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This month we hear how YWAM is responding to the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, learn about the YWAM location in Milala, Malawi, hear about the 10,000 Bible’s distributed by YWAM in Lyon, France, check out how YWAM in Barbados is using the Go Africa film to fight local gang culture, we get some other stories about gross foods had on outreach, and more …
Thank you for downloading this, the 164th episode of the Youth With A Mission News Show Podcast, I’m your host, Bill Hutchison.
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/164 …
Merry Christmas to you all! Unfortunately for us, but fortunately for Lidia, she is actually in Brazil right now visiting her family for Christmas! So we wish her the best, and that she has a great time there, and in the mean time, you are stuck with me!
Stories:
God is the Great Moblizer
I wanted to start this month with a reminder from Bevin from GlobalCAST Resources about how God is the Greatest Mobilizer…
To find out more about GlobalCAST Resources, and Missions Advocacy, head over to their web-site, globalcastresources.com.
MV YWAM PNG back in Papua New Guinea
The MV YWAM PNG has returned home to Papua New Guinea following a successful maintenance work, marking a major milestone in the vessel’s extension project and ensuring she remains strong, safe, and ready to serve the nation for years to come.
With dry dock and initial maintenance works completed earlier this year, the MV YWAM PNG is sailed back to Western Province for its final outreach of the year, the first since returning to service. The outreach supported the Provincial Health Authority to provide a full range of essential health mainly to remote and disadvantaged communities, and training services with a particular focus on maternal and child health, disease prevention, and community health education, delivered in close collaboration with local health professionals. Volunteers from 13 different nations joined the ship this week for the outreach.
Since 2010, YWAM Medical Ships – Australia and PNG has partnered with the National Department of Health and provincial health authorities, delivering over 2.3 million of healthcare and training services and providing hands-on training opportunities for Papua New Guinean health workers. The ship’s return home marks a renewed season of service, partnership, and hope for the decade ahead.
You can find out more about the work that the MV YWAM PNG is doing on the YWAM Ships Australia web-site, ywamships.org.
YWAM Ships Aotearoa Year End Update
While the MV YWAM PNG runs their final outreach in Papua New Guinea, the YWAM Ship Koha wrapped this this year with a video update.
Visit ywamshipsaotearoa.org.nz to find out more.
Cambodia / Thailand Conflict Relief Work
The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand continues, despite international effort to end the conflict.
Earlier this month the number of displaced civilians on the Cambodian side of the boarder was reported as at least 400,000 civilians, and the Thai side at more than 258,000 people.
On the Cambodian side of the border, Youth With A Mission (YWAM), has brought relief with much-needed supplies for the displaced civilians – such as rice, eggs, and mosquito nets.
A volunteer from Singapore, Heather Lim, reported: “We just want to help them (the displaced), support them and stand with them. Just our presence being here and just being with the people, being able to listen to them and talk to them, that’s the difference that we can make,”.
YWAM also has volunteers in Thailand who are helping similarly affected people on that side of the border. All lives are “precious”, so “we need to be kind and compassionate to help everyone,” she added. (source)
Please pray for the families who are displaced living in harsh conditions. Pray this battle will end. The trauma is so deep including the children.
Filipino Response to Typhoon Tino
Last month we shared a bit about YWAM Philippines response to the multiple cyclones that hit their nation, here is some more information about what they are doing.
Visit the YWAM Philippines’ web-site, ywamshipsph.org, to find out more.
Tai Po Fires in Hong Kong
Last month when Lidia and I were putting together the news, reports of the fires in Tai Po had just started to filter in. We were unable to report on it last month, but since then it’s confirmed that the fire raged for 43 hours, with 161 people dying, and about 80 people injured. The YWAM location in Hong Kong is only about 30-minutes away, and they have been active in providing relief after the fires.
YWAM Tuen Mun is providing essential items to those in shelters in the Tai Po community. They delivered the bags filled with necessities, festive food, and special bags for the children to the hotels where families are temporarily staying.
They are making plans to help provide an “incredible” Christmas for the incredible community from TaiPo.
You can find out more, including how you can help, on their web-site, ywamtuenmun.org.
YWAM Milala
Now I thought we could take a look at one of our other locations in Africa, Milala in Malawi.
Head over to milala.ywam.ws to find out more!
YWAM Lyon 10,000 Bible Distributions
Since 2010, YWAM Lyon has been active sharing true light with Lyonnais and tourists during the Festival of Lights in Lyon by offering them the Bible!
