YWAM New Zealand

Youth With A Mission is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced “WYE-wam”), our calling is to know God and to make Him known.

YWAM began in 1960 in the USA with our main focus to get youth into short-term mission work and to give them opportunities to reach out in Jesus’ name. Today, we still focus on youth, and we also involve people of almost every age – even many people who choose to spend their “retirement” in active service.

Our many ministries fit into three main categories: evangelism, training and mercy ministry. We are currently operating in more than 1,000 locations in over 140 countries, with roughly 15,000 staff worldwide.

Who is YWAM NZ?

A Word from our New Zealand Directors…
New Zealand is typically known as a prophetic nation that is innovative and creative in its application of the things of God, and as Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in NZ we are no different. From a diverse group of DTS’s with outreaches to every continent in the world, to a vegetable co-op run in the community to feed hungry families; from short-term mission opportunities, to running a local café as an outreach; from work in local schools, to work alongside the local indigenous communities, Youth With a Mission NZ is constantly co-creating with God in new and awesome ways to facilitate the word of the Lord together with the message of Jesus and translate it in a way that is relevant to today’s society.

We have recently moved into a new season within the mission nationally and God has slowly begun to shape us into what He desires us to look like in the future. So we have had name changes to some traditional titles that we have used for certain roles in the past, and have even had a change of operational structure that better suits the complexities of this family of YWAM. But through all these things the most exciting thing of all is the continued fluid movement of the Holy Spirit within our midst.

So, the question remains, “Who is YWAM NZ?” We are a group of people desperately seeking the unending companionship of the Lord as we listen to the whispers of His spirit and apply them in all spheres of society. We are a network of relationships that partner with others to see the Kingdom of God established here in New Zealand and around the world. We are a family of ministries who acknowledge and honour the role of the host people of the land and desire to see them released into their priestly role both here within Aotearoa and within the nations, and lastly, we are a bunch of ordinary people that have said yes to God and are holding onto Him tight and enjoying the journey!

In all our diversity of ages, cultures and ministry focuses, we are woven together by our corporate desire “to know God and make him known” – and if this sounds like you, then jump on board!

Ray and Shaneane Totorewa
Nga Paehere
YWAM NZ