On 23rd July, the Centre for International Justice and Reconciliation (CIJR) and The Reconciliation Walk (Rec Walk) are hosting a lecture on “Pursuing Peace in a World at War: Stories from the life of a peacemaker.

Professor Doug Hostetter is speaking about how to cultivate an imagination of peace in a world driven by an agenda for war. Doug is a sociology professor, photojournalist, peace activist, and Chief UN Liaison officer (MCC). Doug has lived and worked in Vietnam, Iraq, Bosnia, and Israel/Palestine. In 2001, Doug was half of a two-person relief team that took 239 tons of food to displaced people in Northern Afghanistan after the U.S. bombing campaign.
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When: 23rd July at 7.30pm

Where: The Chapel, Highfield Oval, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 4BX

Tickets: £5

Contact: email cijr@oval.com or call 01582 463214

 Re:Engage 2008 is almost here. Get involved by going to www.reengage.net. You can also spread the word by clicking on the poster below and downloading a high resolution poster to print out.

This weekend, we are hosting over 150 young people for the football tournament!

The Oval Cafe will be opening temporarily to accommodate this group, and to begin training staff. The cafe will be open at various times between now and the grand opening, which is currently scheduled for July 1st!! This gives us time to finish updating the furniture, train staff, hang pictures on the wall, etc.

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If you are interested in serving in the cafe at any time in the future, please email Whitney at: wrandall@oval.com to arrange to join one of the staff training times. You will not be allowed to work in the cafe unless you have had the proper training.

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We are very excited at being so close to the birth of this new Oval ministry – please pray for everything to go smoothly, and if you’re around, feel free to offer your help and support to Whitney and the rest of the team!

May 2008, from YWAM’s Business As Mission Resource Team

“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (I Thess. 5:24)

In December 2006, as we were meeting with some business as mission practitioners, our team felt strongly that we were to develop and run a training course that would be a bridge to the field for those seeking to get involved in business as mission.  After a few months of transition, we came together in April 2007 again to seek God in the development of what is now called the Introduction to Business As Mission (iBAM) Course.

As a step of faith, after some prayer and serious discussion, we set out to run the first course at the end of January 2008.  As a team we brainstormed and planned the different aspects of the course that needed to be developed.  We set our sights on a high mountain trusting that the Lord would guide our path.

We developed the curriculum in partnership with experienced BAM practitioners, seasoned business professionals, lecturers and training specialists. The vision for this training is to prepare and launch individuals and teams into successful business as mission initiatives.  The course is designed to take men and women with a calling to business and equip them on their journey to become cross-cultural entrepreneurs for the Kingdom of God.

A key element that the Lord put on our heart was to run this training in a place that is a central location in proximity to established business as mission initiatives.  This led us to explore the possibility of running the 6 week course in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  With a strong sense of confirmation we went ahead and organized to run the course in a hotel, with the hope of having 20 participants.

Now that side of things was a challenge!  As good and diligent as we sought to be in communicating to advertise the course, we knew only God could bring them in.  We had times when we felt quite desperate and unsure whether we would even reach 10 participants.  We came together to pray a couple of times as a team specifically about this, and both times we saw a new release of people applying within the following few days.  It was a real encouragement and a very humbling process.

This incredible journey resulted in a transformational 6 weeks course. The teachers were excellent, bringing profound truth from the word of God and teaching about the realities of doing Business As Mission. It was a privilege to see some of that first hand while on the field trips to China, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Northern Thailand. These trips were a catalyst for deeper understanding about the facts and reality of doing business cross culturally, done to see the Kingdom of God where it is not.

The business coaching and workshops were essential to the course. Business planning, marketing, and financial management workshops were delivered by our resident business coaches. Their availability and commitment to work one on one with participants as well as their great insight and wisdom helped many in their business planning and ‘next steps’ process.

We are thankful to God and want to testify to His faithfulness.  He spoke to us about this training and He worked with us to make it a reality.  We will be running the course again next year, 24th January to 7th March, 2009, in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  For more information visit our website (www.businessasmission.com)

Here is some of the feedback we received about the course from participants:
“The iBAM course gave me a better understanding and through the course I got a clearer view of my business and transformational goals…… I’m better able to integrate biblical thinking into my business.”

“The iBAM course provided a variety of experienced BAM practitioners, coaches and resources in one place for a period of intensive BAM equipping.”

Anyone working in a volunteer organisation knows there is no such thing as too much help. Here at YWAM Harpenden, we have suffered with severe shortages of strategic people for the past couple of years. It is the most essential roles – accounts, catering, and maintenance usually – where we all feel the absence of those called to these jobs.

