Main YWAM Page, or to YWAM Communications, or to Main News Digest PageONE OF THE world's largest missionary groups is putting feet to its commitment to take the gospel to those who have never heard of Christ.
New statistics show a marked increase in the number of Youth With A Mission workers involved in frontier missions evangelism and church planting among people where there are few or no known Christians.
Sixteen per cent of the mission's worldwide staff were living and working in the 10/40 Window - the region of the globe home to most of the world's' unreached people groups - at the end of 1997, according to a recently completed survey. That figure (1,651) compares with 13 per cent (1,205) in 1994, and nine per cent in 1991 (653).
In addition, YWAM reported ongoing ministry in 41 - two-thirds- of the countries in the 10/40 Window, which comprises North Africa and most of Asia. That is up from 32 in 1994. In all, YWAM has ongoing ministry in 135 countries.
"It is encouraging to see the commitment we made to a greater focus on frontier missions a few years ago being translated into action," said Paul Filidis, director of YWAM's International Communications Network offices in Colorado Springs, Colorado which compiled the information.
The global survey - based on submissions from each of the mission's 630 ministry centers around the world - also showed an 11 per cent growth in total staff, from 9,546 in 1994 to 10,622. The number of those involved as short- term program participants and students in training courses remained constant over the same period, 32,064 to 32,152.
By 1997, 43 per cent of YWAM's staff was from non-Western countries, up from 31 per cent in 1991. "That reflects the overall shift of gravity in the worldwide Church, which is going from North to South, West to East, from the traditionally 'sending' countries of the West to the traditionally receiving or 'mission fields' of the non-West," said Filidis.
The trend was reflected in the top citizenships in the mission. The United States and Brazil remain numbers one and two with 3,093 (2,675 in 1994) and 1,157 (849) respectively, but third spot has gone to South Korea. Their 725 replaces the United Kingdom and Ireland, dropping to fourth with 517 (494). India is sixth with 400, Indonesia 11th with 193, and Nepal 19th with 79.
According to survey results 36 per cent of YWAM's full-time staff are primarily involved in training, 28 per cent in evangelism and church planting, 24 per cent in support and logistics, and 12 per cent in "mercy ministries" - practical care programs.
The survey also showed that one-third of staff work outside their home country, 243 new ministry centers have been established since 1991, and 669 new churches or fellowship groups were started between 1992 and 1997. Centers also recorded a total of 148,313 decisions for Christ in 1997.
While long-term ministry continues to grow in YWAM, the staff attrition rate reflects its ongoing emphasis on short-term involvement, too. During 1997, 1,275 workers left the mission, the same 12 per cent rate as 1994. "It's normal, it's steady. We are still known by many as a primarily short-term organization, where young people will come for a period of time - usually two years - and we don't necessarily anticipate them being career missionaries with us," said Filidis.
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