School leader, Maida, says, “It is important to see the world as God sees it,” and traveling to where the Bible was written helps the pages come to life!

The students will begin their journey in Egypt where they will dive into the book of Exodus, experiencing the land of Moses’ childhood and ministry, including taking a boat ride down the Nile River where it is believed Moses was left by his mother as an infant. The students will then head to Mt. Sinai to see what was it like for the Israelites to live there for 40 years.

From Egypt, students will travel to Israel where they will study Nehemiah and the end of Old Testament. They will discover what happened to this nation before Christ’s coming and then read Isaiah to see how the world was anxiously waiting for Jesus. They will finish their time in Israel reading John and share in the beautiful life of Jesus in the Holy Land.

Maida explains, “It is significant to see with your own eyes where Jesus died and rose again.”

Moving West, the students will travel to Turkey where they will study the book of Acts and then follow in Paul’s footsteps to the city of Ephesus where they will study the book of Ephesians, spending the majority of their time there where Paul also spend the most time (3 years) of his missionary journey.

By boat, the students will leave Turkey and head for Corinth, Greece, where they will study Corinthians. The students will wrap up their time in Rome, where Paul ended in prison, studying Romans and then return to Lausanne for a final wrap up.

The students’ biblical knowledge will expand greatly. They will taste, see, and experience the Bible like never before. But more importantly, these students will discover God’s heart for these nations.

“We want you to share with us on our trip and we really need your prayers,” says school leader, Maida, “Our strongest prayer point is that we would live as a light to the nations we are visiting. Pray that we go in holiness and humility. This is how we live as an expression of His Light. Pray that we can bless the nations and for protection within the different countries.”

Join us in praying for the BCC students on their journey through the Scriptures and stay tuned for updates from the students’ travels!

Cynthia was the first-born of Howard and Carolyn Gay Malmstadt on 12 January 1949, in Madison, Wisconsin. Sister Alice was born in 1951, and brother Jon in 1953. Howard became a world-famous scientist in his field (see the Wikipedia article about him).
Alice remembers: Cynthia was an entertainer from the day she was born, with her bright eyes and beautiful smile. She loved dancing and singing and dressing up in costumes. Dinner time was never dull!

Cynthia graduated from Scripps College (California) in 1971, and went on to complete a second Bachelor’s from the University of North Dakota in 1972.
  She met Tom early that same year, and they were married in 1973 by Dick Foth at Urbana Assembly (Illinois). They went to Europe as short-term missionaries, and after two years in Switzerland received a long-term calling. They ministered as a team leading YWAM’s French ministries and the Lausanne training center, and then went to help pioneer the University of the Nations in Hawaii with her father and Loren Cunningham. Afterward they returned to Europe to help pioneer the University of the Nations development there.

Cynthia excelled at the ministry of hospitality by inviting friends over for a meal, a tea party, or Easter egg coloring. She had a particular gift of welcoming people and making them feel special; some who were greeted by her only once, many years ago, have never forgotten that radiant smile. She was a gifted teacher, in the UofN schools and also as a teacher of English to several in her Swiss village of Burtigny, and abroad. She shared and prayed with many of the staff and students over the years, always ready to listen and counsel. Her friendships lasted, even the ones made in the 1970’s.

After years of prayer for a child, in 1986 Cynthia and Tom became parents of Philip. In 1997 they co-founded the first association for the parents of ADHD children in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, leading to many speaking and sharing opportunities for each of them. Philip’s marriage to Amy in 2010 was a high point in Cynthia’s life.
Cynthia was a missionary in the fullest sense of the word, ever reaching out with all her heart, soul and strength. She adopted this land and its people, and was adopted by them; she was more at home here than anywhere else. She chose to be buried in Burtigny’s peaceful village churchyard, in the land she served so faithfully & well.

Memories and tributes may be posted, and read, at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cynthiabloomer

Tom Bloomer, with help from Alice, 29 April 2012

Do you love sports and fitness? Do you enjoy how games and activities bring people together? Then come ‘break a sweat’ with us this September as we host the Physical Fitness and Sports Training Instructor Certification Seminar.

