If you have served with YWAM anywhere in the world and are now living in Ireland this day is for you!

Join us at 10am for tea and coffee at YWAM Ireland’s newest Centre – An Cuan on the shores of Carlingford Lough in Rostrevor, Co. Down.  Stay with us for a great day together which includes inspiring worship, good food, time to chat with old friends and to make new ones as well as a chance to tell your story.

The Gathering is free of charge to current / former YWAMers in Ireland plus their families but advance registration is essential.  Child care will be provided during meetings.

Why not make a weekend of it – bed and breakfast is available at YWAM Rostrevor at the special rate of £10 person/night (under 12′s free of charge in their parents’ room) for the nights of Friday 27th and/or Saturday 28th.  Places are limited, please reserve early (on the registration form below).

Questions?  Call YWAM Rostrevor in Northern Ireland on 028 4173 8492 or email ywam.rostrevor (at) gmail.com

Online registration is open here and the deadline is April 18th.  Please mark the date in your diary now – we look forward to meeting you.

Directions to An Cuan will be sent to you on receipt of your registration.

inTouch Camps offering former YWAMers a longer time to reconnect are organised by YWAM Associates Europe in France, Norway, Switzerland and Germany.  More >>>

You’re bursting with ideas, your story is captivating and you would like to put it in writing, but you are not sure of your talent as a writer…

This workshop can help you!   Catch your reader’s attention – learn how to write so that you’ll be read!

Janice Rogers, our guest speaker, has been teaching principles of written expression for many years and is the author and co-author of numerous books.  She’s coming to Europe in May and Rostrevor will be one of the venues for her Workshop.

Dates / Locations:

FRANCE:  17 – 19 May (Ascension) at YWAM Champagne (Le Gault la Forêt), east of Paris.  Arrive Wednesday evening, depart Saturday night or Sunday Morning.  In English & French.  Cost €135 (Euros) includes housing, meals and training.

SWEDEN: 21 – 25 May at YWAM Restenäs, north of Gothenburg on the picturesque West Coast.  In English & Swedish.  Cost SEK (Swedish Crowns) 180 includes housing, meals and training.

NORTHERN IRELAND: 28 May – 1 June at YWAM Rostrevor, half way between Dublin and Belfast on Carlingford Lough.  Arrive Sunday evening, depart Saturday morning.  Cost £165   (British Pounds) includes housing, meals and training.

Janice Rogers and her husband Jim have been full-time missionaries with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) since 1966, ministering in 64 nations.  Since 1974, Jim and Janice have produced literature, films and other media with the goal of involving more people in missions work.  Janice led the first Authors Training School in YWAM in 1986.  Since then she has trained hundreds of writers from more than 30 nations in writing schools and seminars.  Her students have used their training to write countless books, magazine articles, film scripts, and material for websites.   Since her training emphasizes universal principles of communication, many of her non-English speaking students  have learned how to write in their own language.

Janice will teach such topics as…

* how to write a compelling story

* the writer as God’s servant

* identifying and addressing readers’ felt needs

* tightening your focus

* how to build your stories with dramatic scenes

Janice has written and edited a number of books, including five with her brother, Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission and University of the Nations. Their first book, Is that Really You, God? has more than 2 million copies in print in 105 languages. Their most recent collaboration is The Book That Transforms Nations: The Power of the Bible to Change Any Country.  Janice and her husband Jim work with YWAM Woodcrest, a University of the Nations campus in East Texas dedicated to training missionary communicators.  They have three grown sons, all involved in missionary work, plus seven grandchildren.

Some testimonies from previous workshop participants:

The Writers’ Workshop was a valuable experience for budding authors as well as ordinary participants interested in improving their basic communication skills for newsletters or brochures. Having Janice Rogers share from her depth of experience as a writer whose books have been published worldwide was a tremendous opportunity for our community. I highly recommend attending the Writers’ Workshop!  Warren Keapproth, Director YWAM Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

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I highly recommend Janice Rogers’s teaching for anyone interested in honing their writing skills. Janice can help both seasoned writers and beginners alike. Janice helped me develop both my writing skills and my confidence to write.  Peter J. Iliyn, North American Director, Youth With A Mission.

