Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
This month we will update you on Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, talk about what is happening in Northern Nigeria and YWAM’s story there, we introduce our new co-host for the show, hear about the PNG Peace Workshop that YWAM is involved in, see more unrest happening in Haiti, hear what’s involved with refitting the YWAM Ship MV YWAM PNG, and more …
Thank you for watching, listening, or downloading this, the 162nd episode of the Youth With A Mission News Show Podcast, we are your hosts, Bill Hutchison and Lidia Hugentobler …
You can contact us, subscribe to future episodes, leave comments, and find links to all the stories we talk about on the show notes for this podcast at ywampodcast.com/162 …
Stories:
We wanted to start this show with introducing our new cohost, Lidia Hugentobler from YWAM Rogaland…
Fruitbreak Shorts from the YWAM Rogaland BCC
If you want to see future *Fruitbreak shorts, and see what else Lidia is working on, head over to the YWAM Rogaland Facebook Page, which is linked to at ywampodcast.com/162.
Nigeria
If you have been paying attention to social media recently, you probably would have seen some of what is happening in Northern Nigeria. I was hesitant to repeat some of the recent reports about the devastation without confirmation, but some of our YWAM workers have confirmed how horrendous the actions of Boko Haram continue to be in the area.
YWAM has been active in Nigeria for decades, with some amazing stories and testimonies coming out of the teams that have worked there. The film Go Africa is a real and fascinating story of child soldiers in Nigeria coming to Christ, and the healing of widows of Christians who were martyred by Boko Haram terrorists …
When the Go Movie was originally announced the plan was to make it a story about three different experiences that YWAM has had around the world. With everything that is going on in Nigeria, they chose to focus on that nation and ministry, and out of that was birthed the movie, Go Africa. The movie has real stories of survival and redemption in the origins of the YWAM mission in Port Harcourt.
I remember being told that story about Paul and how God used him in the nation, with over 3000 militants reformed in YWAM, and 2/3rds of YMWA Port Harcourt’s staff being reformed militants. I can’t wait to see the full movie, and to share with others.
If you head over to thegomovie.org you can find out how you can host a showing of the movie, and where you might be able to see the movie for yourself.
PNG Peace Workshop
Now we will go to Papua New Guinea, where tribal fights between Enga and Kompian have been an ongoing issue. These conflicts have escalated in the last 10 years with the use of more sophisticated weapons, leading to significant violence and death tolls.
We will look at a recap of the third peace workshop in Enga, Papua New Guinea.
That video that we watched was part of a larger 2-hour documentary that the producers are working on about this story of war and healing in the Papua New Guinea Highlands. You can read more about the story, and see how the rest of the film is progressing, over on their Go Fund Me page.
Hurricane Melissa
Yesterday we got an update from our YWAM Location in Montego Bay, Jamaica that they were starting to feel the advance impact of Hurricane Melissa with violent winds, and the sudden loss of electricity to half their campus and city. At the time of the update they did not have heavy rain yet, but if the early winds were a preview, they need our prayers.
The best place at the moment to get updates at the moment, as long as they don’t completely lose power and Internet, is on their Facebook page.
Haiti Update
Also close to the path of the Hurricane, but looking to be outside of the strong winds, is the nation of Haiti, where YWAM has a few different operating locations.
The situation in Haiti has been rough for as long as I’ve been doing this news program, and unfortunately right now they are entering a time when things are getting progressively worse. The team out of YWAM Saint Marc has this update for us, as well as some of what they are doing in their part of Haiti.
You can follow along with updates from YWAM Saint Marc on their Facebook page. They have said that with the security concerns they might not be updating as regularly as usual, but when they can, they will be updating that page.
Burundi Fire
Unfortunate news from YWAM Burundi, in August their storage containers caught fire. This incident resulted in the loss of a lot of valuable items, school supplies, construction tools and materials, and over 30 sewing machines. This was a big setback as they were 5 weeks away from starting the school season. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
In an amazing example of God’s provision, a month later they received an amazing gift from their partner, World Health and other generous individuals – most of the lost equipment and materials were replaced.
They also received mattresses for their guest house, allowing them to accommodate more missionaries, pastors, youth groups, and new chairs & desks for the school and books for their new library, clothes and a sound system, where they can offer better quality of education and comfortability.
(source)
Vanuatu
We have shared before about YWAM Vanuatu and the Teouma Christian Academy school that they are operating outside of Port Vila City, and the significant impact that they are having not only for the students ,but the entire community around the school. Last month they saw some exciting upgrades to their facilities.
At the beginning of the month they finished adding their newest classrooms, which will help to provide quality education for the children of Teouma Valley.
Earlier this year Vanuatu was hit by a massively destructive 7.4 earthquake that caused significant damage and claimed many lives. The YWAM V2Life Centre, where the school is located, in the Teouma Valley was quite isolated after the earthquake due to the bridge into town being damaged, and they also had a lot of their own infrastructure and power systems damaged.
This month the school had a new solar system installed, which will allow them to reopen immediately after disasters like the earthquake earlier this year, or cyclones like hit them in 2023, instead of waiting for the power company to have to come and repair lines and transformers. It means they can provide safe, clean drinking water to the Teouma Valley community, and education for our students straight after major events.
(source)
YWAM / JOCUM Marromeu Celebrates the Older People
In the beginning of the month, YWAM Marromeu had a wonderful day celebrating “o dia do Idoso” , the Day of Older people. They started the day at the outdoor square in Nensa where the program included preaching, children from YWAM dancing, theater plays, and other performances. Following the performances, they shared lunch and distributed capulanas and shirts to the elderly at the YWAM base. In all they had almost 300 people attend! (source)
YWAM Juba South Sudan Outreach to Orphanage
Around that same time, YWAM Juba in South Sudan had a wonderful time at the orphanage together with the outreach team and the youth from the Pentecostal Brethren Church Centre. They said that the day was filled with joy – singing songs, playing games, and sharing the story of Jonah.
