Jan. 19, 2009 — Ask anyone on St. Croix what the acronym KFC represents and they will answer "Kentucky Fried Chicken." But when the Source asked five people at KFC in Sunny Isles Saturday, they didn't have a clue what YWAM stands for.
It is the acronym for Youth With A Mission. Its members are called YWAMMERS, and they live in the neighborhood near the KFC.
YWAM is an international movement of Christians from all denominations dedicated to serving Jesus in more than 60 nations with a full-time, self-supported staff of nearly 16,000 worldwide.
"Our tag line is to know God and make him known," says Mark Warner co-director of the mission.
For 23 years, youths from all over the globe have come to St. Croix to minister, train, evangelize and do outreach in the community.
The mission is in the 300-year-old Estate Diamond Ruby plantation great house on five acres behind the Kmart appliance store.
The plantation setting, known as a place where people were abused, is of significance because of the struggles of the West Indian people bound by the chains of slavery, Warner says. Literature about YWAM says that while their "masters" aren't the same today, West Indian people still face such problems as hopelessness, shame, anger, despair, rejection, abuse, bitterness, loneliness, abandonment, resentment, prejudice, depression and lack of identity.
"This location is the perfect place for offering freedom, healing and restoration," Warner says.
Warner and his wife, Viola, are directors at YWAM. They partner with local ministers, churches and organizations. St Croix Christian Church has been a big supporter of YWAM.
"We are an organization that wants to see change on St. Croix," Warner says. "We will serve any way we can."
Recently the group helped with a cleanup in the Red Brick area near Seaborne Airlines. Members have done a number of outreaches and programs over the years — almost all of them successful, with one memorable exception. The group had a successful Friday night sporting event that drew 200 fans weekly until someone who got mad over a call put a referee in the hospital, beating him with a bat, Warner says.
Every summer YWAMMERS hold Jericho Kids, a program similar to vacation Bible school. YWAMMERS provide after-school programs, and they are in the process of beginning a tutoring program in public schools. They do outreaches with children in housing projects, hosting pool parties and sporting events such as basketball and volleyball.
"The kids love it here," Warner says. "We are building relationships in kids' lives with people and the Lord. We help keep kids out of trouble."
A discipleship-training school (DTS) is held at the mission in a five-month training program that includes three months of lectures in Biblical teaching followed by a two-month outreach. YWAM usually has six students in their early 20s enrolled. The students are currently in Nicaragua and Costa Rica on a mission outreach.
"We have scholarship money for locals to take part in the training," Warner says. "But the mindset of mission work isn't something they think they can do."
Some of the students who have completed the five-month program stay on as part of the eight-member staff.
"I came here obeying God," says Ligia Goncalves from Brazil. "It is the perfect thing to happen to me at this time, because I have the heart for missions."
The mission is a non-profit organization that gets operating expenses via donations from individuals, families, churches and businesses.
On Jan. 31 YWAM will hold a fundraising yard sale at the mission from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Friday the great room in the great house was already beginning to fill up with donated furniture, books, sporting goods and household items. To donate gently used items, call 778-7373.
For more information about YWAM visit ywamstcroix.org .
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