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Janice Rogers is an engaging and dedicated teacher. I found that her clear thinking and precise communication made it possible for me to grow very quickly in my understanding of the art of writing.  Jim Stier, former International President of YWAM.

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My husband Geoff and I attended the YWAM writer’s school led by Janice Rogers in 1986. The techniques and insights we received there transformed us from readers to writers. We took what we learned and started writing. To date, we have written more than 160 books.  Janet Benge, author.

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Places limited, be sure to book soon via our online registration form

Their time in Belfast or Rostrevor has, without exception, been a revolutionary time in their life. They often experience a transformational effect on their own faith, their expectations for their futures, and their life calling. Because of this time to deepen their relationships with Jesus, terms like “poverty” or “conflict” no longer define their worldview.

In the case of our Middle Eastern trainees — often they have lived through civil war, intifada, and the deep trauma of a society where bloodshed is deemed normal. For our South Africans — they may come from areas where HIV is sky high, and consequently the death of loved ones is an ongoing experience; crime is rampant, and the aftershocks of apartheid continue to strike communities with a pervading sense of hopelessness.

Our mission is to partner with people in these contexts to give them a life-changing experience; leaving an indelible mark that will bring deep and authentic transformation to carry over in their home nations. Many of our former students are now actively involved in discipleship, leadership training, and poverty alleviation in some of the most at-risk communities in their nations.

Will you please consider helping us bring more trainees this year? We need funding for four South Africans to participate in our November Compassion and Justice DTS. Please see the link below for more information about our programme and the young men and women we hope to sponsor.

Click here to find out more about the young people we want to sponsor.

What does this mean?

Join with us for the next two years in a special time of seeing meaningful works established for the long-term in the locations noted on the above map (of course, we are not limited to these cities!). Even in the last few months, we have received a higher quantity of teams and outreaches who have served in Belfast, Rostrevor, Dublin and Cork.

What can you do?

• Commit to praying regularly for the continual manifestation of God’s Kingdom (peace, reconciliation, justice and relationship) in Ireland.
• Contact one of our ministries to see if your outreach or team can serve with them for a short period.
• Have a heart for Ireland and a call to serve in ministry? If you have already done a DTS, consider applying to join us on staff.

Thanks!

From 1974 The Christian Renewal Centre in Rostrevor was a beacon of light for Protestants and Catholics from all over Ireland. In the midst of one of the darkest periods in Ireland’s history, the centre became synonymous with reconciliation, prayer, and spiritual renewal. Nestled in Northern Ireland beneath Slieve Martin and the Mourne Mountains, it overlooks Carlingford Lough and the Irish Republic to the South. It’s meeting area holds up to 180, as well as cafe space, prayer rooms, seminar rooms, 5 self contained apartments, and 16 other rooms for guests and community members. But most importantly it has an incredible legacy of spiritual life, known by all Christian traditions in Ireland.

As we begin to move in we are acutely aware of standing on the shoulders of giants. Most notably Cecil and Myrtle Kerr who courageously founded the centre, and Harry and Dorothy Smith who have been leading the work for the last 10 years. As we initially build our work here we want to emphasise 4 areas of ministry; reconciliation, renewal, mission, and community.

Reconciliation: When the centre was bought in 1974 it was in a time when “the Troubles” were wrecking havoc and bloodshed up and down Northern Ireland. Yet in spite of that history the centre became a place of encounter and reconciliation for people who had been enemies, or at least had been brought up on opposite sides of the tracks. We dream of this continuing to be a place where enemies meet each other and are reconciled, not only from Ireland, but from divided tribes and countries all over the world.
“He himself is our peace who has made the two ONE.” Eph 2

Renewal: We hope to see many groups of people from all ages continue to come for retreats, weekends, day conferences, and camps. We want to be a gathering place for people from all over the country, seeing them renewed in body, mind and spirit as they soak in the surroundings and are nourished by teaching and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The doors of the centre are open now. Already we’ve had a group of 56 for a week-long camp, and for the next 2 months we will have a fairly steady stream of groups and visitors.

