace His heart and pay any cost to reach the least, the last, the lost. It closes with Isaiah 6:8 “Here am I. Send me.” The crowd was stirred to shouts of commitment and fervor, echoing back, “I am a missionary!” (Insert title in search window on www.YouTube.com to watch this video.)
Mexico
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To view archived videos of all the UofN Workshop plenary sessions, go to www.UofNWorkshop.com Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations 19
Nathaniel Baldock
Applying God's Word to Every Aspect of Life In the summer of 2011, a quiet but profound breakthrough took place with the release of the SourceView Bible. It offers readers the first major innovation in the formatting of the biblical text since the introduction of verses into the scriptures during the Reformation – nearly 500 years ago.
THE BIBLE WAS written primarily as narrative – a collection of stories. The SourceView Bible approaches the Word like a movie script, identifying each of the key characters in different colors so you can more easily “enter” the story and see who is saying what. Or it can be read aloud in a corporate context (as the Bible was meant to be read), with different people taking the various speaker roles. It does nothing to change the scripture content itself – it simply gives us a new way to reference and approach the Word that is innovative and life-giving. As Darlene Cunningham’s mom, who was an 8-decadelover of the Word, said “it helps to make the scripture come alive!” Now, based on the SourceView format, a new Bible with a referencing system that highlights the spheres of society is in the making to help inspire the Church to engage with God’s thinking. David Hamilton, UofN International Vice President for Strategic Innovation, the developer of the SourceView Bible, is now leading a project to bring together scholars and missionaries from all around the world to develop the SphereView
Bible. This new format will serve to show how God has always had the spheres of society on His heart, just as He showed Loren Cunningham and Dr. Bill Bright in 1975. In that year, both of these men received from God the same revelation: if we are going to be effective in discipling nations we must seek to shape the worldview, beliefs and values of a culture by impacting the spheres that influence every society – whether a village or a nation. These include the spheres of family, economics, government, religion, education, media and celebration, often referred to as “the seven spheres of society.” At the time, this was a breakthrough insight, and it has influenced much of how YWAM has approached the world. When the University of the Nations was founded in 1978, its seven colleges were structured around these seven spheres in order to help equip people to be change agents within them. The SphereView Bible will be layered on top of the already published SourceView Bible, providing an inspiring new look at the Word of God. This exciting new presentation will
highlight everything the Bible says about each one of the seven spheres. It will be available digitally on tablets and mobile devices so that the reader can format the Biblical text in any one of 127 ways to discover what God has to say about the interplay of these spheres in society. This Bible format will take the Word of God beyond anything we’ve ever experienced as it will help us explore the Scriptures afresh in our digital, postGutenberg era. “The Bible is the primary source of God’s wisdom as to how we are to impact these spheres for the kingdom of God,” David Hamilton says. “We will be able to read the text of the Scriptures in this new layout and grasp essential, God-inspired concepts, which we might have easily glossed over in the past. We will see that God’s message about the spheres is not just here or there, but everywhere in Scripture.” More than 80 people from all over the world are currently involved in the production of this new format of the Bible. First, people from the different spheres are reading
“If we are going to be effective in discipling nations we must seek to shape the worldview, beliefs and values of a culture by impacting the spheres that influence every society – whether a village or a nation.” 20 Transformations Issue 2013
“God has a heart for lost individuals and lost nations and invites us to collaborate with Him to bring a transformative impact of the kingdom of God into every area of life, both private and public.”
through the whole Bible highlighting passages that speak into their sphere. Then, dedicated teams are gathering to analyze, discuss and compare the passages that have been highlighted. These gatherings are called “SphereSurges” and the first one – focusing on education – took place in October 2013 at the University of the Nations Kona Campus. Other “SphereSurges” will take place in Cape Town, South Africa; Perth, Australia; London, England; Los Angeles, California, USA; Tauranga, New Zealand; and Singapore. The last SphereSurge is due to occur in August 2014, culminating a process that will involve over 10,000 hours of original research.
-David Joel Hamilton
how to walk faithfully in God’s purpose. “God has a heart for lost individuals and lost nations and invites us to collaborate with Him to bring a transformative impact of the kingdom of God into every area of life, both private and public.”
