We have a building contractor in place and the structural work should be finished by the end of December.   We are now planning and designing the space, renovations etc it is all very exciting.

On top of this we have recruited a family of 4 to come and join us.  The husband will be helping Carl with national communications and PR and his wife will be working with children, youth, families in the area as well as work amongst the poor.  We are very excited and this is a major answer to prayer for us!

Scottish dancing, musicians, lots of us love to work with children, we have had workshops over the past few days on face painting, balloon modelling, evangelism, bubble making, arts and crafts, circus and magic skills! All very exciting.

So tomorrow we fly out to Romania for two weeks to help with childrens programs, work among the gypsy community and with the churches. So watch this space for news on how it all goes!

Catching up with old friends and making new friends. I also really enjoyed running the cafe and getting to meet lots of people. There was one evening where people dressed up in 70’s and 80’s gear and told YWAM stories from back in the day.

How were the talks?

It was interesting to hear Carmelita talk about central Europe and really sad to hear how few Christians and ywamers in central Europe.  We have no YWAMers in Greece currently and it was really great to hear how they had sent an outreach team there and that they had been really well received. It was inspiring to hear the vision to reach 5 cities over two years starting new YWAM teams.

How was the food and accommodation?

We were camping which was fun, the showers were delightful and the food was exquisite!  We’d definitely go again.

We have started to build relationships with the local primary and pre school, the local pub, the government run children’s center and have established a good relationship with St Barnabas church. The community have been very positive about us coming and we are looking forward to seeing the center become a blessing to the people in this area. It has been over five years since we fist viewed the building and to finally be at the point where the solicitors are making the final arrangements is very exciting.

I have been greatly encouraged over the last year by seeing Gods provision of resourses for both the Next Wave ship and for  GyG, the house in Wrexham and we are standing in faith to see God provide the £50,000 we need to complete the purchase and the £50,000 to complete all the building work and renovations.

Prayer points – For Carl and myself (Jennifer) as we navigate the logistics of purchasing and renovating property for the first time.

- For the process that is under way with the solicitors drawing up and tailoring the contract with the Diocese of York.

- For more staff to join YWAM York:

Project manager and administrator particularly over the next 12 months while we get the building renovated and all the health and safety etc implemented.

People with a passion to start new ministries in the community or to work as part of a team that is doing that.

DTS staff for the Community Development DTS in September 2012 – For continued favour on existing and potential relationships with individuals, businesses and organizations in the area.

- For God’s provision of the £100,000

We arrived at the YWAM base in Wrexham, Wales, and were immediately welcomed by the wonderful staff and DTS students! For that week, it really felt like we were one big DTS, not two separate. The Wales students, Shelby, Leah, Chad, and Mike, had all been on the DTS since September, but they weren’t exclusive at all, which was such a blessing.

Man, I learned so much that I’m having a hard time focusing and knowing where to start! Our topic for the week was Spiritual Warfare. Because the York DTS hadn’t had the week on the Holy Spirit yet, Mariette took time out to have a special “Intro to the Holy Spirit” session with us, which was really awesome. One of my favorite things about the week was definitely her reference to the Holy Spirit within us as our “Spirit Man”!

How refreshing to know that our spirits can never be separated from God’s. How silly of me to sometimes try to separate it! 1 Corinthians 6:17 says “But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.” We have a living, active connection with God. All the time.

Rachael Harvey DTS Trainee 2011

The practice of intercessory prayer is a value that has been at the very heart and foundation of YWAM and many visions have been birthed during those times.  The school emphasizes hearing God’s voice and praying his will.  The school’s goal is to serve every YWAMer that has a desire to grow in their understanding of prayer, worship, intercession and spiritual warfare, to improve their prayer life and to become the man or woman that God has called them to be.  Growing in intimacy with Jesus is foundational to whatever ministry God may call an individual to.

So that principles learnt during lectures can be integrated into a ministry context there will be 6 weeks of outreach running throughout the school.  The school will mainly be held in England but two of the weeks will be in Europe for teaching and prayer in a few European cities.

For those that can’t make the whole school many of the weeks of teaching will be open to weekly guests.

More information about the school can be found by clicking on the image below.

This week is the orientation with teaching on intimacy with God, hearing Gods voice, intercession along with introductions to the local outreaches in the city with the homeless, pubbers and clubbers, childrens and youth work.