Community: For the last 2 years we’ve been reflecting on what it means be a Christian in Europe in a time when churches are experiencing a form of “exile”. Europe is increasingly a post-Christian continent where God and church seem like fads from the distant past. In short, “how do we sing the Lord’s song while in a strange land?” We know one of the timeless forms in impacting societal brokenness, is for communities to form around the commitment to love God and love our neighbours. We intend to live here as an open, embracing community of YWAM missionaries, serving each other, and serving the people of the area we live in.

Mission: For the last 8 years we’ve have been working to build community in the Shankill and Falls areas of North and West Belfast, following the principle that holiness and being like Jesus meant “moving towards darkness”. As the incarnation brought God in the flesh onto the streets of Nazareth, we believe that our primary calling as followers of Jesus is to incarnate God on the streets of the darkest places on earth: To be “Jesus with skin on” to places like Delhi, Bethlehem, Beirut, Durban, Serbia, Burundi, and Rwanda. We are also called to be light in the cities of Ireland, and we are determined that this new property will provide a resource for a whole new generation of urban teams. We want to see people discipled here, to see leaders trained and released to multiply incarnational work wherever God leads them. Of course if we want to train people to start new missional communities, we want to model it here first. We are praying about the idea of a community café in the centre as a place for locals to gather- whether they are single Mums, artists, or retirees. We also see the need to engage with local youth, the ones who feel unattached and who need belonging and mentoring.

In this new season for YWAM Ireland we are praying for new YWAM staff and leaders to come and be developed with vision and capacity to build vital new communities all over this island. God is calling us to join many churches and organisations that are seeking to humbly reintegrate spiritual life into the heart of the culture of this island, and to take that life from this island to the world.

We are calling the centre “An Cuan” (pronounced “on koo-in”) which is the Irish word for a harbour: A place where ships are welcomed and sent, are patched up, re-fueled, and then allowed to set sail. That is what we hope for.

Jonny and Jenn Clark
YWAM Ireland

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Around two dozen persons from Lebanon, South Africa, Israel and Palestine (and other nations) have joined us since 2003 on scholarships to attend DTS in Northern Ireland – typically in Belfast (2001-2010) with a reconciliation focus.

We continue this as an effort to integrate faith and a vision for reconciliation to make a real-world impact in places of conflict. The sponsored trainees are recommended by partner ministries in countries of conflict where we send outreach teams. They come to Northern Ireland to receive Christian missions training coupled with a perspective on reconciliation and peacemaking given context in the environment of post-Troubles Northern Ireland. They will then return rooted in their faith to their countries with an ability to build bridges, having ministered alongside YWAM in Northern Ireland on their DTS.

2010
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For the DTS starting on 21 January 2010, we are hoping to have 4 sponsored trainees. One is from Israel. One is from Lebanon and has been volunteering with us since the summer. The other two are from South Africa, currently working with two of our partner ministries outside of Durban – World Changers Academy and Light Providers. These organisations are involved in a variety of community projects in their area (online at http://www.wca-sa.org and http://www.lightproviders.com).

If you want to know more about these outstanding individuals, please contact YWAM Belfast directly.
Our needs for them are:
-To cover basic living costs – apprx. £2150 minimum for lecture and outreach phases, per person
-To cover travel costs for the South Africans – airfare and visa costs, apprx. £750 per person.

Will you help us raise up ambassadors for Christ in broken places?

Consider making a donation for this cause – any amount will go a long way.

Donations using PayPal are quick, easy, and safe.  For other methods, please contact YWAM Belfast. (Contact YWAM Rostrevor)

Also, join our cause on Facebook and invite your friends to participate.

Note: Scholarships are not generally available; you cannot apply for financial aid for DTS. We offer them (as a step of faith) only to those whom are recommended to us by our partner ministries in countries of conflict.

Jonny Clark (Director, YWAM Ireland & YWAM Belfast) led us through a brief but meaningful examination of Irish history to set a practical context for our surroundings and the teaching we would have.  Our primary guest speaker was Peter Adams (http://www.reconciliationtalk.com), who is involved in reconciliation work in England and overseas.  He spoke at length about peacemaking as part of the Christian mission, as well as God’s plan for the reconciliation of all things, and how we participate in that – in relating to people and in speaking about Jesus.  He used many stories about his work in Luton (England) with the Muslim community and his work in places like China and the Middle East.

