As most of you know, we work with Youth With A Mission Brisbane (YWAM), and have done for the past 28 years or so. YWAM internationally is one of the largest missions movements in the world. Here in Brisbane we are all about:
- Equipping the Christian youth people to be influences in their society
- Sharing Biblical truths and the gospel to young people and families within our local community
- Blessing and resourcing Queensland rural communities
- Pioneering new ministries
At YWAM Brisbane we do this through:
All of this is for the purposes of strengthening, discipling and enabling Christians, and sharing the gospel to those that don’t yet know God.
Our personal roles within YWAM are what we often call “Backbone” ministries. These are departments that support all other ministries through various operations and logistics so they have what they need to do what they do.
- Equipping the Christian youth people to be influences in their society
- Sharing Biblical truths and the gospel to young people and families within our local community
- Blessing and resourcing Queensland rural communities
- Pioneering new ministries
At YWAM Brisbane we do this through:
- Running training schools: Discipleship Training School; Basic Leadership School; and Bible Core Course
- Cafe ministry for our local area, a ministry of hospitality and a place of connection
- Cooperation with local schools to participate in lunch programs, religious education, discussion groups, personal development programs, Bible studies, worship gatherings, art projects and other programs
- Worship and prayer ministries
- Serving and resourcing local and rural churches, specifically in the area of youth ministries
- Supporting local and rural community projects through kids and youth events, church activities and other community focused projects
All of this is for the purposes of strengthening, discipling and enabling Christians, and sharing the gospel to those that don’t yet know God.
Our personal roles within YWAM are what we often call “Backbone” ministries. These are departments that support all other ministries through various operations and logistics so they have what they need to do what they do.
What does Gary do?
Officially Gary’s role is the IT Manager and Vehicle Coordinator. Additionally, he also has other random errands he does, as he has a general working knowledge of many areas of the Base.
Gary's computer server - keeping everyone happy with wi-fi.
IT MANAGER – ENABLING YWAMers to WORK and COMMUNICATE
As IT Manager, he takes care of the networking, wi-fi, security, software, hardware, etc of any computer needs. We have 42 staff here, plus up to 40 students at any given time on the centre. He often troubleshoots people’s personal computer/laptop issues as well. Of course the IT department really keeps a place functioning for without it, we wouldn’t be able to do much of our ministry.
As IT Manager, he takes care of the networking, wi-fi, security, software, hardware, etc of any computer needs. We have 42 staff here, plus up to 40 students at any given time on the centre. He often troubleshoots people’s personal computer/laptop issues as well. Of course the IT department really keeps a place functioning for without it, we wouldn’t be able to do much of our ministry.
Off to get a service!
VEHICLE COORDINATOR – TRANSPORTING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
It would be amazing if we were all like Philip whom God transported from one location to another (Acts 8). It would definitely save us a lot of time and money! But without this teleportation miracle we need a Vehicle Coordinator. Gary manages the use, maintenance and stewardship of the 7 vehicles that YWAM Brisbane owns. This involves:
- taking them in for inspections (in QLD this has to be done every 6 months)
- training and approving drivers for the vehicles
- administrating insurance and registrations
- arranging maintenance and repairs
- administrating the vehicle use for our various ministries and outreaches
Our YWAM vehicles are what get us around to the ministry opportunities we are involved in. YWAM Brisbane vehicles travel tens of thousands of kilometres each year, taking our teams to dozens of towns and ministry opportunities. Without Gary managing these things I think we’d be running around like chickens with our heads cut off (or, at least more than what we already do!)