So, for two years, since our last head of maintenance left to serve with YWAM in Brazil, we have been seeking God for his replacement. This has not been a matter of casual inquiry – we have devoted many meetings to asking God to provide for someone in this vital role, who not only keeps our building and site operational, but helps us to remain legal, safe and run economically in so many ways. A quality person running maintenance can save us literally hundreds or thousands of pounds each month.

So we are thrilled to announce that Pete Kinahan has joined us full time in this role. Pete and his family have all been involved with YWAM for many years, in their home country of South Africa, and here as volunteers since they moved to the area several years ago.

Pete, with his wife Pat, who serves part-time as our lovely receptionist, has taken a step of faith in returning to work full-time in YWAM. Pete is a true servant, a wonderful discipler, and he has the professional background necessary to enable him to take on the vast building project which is the Oval.

Already, Pete has saved us hundreds of pounds, making our heating systems operate more efficiently. He is exploring options for development which will enable us to use our existing facilities to accommodate more people for events and schools. And he has actioned the work of such necessary repairs as our chapel roof and electric upgrades in the Factory. Much progress, but all of this is too much for one man, so it’s not too late to join the team! Openings still exist in accounts and kitchen management also!

Rejoice with us in this answer to prayer, and join in prayer for Pete and Pat as they seek the financial support they need to continue serving the Lord through YWAM Harpenden.

The cafe is making its way to the finish line, slowly but surely. Some of the final painting touches are being made almost as I type. Painting the archway, border and base-boards in a nice ‘Nutmeg’ accent colour to add a sense of warmth and style to the room. The clean white walls really help the room to feel much bigger and more open. It does seem that the more work we do, the more work we realize needs doing! We still have a ways to go before the floor is sealed and varnished and the bar area for the actual coffee machine is still in the beginning stages of production. Not to mention actually getting the coffee machine!
But we’ve been so encouraged by the amount of support and help we have had by others on the Oval. There was a good turn out of Oval staff that came in to help us paint for ‘working Wednesday’ and occasionally one or two DTS students will show up in the afternoon to give us a hand.
So although there is still much to do, things are looking positive, work is getting done and there is an end in sight!

It’s been just over a year since we re-established our (Discipleship Training School) DTS centre here at YWAM Harpenden. Emmanuel and Janice Entee were appointed to lead the centre last year, with a focus on re-building a strong, growing training program.

Emmanuel, how have you seen your vision for the DTS centre grow over this past year?
Our vision has three components: Foundation, consistency and focus. The foundation of the vision is to re-align our DTS’s to YWAM foundational values. Consistency means multiplication and development of our DTS staff. The focus is apostolic pioneering with our outreaches - whether that be local or international, giving initiative to new projects or working alongside existing YWAM projects. We’ve seen growth in each of these components, which we are excited about! We’ve seen our DTS’s realigned to our foundational values. We’ve seen multiplication in our numbers but also development in the quality of our staff and the DTS’s we are running and outreaches are becoming more intentional and strategic.

Over the last year we have seen 41 students come through the discipleship training schools. These schools have also seen teams going to 4 nations for their outreach phase. How have you seen God working through the DTS’s here?
One of the ways we´ve seen God working through the DTS´s is in our work with local churches here in Harpenden and Luton, to work with them in evangelism. We´ve also been able to send our teams for a mid term outreach to Leicester to work with Islamic and Hindu communities there in partnership with YWAM Leicester and local churches. Reaching the nations right here in England!

Recently our October DTS left for outreach. The school split into three teams heading to Brazil, South Africa and Italy. What is the vision you have for DTS outreaches from YWAM Harpenden?
Our vision for DTS outreaches is to partner with existing ministries overseas as well as pioneering new initiatives. In the last year and a half we’ve come alongside ministries which are at the forefront of bringing hope to the marginalised in countries like South Africa, China and Brazil. Closer to home, we have engaged in equipping youth leaders in the local churches to be able to reach and disciple the members of their youth groups. A very strong component of all of this has been prayer – both in evangelistic and discipleship initiatives- where we have seen God step in and change peoples lives.

The January school has just started. Janice, can you tell us about the school and how it is going so far?
I’m leading the January school with Steve and Jo Bishop who have just joined the DTS centre having previously worked in Argentina leading the DTS’s there. The first week of the school has gone really well. We have a total of 10 students from 4 different nations: England, Brazil, USA and Germany. We purposely chose to keep the school smaller so that we could give our full attention to all of the students. It is great to see the students coming with open minds and open hearts. Our heart is to be able to give our attention not to just run a training school but to be able to mentor and disciple these students just as Jesus did with his disciples in how he was with them as they travelled, ate together and taught them.

This New Year has also seen some new members of your team come to join the DTS centre. I’m sure this is huge encouragement for you. What is your vision for seeing the team grow and how that is part of YWAM Harpenden?

