Day 1
The horns, drums and dancers of host YWAM Northern Thailand welcomed this crowd of 7-800 people from 50 + nations to YWAM's 50th celebration in Chiang Mai. The procession continued with Loren and Darlene dressed in Lanna Thai style clothing, brought in on elevated chairs carried in on the shoulders by 6 Thai leaders each -- and followed by YWAMers also dressed in Lanna Thai style clothing who had been in the Mission 30 years or more.
Dances and dancers from every region of Thailand as well as from the region showed the beauty, the hospitality and the culture of Indo-China. Worship flowed freely from YWAM staff, students and friends from the nations to the God of all nations and all peoples. Loren and Darlene and all who have gone before in YWAM were thanked and were objects of thanks to God.
Loren spoke that this is not just a celebration of the past but this is a time of worship to where God is leading us in the future, into every sector of society. This is a time of fulfilling the Great Commission through the Great Commandment. This is the generation that God is going to use every technology to see the Gospel go to every unreached people. Loren spoke there is unprecedented unity with leaders in the Body of Christ is at all time high. The prayer movement is starting to cover the earth with worship, with prayers, with intercession and spiritual warfare. It really is possible to see the Great Commission fulfilled in this generation.
This was just the first night...
Day 2
The day started with Dar sharing on gratitude for those who have gone before us. Those we were standing on the shoulders of as we have served God. We had just heard a few hours before that our first YWAMer from Switzerland, Rudy Lack, had just died. As she shared all of this with our Asian staff, to people present from 48 nations, the session was being translated into five languages. She asked for those who had been personally impacted by Rudy’s life to stand and many of the leaders who had pioneered the region stood up. Several shared that Rudy was one of the first people who had told them about YWAM. We thanked God for Rudy and prayed for Eliane.
It was wonderful for our Asian staff to hear YWAM history from our founders and the impact will be multiplied. We then prayed with each other about those who have influenced our lives and how their lives live on through us and our varied ministries. It was a sober, yet powerful morning where the presence of God was so real.
In the afternoon Incredible reports by video and by story were shared from countries in the region about what God was doing and about the amazing amount of growth that is taking place. Asian staff and student numbers have increased rapidly over the last few years. Please see some of th
ose reports at the YWAM 50th, YWAMconnect, YWAM Thailand and YWAM Mercy websites. There is momentum occurring that happening all through Asia. God is indeed up to something globally and locally.
In the Evening -- Loren shared on how to transform nations from his book, “The Book That Transforms Nations” with examples from Korea and the region. He, then shared about the timeline of YWAM history and what has happened highlighting the need for a Bible in every home globally. It was a full day, rich in worship and fellowship, tears and prayer for those who have lost in Switzerland and Haiti.
Day 3
Multi-lingual worship and the beautiful Performing Arts dances have been powerful in Chiang Mai - There have been comments like -
"there is nothing like a group singing simultaneously in English, Chinese, and Thai, along with Khmer, Portuguese and a dozen other languages. "
Darlene continued with how God has taught us His ways over the years. She reminded us of the loss of the ship, "The Maori" in New Zealand, the impact upon our international leaders in humbling in Japan, the repentance tour to pastors and leaders in New Zealand and the year of the Cross. It was a powerful reminder as Tom Hallas shared about the situation in the news for the past few days on Toyota, their recall of vehicles and their lack of transparency.
Darlene also spoke about the spirit of generosity that we are called to and reminded us that in the midst of such humbling of our loss of a ship, God gave resurrection. She talked about our conference in Eagle River, Wisconsin and the outrageous generosity and monies being given to Operation Mobilization for their purchase of a ship. Darlene's last session was a wonderful reminder of who Jesus is and how He has modeled every aspect of life for us. The conference finished with the signing of the Jubliee Covenant and remembering Jesus and all He has done for us through taking communion together.
We had a celebration in Chiang Mai
- G Stephen Goode
