March Prayer Focus: YWAM's ship ministries and s/y Next Wave

The s/y Next Wave vessel is the most recent example of our willingness to step out on the water in obedience to this word. This vessel represents something larger than any one ministry. Its existence is a prophetic statement of agreement with God that the cork is out of the bottle and that a new generation of missions workers is about to be unleashed.  As we agree in prayer together about s/y Next Wave and ship ministries, God will do the impossible. Loren is also calling for an international offering to be taken up on behalf of s/y Next Wave during the Thursday, March 5 prayer day. You can find giving instructions below, as well as prayer points in Loren's letter and elsewhere in the March prayer guide. Please post your prayer comments on www.prayerday.org so that ship-ministry leaders benefit from words that God is speaking.

Please visit the Marine Reach international website at www.marinereach.info  for more information about s/y Next Wave and other ship-based ministries.  Click here to watch a promotional video about the work of YWAM's newest vessel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6dqQAEVTWU                                           .

You can listen to a short podcast message presented by Loren Cunningham about YWAM ship-based ministries and s/y Next Wave by visiting the homepage of www.prayerday.org.

March 2009 Prayer Letter by Loren Cunningham

There are 5,000 inhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean alone.  And the vast majority of the world's great cities are accessible by water.  So it should be no surprise that in 1964, right at our beginning as a mission, God spoke to Youth With A Mission about ship-based ministries.

As we have pursued a life of obedience in response to this word from the Lord, we have experienced tests and disappointments, but God has continued to use our pursuit of ship-based ministries as a way to teach us and refine us.

Some may have been tempted to give up at times, while others decided to wait until God renewed the call... which He has done once more. God has been faithful to remind us of His foundational word.

We were pleasantly surprised that when we gathered approximately 180 YWAM leaders for prayer last August, the subject of ships came to the top of our agenda as we waited on God.  That was not in our plan for our five days of prayer, but from the opening session we remembered the important words that God had spoken to us over the years, and as we laid those words before Him, our calling to ships rose to become a top priority.  We ended up spending more time on that one subject than on any of the other more than 30 important "words of the Lord" we recalled.  Tom Hallas reminded us that God's Word, unlike our words, is not separate from Him, but that He is "The Word," so if we want more of Him, obedience to everything He has said is essential.
 
As we listened to God in prayer, our attention was drawn to the nature of the spiritual battle.  More than one person was reminded of the Old Testament story of Dagon, the god of the Philistines, who was thought by them to be the god of the sea, among other things.
 
The successful pioneering of any ship-based ministry will require much prayer and many breakthroughs in the spiritual realm. We have felt clearly led that this month's Global Prayer Day should center around YWAM's call to ship ministries.
 
I would like to ask you to do a few specific things during our prayer time. 

First, go to the references about Dagon in 1 Samuel 5 and ask God what He wants to say about how to pray for ship-based ministries in YWAM and what we're dealing with in the spiritual realm as we continue to expand these ministries. Ship-based ministries are part of our inheritance, so please do not take this lightly. Deal aggressively with any hindrances coming against these vessels as God brings revelation. Pray about the spiritual legacy these vessels carry from port to port. Pray into the future of ship ministries in YWAM.

Second, ask the Lord what you, your team, or your training center or ministry location are meant to do in relation to ship ministries. Many YWAM centers regularly send outreach teams to our ships, of which there are currently three (The Pacific Link, Beersheba, and now s/y Next Wave) in addition to several smaller boats.  Such outreaches both expand vision in our students for such ministries and coastal peoples but also raise the profile of the on-going work of our permanent staff on these vessels. Outreaches are just one example of a practical way your center can become involved in ship-based ministries. What else might God be speaking?

Third, would you fast and pray at least one meal on Thursday, March 5 and ask the Lord what you should financially give towards our newest ship, s/y Next Wave?  When I first heard about the Marine Reach plan to launch this vessel in 2006, God spoke to me that it would be like a cork coming out of a bottle.  In other words, as we specifically invest in and see the s/y Next Wave project through, it will lead to the release of the great wave of missions workers that has been promised to us.

There are many ways to send your offering, as will be explained at www.prayerday.org or in your prayer guide e-mail.  I am asking you to join Darlene and I by giving in obedience as the Lord directs you.

Your co-worker,

Loren Cunningham

Prayer Points for s/y Next Wave

The s/y Next Wave is on continuous outreach, each port presenting a different challenge. For visiting teams, this is exciting.  For the long-term crew this can be exhausting, especially if they are operating under a powerful anointing as they have been recently. Please pray:

•    that the Holy Spirit replenishes the crew each and every day
•    that the crew learns to pace themselves
•    that leaders of the ministry will be wise in their care and guidance of the young crew

There is no shortage of ports that can be visited in the Mediterranean and around Europe.  However, not all of them are practical and the needs of each outreach team have to be considered. Also, it is important to go to the places that God is revealing, as this is how we all want to be led. Ship-ministry leaders are seeking the Lord for direction regularly.  Please pray:

•    that leaders will continue to walk closely with the Lord, seeking guidance for where to go and how to minister in each port

As Loren has indicated, this is a crucial time for s/y Next Wave, Marine Reach Ministries (MRM) and YWAM's vision for ships to serve the nations. Please pray:

•    for the senior leadership of YWAM, leaders of s/y Next Wave and MRM as they seek to develop and fully release YWAM's ship ministries
•    for wisdom in far-reaching decisions and for discernment about what God is saying at this time.