For the first time at the YWAM Lausanne base, we will be hosting a 2-week intensive, certification seminar centered on developing young people in their area of sports. Proven to be an effective medium for sharing the Gospel, this seminar aims to equip students with the skills for personal training, group fitness instruction, and sports education.

Spearheaded by Tim “Coach” Powers, who has been involved in the Physical Fitness and Sports Training industry for over 37 years, this seminar/training program is divided between classroom lectures and assignments and practical sports and fitness activities. Learn what it means for our bodies to be ‘temples’ and how we can serve God best through the mediums of sports and fitness.

Seminar Topics Include:

• Physical fitness from a Biblical basis
• Understanding the scientific basis of physical fitness
• Learning the ten integrated systems of the human body
• The components of physical fitness
• Success factors in improving physical fitness
• Bioenergetics and biomechanics
• Functional strength development
• Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance and efficiency
• Joint flexibility and body elasticity
• Reducing and maintaining a low body fat percentage
• Realistic nutrition
• Injury prevention and analysis
• Motivational strategies and sports psychology
• Physical fitness program design
• Sport speed development

So pack your trainers and water bottle and join us September 3-14 for this exciting summer intensive!

For more information or to apply, contact: info@ywamlausanne.com!

That’s right. Free hugs!

Each week students–equipped with a cardboard sign advertising “Free Hugs” in several languages, and never forgetting their smile–would position themselves in busy walkways, offering hugs to all that passed them by. Some would smile, awkwardly diverting away from the students with a certain shyness, while many would dive right in for a big, warm embrace.

One thing is for certain though. This simple act created a palpable joy in which everyone walked away with a smile.

When the idea was first suggested, it came with mixed reactions. How would this be interpreted? Would it be welcomed or would it be seen as offensive? Would the Suisse culture be receptive to such an idea?

But God is bigger than cultural norms. In fact, God seemed to know that this was exactly what some people needed

One woman came in for a big hug and upon pulling away said, “How did you know this is exactly what I needed today?”

Another woman confessed that she was on her way to a friend’s house when the students approached her. She had been contemplating suicide and was instead able to talk with our students and staff and be prayed for in the midst of her struggle.

Sometimes being bold and doing “the uncomfortable” is exactly what God asks of us. After all, we serve a bold God.

Check out photos of the “Free Hugs” outreach below!

“This is a day for thanksgiving . . . for breakthrough,” begins one staff member.

Each quarter the entire base dedicates a full day to prayer and fasting, worship and communion. It’s a time to thank God for all He has done in and through our lives throughout the quarter and a time to seek God’s will for the next. It’s a time to ask God for wisdom for today, tomorrow, and for the future of YWAM Lausanne, allowing space and reflection to let God speak.

Starting with a time of worship, followed by sharing communion together, students and staff prayed together for the future of the base, the nations, and the city of Lausanne and how we can begin to serve our community in new ways.

Students and staff covered the base in prayer as they walked and prayed over the property. Sensing God’s desire to expand YWAM Lausanne, students and staff prayed for God’s provision for the future.

Students prayed for the nations by name while walking over a mega-size map spread across the grassy field behind the base, stopping to pray for nations present on their heart:

Sudan, America, Brazil, Korea, New Zealand, Mali . . .

Afterwards, students broke into small groups to pray for the city of Lausanne and how we can be a light to our community. Some students traveled to the main cathedral downtown to pray, others to the lakeside Olympic Museum, and others prayed for the surrounding schools hosting students from all over the world. Asking God, “What do you want to do in this city?” students and staff prayerfully listened as God clearly spoke.

“When we walk and talk with God he talks back,” encouragingly confirms another staff member.

So we confidently continue to seek God as this quarter comes to a close and new students arrive in just a week’s time. We are excited to see the way God continues to bless this place and the new ways this place will serve as a blessing to our students, our city, and the nations in the future.

The vision of the SEM is to see young people grow in their leadership by skillfully birthing, creating and leading out events of all sizes. Its aim is to create powerful, effective programs that will impact communities, cities and nations – communicating God’s truth and message through creative means.

So come join us as we prepare for our summer outreaches right here at the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland and at the 2012 Olympic Games in London!

To learn more, visit the SEM page.

