Here is our base December newsletter.

Dear friends,

I hope all is well with you.

How are you, and what are you learning? A friend of mine asked me this question recently. It provoked me (and maybe you too) to think and reflect. So, what am I learning?

 

I am learning that good, sound structure comes from the presence of God, and exists to facilitate life. I am learning that growth happens at the grass root’s level and at the edges (not the top nor the centre). I am learning to let go of control and allow room for mistakes, because without failed attempts we will not be able to perfect or develop. And, I am learning to release young, inexperienced leaders to lead, since leaders become leaders by leading.

As a campus, we are committed to maintaining a teachable spirit. We are committed to our students and their success, not just academically but in spiritual maturity, growth in relationships, and cultivating sensitivity to the needs of the world. 

This, of course, cannot be done without utter dependence on God and growing in relationship with His people. Thank you for your continued friendship and support throughout 2009. We are blessed to be on this journey with you.

May this Christmas and New Year be a special time for you and your family as we all celebrate the generosity and humility of God in the person of Jesus.

Tove Poulsen,
Base Director On behalf of the Restenäs Community   

DTS with focus on Justice & Development  

by Elin Agernäs

 

“Justice DTS”. These two words drastically changed my plans for the future. This was what God spoke to me the 5th of May this last spring, two very short and concise words. I have never before experienced God speaking to me as clearly as He did that day. The questions that came to my mind right after I heard the words were: What does a Justice DTS look like? What does justice and development really mean? It is made very clear in the Bible that God loves justice. All His ways are good and true, and He loves to see justice established. God Himself is the definition of true justice. Buying Fair Trade products when we go shopping is a good start, but all of this goes so much deeper. Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O mortal what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?”

I realise more and more that social injustice is really something on God’s heart. He sees every woman who is trafficked into prostitution, He feels the agony that every street child is carrying, and He sees all of the 1.2 billion people who die every year because of contaminated water.

In The Lord’s Prayer we pray for God’s kingdom to come here on earth. Social injustices that we see in our world today have no place in the kingdom of God. We have to be prepared to be the answer to that prayer when we pray for the kingdom of God to come on earth.

The Justice and Development DTS will be all about fixing our eyes on Jesus and following Him wherever He takes us. Let us pray and act upon our prayers, as both parts have to go together.

The school starts the 1st of March and will run until the 6th of August 2010.

Student transformation

by Helen Wilson

As a University of the Nations campus we desire to see people trained and transformed to go into all the world and bring God’s truth.

This fall we are excited to host 36 students from 11 different nations in 4 schools: Discipleship Training School (DTS), School of Communication Foundations (SCF), School of Strategic Missions (SOSM) and the School of Biblical Studies I (SBS I). With different topics and speakers for each week the schools are intense, but it has been encouraging to see the revelations, as well as growth in relationships and skills. The next missions teams will be going out from the DTS to China, Cambodia and India, and from the SOSM to China.  Stay tuned for testimonies from the trips!

In addition, a Worship and Prayer seminar ran for 12 days praying for Sweden and Europe.  

Eeva (Finland), DTS “I am learning more of God’s love.  I have always known it in my head…but I am starting to  know it more in my heart.”

Corban (USA), SBS “SBS is a stretching time experiencing the pains of growing, but also the vital importance of God tearing down fear and assumptions and renewing who He really is to you.”

Marianne (Norway), SCF “God has shown me I can do more than I think I can…He is revealing the truth about who I am.”

Mikael (Sweden), DTS “God has basically turned me upside down and made a lot of things in my head more than information, and in that way touched my heart!”

Sarah (South Korea/Sweden). Prayer Seminar participant “It has become obvious how society deteriorates when we turn our backs on God…He wants to restore Sweden.”

A senior leader's hope for YWAM Restenäs

by Iain Muir, International director Youth With A Mission

 

After 38 years in YWAM, I’ve ministered in almost 100 countries and in every continent. Sweden remains one of my favourite countries, and my wife was from Småland (an area in Sweden).

I’ve always had vision for this amazing campus called Restenäs. YWAM has operated this property as a training campus since 1979 and yet its full potential has still to be fully developed. The new leadership team carries a focused vision and wants to see Restenäs become a full-grown University of the Nations campus, providing extensive “holistic” training to equip people for a complete missions task anywhere in the world. University of the Nations is a global and modular university launched within YWAM more than thirty years ago. The vision is to equip Christians for the biblical mission task among all kinds of people including the “frontier missions” peoples - those who have never ever heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Equipping” means also preparing workers to serve sensitively within any culture and in any role.

Of course the continent of Europe is also considered a missionary target in our era. “Re-evangelisation” is a new idea, framed to describe reaching unchurched Europeans with a message that makes perfect sense in their thinking and context. Mission movements now see every nation as a “field” where there are lost and lonely people needing to hear and embrace the “good news” that the Bible still brings us. University of the Nations training can equip Christians to present biblical truths in a way that shows application to every sphere of our European society. 