One of the children said with a big smile: “I feel so happy to receive a gift from the team. It makes me know that I am loved.”
Moments like these are so special. And remind us of God’s care for every child.
As Christmas is coming along, they would love to continue blessing these children. If you’d like to be part of this through prayer or support, you can find their phone number on ywam.org or their facebook page – YWAM Juba, South Sudan.
End Bible Poverty Now
Bible Distribution in Karamoja region, Uganda
In the middle of last month YWAM Uganda sent out a team to the Karamoja region, specifically in the district of Kaabong. Bibles were given to a number of people and leadership training to the church leaders, pastors, as well as church members.
The team reports that the region of Karamoja really needs the Word of God for transformation to take place in the land.
Their team later in the month also visited Bakasa Island in Kalandala District for 2 days of Bible distribution in the surrounding islands.
(source)
YWAM Samoa Oral Bible Translation
YWAM Samoa has committed to translating 50 languages in Papua New Guinea through Oral Bible Translation — bringing God’s Word to people in their own mother tongue.
For the cluster that they are working with, there are 8 languages — mainly from Madang Province in Papua New Guinea, and they are currently in the community check stage before the final draft.
Their staff on the ground continue to faithfully move the project forward, ensuring every community can hear and understand God’s Word in the language of their heart. (source)
YWAM Ships Kona Manam Island Outreach
YWAM Ships Kona recently completed their 5th outreach of the year, this time to Manam Island, an active volcano off the coast of Papua New Guinea.
There are many ways that you can possibly help with outreaches like this one to Manam Island, including joining a team, partnering financially, or praying.
You can learn more on their web-site, ywamshipskona.org.
YWAM Saterland Germany Pioneering
If you have done a Discipleship Training School and are looking for a base to staff, I have exciting news just for you, YWAM Saterland, Germany is in the pioneering phase. And other than offering Discipleship Training Schools, they want to put a focus on training and mentoring families, striving to reinforce families, marriages, young adults, youth, children, and young couples.
They said If you have a passion or skills for working outside, gardening, accounting, booking keeping, fundraising, social media, worship, or if you have access to inexpensive or free quality lumber or other building materials, please reach out to them. “We would love to have you.”
You can find them on their website, ywam-saterland.de, Facebook, Instagram with YWAM Saterland.
YWAM Ship MV YWAM PNG Massive Refit
After serving YWAM Ships Australia for many years, the MV YWAM PNG is in the Philippines undergoing a 25-year special survey and life extension works during dry dock – a massive effort to prepare for even more years of serving coastal and river communities in Papua New Guinea.
Earlier this week that refit was completed, and the MV YWAM PNG is now back in the water, with a fresh new paint job, and the same heart to serve Papua New Guinea. They will be setting sail back to PNG soon, and you can check them out on their Facebook page. (source)
YWAM Skien Outreach to Serbia
Last February, 90 people from Norway went to Serbia to preach the Gospel, help the poor and needy, and pray for those who needed it. They saw several people get saved, and saw God doing something in Serbia.
If God is stirring your heart, consider joining them. You can learn more and sign up at ywamskien.com/mission-trips.
Team Xtreme coming to the Philippines
10 International Groups from Team Xtreme will be coming to different schools in the Philippines next month …
Check out Team Xtreme Philippines on their Facebook Page.
YWAM Grimerud – School of Communication Foundations
YWAM Grimerud is offering a new secondary school, called The School of Communication Foundations (SCF). This course will take you on a journey on what it means to be a Biblical communicator.
“God, being the author of communication and relationships, wants us to see the importance and value of communication like He does.”
Wow, I’m excited for this school. Us at YWAM Rogaland actually had the pleasure of listening to the school leader teach on communications at the beginning of the season. This is a school I’ve been wanting to do for some time.
If you’re interested as well you can find more information at www.Grimerud.no/SCF.
The Send Australia
We have shared about The Send, and how they have done some amazing outreaches all over the world, with recent events in Mongolia and Ireland, and upcoming events next month in Cardiff, London, and Yorkshire.
Also, just announced this month, in the kick off event for The Send coming to Australia!
So the Worship and Prayer Launch for The Send Australia is happening November 21 at YWAM Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia, and that will kick off The Send for Australia! I’m very excited to see what comes of it, and where they will be having events in 2027!
You can check them out at au.thesend.org.
BTS – New Testament – YWAM Muizenberg
Do you feel called to teach God’s Word?
Well then we have another school for you! The Bible Teacher School is designed to equip you with the tools, confidence, and depth needed to teach Scripture effectively.
Building on weeks 9-12 of the Discipleship Bible School, this school trains you to serve and lead others as they study God’s Word for themselves.
Step into your calling. Become a Bible teacher.
The school is just 2 weeks long starting from the 8 January to the 30th of 2026.
For those who don’t know Muizenberg is a beautiful beach in Cape Town, South Africa very close to where I grew up. It would be a very nice place to do a school.
You can find out more at ywammuizenberg.org , look for Bible Teacher School: New Testament.
Power of the Smartphone with GodNetworkNews
If you are looking for more content to listen to, Create International has released a four part series on their God Network News podcast that talks about how you can use “The Power of Smartphone Technology to multiply Movements.
It’s a good listen, and has some great ideas and stories about how missionaries in India have been using phones to create and share media to catalyze profound community transformation.
Check out www.GodNetworkNews.com to listen to the episodes.
Feedback
Subscribe
If you liked the program, tell a friend. If you didn’t like it, tell a friend anyway …
Listen to News, Training and Outreach from Youth With A Mission