Stories from s/y Next Wave

We don't "work" in our ministry location, s/y Next Wave-- we live in it.  There's no clocking in and out here.  There is nowhere for you to hide and nowhere for you to run.  Those that God brings here are quickly confronted with the true nature of their hearts and the hearts of those around them.  I suppose all ministries that live in community can say this but I believe the s/y Next Wave and ship-based ministries are different.  This is truly God's pressure cooker.  It's a ministry where the gloves come off and you get to see what your God can really do.

It's a challenge to live and work here, but I like it this way as there is no other ministry that I know of that brings you close to Jesus so quickly.  I used to think that this was just the nature of pioneering any new ministry, but I'm not so sure anymore.

I look at my crew and see each of them becoming more of who God created them to be on a daily basis. All of them hunger for God, because if they didn't they wouldn't be here.  Those that come on board take note that my crew has been with Jesus. Only in this is there life- changing power that does more than all the programs in the world can do.   

This ministry was birthed out of fasting and prayer and the cry of our heart is echoed in the name of our ship....  that God will use this tool to be part of releasing the next wave of young people that will be "[men] after my own heart, who will do everything I ask [them] to do" (Acts 13:22).  Please pray that we become people after God's own heart!

Capt. H. Lehman Franklin, Director & Captain of s/y Next Wave
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Part way through the lecture phase of my Discipleship Training School, Brian and Anne Sloan visited us in Aberystwyth, Wales (Brian is International co-director of Marine Reach, and Anne is co-director of s/y Next Wave).  They came with news of a ship soon to be purchased just three months after my DTS would end.  At that time, I didn't know that God would make me part of the pioneering crew. 

I was told leadership development was going to be a key feature of life on board s/y Next Wave.  Six months into my service, I remember constantly complaining about the lack of training.  "When is it all going to start?"  I was befuddled to never receive answers to that question. 

I can't remember when it clicked, but at some point along the way I began to realize that leadership development happens simply through life and ministry on board.  One day you wake up for your quiet time and find yourself glad to be able to clean some glasses and mugs from the previous night for your fellow crew members.  Eventually you realize that servanthood is naturally lived out with little fanfare.  Servant leadership isn't even something we need to talk about and teach on board since it's something we learn naturally as we work and serve together in tight quarters.

After two years, I have come a long way from the angry crew member waiting for that promised leadership development.  In fact, I've come to realize that leadership qualities must be exhibited even outside of leadership positions.  The characteristics of a true leader can't be contained by titles and positions.  Not only have I discovered what it means to be a leader, I've discovered why I'm here, why God made me.  The Next Wave has discipled me to the point of nearly being ready to go out and pioneer the next project.

Daniel Jackson, First Mate on board the s/y Next Wave
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I'm Melissa Caron. I'm 18-years-old and I'm from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. I am doing the YWAM Harpenden DTS and am currently on outreach on the Next Wave in Catania, Sicily.

Living on the s/y Next Wave is amazing and always full of adventure, but it also has been tough. God has done so much in my life and shown me a lot about His character and my character. I knew before coming to the ship that I would be living in close quarters, and that it would be difficult to hide what's going on inside me. God has definitely used my experience on the ship to deal with issues in my life...  not always fun, but good.

While in Catania, our outreach team has been doing many different kinds of outreach. We've been cleaning streets, talking to people, and praying all over Catania. We've also been going to the roughest areas in Catania and seeing the poverty and the desperation of the people. God has been softening the hearts of Catanians to His love.

We've also been working with a variety of churches in Catania. We've done church services, youth services, acoustic cafe nights, children's clubs, played football with youth groups and have hosted a few youth groups on board s/y Next Wave. Despite the language barrier, we've had a lot of fun doing these things.

More than anything else, being on board has taught me a lot about total surrender to God and total reliance on God. While in Catania, God has shown me that I was still holding onto a lot of things from my past. I've decided to give up these false comforts. Now that I don't have those things taking up space in my heart, I have more room for God. I am definitely hungry for more of God. During my DTS lecture phase, I thought I'd given up my whole being to God. But since coming to s/y Next Wave, God has shown me that if I give Him more of myself, He will bless me with more of Him.

Melissa Caron, DTS student on outreach aboard the s/y Next Wave
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Growing up, I couldn't have dreamed that someday I'd be working on a sailing ship called the s/y Next Wave, serving peoples on the coastal cities of the Mediterranean Sea.  I'm a girl from a small town in Oregon and never even thought I'd leave the United States much less serve on a ship as a missionary. But here I am, doing the impossible.

