YWAM Wylie is a branch of a larger, international organization called Youth with a Mission. Youth with a Mission is dedicated to the mobilization of young people in spreading the gospel to every corner of the earth. Here at YWAM Wylie, we offer a wide variety of opportunities to get involved in missions: from attending one of our 5-month Discipleship Training Schools to joining our staff team and everything in between.
When YWAM began in 1960, the main focus was giving young people opportunities to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the whole world, according to His command in Mark 16:15. Today, we still focus on youth, but we have members of almost every age and many of our short-term efforts have grown into long-term endeavors that have impacted lives and nations.
YWAM has a decentralized structure that encourages new vision and the exploration of new ways to change lives through training, conveying the message of the gospel, and caring for those in need. There are currently campuses operating in more than 1000 locations in over 180 countries, with a staff of over 18,000.
In 2010, the Lord gave Bruce and Patty a vision of pioneering a new YWAM ministry in Wylie, Texas, just north of the Dallas Metroplex. God had sowed in their hearts a desire to see people trained and sent across the world to share Christ’s love with the lost and broken nations. In the Fall of 2012, YWAM Wylie launched their very first Discipleship Training School. Our local outreach continues to grow as we reach out to families and at-risk youth of our local community. We also continue to develop our overseas work with at-risk children in Southeast Asia, Central Africa, and the Middle East.
The heart of YWAM Wylie is to know God and to make Him known, beginning in Wylie and fanning out to the ends of the earth, taking to heart the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 where Jesus says to his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Our mission is to ENCOUNTER Jesus, EQUIP Disciples and Leaders, and REACH Peoples, Communities, and Nations.
Wylie is a place where urban life meets small-town living. Located just over twenty miles northeast of Dallas, the “City Between the Lakes” has a quaint feel while providing easy access to big city life.
The city of Wylie was founded in 1887, shaped by two railroads running through town. In the late 1970s, Wylie started to receive some of the Dallas-Fort Worth growth, and over the last decade, it was the third fastest-growing city in Texas. It now has a population of more than 40,000 people.
There are many churches in Wylie, and there seems to be excitement and interest in missions. There is a growing unity amongst the local churches, and we, as YWAM, are actively pursuing relationships with many churches in this area. Our goal is to reach out locally in order to reach out globally.
Our campus is located just south of downtown Wylie and is within walking distance of many shops, restaurants, and parks. We have five buildings that make up our property and are where most of our activities occur. Our main building, the Global Missions Center, serves as a central area and meeting place where the meals, worship, and classes happen. Our other brick building serves as our dorm for staff and students and a hospitality wing for our guest speakers or visitors. We also have three houses on campus, one serving as additional dorm space, another as a cafe/hangout area where most social activities take place, and the last is being used as our communications office. In addition, we have two fields on campus where we play different sports like volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and soccer.
YWAM affirms the Bible as the authoritative word of God, and with the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, the absolute reference point for every aspect of life and ministry. Based upon God’s Word, who He is, and His initiative of salvation, the following responses are strongly emphasized in YWAM:
Our values are the expression of our basic beliefs coupled with specific directives given by God since our beginning in 1960. These 18 values are the guiding principles for both the past and future of our mission. Some are common to Christians everywhere, while others are distinctive to YWAM. We hold these values in high regard to determine who we are, how we live, and how we make decisions.
