Happy New Year everyone!
We hope you and your families are well. May the grace of Jesus fill you up in this season.
As we start into a new year, we are so aware of and thankful for the power of a community surrounding us in prayer. We have so much to update you on, so we’ll do some of that here (this one will be a bit longer and ministry-oriented), and some of it in another update in a week or two (that one will be short but very very sweet!).
Sarah:
The School of Biblical Studies is going really well. It’s been SUCH a blessing to dive into the scriptures in such depth and to glean from such exceptional teachers and staff. I’m feeling the Lord really blessing me and building me up for what’s next. Thank you for your prayers as I continue to persevere through this very intense program which finishes in July.
Dan:
He continues to serve on the Leadership team of YWAM Dunham, overseeing our different training program and giving support to the leaders and staff here. We have a lot of schools starting up over the next few months, many of them art-oriented. Thank you for praying for wisdom as he gives guidance and juggles his schedule.
Beautiful Gate Arts Collective:
We had an amazing fall - an intimate and restful creative retreat followed by a week-long intensive arts-seminar which many of our artists from the region and YWAM were able to participate in. Thank you for your prayers - we saw God move in wonderful ways and a few new creative and community initiatives were sparked from that time that I think will really be a catalyst for people encountering Jesus in beautiful ways. We’d love prayer for all of these artists!
Travel:
It will be a big year travel-wise, especially for Dan.
(Dan) March - Egypt. There is opportunity for YWAM Dunham leadership team to attend an international University of the Nations leadership gathering in Egypt; Dan is considering attending along with another member of the team. These gatherings were initially initiated by YWAM founder Loren Cunningham to bring together leaders from influential YWAM University of the Nations centres worldwide for training, fellowship, collaboration, and prayer. This year, the gathering will take place in Egypt, as Africa is the continent with both the largest Christian population and the youngest demographic. The potential of this emerging generation is extraordinary, and we recognize the blessing that can come to African peoples/nations as the UofN globally continues to invest in them. Meeting in Egypt is particularly meaningful, as it is near regions with limited gospel access, including North Africa and the Middle East. We believe the Lord desires to catalyze the growth of YWAM and the University of the Nations throughout these areas, and the focus of the gathering will reflect this calling.
(Dan & Sarah) May - Panama for the YWAM America’s gathering. International YWAM gatherings happen every year, and all staff are strongly encouraged to attend. They provide important opportunities for connection, networking, worship, and prayer, as well as for seeking the Lord’s guidance for our mission, training, and regional collaboration. While most gatherings are regional to reduce travel costs, every few years leaders from larger areas come together. This year, YWAM leaders from across North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean, will meet to pray, strategize, and collaborate on evangelism, mercy ministries, and training. These gatherings celebrate God’s faithfulness, strengthen our global family, and help us move forward in unity to reach the nations.
June - Dan is returning to Fanda, Senegal where we visited last year to do a pastoral visit for the pioneering team there. Dan will be teaching on their first-ever Discipleship Training School (DTS), as part of YWAM Dunham’s commitment to support this new ministry plant in Western French-speaking Africa. Many YWAM bases in the region cannot afford to bring in external speakers, and since Fanda is more remote, travel time and costs are even higher. Dan will be covering his own expenses to go and teach.
Prayer points:
- For Dan’s trip to Egypt. We’re praying for direction as to whether he should attend, though financial factors play a role, we’re asking God for clarity in the midst of a busier schedule this winter/spring.
- Sarah’s studies in the School of Biblical Studies (SBS)
- For God’s provision for the travel expenses over the course of this next year. Between Egypt, Panama & Senegal we could be looking at close to $7500.
- For the artists of the Beautiful Gate Artist Collective, that they will be able to experience breakthrough in their various arts projects, allowing them to be a blessing to the local region and those that they get to connect with.
Thank you all so, so much for your prayers. As you can see, it’s full, but we are so encouraged and thankful to be doing this. We couldn’t do it without all your support and prayer. Thanks for being by our side! And looking forward to updating you on something new in a week or two. You’ll want to read that one!