Youth with a Mission

I met many wonderful people and made a lot of dear memories here, but I wish to caution potential attendees about a few things I believe are quite serious. Lots of pressure put on 18yos shoulders through emotionally-hyped activities, amenable to manipulation. Unfortunately, the teaching I received here in 2018 lacked any focus on grace, and included some questionable teaching in an environment where you can't really question leaders as an intellectual equal. The leadership primarily consists of very young people with no proper Biblical or pastoral care training, or real life experience outside YWAM. Lots of pressure to return to YWAM and serve for two years, and I would say pressure to separate yourself from your family - a radical "the world hangs on your shoulders at this moment" approach. Dismissive of concerns raised by my parents at the time. I recommend anyone who is really keen for a DTS to maintain outside contacts who you trust so you can run things past them. Perhaps better still, consider an internship with a trusted church or Bible school that incorporates missions. I would like to recommend YWAM introduce Biblical training (from an outside institution), pastoral care experience and age requirements for its leaders. No ministry is perfect - I believe this ministry is fuelled by a genuine passion for people to come to know Christ - but in the same breath, I've come to know multiple others who ultimately found their time in YWAM to be spiritually and emotionally harmful amidst its chaotic, exhausting schedule - with no accountability to that end. I genuinely enjoyed the overseas outreach component, and wish this base all the best, but am putting this here in the hope that it may be helpful to those (or parents of those) considering the course.

The Worse experience of my life. I am surprised to see such high ratings for this base, but recognize a lot of the names as staff on the base which answers my question. I went to do a school in this base about 9 years ago. I had saved a lot of $$$ to do this school, because I felt a strong calling at the time to work with Muslims and Arabs. Once I go to the base I saw many things that were concerning to me. 1. Missionaries on this base blindly followed their leaders 2. Fake friendships with people in the hopes of bringing them to their mindset 3. Forcing people to worship/pray in a way the leaders thought was necessary 4. One on Ones with school leader where I was told there would be privacy- I mentioned my discontent with things going on in my school and YWAM base. Next one-on-one I was confronted by this girl and my school leaders wife, accusations were made against me that were false. 5.my school did not have as a focus- the description that was online when I applied 6. Food on base was horrible (I've had two experiences with YWAM, this was by far the worse), could barely eat it even though I was paying $$$ to be there.they were saving up for reforms and buildings they wanted to purchase. 7. Being accused of a rebellious spirit, for simply asking questions, and of my father supposedly abusing me (they made this up) which caused my rebellious spirit. Bottom line is that my experience in this base led me to quitting something half way for the first and only time in my life. I am not a quitter but my experience was "cult like" and not my idea of what a YWAM base should look like. I was born and raised in a YWAM base by the way.

Three things I would like to mention to this base and it's leaders in my review:
1. I had this base calling me long distance to my home in the USA, wanting the rest of the $$$ for time I did not complete my school. I understand money is important to you but your school did not cover topics I was told it would cover, your YWAM base did not reflect what I believe one should look life so I left. I left with a calculated math of the time I had spent in your base- and made sure that time was covered. I was not going to pay a single $ for time I did not spend in your base.
2. Either my mother, or someone close to me in YWAM was told that I left because they school was too overwhelming for me when it came to work load. I hold a Masters Degree, and went through SBS. Don't think the workload for a bellow average YWAM school would have been too much for me. Read through my reviews and you will see the reason why I left.
3. I was told after I left this school by other YWAMers that this base is great for Christians especially young ones that don't have their minds settled yet on specific things and are more opened to having their minds made up by leadership. I was told by staffers and teachers during my DTS (not in this base) that it's ok and perfectly normal to question something when you feel there is something wrong.guess that is not a teaching in this base. Had a girl I lived with (in the Perth base), tell me before coming to this base she thought for herself, but she had learned to listen to her leaders. #danger#danger#danger

Did my DTS here in 03’-04’ as an 18 year old and loved it. The leadership was amazing and served with true fear of the Lord. I appreciate all the memories and wish to go back one day. I’m about to head off to Kona for the family dts with my wife and 4 kids. Woah! Will be a totally different experience but trusting Gods plan in it all.

The most beautiful building, fit for purpose. My heart is filled with joy to know young people are up to this in the world.