As our winter quarter comes to a close in just a few short weeks, staff are readily preparing for next quarter’s schools. Seeing the students of this quarter’s Discipleship Training School, English Learning for Missions, and Leadership Training School grow in their knowledge and love for God and acquire new skills for advancing His Kingdom, we are excited for what God is going to do this next quarter.

In addition to our Korean/English Discipleship Training School, with an emphasis on the creative arts and language learning, we are also proud to offer two other schools that will equip young Christians with the skills they need to impact the nations.

And it is not too late to apply!

This next quarter we will host:

Bible Core Course (BCC)

Have you ever read the Bible from cover to cover? The story of God is illuminated when read in context of God’s great history. In the BCC you will read through the entire Bible, learn how to study it, and let the pages come to life. You will also practice leading small group Bible studies, learn communication skills like preaching and teaching, as well as how the Bible has and still does transform individuals, societies, and whole nations. Students often say that their love and knowledge for the Word increases greatly during their time in the BCC. It is a course which fuels passion for God and his Word and will equip you with tools to discover and search for the Truth throughout the nations.

Foundations in Education (FIE)

This course gives a holistic overview of the physical, intellectual, moral, social, emotional, and spiritual development of children and young people. In addition, the FIE provides a framework for the development of character qualities necessary to be an effective teacher. The FIE curriculum emphasizes the development of disciples of Jesus to uncover who they are and who they are called to be. It is our goal to teach the youngest generation to praise the Lord and recognize His strength and the wonderful works that He has done so that they might set their hope in God.

If either of these schools interest you and you’d like more information, requirements, and start dates, please email admissions at info@ywamlausanne.com and check out the school pages: FIE and BCC

In lieu of our regular, weekly community night event, our base community instead joined together with the larger YWAM family from twenty other locations around the world for a GENESIS event.

What is GENESIS?

GENESIS is an idea first conceived right here at YWAM Lausanne and stands for Global, Electronic Network Educating, Serving, and Inspiring Students. It developed out of a passion to see technology utilized in impacting the nations. Out of that, came GENESIS–a ministry that connects YWAM classrooms around the world through video conferencing technology. This technology allows YWAM bases to connect with one another, building solidarity with one another’s efforts, and also sharing incredible teachings from world-renowned speakers with other bases around the world through interactive learning sessions and biblical teachings.

This Thursday we joined together with twenty other bases from all over the world, including Nigeria, United States, Norway, and South Sudan, sharing together the incredible things God has been doing and the exciting opportunities yet to come.

In addition to hearing from Lorin Cunningham himself reporting from the Kona base in Hawaii, we were able to connect with the base leader in South Sudan who is actively pioneering new ministries throughout this newest country on earth! Preschools, primary schools, and health clinics are springing up to reach new communities and unreached people groups. More so, the leadership in South Sudan is passionate about helping the South Sudanese people envision a bright future for themselves during this important time in their nation’s history.

We also heard from the YWAM Harpenden base near London who is readily preparing for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. With excitement, the base plans to host numerous outreach teams and volunteers this summer to help with the Olympic outreach efforts. If you are interested in how you or your team could participate, check out their website at www.forever2012.com for more information.

It was a great time of fellowship with our fellow Christians and YWAM family around the world, and an even better time of reflecting on the powerful things God is doing in our midst.

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting ministry–GENESIS–check out www.ywamlausanne.com/schools/171-2/ for more information.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Cole for Love 146

Do you ever contemplate your own freedom? What it’s worth? Where it comes from?

Standing firmly rooted in the freedom that comes from knowing Christ, we stand strongly in prayer this week in solidarity with our hundreds of thousands of brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, who are forced into human trafficking each year. For them, freedom is not a fact.

The issue of human trafficking can appear immense—the needs beyond our scope of influence and capabilities. But our God is bigger than our insufficiencies to solve the world’s problems in their entirety. And He certainly is bigger than the men and women who coerce these vulnerable young ones into lives of fear, exploitation, and physical and emotional violence.

But we have a responsibility as followers of Christ, the one who hung on a cross for our freedom and theirs, to actively pray and work towards the freedom of others.

So where do we start?

We start with the facts, and then we pray . . . furiously.

The fact is that an estimated 1 to 2 million women and children are victims of commercial sexual slavery worldwide.

The fact is that human trafficking is the second largest form of organized crime today, generating a rough 31.6 billion USD each year.

