YWAM Tamatave in Madagascar grows beyond the challenges

Tamatave is an isolated town, abandoned and left to its own devices. Life in Tamatave is hard and it is not easy to adjust to the rain, cyclones and non-existent roads. YWAM in Tamatave has managed to grow beyond the everyday challenges of life in such a remote area. Their love for God and their continued obedience to where He has called them has yielded much fruit.

Twenty churches have now been planted in Tamatave. These are simple churches made up of people who love Jesus. “Our objectives are to launch a church planting movement that could exponentially grow with locals leading it,” explains YWAM Tamatave’s most recent newsletter. They get together twice a month with the new leaders to teach them as they lead these young churches. Most of these leaders don’t know how to read or write, but this doesn’t stop them from passing along the deep revelation they receive from God in every prayer meeting.

A YWAM mercy ministry was set up three years as a non-governmental organization. It has since become an official partner with the Ministry of Health and currently works in 20 groups of villages. These places are difficult to get to and are often only accessible on foot or by river. Fifteen healthcare clinics have already been set up, with five more in the works. Malnutrition levels have gone down significantly as a result of these clinics, and basic health care has improved the lives of villagers. Just one expression of the Kingdom of God impacting villages that are characterized by isolation and death.

More Then Just A Preschool

Beautiful Gate Namibia is more than just a preschool. Every week about 150 children attend programs offered there. Beautiful Gate focuses on urgent community needs such as retroviral medicines for HIV/AIDS patients as well as simply providing a listening ear for families in need. Beautiful Gate runs a preschool for vulnerable children between three and six years old. They also run youth clubs twice a week and a Tuesday bible study for women.

With ministry growth expected, more construction work and renovations are planned. For the families in Katurura, the township where Beautiful Gate is located, computer and health education classes will soon be offered, as well as tutorial classes to help with particularly difficult school subjects. A library where youth can get help with their homework is also in the works.

Renewed hope and faith in Ethiopia

Our YWAM family in Addis Ababa works with the most vulnerable population— children. They currently run a home that cares for 23 children, with hopes of increasing their capacity to 60. Extreme poverty afflicts many children in Ethiopia, many of whom are orphans. YWAM Addis Ababa’s dream is to reach these orphaned and vulnerable children, meeting all of their primary needs—physical, spiritual, medical, psychological and educational. They also hope to assist 50 families with school fees and rent. Many women are the breadwinners for their families and they often resort to prostitution as a means of survival. Skill training projects are the next step of hope to help them earn a living in a dignified way.