We need help
Yet the campus at Restenäs is a long way from completion. Even the existing buildings are in serious need of renovation, and to expand training will require a large new building programme. We’ve seen this kind of growth in many other nations and we’re convinced it will happen here. At one time Sweden was among the top “sending” nations into missions and I personally believe that the Swedish “heart of mercy” is still strong and willing to help others who are not so strong, spiritually or materially.

In these past weeks I have been helping the leadership team to find the steps needed to move forward in new vision. The full-time staff have been doing their part with a lot of effort to begin renovations of property and land. I have also enjoyed sessions with younger leaders on site, where my long experience in missions work in Africa and elsewhere has been helpful to them. We do have a multi-national staff working here, about 70 in total, and from every continent. Frankly we need MORE helpers! The physical challenge is beyond our abilities and the financial needs are way beyond our resources. We would welcome any helpers with all kinds of building experience. There will also be a fundraising campaign, so look out for that. Billions of poor people all across the planet are waiting for help. With a full demonstration of the spiritual and practical gospel of Christ, we can make a huge difference for millions of families. Let’s do it!

Leadership Training Seminar
One of the tactics we need to use is to train more young leaders, so in 2010 I shall lead a six-week Leadership Training Seminar here at Restenäs. The dates planned are May 23 – July 2. For more information, visit our homepage.

Thailand here I come

by Magnus Lindetun

 

I am almost the only westerner present amongst thousands of Thai people, at a city festival in Phitsanulok, in the north of Thailand. I really feel at home in the midst of it all. I am walking the streets and I am enjoying the good food, the different fragrances, listening to the language, and experiencing the Thai culture through dance and music.

As I am strolling along the streets I hear God whisper in my ear, “Magnus, would you be willing to move here?” For a few seconds I am reminded of all the people I have met during my stay in Thailand – school kids, university students, parents, monks -- the list goes on. These people need to hear of the hope and love that is found in  Jesus Christ!

I have said “yes” to what God asked me that day. This coming spring I shall move to Phitsanulok, a city located 400 km north of Bangkok. I shall be working with a Youth with a Mission team there, focusing on church planting and the pioneering of courses in order to disciple people in their relationship with God. Our hearts desire is to see the Thai people get to know Jesus, for them to live with Christ and to see the kingdom of God expand in Asia!

Join my team?
Would you like to come with me and help others discover what it means to live with Christ? Or would you like to stand behind me in this ministry in some way? I would love to tell you what that can look like practically, so if you are interested get in touch with me.

Hope to hear from you!

magnus.lindetun@gmail.com

Hammering my thumb for God's glory

by Jonathan Rogers, Örebro

 

For a while now I’ve been working as a contractor. We work hard, good or bad weather. Sweating on a concrete slab, or freezing on a rooftop. Strangely enough I find this fun. But too often it’s ruined by the stress of customers looking over your shoulder, counting every minute and every nail. Suspicious that you’re just trying to rip them off.

God has been speaking to my boss and me about missions building, but it’s never seemed to come together. Life has been busy so it’s been just talk and prayer for a year. But when I got the news of the Extreme Makeover weekend at Restenas I checked my calendar as quick as possible. Free! Yes! My wife took the kids and I headed to the west coast.

I had an awesome time. What a difference it is to work for people who are thankful. Trusting that what you’re doing and saying is honest and from your heart. And best of all, working for a God who is thankful. I so much prefer sweating and hammering my thumb for God’s glory than for money.

Anna Letaio from Brazil was invited to speak to us and it was a very powerful evening of worship and teaching. Thanks for the invitation and the wonderful teaching we received.

Looking forward to next time.

Next Extreme Makeover will be March 26-28, 2010 at YWAM Restenäs. 

Birthday Invitation

2010 will be a special year for us, as YWAM celebrates its 50th year and Restenäs its 30th. It will be a year of grand celebration and thanksgiving.

Please mark September 25th, 2010 in your calendar and come celebrate with us, unite with old friends and much more. 

Birthday Gift – “1000 give 1000”

We would like to present Jesus with the birthday gift of a debt-free Restenäs by September 25th. When Jesus turned 30 he was completely released into ministry. We believe that the Lord wants to see the Restenäs ministry fly free from debt.

If 1000 people give 1000 kr, we will get there!

Will you prayerfully consider whether you are able to give 1000 toward this gift at this time?

How to give

Account holder: UMU/ YWAM, Restenäs 239, 459 93 Ljungskile, Sweden
Bank: Swedbank, Vällebergsvägen 12, 459 30 Ljungskile, Sweden
Account: IBAN: SE1880000836833449408370
SWIFT address: SWEDSESS