Extensive poverty, discrimination against women, and lack of employment opportunities are among the causes for human trafficking, and the rapid spreading of HIV/AIDS and STIs, cultural isolation, and physical and emotional trauma are the results. In many cases, the people appointed to serve and protect these victims turn a blind’s eye or even participate in their mistreatment through the acceptance of bribes. What should be a source of security is all too often a source of unpredictability and a misuse of power.

So will you stand with us as we pray for these individuals? As you consider your future, will you consider the future of those who can’t see one for themselves? Will you tell their story as part of your own?

There are plenty of ways to get involved and join in the efforts of so many others passionately seeking justice and freedom for these women and children.

So get informed, get active, and get praying.

Below is a brief list of organization that are actively fighting to end this injustice. Each provide numerous ways to get involved and resources to help you share the stories of these individuals and raise awareness of the issue:

• International Justice Mission – ijm.org
• The A 21 Campaign – thea21campaign.org
• Shared Hope International – sharedhope.org
• Love 146 – love146.org
• End Slavery Now – endslaverynow.com
• Freedom Firm – freedom.firm.in
• Not For Sale – notforsale.org

In addition to these resources are two documentaries currently available that highlight this issue:

• Horse and Rider: a new film about the life between rescue and restoration. View the trailer here.
• Sex + Money: A National Search for Human Worth. View the trailer here.

What to pray for around this issue:

• For the release of these women and children held in slavery
• For the recovery of these women and children post freedom, that they may experience God’s healing power
• For the restoration of the exploiters’ hearts and that they may be alignment with God’s sacred vision for humanness
• For the realization of governments to the issues going on in their own lands and the courage and conviction to intercept

***statistics retrieved directly from ijm.org & thea21campaign.org.

Recently, we had the privilege of hosting Shirley Brownhill as she shared her wisdom and experience with our students from the Leadership Training School. One thing particularly on her heart is the ministry she is connected with, started through YWAM Perth — Megacities.

Megacities is a ministry called to serving large, influential cities with populations of one million or more. Megacities partners with local believers and ministries to reach the diverse people of that particular city. Believing that cities have immense clout and a significant voice to reach the whole world, the vision of Megacities is to see these powerful cities transformed and in turn, transforming the whole world.

The “doers” of this vision are international, multi-disciplined teams from all over the world who partner with these local ministries and believers for a period of time during Megacities’ 12-month commitment. Together, Megacities’ teams work at a grassroots level to strengthen existing ministries and pioneer new ones in efforts to reach more people with the Gospel message. These are individuals and churches with varying skills, gifts, and strategies, covered in faith that have a passion for seeing cities expand in their knowledge of God. Megacities believes that through partnership and unity, God releases His blessings and power and can make lasting change in cities all around the world.

In 2010, Megacities went to Mexico City where they walked alongside local believers and saw astounding results. It is believed that an estimated 10,400 people gave their lives to Jesus, churches experienced substantial growth, and numerous new ministries were started all over the city.

Megacities next location is London, just in time for the 2012 Olympic Games this summer. With its fascinating heritage and culture, and also its’ unique challenges, London will surely prove to be an interesting year for Megacities and its’ teams. It is during this exciting time that Megacities will walk alongside ministries and believers across London to aid in their ministries’ expansion and create an impetus for new initiatives to begin.

And you can be a part of it!

Megacities invites all kinds of individuals and teams to join them in their efforts in London throughout 2012! Whether you are an evangelist, educator, artist, dancer, musician, intercessor, athlete, children’s worker, skater, or counselor, your gifts and skills can be used in London. Utilizing their citywide network, Megacities will place visiting teams in the most fitting ministry and region, so as to exercise their gifts and skills to a maximum impact. Ministry opportunities will be as diverse as the city itself. As Megacities says, “every kind of team has a place, and every kind of ministry is needed.”

So if you or a team have a heart for large cities and wish to get involved, feel free to email info@megacities.org.au for more information and check out Megacities upcoming website @ www.megacities.org.au. You can also connect with them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/megacities.

Can’t make it to London? You can still get involved with Megacities ministry through joining their prayer wall on their website and committing to prayer for the teams and ministries. To receive weekly updates and prayer points for London, email info@megacities.org.au.