This year Youth With A Mission (YWAM) celebrates 50 years. And I just attended the ‘Birthday Party’ here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, one of many that will take place world wide. About 500 family members gathered together, along with YWAM’s “Father and Mother”, Loren and Darlene Cunningham. What a reunion!
YWAM is not just a Mission Organization. We are a family. We actually refer to ourselves as a ‘tribe’. And Loren is the Chief. I know it sounds weird. I’ll admit that I was weirded out the first time I heard fellow YWAMers refer to us as a tribe. A tribe is a family, a people group that speak the same language, share a common culture and take care of their own, no matter where they are, no matter how far they wander. When we are together, we are at home.
This is why we love YWAM.
We have encountered difficulties – disagreements, sibling rivalry, ‘love/hate’ relationships, financial difficulties, the list goes on. There have been times when friends, family and supporters have asked “Why are you with YWAM? Why do you stay with YWAM?” Truth be told, we have asked ourselves these questions many times over the years. It would be easier in some ways to find a different organization.
But YWAM is not merely an organization – it’s a family, a tribe. And you don’t give up on family.
I have been part of this family for the past 20 years. I did my DTS when I was 17. Today I turn 37. Sean’s been in it for 30 years (my goodness!). My kids will grow up as part of the YWAM family, and represent the 3rd generation of Sanborns in YWAM. That’s pretty cool.
Since meeting David and Ellen in Malaysia a few weeks ago, I've been reading Art's book and was so moved by his stories about Sean, Michelle and David as wee missionaries that I decided to check and see what they were upto these days and found this blog. Very delighted to discover that there'll be a 3rd generation of Sanborn missionaries 🙂