One night, I stood on the main deck of the ship. As I leaned over the rail, I could feel the soothing yet rough rocking of the ship as I watched the scene that God set before me. Twilight had fallen and faded away. Across the marina, huge waves driven by a storm were crashing well above and over the 20-foot breakwater wall like an aquatic fireworks display.  As though the beauty of the sea wasn't enough, lightning was vibrantly displaying even more of God's glory above the crashing of the waves.

It's hard living within 30 meters of the same 15 people day in and day out.  There is an enemy that is constantly attacking us in the area of patience and long-suffering with each other. It's constantly challenging in this environment to live as an example of unity and Christlikeness.

But seeing God use me to get pastors from a variety of denominations to just talk to each other.... or to see people walk up to the ship and ask "You're a Christian right?  How can I start following Christ, too?," .... or to host outreach teams and see them use the ship as their home base to go and impact lives at a local church....  and to be able to spend times quietly worshiping the Lord while watching a storm rage on the sea close to the Sicilian shore... how can I not love what God is doing and be blessed that He has chosen me to be here? This is why I have the best job in the world.

Cheryl Smith, crew member on board the s/y Next Wave
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March 2009 Leader's Guide

This month, Loren Cunningham guides us through a prayer day focused on YWAM and ship-based ministries.  The latest vessel in the Marine Reach fleet, s/y Next Wave, is used as a prophetic example of God uncorking the bottle and releasing a new wave of missions workers through the ministry of such ships. Please take the time to read Loren's letter, as it contains some of the prayer points for the Thursday, March 5 prayer day. Other specific prayer points follow in another section of the March prayer guide.  God's intention has been clear to us since 1964:  YWAM is to pursue ship-based ministries in a world where the vast majority of the world's great cities are accessible by water.  That word resurfaced during the Prayer and Strategy Conference in Kona last August. We all have an inheritance in YWAM ship ministries, and health and anointing upon these vessels means health and anointing upon all of our ministries.

Loren calls for an international offering to be taken up on behalf of s/y Next Wave during our prayer times around the world. Giving instructions can be found in the prayer guide sent to your e-mail and online at www.prayerday.org. Please consider such an offering an act of spiritual warfare as we all agree together that ship ministries are part of who we are as YWAM.

If you haven't done so already, you might consider praying together with another YWAM center in whatever way possible.

Blessings as you pray for another part of our inheritance,

The Chairman's Prayer Initiative Team

Giving Instructions for s/y Next Wave International Appeal

To pay via PayPal, please visit www.marinereach.info and click on Support Us.

YWAM England Bank Account details:

 NatWest PLC
 16 The Boulevard
 Crawley
 West Sussex, England
 RH10 1XU

Sort Code                                         60 - 06 - 20
Swift Code                                        NWBKGB2L
Account Name                                  Youth With A Mission Limited
Account Number                               56972989
IBAN Number                                   GB52NWBK60062056972989

Please make sure that you write "for Next Wave" in the details box so that we can designate the money correctly.

Please also email our accountant, Isobel Waspe (iwaspe@oval.com), telling her the date and amount of the transfer.

Please also copy Brian Sloan (sloanb@marinereach.com) with the details of the transfer, so he can track the funds into the right account and ensure you receive an acknowledgement.

To send a British sterling pounds check, please write the check to Marine Reach, and send that check to: YWAM- Next Wave, Liverpool Cathedral, Constable's Lodge, St. James' Mount, Liverpool, England L17AZ.  Please confirm that you've sent the check by e-mailing Brian Sloan at the above e-mail address.

Marine Reach United States Account Details:

US Bank, Sequim, Washington Branch
101 West Washington Street
Sequim WA 98382 USA

Acct Name:   Marine Reach - YWAM
Acct #  153456780730
Routing #  1211 22 676
Swift Code: USBK US 44 IMT

Please let Gordon Edwards (dagwell@gmail.com) know when funds are deposited.

To send a U.S. dollars check, please write the check to Marine Reach, and send that check to:  Marine Reach, P. O. Box 2712, Sequim, WA. 98382. Please attach a separate note stating that the check is designated for s/y Next Wave, and e-mail Gordon Edwards at the above e-mail address to confirm that you've sent the check.

Marine Reach Euro Account in Brussels:

Fortis Bank
Account number 001-4290518-90.
IBAN and BIC (aka SWIFT reference) are:
IBAN: BE34 0014 2905 1890
BIC: GEBABEBB

Please let YWAM Brussels (admin@ywambrussels.be) know the fund are coming and are designated to s/y Next Wave.

To send a check in Euro, please write the check to YWAM and send that check to:  YWAM Brussels, Jeunesse En Mission Bruxelles, 19 Avenue des Celtes, Etterbeek, 1040 Brussels, Belgium. Then confirm your bank transfer by e-mailing YWAM Brussels at the above e-mail address.

Marine Reach New Zealand Account Details:

Name:              Marine Reach Missions Account
Bank:               National Bank of New Zealand
Branch:            Corner Spring & Grey Street, Tauranga, New Zealand
Account #:       06 0583 0353683 01
Routing #:        ANZBNZ22
Transaction Reference: 'Next Wave'

Marine Reach Australia Account Details:

Bank                Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB                 06 2904
Account no.     10222181
Address           Dickson Place, DICKSON  ACT   2602