Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Their calling is to know God and to make Him known. Back when they began in 1960, the main focus was to get youth into short-term mission work and to give them opportunities to reach out in Jesus' name. Today, while still focusing on youth, and they also involve people of almost every age (even many people who choose to spend their "retirement" in active service). Their many ministries fit into three main categories: evangelism, training and mercy ministry. They operate in more than 1000 locations in over 149 countries, with a staff of nearly 16,000. Learn more here.
"Loren Cunningham [the founder of YWAM] has been one of the most adventuresome visionaries of our time. What he has accomplished staggers the imagination. God gave him a dream and he lived it out--very few of us do that. Wherever I go I seem to run into people who have been discipled into radical discipleship by YWAM. Those who have been a part of their program prove to be a great gift to churches around the world. Their spirituality, their ability to witness, and their commitment to take seriously the teachings of Christ have impacted Christendom. I can safely say that YWAM is one of the most important and effective movements in Christendom today."
Dr. Tony Campolo, Professor of Sociology, Eastern College, St. Davids, Pennsylvania