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YWAM - Lou Engle’s The Send. p.4 Here we find the most disturbing connection of YWAM to NAR. Certain YWAM leaders went to Lou Engle and together they formed the idea for The Send. In 2011, YWAM's Andy Byrd and other members of YWAM (Engle's inner circle) gathered in Engle's Kansas City living room speaking of a shift into a new ministry.Andy Byrd, is from the leadership for the YWAM University of the Nations and YWAM Kona. He has spoken at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministries: the Summit and Bethel Church. Engle believes all that prayer has led to altering his ministry from gathering people to intercede through “TheCall” to launch a new type of stadium event called "the Send". The focus will now be to release people to go outside the church into all the world as a new breed with a new anointing evangelizes for a worldwide harvest. Engle recalls“In 2011 a major revelatory shift took place. Into my living room walked these YWAM wild men, and they began to prophesy, there’s a coming shift to The Call. ” (youtube video). The group prayed for two days until the YWAM prophet (Andy Byrd) came with a message for Engle. "He said, 'Tell him I had a visitation last night and it had to do with God speaking to me saying that there's coming a shift to TheCall, and it will be stadiums and fasting and prayer, and Billy Graham's mantle is coming upon TheCall.' The group felt the Lord tell them, "There's coming a shift to TheCall, and there will not be just fasting and prayer, but the proclamation of the gospel, signs and wonders and stadiums will refilled, and Billy Graham's mantle is coming on the nation," Engle says. Billy Graham’s mantle? 1 and 2 Kings defines Elijah’s mantle as his outer garment he wore, which Elisha picked up after it fell. So Graham’s mantle is to come upon Engle’s new ministry the Send? In other words he has this special anointing. Since when does God name mantels (which they think is an anointing) after those who died? This is pride talking, not prophecy. Collaboraters with dominionism Now Benny Hinn with Rodney Browne (who introduced “holy laughter” and brought the “Toronto Blessing” to America. which caused chaos in Churches, are the men Lou Engle chose to launch his new ministry with collaboration with YWAM. If only we knew then what we know now, Benny Hinn has come full circle. Choosing Rodney Browne and Benny Hinn and Bill Johnson along with so many others involved in launching “the Send” that called a fire baptism onto 60,000 youth is blatant. This is found in the heretical latter Rain from the 40’s (i.e. William Branham), which is what the NAR is all about. YWAM’s Loren Cunningham also at the Send said, we are on the brink of something historic in missions.” Engle also says history was in the making, indeed it was. It was the first time the Latter Rain doctrine of the fire baptism was introduced by Engle to so many youth willing to go onto the mission field. What they learned at this meeting shifts their whole Christian understanding that will eventually affect their walk. If you are associated with Engle then you are also associated with the NAR, which is where YWAM is now positioned. YWAM has been consistently gravitating toward associating with the new apostles and prophets ways. YWAM is directly involved in Lou Engle’s ministry, Benny Hinn, IHOP, etc. Andy Byrd, one of the main collaborators for The Send, so the association is definitely there. YWAM’s Andy Byrd said at the beginning of the gathering: “Our goal isn’t just for an event or gathering but for an activation to occur.” Activation is a particular word that has been popularized by NAR prophet Bill Hamon on the gifts being transferred. And that is what this whole meeting was about, the transferable "fire" anointing which Rodney Browne and Benny Hinn has spoken of for many years. Does YWAM follow the belief that a normal Christian life should have the working of miracles, such as multiplying food, healing blindness, and raising the dead. This is “greater works” teaching from the NAR, that is also found in Bethel, Bill Johnson’s church, which is what The Passion Bible teaches. At this DTS YWAM Marine Reach in New Zealand.https://marinereach.com/event/kingdom-come/. They teach like Rodney Browne and Benny Hinn and Bill Johnson, (the three who at the first meeting of Lou Engle’s Send. 5.The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire 6. The Miraculous Lifestyle: Jesus promised that those who believe in Him would do “greater works” (John 14) than He ever did. He is looking for a generation who will dare to live this out in everyday life.” Contemplative prayer a mainstay of YWAM A recent former YWAM staff who was naive to all things NAR and contemplative said, I am now horrified to see this and thank God for giving us the discernment to leave. But, we NEED to warn our young people about YWAM. In his book “Is That Really You God? Hearing the Voice of God” Cunningham writes “I gradually quieted my mind, centering down on Jesus” (by Loren Cunningham with his sister, Janice Rogers p.105). This is the same type of words Richard Foster and others describe in their practicing contemplative prayer. (http://www.letusreason.org/Popteach84.htm). Steve Cochran has worked with YWAM since 1979, was the International Leader of Frontier Missions. see https://stevecochrane823.com/steves-chapters-and-articles/ These are just a couple of examples of concern on Steve Cochrane’s teachings. He reported that his staff organizes pilgrimages for Hindus to Hindu "holy" sites and "then all along the way they are explaining the gospel to the pilgrims in a totally contextualized way." (October 1999 - January 2000 issue of YWAM's staff newsletter) He endorses Eugene Peterson liberal Bible translation, promotes and practices contemplative prayer, syncretism and more. He has a certificate in spiritual direction training, and particularly wants to see the Centre be a catalyst for more spiritual direction in YWAM and the Body of Christ. And Richard Foster who began spiritual formation movement is quoted. The Centre for Christian Formation