This year, 20205, they gave away 10,000 Bibles: a big challenge that they met! They are convinced of the necessity and urgency of offering the word of God in their country more than ever. Every year they see the spiritual needs of the new generation who have often received no religious education and are searching. This year, they will exceed the mark of 70,000 Bibles offered since the 2010, they they launched the Bible distribution project for the Festival of Lights! This year again, together, we will share the true light with thousands of people from all over France.
You can visit ywamlyon.com to find out more, and to donate so they can continue to distribute Bibles next year.
YWAM Bad Blankenburg Refugee Circle
YWAM Bad Blankenburg in Germany updates us on their ministry to refugees.
Visit ywambb.com to find out more.
Pray for Sri Lanka
Earlier this month we received this message from YWAM Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is facing a very difficult moment right now. Heavy rains have caused severe flooding and landslides, especially in the central and western regions. Many families have lost their loved ones, homes, and everything they owned. Many are still missing, and thousands are suffering without food, shelter, and basic needs.
In this painful time, I invite you to stand with Sri Lanka in prayer and support.
How You Can Pray:
- Pray for comfort and strength for families who lost loved ones.
- Pray for the safety of those still missing and those trapped by floods and landslides.
- Pray for protection over rescue teams and volunteers.
- Pray for quick recovery, resources, and relief for the affected areas.
- Pray for God’s peace, mercy, and healing over the nation.
Let us lift our voices together and pray for Sri Lanka.
You can follow what’s happening in Sri Lanka over on their Facebook Page.
YWAM Turns to Film to Fight Gang Culture
YWAM in Barbados is turning to film to fight local gang culture …
You can head over to their web-site, ywambarbados.org, to find out more, and find links to their social media accounts, where they share more about their showing of the film “Go Africa”, and the other ministry that they are engaging in.
30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World
30 Days of Prayer 2026 is coming soon.
This year – from February 18 to March 20, 2026 – we are pleased to introduce a special prayer booklet comprised of stories from Muslim background Jesus-followers who are, themselves, sharing Jesus with friends, co-workers and in far-away places.
To get your copy of the prayer guide, head over to pray30days.org.
AniMissions Online Seminar
If you have a heart for the unreached, and an interest in art and animation, then you might want to check out the AniMissions online seminar, beginning on February 2, 2026.
Create AniMissions produce animated short films that communicate the gospel story to people groups using their own language, culture, and worldview, specifically honoring their art and music. They find that this practice breaks down barriers that the audience may have and portrays the good news in a way that makes them more likely to accept and embrace it.
To encourage people to get involved in the AniMissions ministry they are actually giving away the first course of their seminar for free!
If you head over to the Campfire Creatives substack, you can find out more, and find links to sign up for the free introductory course.
YWAM Albania School of Prophetic and Worship
The School of Prophetic and Worship being offered by YWAM Albania is a Transformative 3-month training school for students who would like to grow in their walk with the Holy Spirit, practicing and growing the gifts, and developing a spirit-led worship on earth as it is in heaven.
The purpose of the school is to train students to become catalysts of transformations by training them how to receive and deliver prophetic revelations, visions, and insights, how to “Translate” them practically for people to be able to understand God’s heart and respond to him.
The program includes teaching & application, worship practice, intercession, practicing the gifts of the holy spirit , bible study, research, reading books, impartation, and prophetic ministry .
The school program includes prophetic ministry outreach in local churches in Albania and abroad.
The school starts in May, and you can find out more on their web-site, ywamalbania.com.
Pray for Australia – Bondi Shooting
On a somber note, we have a message from YWAM in Sydney …
Our hearts are deeply saddened by what happened in Bondi. Fifteen lives have been lost, and many families and friends are grieving beyond words.
As YWAM Island Breeze Sydney, we stand with our city in this moment of sorrow. We pray for comfort for every family affected, for healing for the wounded, and for peace that only God can give in the midst of tragedy.
We are reminded that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness. This is not a time for hatred or fear, but for prayer, compassion, and standing together in love.
Please continue to lift Bondi, the families, first responders, and our nation up in prayer.
May God’s light shine even in the darkest moments.
Gross Food Response
We got some good feedback about the crazy foods that people have eaten on outreach with YWAM. Here are a few …
- Tammie also ate dog on outreach, but when they went back into kitchen the pups head was still on the counter!
- Amanda let me know a story about an outreach to Fiji where some people on the outreach killed and ate a bat … with all of them getting food poisoning.
- Alissa had horse meat and milk in Mongolia, and kangaroo in Australia
I would still love to hear your stories from outreach, so please email me at ywampodcast@gmail.com, or leave your comments on the video on YouTube.
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