A PRAYERFUL WATCH
A rich part of our YWAM history recognises that the Lord wanted us to give birth to twins. Twin ministries which would serve the nations.
The University of the Nations and YWAM Ships. Together they would offer the opportunity to bring education and transformation to communities which are often difficult to reach. The ships acting as an icebreaker into nations and the university coming alongside to offer teaching and training in a multi sphere approach in collaboration with the local and national authorities.
Our first ship The Anastasis was deployed by YWAM in 1978. She left for her first voyage in 1986 and served until 2007. A floating hospital which offered over 1 million services in her lifetime.
She was large 159m long and when Mercy Ships was released from YWAM in 2003 as a separate entity, the question needed to be asked - “Was our involvement as a mission with ships coming to an end?”
It was during a Global Elders gathering of 2009 in Kona that the Lord confirmed that the involvement of YWAM with ships was still on His heart. Smaller ships which were able to be linked to training centres and local YWAM regions was His strategy for us as a mission. Today over 28 vessels ranging from yachts to river boats, barges and houseboats are used in missions to help us reach the lost, the least and the last of society.
YWAM Ships Switzerland formed in 2021, has a passion to target French speaking islands bringing Hope and Healing to the Nations.
Island Reach is a small ex navy tender who was purchased by YWAM Ships Switzerland in December 2021. She has been transformed into a floating medical resource in order to provide dental, surgical and ophthalmic relief to those in hard to reach places.
Hosted in Conwy Wales, an amazing team of volunteers have worked under the supervision of Jeremy McWilliams, to renovate and remodel this ship.
Wales has a long history with the nation of Madagascar. In fact it was in 1818 that the first missionaries from Neuaddlwyd in Wales, having been trained by Thomas Phillips, left their homes to take the gospel to Madagascar.
David Jones and Thomas Bevan were just 21yrs old when they left with their wives and a baby each, to sail to Toamasina. They all fell ill with fever and only David survived. A few years later David Griffith also joined him and together over the next 20yrs they translated and printed the Bible into Malagasy.
So perhaps it is no coincidence that this gift to Madagascar has been transformed in Wales. These two nations have been linked in history past and remain so today with this investment.
It is with humility and awe at what God has done over these last 3yrs, that we set sail today on the 30th September 2024. Bound for Madagascar, our hearts desire linked with His - to see this gift delivered before Christmas.
You can follow our journey live by connecting with the above link. Pray with us as we journey. Together we will see this dream become reality.
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