”Loren and Darlene, how did you accomplish all this?”
We are together with some 350, mainly Brazilian youth, at a conference where Loren and Darlene, the international founders of YWAM, personally take two weeks of their time to teach and encourage the younger generations.
“The answer really is quite simple,” Darlene replies, “it is just 4 words: “listen, obey and never quit! We listen to God, He is the leader, He tells us which is the next step to take. We obey, and even when things become difficult, we don´t give up!”
“This is really the basis of what we teach all the DTS students,” smiles Loren, “it is not a lot of strategies that I came up with, what the world would call ‘leadership qualities’, but it is submitting to the leadership of Jesus, listening to Him, then obeying and never, ever giving up.”
Darlene throws her hands up in the air and adds enthusiastically: “We say ´YES´ to the Lord, even before we know what He will ask from us! Lord, here we are, use us!”
The words stick in my mind. I am so thankful for leaders who obey the Lord and do not try to gain honor for themselves, but give all the glory to the Lord Jesus. They remind us that we should always have Jesus in first place in our lives, then follow Him whatever it costs, through love and servanthood to the people around us.
During the conference, we were asked to give some workshops about working with children at risk, and how to help refugees and children with trauma. It was wonderful to be able to teach and encourage young people to use their gifts and talents in service to God and for children who are so often in very difficult situations.
Dinosaurs with a Mission
Loren is 83 years old and Darlene just a few years younger, but you would not believe it, as they have plenty of energy. Of course, we ourselves are also not as young as we used to be 😊. Sometimes people look at us a bit strangely when we tell them we work with Youth With A Mission. Youth? Well, the overwhelming majority of our co-workers are young people between 18 and 30 years old, but there are also some “fathers and mothers” with graying hair. The missionaries from our generation are sometimes lovingly called “Dinosaurs with a Mission!”
During the conference and the previous week, we gathered with leaders from various bases around Brazil. We have maintained a friendship with some of them for more than 30 years. It was wonderful to be together with such a group of Dinosaurs! 😊
First national meeting of leaders and staff from the Children at Risk Schools in Brazil
Last week, for the first time ever, we gathered a group of leaders and staff from the different Children at Risk Schools that are offered regularly in different cities around Brazil.
We held a similar meeting in 2017 in Costa Rica with leaders from schools in different countries, but for Brazil this was the first time. It is very important for the school leaders to be on the same page, understand the curriculum well, and continue to meet the requirements of University of the Nations. (The Children at Risk School is an accredited course of the University of the Nations, a YWAM institution based in Kona, Hawaii.) But even more important is to worship God together, listen to Him and to each other.
It was wonderful to hear plans for multiplying the school over the next 2 years to Brazilian cities like Manaus, Boa Vista and Salvador, as well as to other countries like Chili, Peru and the Philippines! More Children at Risk Schools means that more young people will know how to start ministry projects with needy children, improve their ministries and reach more children with the love of God. That, of course, makes us very happy.
Finances
We thank all those who have helped us financially. We are so thankful for those who believe in our work, pray for us and support us in many ways. We would like to give you all a big warm hug, a real one, but since that is not possible because of the distance, we will have to “make do” with a digital hug… not as nice, but given with love!
Christmas baby!?
Davi, our adopted son, was born with Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida on Christmas Day 32 years ago. A Christmas baby. This most probably saved his life, as the neurologist who treated him decided to give him a Christmas present: a special shunt he had just received from the US. It was a very expensive piece of equipment in those days and was not yet widely available in Brazil. But because it was Christmas, the doctor decided to bless this baby and implanted the shunt.
We are so thankful for this very special Christmas present! But, of course, we are even more thankful for the greatest Christmas gift of all, Jesus, the Son of God. God who created everything and is infinitely great, was born as a small tangible baby--Immanuel, God with us.
John writes in his gospel (1:14, Message Translation): “The word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”
We pray that in the years to come, many more people, families and children, refugees and kids in need, may see Him and acknowledge His Lordship.
We wish you all a holiday season of great significance, and His rich blessings for the year to come!
Much love from Johan and Jeannette
Prayer points
We held a similar meeting in 2017 in Costa Rica with leaders from schools in different countries, but for Brazil this was the first time. It is very important for the school leaders to be on the same page, understand the curriculum well, and continue to meet the requirements of University of the Nations. (The Children at Risk School is an accredited course of the University of the Nations, a YWAM institution based in Kona, Hawaii.) But even more important is to worship God together, listen to Him and to each other.
It was wonderful to hear plans for multiplying the school over the next 2 years to Brazilian cities like Manaus, Boa Vista and Salvador, as well as to other countries like Chili, Peru and the Philippines! More Children at Risk Schools means that more young people will know how to start ministry projects with needy children, improve their ministries and reach more children with the love of God. That, of course, makes us very happy.
Finances
We thank all those who have helped us financially. We are so thankful for those who believe in our work, pray for us and support us in many ways. We would like to give you all a big warm hug, a real one, but since that is not possible because of the distance, we will have to “make do” with a digital hug… not as nice, but given with love!
Christmas baby!?
Davi, our adopted son, was born with Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida on Christmas Day 32 years ago. A Christmas baby. This most probably saved his life, as the neurologist who treated him decided to give him a Christmas present: a special shunt he had just received from the US. It was a very expensive piece of equipment in those days and was not yet widely available in Brazil. But because it was Christmas, the doctor decided to bless this baby and implanted the shunt.
We are so thankful for this very special Christmas present! But, of course, we are even more thankful for the greatest Christmas gift of all, Jesus, the Son of God. God who created everything and is infinitely great, was born as a small tangible baby--Immanuel, God with us.
John writes in his gospel (1:14, Message Translation): “The word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”
We pray that in the years to come, many more people, families and children, refugees and kids in need, may see Him and acknowledge His Lordship.
We wish you all a holiday season of great significance, and His rich blessings for the year to come!
Much love from Johan and Jeannette
Prayer points
- Thank the Lord for leaders like Loren and Darlene, who go before us, show us a great example and are a great encouragement.
- Pray that we will continue to always listen to God, obey Him, and learn to never give up but persevere.
- Pray that we will always be willing to say ´Yes` to the Lord, even before we know what He will ask from us!
- Give thanks for all the seminars and classes we are able to give about Children at Risk.
- Pray that many more young people will be equipped through these schools and seminars so they may reach out to many more children in need.
- Pray for God´s blessing and leading in the multiplication process of these schools in other cities and countries.
- Give thanks to the Lord for the greatest Christmas gift of all: His Son!
