“To know God and make Him known” is a challenge to communicate well on behalf of heaven. It is the calling of every YWAMer. 

If you have read any YWAM global publication in the last 5 years, you have probably seen the phrase “healing the nervous system.” This image, which refers to the restoration of communications systems in YWAM, was powerfully delivered to YWAM’s Global Leadership Team (GLT) at their annual meetings in Singapore in 2003. God’s word was that YWAM was suffering from a diseased central nervous system – the system which tells our nerves what to do in order to enable our body to move.   

Since then, International Chairman, Lynn Green, has made communications development a major platform of his term of leadership. Why is this so important? Lynn answers, “Our poor communications have left many YWAM teams feeling isolated and forgotten. When our nervous system is healed, we will see efficient and relational communication throughout YWAM globally…we will find that God can speak to the whole body of YWAM and we will have the means to circulate His words. This will inevitably improve our relationships - when one hurts, we will all be able to help, and when one rejoices, we can all rejoice together.”  Lynn goes on to emphasize the need to not overwhelm bases with a flood of information, and so he is encouraging the development of both local and international teams which will be able to manage communication which are relevant to each region.

It would appear that YWAM was lying in wait for that word, because since receiving it, a flood of new communications initiatives have sprung up all over the mission! Shortly after the GLT, Lynn called together a gathering of YWAMers engaged in Communications, Research and Information Technology and, in true YWAM style, they labeled the gathering “CRIT.” Since then, CRIT coordinators have hosted four more international events for YWAM staff who are working to improve communication from and within YWAM, the latest in Buenos Aires. You can read about it on the CRIT web site: http://crit.ywamcommunication.org. CRIT has been instrumental in forming regional communications teams in Latin America, Europe and Africa (see article below) which are transforming the way YWAM talks to itself. 

CRIT organiser, Rob Abraham enthused about the most recent CRIT gathering. A memorable calling of the CRIT is the
drive to “mind the gap” – to recognise the diversity of YWAM team environments and make certain that none are cut off from receiving vital information because of language, internet access or security challenges. CRIT 08 was completely bi-lingual and group-led, in a move to model this awareness and Rob notes that it was highly successful. He says, “CRITs seem to have become a great platform for casting vision, training and empowering new regional communications teams. We want to continue to build networks of communications people (designers, photographers, videographers, writers, programmers etc.) to partner better together all across the globe. CRIT is a loose network to help provide solutions at grassroots levels - as that is where all the action is in YWAM anyway…!” 

From grassroots to global and from YWAM to the rest of the world – communications initiatives such as the Global Day of Prayer (www.prayerday.org) are regularly bringing YWAM together, but the most important part of our communications is outward! The GLT recently appointed a Global Communications Team (GCT) to advise them on the growing global presence of YWAM in the public eye.  Events of wide interest, such as the tragic shootings in YWAM Denver last December highlighted YWAM’s need for crisis communications structures which are also being developed. 

Healing YWAM’s nervous system is essential to our health and to our effectiveness. Lynn Green says, “One of our great challenges is to keep pace with the changes in the world of communications and also discern how to use the new tools available. And we must - it is not only, or even primarily, about communications within YWAM, but how we communicate with people who need to know about Jesus and how to reach the world with His message.”  

Mission is communication and YWAM is getting better at it every day.