The SourceView Bible, the foundation for the SphereView Bible, is currently available in digital or hard copy. Watch a video, tell a friend or order at www.sourceviewbible.com
The team will then amass all of the new insights they gain into a paradigm-shifting, digital Bible application that they hope will be available by Christmas 2014. “The time is now ripe for this message of discipling nations through the spheres of society,” says David. The goal is to teach believers that live in the spheres how to rightly represent God and help them discover
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to be directed to the SourceView Bible, or to find out more information about it. Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations 21
2014 Courses JAN 2014
FEB 2014
MAR
APR
2014
Engage DTS Aikea (I Care) DTS Medical DTS All Nations All Generations DTS Arts for the Voiceless DTS Compassion in Motion DTS Crossroads DTS Fire & Fragrance DTS Restorers DTS YWAM Ships DTS Heartbridge Performing Arts DTS Central Asia DTS Northeast Asia DTS
2014
MAY
2014
JUL 2014
AUG 2014
Discipleship Bible School School of Biblical Studies ll Introduction to Communication Word by Heart Exploring the Torah Foundations for Counseling Ministry School of Illustration School of Performing Arts l English Bible Training School of Photography l Early Childhood Education Internship l
APAC DTS PhotogenX DTS CROWN DTS Family DTS YWAM Ships DTS Awaken DTS GoAsia DTS Crossroads DTS
Discipleship Training Schools Upper Level Courses
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Course Duration Scan with your handheld device to access our course lists online and for course descriptions and applications.
Completion of a Discipleship Training School (lecture and outreach) is a prerequisite for taking upper level UofN courses. 22 Transformations Issue 2013
JUN
2014
Bible Core Course (YWAM Ships) Foundations for Counseling Ministry Foundations in Education Principles of Redeeming Cultures School of Mapping School of Biblical Studies lll Discipleship Bible School School of Acting for the Screen School of Photographic Communication School of Mapping School of Digital Filmmaking English Bible Training School of Photography l Internship School of Illustration Internship
Voice for the Voiceless DTS Community Transformations DTS Awaken DTS Island Breeze DTS
Publisher University of the Nations Kona
Managing Editor
SEP 2014
OCT 2014
NOV 2014
DEC JAN FEB MAR 2014
2015
2015
2015
Maria Teresa Blay
Editors Dawn Gauslin, Gabriella Brennan, Christine Colby, Steve Standerfer, Maria Teresa Blay, Russ Gauslin
Writers Sylvia Kay, Dawn Gauslin, Jeff Rogers, Kris Richards, Caleb Yates, Karen Curtis, Maria Teresa Blay, Danny Lehmann, Nathaniel Baldock
Photographers Thema Black, Samuel Rich, Dennis Fahringer, Dawn Gauslin, Rochelle Potter, Susanne Childers We would like to thank the many photographers who contributed to this project. While we don’t have your names, we value your work! Country maps provided by www.4KWorldMap.com
Design & Layout Sara Lee
Transformations is a publication of Youth With A Mission/ University of the Nations, Kona campus. University of the Nations Kona 75-5851 Kuakini Hwy, #198 Kailua Kona, HI 96740, USA Website: www.uofnkona.edu University of the Nations is called to equip Christian men and women for roles of leadership and service throughout the world. UofN teaches the ways of God as well as skills necessary to serve effectively in the major spheres of society represented by its seven colleges. This global university currently has 556 locations in more than 160 countries.
School of Photography ll School of Dance Studies PhotogenX Practicum
International Korean (IK) DTS Fire & Fragrance DTS Community Transformations DTS Compassion Ablaze DTS Voice for the Voiceless DTS Trailblazers DTS Awaken DTS APAC DTS
Uniskript School of Photography ll Internship School of Worship School of Biblical Studies l Discipleship Bible School Foundations for Counseling Ministry Foundations in Information Technology English Bible Training School of Photography ll Internship
Youth With A Mission, is a multi-denominational Christian mission with a three-fold emphasis: evangelism, training, and mercy ministries. YWAM, founded in 1960, currently has more than 1500 operating locations in 187 countries. YWAM is open to people of all ages, races and social backgrounds. Our mission is to present the Good News of Jesus Christ to all nations, making disciples and teaching them to follow God’s way.
All courses and dates are subject to change. Transforming Lives, Impacting Nations 23
Transformations Magazine University of the Nations Kona 75-5851 Kuakini Hwy #198 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 USA
TYPHOON HAIYAN RESPONSE:
GOD’S HEART
BREAKS WITH THE
BROKENHEARTED UofN Kona teams are on the ground, working with YWAM Philippines to minister God’s love physically, emotionally and spiritually in response to the devastating typhoon that hit the Philippine Islands on Friday, November 8, 2013. 100% of donations given through UofN Kona will go directly to assist response teams with boots on the ground in the Philippines: www.uofnkona.edu/support PROJECT: Typhoon Haiyan Response Teams