Converge Stories Podcast

Sarah had a disability and it took a lot of faith for her to choose to go; it took equal faith for her mom and dad to release her to go too. Part of the reason Sarah studied OT was because she had a therapist who helped her through her own disability. She learned a lot that summer, mostly that God would help her and she could do it.

In September 1993, I was in Manaus, Brazil at an international missions conference. One night the lights went out. As we waited for power to return, the Brazilians pulled out their flashlights and guitars. Singing and dancing ensued and I was caught up in it. Exhausted I sat down next to a tall skinny man in tattered overalls and a long beard. I learned that man was not homeless; he was Dr. Henry Kirby, a YWAM medical missionary from South Africa. He worked in a medical boat on the Amazon. That same boat sunk with one of our student internship teams the following summer.

Listen to Aldrin's personal stories of reaching people through the Scriptures, including Muslim women in college, children in slums, and leaders everywhere. You will be so impressed with my friend Aldrin Bogi and the work God has called him to do.

As the founder of the Student Mobilization Centre and the creator of the School of University Ministries & Missions, which has equipped leaders currently leading student ministries in over 30 countries, John Henry has been teaching YWAMers and university students that we must engage the world in response to God's call. When we 'show up' as representatives of the ways of God in every sphere of influence represented in the university, we will begin to complete the task of making disciples of every nation.

Amy Bischof is a YWAMer. She was born in YWAM because her parents are YWAMers. They worked with YWAM Family Ministries in Germany. Amy is here in South Jersey after completing her Discipleship Training School in Australia. While at Byron Bay, Australia, Amy met Marybeth Clark, owner of Dance Dynamics Studios in Seaview, NJ.

Deonn McDowell has a refreshing passion for Jesus. She had a vision many years ago while on a college campus. She saw Christians on campus as little lights that were covered and their lights were not shining. It was about 1994 when I met Deonn when she was leading a mobile campus ministries group called PHOS team on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus in Richmond, VA.

Paul hosted our interns from various American universities in 2001, which included a large one week Calling Quest seminar with over 100 students from the University of Nairobi. He joined my team with YWAM’s Student Mobilization Centre and he helped lead two Schools of University Ministries & Missions in India in 2001 and 2003. He explains how that training impacted him. He gained revelation of God’s call to every area of life, every sphere of influence.

In February this year, a nation-wide Collegiate Day of Prayer brought together student organizations and churches across the country to adopt and pray for every campus in the USA. Jeremy said he gathered with those friends to ask the Lord what He wanted them to do together in unity. For the first time in history, all 4600+ campuses were adopted and prayed for by collegiate organizations and churches.

Ryan shares how his experience producing videos helped him learn how to listen to the stories people have to tell. Ryan launched Upswing Strategies with a passion to help people grow their organizations by using data to prove what works and what does not. He is one of few Salesforce Consultants in the Salem area. Ryan helps organization leaders develop their communications strategies through data analysis and effective feedback systems.

Carol Eskaros joined our YWAM Community Health Development project on the Amazon in 1996. She was awarded the Centennial Scholarship at Columbia University. When she asked for permission to do an internship with YWAM so she could share the love of Christ with a tribal group on the Amazon, her advisor said "Yes!"