In the afternoons, there were field-trips to community projects around Belfast to see how various groups engaged with the needs of this city.  The purpose of these outings were to inspire and spark ideas, as well as connect the teaching with practical application.

The video below was taken at the conference, and is pieced together from a 75-min talk Peter Adams presented on God’s plan of ultimate redemption for all of creation and our call to participate in it (Vimeo – about 30 min.).

(This blog entry first published at nakedicame.com)

“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Prov. 31: 8-9

Patricia Green addresses this vital area of concern for the church today

Friday 27th November: 8 pm (Tea & coffee from 7.30 pm)
Saturday 28th November: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm (Lunch provided)

YWAM Centre – “Closkelt House” – 45 Closkelt Road, Ballyward
Phone Ros on 07766286933 for information & directions

Patricia Green is the Founder of Rahab International who work on behalf of sexually exploited women and children. She is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, a social worker, and has a Master’s degree in Community Psychology. She is also a well-known speaker on issues of sexual exploitation, trafficking and prostitution. Patricia’s passion is to create an awareness of these issues and to motivate people, especially Christians, to reach out to sexually exploited women and children in the name of Christ to offer them a new life.

Download the flier by right-clicking this link and clicking ‘Save-As’

Last week between Monday evening and Friday morning, folks from teams around Ireland gathered for a time of fellowship, input, and prayer together at our facilities in rural Co. Down. We were joined by Barry and Kay Austin, based with YWAM at the King’s Lodge in England, who are YWAM veterans from the early days (Barry lead the second DTS ever!) and continue to be instrumental in leadership training for YWAM around the world. Barry and Kay lead us in looking at Hebrews 1-6, a scripture establishing the identity of Christ and pinpointing obstacles to following him with full faith and expectation. We followed in prayer for our mission and challenging each other to thoroughly move in God’s momentum. Also, a good amount of time was dedicated to hanging out, catching up, and various antics – from hiking, to lazing on the beach in nearby Newcastle (during the one sunny day), to cooking, to table tennis tournaments. Overall, these few days were a good mix of nurturing activities and team-building.

The Yak-Shak

‘They tried to make me go to re:hab, I said, “No, no, no”. ‘

YWAM Ireland presents The Yak Shak. This is the place for chillout, for
hanging out with each other, and experiencing God and the world in a
low-key environment.  You’ll find sofas, art, hot drinks, pool, table
tennis, and a special pampering area for the girls – even spectacular
Summer Madness haircuts for everyone!

The “Yak -Shak” afternoon workshops are a multi-sensory extravaganza,
filled with magic, escapology and energetic hi-jinx from Yan Nicholls of
YWAM England and his YWAM Ireland volunteers.  Don’t miss it — or
you’ll miss out!

Saturday (4th)
2.30-3.30 “Yak-Shak hour”
4-5 “Yak-Shak presents” – Donking Rongavilla and the Passion
Freestylers
10-11.30 “Yak-Shak re:creates”

Sunday (5th)
2.30-3.30 “Yak-Shak hour”
4-5 “Yak-Shak presents” – Donking Rongavilla and the Passion
Freestylers
10-11.30 “Yak-Shak re:creates”

Monday (6th)
2.30-3.30 “Yak-Shak hour”
4-5 “Yak-Shak presents” – Norn Irish singer songwriters unplugged
10-11.30 “Yak-Shak re:creates”

“Yak-Shak re:creates” is an evening in two parts. Music from our
resident house band made up of SM campers (that’s you!), magic
mayhem, laughter, culminating in an alt. worship experience for the more
contemplative Summer Madness participant. Mixing words, silence, and
ambient tunes to bring us on a journey of encounter with faith, poverty,
the Kingdom, and the prodigal Father.

Yak-Shak hour: An extravaganza filled with magic, escapology and
energetic hi-jinx.

Yak-Shak presents: Donking Rongavilla and the Passion Freestylers.
Check out their hip hop dance style and learn some yourself!

re:creates – the journey begins with a house band and ends with
contemplation.

Join the Facebook event for more info and automatic reminders!