Janice - One of the things we’ve seen through leading the DTS centre is the desire and need of the whole base to have a larger team to be able to run effective schools – schools impact the life of our whole community! DTS is our lifeblood – all our new recruits come through the DTS, so we need to get it right. We also want to see a greater number who can take on pastoral care within the school.

Emmanuel - The overall vision for the growth of the team is to achieve the three fold vision God has given to us of foundation, consistency and focus. Already we’ve seen fruit in these areas as we’ve seen a stronger commitment and desire to align our DTS’s and the department to our foundational values. We are committed to see four DTS’s a year in the future - running productive schools as well as being able to equip and develop our staff and multiply our outreaches abroad.

YWAMer’s around the world were united in support for the staff and students of YWAM Denver, who suffered the loss of two staff members in a tragic shooting incident on December 9^th.

Read YWAM’s statements regarding these events at : www.ywam.org

Staff from the International Chairman’s Team, based here at YWAM Harpenden, were engaged immediately with media relations, supporting the team in Colorado as they handled the public interest created by the shooting. A memorial service held on Wednesday was a reflection of the heart of Christ, as forgiveness and healing began to take the place of grief and loss.

See moving highlights of the memorial service at : http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1d7b72dd07106bf78a07

The interest of a nation was captured by the response of YWAM to this tragedy, and the media interest in the United States was intense. Good has come out of these events, however, as positive reports about YWAM’s purpose have encouraged many to inquire about involvement in the mission or give financially to support others. An excellent piece was produced by the Los Angeles Times newspaper which you can read here:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mission18dec18,0,3328849.story?coll=la-home-center

YWAM Denver graduated its students this week, sending many of them on outreach. Staff will take a break over the holidays and return to prepare as usual for the next term of schools in January. Do keep the families and friends of the victims, and those wounded in the shooting, in your prayers.

Press Release.

A lone gunman entered a Youth With A Mission training center in the Denver, Colorado suburb of Arvada early Sunday morning, opening fire and hitting four members of the staff. All were taken to local hospitals and two later died of their injuries.

The two wounded remain in serious condition. The gunman has not yet been apprehended, and police are continuing their search for him.

The deceased have been identified as Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota, and Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska. Both served as staff members at the Youth With A Mission Arvada campus. The third victim, Dan Griebenow, 24, has a bullet in his neck and is listed in critical but stable condition. The fourth victim Charlie Blanch, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs.

Peter Warren, the Director of Youth with a Mission Denver says they had just finished a Christmas banquet when the suspect arrived and asked a 22-year-old woman from Minnesota if he could be housed for the evening. When she told him they could not house him, that’s when, Warren says, the suspect opened fired with an automatic handgun, hitting four people. Police say they do not know whether the shooting was random or if there was a motive.

Warren says, “The young man – I don’t know who he is; I don’t think [the victims] knew him – but he must be going through a lot personally in his own life to do something like this. Our belief is that only God is the judge and our place is to forgive and that’s a difficult thing to do, but really, I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Warren.

There are about 80 people living on the Arvada campus and they have been transported to the group’s mountain campus near Golden, Colorado where they will stay while the murder investigation is processed at their residence. Warren says they are trying to deal with this situation as best as they can.

“There’s no blueprint for this,” said Warren. “You know, we’re just going to be honest, we’re going to pray with one another and cry with one another. These kids were like our kids, you know. It’s just such a tragedy, but who knows what’s going on in this young man’s life.”

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international and interdenominational Christian movement with operating locations in 171 nations. Launched in 1960 as a means for young people to get involved in short-term missionary service, it now has over 16 000 staff working in 1180 centers and trains over 25 000 people each year to be involved in the organization’s primary goal – to know God and make Him known. YWAM is hugely varied in its approach, operating such ministries as drop-in centers for street children in South America; hospice care for AIDs victims in Africa; literacy and job creation programs throughout Asia; and is well known for its quick response and long-term commitment to global disasters, such as the 2006 tsunami.

YWAM International Chairman Lynn Green released this statement: “We feel a deep sense of loss today and we grieve with the families and those who were very close friends of the victims. Our surviving students and staff are being well cared for and we have total confidence in those who are responsible for the training program in Arvada to care for those who have been subjected to this assault.

“Those who lost their lives had dedicated themselves to serve and we feel the sorrow of their absence. Yet we take comfort from the assurance of everlasting life for those who follow Christ in loving service to others.

“It is a great tragedy that our culture seems to produce so many deeply troubled people who express their frustration in violence. We forgive the assailant and we rededicate ourselves to serving young people in the hope that we might bring healing to other needy youth.”

For press inquiries directly related to the YWAM Denver shootings, please contact pressoffice@ywam.org. This address is for media inquiries only.