Youth with a Mission (YWAM) was founded in 1960 by Loren Cunningham. It is an international movement of Christians from many denominations. The vision is to see waves of young people going from every nation to every nation for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. For over 60 years this global movement has trained and sent out young people to follow Jesus wherever He leads, believing that everyone can hear His voice and must obey Him. We have teams in almost every nation on earth and still believe that God wants to release even more young people into their missional calling. 

Our goal is to know God and make Him known. We do this through Evangelism, Mercy Ministry and Training. YWAM is a family of ministries that give expression to this goal in a multitude of ways according to the giftings and callings of our teams. We run orphanages, do Bible studies with surfers, educate children, teach agricultural practices, talk to strangers on the street, gather artists for collabs and work with policy makers in government. What unites us is our love for Jesus and our common history, purpose and values. 

This shared purpose and our YWAM beliefs and values are the guiding principles for both the past and future growth of our mission. Some are common to all Christians everywhere; others are distinctive to Youth With A Mission. The combination of this purpose, beliefs, values and practices makes up the unique family characteristics of YWAM—our “DNA.” They are the framework we hold in high regard for they help us determine who we are, how we live and how we make decisions.

This document presents YWAM’s sincerely held purpose, core beliefs, and foundational values which have been compiled in response to specific directives given by God since YWAM’s beginning in 1960. They are recorded here in order to pass on to successive generations that which God has emphasized to us.

Please take some time to read through it.

HISTORY
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is a Christian missionary movement founded in 1960 by Loren Cunningham with a clear call to fulfill the Great Commission. Out of this vision, the first Discipleship Training School (DTS) was launched in 1969, creating a foundation for training young people to know God and make Him known. In 1978, the University of the Nations (UofN) was established in Kona, Hawaii, as a missionary training university designed to equip people holistically for life and ministry in every sphere of society.
The UofN has since grown into a global, decentralized, and multicultural university with over 600 training locations worldwide. Its heart is to form Christlike character, impart practical skills, and integrate hands-on outreach into every course. Organized into seven colleges, it offers short-term courses, certificates, and degrees, though its primary strength lies in equipping and sending workers into missions. Today, the UofN is one of the largest missionary training movements in the world, continually pioneering, multiplying, and empowering people to bring God’s love to the nations and into every sphere of society.

AFTER DTS
Finishing your DTS is just the beginning. The UofN opens up a wide range of courses designed to deepen your faith, sharpen your skills, and equip you for missional living wherever God calls you. From Bible and leadership training to arts, education, counseling, communication, and more, these courses give you practical tools to serve God’s purposes in the nations. You can explore the full range of opportunities on the UofN website.

Loren Cunningham was in his early twenties when God called him to mobilize young people into missions. This was a massive paradigm shift in his time! Learn more about him and his wife Darlene here.