YWAM's Ship Equipped Ministries Grows!
The vision for Youth With A Mission to operate sea going ships for ministry purposes came to Loren Cunningham (co-founder of YWAM) back in 1964 during an outreach to the Bahamas which had been devastated by Hurricane Cleo. The first, but unfortunately aborted, attempt to buy a ship was in 1974 with the m/v Maori in New Zealand. With the purchase of an 11,750 tonne ex-Italian cruise liner called m/v Victoria, renamed m/v Anastasis in 1978 and subsequent conversion to a hospital ship, YWAM Ship Equipped Ministries was born.
Since 1978, YWAM has always operated vessels of various sizes and types, older ones being ‘retired’ and newer ones taking their place. Now the vision to operate vessels of many different designs to further the spread of the message of Christ through the three main activities of YWAM: Evangelism, Training and Mercy Ministries, is accelerating with the twinning of YWAM University of the Nations (UofN) campuses with Ship Equipped Ministries.
Following YWAM practices, no centralised structure has been set up to govern the international network of Ship Equipped Ministries. Rather, each vessel will find its governance through the relationships with local YWAM University of the Nations campuses, as well as YWAM national and regional leadership structures.
However, to assist with the promotion and guidance of this growing fleet, four YWAM couples, with long experience and involvement in YWAM Ship Equipped Ministries, have been appointed as International Elders to oversee the vision of having 40 YWAM vessels operating around the globe:
- Captain Jesse and Princess Misa: International Co-Directors of Marine Reach Ministries, who live in Tauranga, New Zealand and lead the ministry of m/v Next Generation.
- Captain Brian and Anne Sloan, International Co-Directors of Marine Reach Ministries, who live in Harpenden, England and lead the ministry of s/y Next Wave.
- Ken and Robyn Mulligan: Directors of YWAM Townsville, UofN campus, Australia, who lead the ministry of m/v Pacific Link and YWAM Medical Ships network.
- Brett and Karen Curtis: Directors of YWAM Ships OC network who live in California, USA
There are many different types of vessels and areas of operation within the YWAM Ship Equipped Ministry Network. For more information, click on the links below :
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s/y Next Wave managed from the Harpenden, England, but operating throughout Europe and North Africa. Contact : www.marinereachministries.com
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m/v Pacific Link managed from Townsville, Australia and operating mainly in Papa New Guinea
Contact : www.ywamships.org.au
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Panama Coastal Outreach with YWAM Bocas del Toro
Contact : www.ywambocas.org
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m/v Next Generation operating out of Tauranga, New Zealand into the islands of the Pacific.
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Amazon Reach project based in Belem, Brazil operating long the Amazon river with the river boat Bethsaida.
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s/y Caribbean Reach operating in the southern Caribbean.Contact : www.marinereachministries.com/caribbean
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Arctic Reach operating out of Home, Alaska.
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Marine Reach, Ukraine, operating out of Kiev, Ukraine
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YWAM Ships OC Network, operating out of Orange County, USA - www.ywamships.net