states, “We are part of YWAM’s University of the Nations.” Christian Formation is important to YWAM. So much so, our 5 month Discipleship Training School (DTS) is the entry level course for YWAM’s University, and required to join our mission. “We engage Scripture as story, discovering God as He relationally interacts with people and all creation…. help communities explore the benefits of ancient Christian Practices for their walk and witness and more. https://centreforchristianformation.com/about-us/ Steve Cochrane, a leader in YWAM works with the University of the Nations, is the author of the 2017 book, “Many Monks Across the Sea: Church of the East Monastic Mission in Ninth-Century Asia. “ He spoke of his own journey into contemplative practices. "In the past decade, I've been on a more focused pilgrimage to listen to what Spirit is saying from a diversity of those that have walked the road before in deeper devotion to Christ." He further stated, the work of "friends from the past" teaches us to sink down into the presence of God in the midst of our active lives. (ibid.) One of the books Cochrane mentions in his bibliography is by Merton and Sufism. In Ray Yungen’s book “A Time of Departing,” Ray describes a story from Merton and Sufism where Thomas Merton is talking to a Sufi teacher (who is an Islamic mystic) about Merton's desire for unity between Christians and Muslims. Merton saw no contradiction between Zen and Christianity. "I see no contradiction between Buddhism and Christianity. The future of Zen is in the West. I intend to become as good a Buddhist as I can." (p. 88 Thomas Merton/Monk: A Monastic Tribute" Cistercian Publications, 1983.) “It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race . . . now I realize what we all are. . . . If only they [people] could all see themselves as they really are . . . At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusions, a point of pure truth. . . . This little point . . . is the pure glory of God in us. It is in everybody.” (Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander 1989, pp. 157-158.) God is in all, we are sinless at our core, the glory of God is in all. None of what he says has to do with Christianity and this all winds its way into YWAM. It was Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline, brought Thomas Merton to the evangelical church. Foster stated Thomas Merton “stands as one of the greatest twentieth-century embodiments of spiritual life as a journey (Richard Foster, Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion (InterVarsity Press, 2009), p. 84. This YWAM audio promotional states, we take up "The Invitation" and join together with thousands of YWAMers from around the world as we pray and hear from God about Contemplative Prayer.” (https://ywam.org/blog/2018/06/11/contemplative-prayer) Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM has announced that he wanted "all" YWAMers to practice contemplative prayer). Why is YWAM introducing to the youth for prayer the acceptance of contemplative prayer? According to Ray Yungen who is considered an expert on contemplative prayer “The final outcome of contemplative prayer is interspirituality which is proven from those who have practiced it and teach it” Their promotion on contemplative prayer: “In this edition of The Invitation, we invite you to consider what we can learn from the contemplative tradition of the global Church, and why contemplative practices might be a helpful balance to our busy, activity-oriented lives.” The YWAM audio continues: “Over recent years, a significant number of us in the YWAM family have, like Steve, been growing more familiar with contemplative practices. . . . Since around the third century the people of God have been engaging in practices that we now call Contemplative . . . A few of these contemplative practices involve: breath prayers, which consist of praying a short phrase with your in- and your out-breath; lectio devina [divina], which is a meditative way of reading short passages of scripture; and silent prayer such as Centering Prayer. (ibid.) Apparently YWAM would like to see everyone now involved in the practice of contemplative prayer: “If you only have a few moments to pray, ask the Lord to convict each of our students and workers to experience God in deeper ways through contemplative methods.” https://www.ywam.org/blog/2018/06/11/contemplative-prayer/ Believers rely on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit as our teacher who will lead us into truth contained in the Word. He does not teach us to repeat a word or phrase or focus on the breath or have us entering into the silence to hear or be led by God. Now imagination, along with mental imaging (called visualization) are also used, “inhale and exhale while you hold your Wordless Prayer in your imagination.” God does not lead us, nor approve of being helped from teachings that lead people AWAY from the Word itself. But this method has now become part of YWAM. They recommend books by Ruth Haley Barton, especially her book titled Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. YWAM’s promotion of this unbiblical practice in prayer is not surprising since they have a loose view of teaching from the Word. Consider what they say for The prayer day is called The Invitation. Said Darlene Cunningham, one of YWAM’s founders, “God is inviting us into His presence to help carry and nurture His dreams.” (https://ywam.org/theinvitation/) God does not have dreams, literally or metaphorically. He has a will, He has plans. They are teaching contemplative prayer and corporate imagery prayer. This does not mean every base, but you cannot be sure which is, or is not, as there is little accountability on each separate base. The problem starts at the top. YWAM’s display of unity with NAR leader’s vision This Youtube video shows the practice of Healing on demand, promoted by the YWAM (Sunshine Coast base Australia), it is titled “Lifestyle Evangelism.” This can be seen as Todd White’s influence (someone who denies the incarnation, that Jesus was God on earth, but anointed). In the video, students go to a