It would be amazing if we were all like Philip whom God transported from one location to another (Acts 8). It would definitely save us a lot of time and money! But without this teleportation miracle we need a Vehicle Coordinator. Gary manages the use, maintenance and stewardship of the 7 vehicles that YWAM Brisbane owns. This involves:
- taking them in for inspections (in QLD this has to be done every 6 months)
- training and approving drivers for the vehicles
- administrating insurance and registrations
- arranging maintenance and repairs
- administrating the vehicle use for our various ministries and outreaches
Our YWAM vehicles are what get us around to the ministry opportunities we are involved in. YWAM Brisbane vehicles travel tens of thousands of kilometres each year, taking our teams to dozens of towns and ministry opportunities. Without Gary managing these things I think we’d be running around like chickens with our heads cut off (or, at least more than what we already do!)
What does Darcie do?
Teaching on the DTS
TRAINING AND TEACHING – EQUIPPING KINGDOM WORKERS
I run a 1 and 2 week long staff training course for those that are involved in training our DTS. This happens at least twice per year. I work with the new leaders in teaching them to effectively train and evaluate the disciples they're working with.
I run a 1 and 2 week long staff training course for those that are involved in training our DTS. This happens at least twice per year. I work with the new leaders in teaching them to effectively train and evaluate the disciples they're working with.
Meeting with school leaders.
TRAINING COORDINATOR – MAKING DISCIPLES
As training administrator I oversee the 4 courses we run at YWAM Brisbane, with varying levels of input into them. This involves things like:
- Assisting course leaders with setting up the Courses and course administration
- registration of Courses and enrollment of students
- understanding of and ensuring that we're following the curriculum, outcomes, policies and procedures
Have a read of the UPDATES page to see how our teams are learning and ministering.
As training administrator I oversee the 4 courses we run at YWAM Brisbane, with varying levels of input into them. This involves things like:
- Assisting course leaders with setting up the Courses and course administration
- registration of Courses and enrollment of students
- understanding of and ensuring that we're following the curriculum, outcomes, policies and procedures
Have a read of the UPDATES page to see how our teams are learning and ministering.
At my messy desk where I sit most of the time
BASE ADMINISTRATOR – FACILITATING THE MINISTRY AND WORKERS
This generally is just looking after the smooth (or at least somewhat smooth) running of the centre. I look after some of the personnel management with the allocation of roles and responsibilities and sometimes this includes training in those areas, as well as rosters and orientation.
I also take care of visa services for our volunteers. About 80% of our volunteers are from overseas so I assist them in getting through their various visa procedures.
This generally is just looking after the smooth (or at least somewhat smooth) running of the centre. I look after some of the personnel management with the allocation of roles and responsibilities and sometimes this includes training in those areas, as well as rosters and orientation.
I also take care of visa services for our volunteers. About 80% of our volunteers are from overseas so I assist them in getting through their various visa procedures.
Julianne and I working on DTS stuff.
NATIONAL ROLES – SERVING YWAM MINISTRIES IN AUSTRALIA
A national role is one which assists the other YWAM Bases around Australia (there are 21 in total).
Compliance Team - In Australia, YWAM registers our courses to be accredited with the government. To do this we have lots of legislation to comply with so I try to understand these, and create policies and procedures that work for us within YWAM. I then am able to give instruction and training in these areas, connecting ministries with the legal requirements and resources they need. I also often assist with visa and immigration questions from other YWAM centres..
A national role is one which assists the other YWAM Bases around Australia (there are 21 in total).
Compliance Team - In Australia, YWAM registers our courses to be accredited with the government. To do this we have lots of legislation to comply with so I try to understand these, and create policies and procedures that work for us within YWAM. I then am able to give instruction and training in these areas, connecting ministries with the legal requirements and resources they need. I also often assist with visa and immigration questions from other YWAM centres..
Our Hope.
So these roles are not typically what one would first think of when they hear the term “missionary” but this is where we feel God is able to best use us with the gifts we have at this time. We hope that through our various strengths and skills we can contribute to lives being changed and communities impacted on a bigger scale. We believe that God wants to impact people’s lives in a very definite and changing way. YWAM Brisbane is doing that in a very real way, and we know that through our service we at YWAM Brisbane can do this even more strategically.