Be warned. This place looks good and initially you will feel all the warm fuzzier of being accepted and having purpose but take a deeper look.
The leadership from top down in narcissistic and the ones who stay in the inner circle play the game.
If you have issues that require attention medically, physically or psychological which cannot be met in a prayer meeting or solved with a platitude this is not the place for you as outside advice is shunned. Your leader (generally someone not of mature age and with no qualifications in life) will be charged to fix or cover up your "problems".
You will live at poverty level, work 14 hour days, have to ask permission for nearly everything eventhough you are a volunteer and wait for the leaders to "hear God" for you, fast from food on the whim of leadership and not live at all in transparency that is promoted by the symbolic glass building.
In saying all this you may meet some of the best friends you will ever survive with and get to travel. It will just take a long time and a total (healthy) re-evaluation of your current faith to move on afterward.

The abuse I received here, destroyed a friendship, caused me to tailspin into depression, extinguished my flame and on top of that, ruined my intestinal health. It took me 5 years to untangle myself from it all, and in all honesty, my youthful passion never returned. If you are a parent DO NOT send your son or daughter here.

Did my DTS and SOW back in 2008-2009 here when the base was still in Claisebrook.
One of the best decisions I've ever made to go here. Australia will always have the sweet spot in my heart.
I was nurtured in knowing God here, I enountered His presence like never before. Breakthroughs and healings from wounded heart, Jesus gave me a new heart through YWAM Perth. Thank you Jesus, thank you YWAM.

Great little cafe and General Store open daily on site and op shop nearby to meet the needs of this growing and vibrant Christian missionary community. Fun and charismatic worship service every Friday night. It is a very busy place with hundreds of people on task with their various ministry activities and prayer meetings. A great place to check out if you are considering a career in missions, or more generally in full-time ministry.

The organisation has many well meaning groups. Please reconsider doing a DTS with YWAM.
The school is designed to break the participants spirit and will. Their own common sense and thinking replaced with the cult like doctrine of YWAM.
The DTS aims to bring the students under the higher power and controlling authority of the leaders. Complete submission is required and any sensible concern or questioning of the process and teaching is seen as rebellion and disunity. This leads to the students being entirely dependant on the leaders and not God or the students own ability to make good decisions.
This is a dangerous process and has lead to many cases of manipulation, spiritual, and emotional abuse in YWAM.
Some students have great experiences with YWAM. Please be wary before you consider doing a DTS. The teaching is questionable and manipulative. Talk to your pastor about other opportunities for biblical training.

In the kindest way possible, I would not recommend this base, or possibly ywam at all. There were many things that felt too pressuring and manipulative for me, and even though they would assure me that there was no pressure in their teaching, I came home to share my experiences and many were extremely shocked even with my conservative, thorough explanation. I also injured myself in the beginning of outreach and now, 4 months later, need surgery because of pushing myself too hard under the team expectations of outreach. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret doing it and I learned a ton, but would definitely not recommend it for everyone. The teaching was sound for the most part and they really understand how to create long-lasting change. Just know when to say no and stand your ground in the most honoring way possible. Overall, incredible brothers and sisters in Christ and passionate about the right things, but the whole of it was not for me.

Great place to meet God and great friends. Almost every Friday night have a public meeting with worship and a speaker. They have a cafe to grab a coffee during the day.

The Friday night meeting is the best worship I have ever experienced. If you love Jesus, check it out. If you don't love Jesus, also check it out.

Love YWAM Perth - such a great, friendly atmosphere and so great to invite the community together every Friday evening.

It is amazing place with an exciting community. If you want to learn about Jesus and other cultures. Come here.

Amazing people, amazing place. Filled with young people who are passionately committed to seeing Jesus be made famous in the Nations of the earth. There is always new ministries being pioneered and lots of opportunities to grow in your skills through the training schools offered every quarter. I wouldn't trade my time with YWAM Perth for anything. I grew deeper and closer to Jesus there than anywhere else. You'll love it!

I have done 2 schools in YWAM Perth. It was really international. When I was studying there was people from 45 different countries. It was awesome experience. YWAM changed my whole understanding of mission. In fact I am staffing in Media in Youth With A Mission. You should come it is great place to learn how to be a disciple.

Highly hospitable and welcoming. An incredible group of people who are highly committed to loving, serving, and caring.

Absolutely love it there every time I visit. And the youth camps are life-changing. So looking forward to doing a DTS.