public place where they find individuals with physical conditions, the YWAM students go up to those people and tell them that God will heal them instantaneously. A film series by Darren Wilson features NAR leaders is shown at YWAM bases, including YWAM Denver. His first film, Finger of God, claims to document enormous miracles hundreds of people raised from the dead gemstones falling from the sky, appearance of gold teeth fillings in people’s mouths (a rumor started with the Toronto blessing). Anything that sounds supernatural is often accepted without being scrutinized, discerned. It is a never ending stream of supernatural stories to stoke the youth in what they doing. Summary After seeing so many friends go into YWAM over the years, the outcome is not always healtthy. I can say more assuredly YWAM is not a place we should encourage our young people to get involved with. As 18,000 youth come from 130 countries they will be united with NAR, Lou Engle and so much more that is not the Christianity the Bible teaches. I know many churches have an affiliation with them and it is hard to break. Thousands of youngsters a year are being taught through YWAM and will be deceived with many winds of false doctrine that come through and settle there. Here is just another reminder of what was introduced over the years. Their bases are semi-autonomous you can find YWAM’s promotion of NAR (type) teachings at the leadership level, so you should expect some of the bases to do this also. YWAM encouraged the concept of what was called "Messianic Muslims." That they continue to read the Koran, attend the Mosque, and bow down toward Mecca five times per day in prayer: "They continued a life of following the Islamic requirements, including mosque attendance, fasting and Koranic reading, besides getting together as a fellowship of Muslims who acknowledge Christ as the source of God's mercy for them.... https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/2000/04/radical-missionary-approach-produces-messianic-muslims-who-claim-to-retain-their-islamic-identity.aspx Islam does not have the same Jewish messiah, the God who became man. If they continue reading the Koran it will confuse them. This appeasement in evangelism is not what is needed nor beneficial to reach Muslims. NAR warfare prayer practices, includes “prophetic declarations” Prophetic declarations are statements declaring that God will do “this or that” by saying the words in faith. This practice is found in Word of Faith teaching that God’s power can be released through spoken words. The prayer that believers use is asking God to do something with the understanding that he answers our request according to His will, which includes him saying no. Examples of bases engaging in NAR-style prayer practices can be seen on the websites of YWAM Salem and YWAM Harbour City. John Dawson who was president of YWAM whose book Taking Our Cities for God popularized strategic-level warfare practices in YWAM (which is the same in the NAR). Dawson tells a number of stories of YWAM teams engaging in strategic-level spiritual warfare. Researcher, René Holvast wrote in his Spiritual Mapping in the United States and Argentina, 1989-2005: A Geography of Fear. That “It is part of their fabric.”If one joins YWAM they will be more than likely be taught this. It may not be on every base, as some try to be more Biblical, but for the most part they will learn it from their leadership.It was Dawson as president of YWAM, who agreed with Kikawa’s new way, stating that Kikawa’s book “points the way to an exciting new understanding” of the Gospel. (Aloha Ke Akua “Books” page (http://akaministries.tripod.com/aloha/id3.html).I agree that it introduced a new understanding, the fact is, it was interfaith. John Dawson as the president of YWAM was on the board of Daniel Kikawa's organization, Aloha Ke Akua, Again, this is what Kikawa teaches “Christians should cease representing Jesus as the Son of the foreign God of a foreign people … We should instead introduce Jesus as the Son oftheir creator God.” Which makes Paul the apostle wrong when he spoke at Mars Hill, a city given over to idols, using the statue of the unknown god to explain the true God to them. Furthermore, the Bible does not speak about God redeeming cultures or use reconciliation walks that YWAM teaches and practices. There is laundry list of many more practices that can be added to what is already a filled plate. And this is not covering leaderships heavy shepherding or abuse (My experience in YWAM). If you keep to the Word you will always have a certain amount of discernment but when you apply the word where it is necessary on certain matters, discernment will be abundant. They are in need of the Word to discern as they often reject discernment, especially from those outside their organization.My conclusion, with all these foreign teachings and practices is that YWAM is a change-agent ministry of Christianity, whose goal is to bring about the kingdom on earth via Cunningham’s revelation of the seven mountains through their discipled youth. While I understand that you will not find a perfect church or ministry, people make mistakes, this is not in the same category as mistakes, these are consistent teachings and practices that are not biblical that are not being corrected.This is about the spiritual safety of the youth. As stated before, YWAM has been headed in a direction of being more and more openly ecumenical for many years. With the rapid pace things are going there may not be the opportunity to reverse their direction. At this time I don’t see any foreseeable change in their associations with false prophets and teachers. But I continue to hope and pray they will for the youth's sake.
Other articles on YWAM http://letusreason.org/ecumen30.htm http://letusreason.org/ecumen40.htm Don Richardson, an influence in YWAM http://letusreason.org/current57.htm On what Kikawa taught that YWAM adopted http://letusreason.org/ecumenism4.htm http://letusreason.org/ecumen5.htm http://letusreason.org/ecumnen8.htm http://letusreason.org/current70.htm
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