Youth With A Mission history

Loren Cunningham married Darlene Scratch in 1963.

By 1966, YWAM had grown to 10 full-time staff and now attracted hundreds of summer short-term volunteers.

In 1967, Cunningham began to work on his vision for the first school.

Twenty-one students gathered in Chateau-d’Oex, Switzerland in 1969 for YWAM’s first in-depth training program, the School of Evangelism.

In 1970, YWAM bought the hotel in which it held its first school, and made Lausanne, Switzerland YWAM’s first permanent location.

The Mission Builder program began in 1971, providing a way for individuals and groups to assist YWAM centers in practical ways.

In early 1972, a small team headed to Munich, Germany, to begin preparations for an outreach during the 1972 Summer Olympics.

The School of Evangelism was formed in 1974 in New Jersey as well as Lausanne.

In 1977 YWAM purchased the Pacific Empress Hotel in Kona, Hawaii, and began renovations to turn it into the campus for what was initially called the Pacific and Asia Christian University—the forerunner of University of the Nations.

Loren Cunningham had a long-time vision of a ship ministry, which was finally realized in 1979.

In 1987, YWAM Publishing moved from Hurlach, Germany to Seattle, USA. Within the next decade, the ministry released over 150 titles.

The 30-Days Muslim Prayer Focus, initially a small effort only within YWAM, began in 1993, and has now been embraced by denominations and organizations worldwide.

Launched in 1994, Impact World Tour organizes city and country-wide evangelism campaigns that feature skateboarding, break dancing, feats of strength, and cultural dances.

YWAM.org was launched in 1995.

In 2000, YWAM developed a new role of Executive chairman, which Jim Stier stepped into, and made the presidency a three-year rotating position.

Youth With A Mission Pittsburgh was founded in 2001 by Doug and Debra Tunney.

Mercy Ships was pioneered by YWAM but in 2003 was released as a separate organization.

By 2006, YWAM had joined the International Orality Network (ION), a multi-agency outreach effort to "the world's non-literate masses", employing verbal and dramatic means to introduce the Gospel to populations which do not read.

In 2008, a number of mission organizations and church mission departments, including YWAM, started the Call To All movement, dedicated to completing the Great Commission in our time.

YWAM celebrated 50 years of existence in 2010 with multi-cultural festivities all around the world.

However, at a meeting in 2011 the organization's elders did away with the titles director, chairman, and president, in reference to all leadership roles except at the local level.

Loren urged leaders not to let budgets and structures dominate but instead to be led by “the voice, vision, and values of the Lord.” After years of considering how to apply Loren’s message the 2013 meeting participants settled on a way forward.