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Also See YWAM and Benny Hinn And A New Evangelism
Also An Open Letter to Calvary Chapel Pastors of America Concerning YWAM [Below]
This article is designed to be somewhat of an explanation concerning my true feelings about the worldwide missionary organization known as Youth With A Mission. This article is not a YWAM “slam”. This article is not slanderous. This article is not intended to be wrongfully divisive or discordant in nature. I bear no ill will towards anyone personally; either missionaries or staff members.
This article will hopefully serve the purpose of its design: namely to answer the frequently asked question that I seem to get quite often. Because of YWAM’s influence and popularity many people want to know whether I think it is a good and valid mission option to either go on themselves or to send their own child or Church youth grouper. I usually take these inquiries to mean “Is it safe?” or “How biblical is it?” In addition, many want to know why I and other discernment ministries have felt the need to stand in recent years under such an unpopular banner of concern for this widely-accepted and deeply loved movement. This is my attempt to answer using my personal testimony.
I need to stress a few points:
1) I love YWAMers! I love their zeal and willingness to serve the Lord in adventurous ways. I am a missionary and therefore I love to meet young people who want to go “all-out” for the Lord. Many of my friends have gone or are currently in YWAM. I can remember working with a team quite a few years back as our band was playing an outreach concert in Hawaii. A team of YWAMers came to a few shows in a row and worked to share Christ with the crowds of youth that came out. There was solidarity of sorts and we felt that God had provided a team of witnesses to reach out to the youth we didn’t get a chance to personally minister to.
2) I acknowledge that some good has been done by teams in this group who have gone to far reaches to lead people to Christ. Again the zeal is encouraging.
3) I have benefited by some of the teachings in YWAM in times past. When I was younger and in college I remember hearing some good messages coming from some Calvary Chapel pulpits delivered by a man named Danny Lehmann. His zeal and excitement for missions really moved my heart to consider going to the mission field albeit not with YWAM, but still, truth be told, I learned some things from Lehmann’s ministry. I’ve enjoyed reading his books for the most part also. I remember also praying for him once before he gave a downright good message for pro-life at an anti-abortion rally I attended. I really had a measure of respect for him and his local radio spot “Word to the World” lit something inside me for missions.
4) Having catalogued a few good things that have come from YWAM, I wish to report, with great sorrow and pain of heart, that much of my initial opinions of YWAM changed drastically when I began to investigate their materials and heard various personal testimonies from some near and dear young people who came back from their Discipleship Training Schools (DTS). This change of view happened about five years back but after investigation, I began to realize that I had lived many years misinformed as to the spiritual state of the leadership and the true nature of some of the teachings utilized, promoted, and practiced in YWAM.
The following reasons and discoveries in no way change my actual love for the YWAMers I am friends with, BUT it changes my perception of the organization and, well, I now call on my friends to practice real discernment and honestly evaluate the validity and actual state of the doctrinal situation. Again, I emphasize that my current view of YWAM is not a personal attack against anyone in the group or affiliated with it, but I will speak my mind here and say what needs to be said. I just will with no apologies. Please don’t take personal offense.
Early Rumblings
In 1994 or 95, I was still in college taking my sweet time, teaching home fellowships and playing in a Christian band. Bryce was a YWAMer that I met at Calvary Chapel Honolulu at the new exciting event, Saturday Night Alive, hosted by YWAM leader Danny Lehmann. Just to be there and meet all these new folks was awesome and the worship was well, alive and vibrant. Bryce loved the Lord and he had long hair, as did I at the time so we got along great. (I won’t debate the doctrinal correctness of my mop at the time but anyways…). He said he was headed out to India with YWAM and so I got to meet him once and then he was gone. I mean really gone…
According to another YWAMer, Bryce fell off of a cliff and into a waterfall somewhere in the jungles of India and they never found his body. That shook me up a bit and well it caused me to think about the dangers that could befall someone going to the mission field. I bring up this story because it started me thinking about missions, and of course, I can’t really verify if it was true or not but I began to think about the possibility myself of joining YWAM.
A few weeks after that tragic event, I was still in deep thought about maybe hooking up with this group and then someone mentioned that a group of YWAMers from one of their mercy ships were asked to leave a Hawaii hotel lobby because they started exhibiting raucous hyper-charismatic behavior- apparently loud outbursts of tongues and strange stuff. I don’t know but I remember thinking “Hmmm. This must be quite a diverse group of people. How uniform is their doctrine?”
The Christian Research Journal also made mention of a teaching called “Moral Government Theology” that was heavily supported and promoted by YWAM leaders and George Otis, Jr. I remember reading that it was aberrant and red flags of caution began to wave inside. Would YWAM really be promoting a teaching that was so close to Latter Rain Kingdom dominionism? Would they advocate societal transformation through human government? Who was George Otis, Jr.? I would find out later in life.
This was also the time in Hawaii churches where Calvary Chapel pastors were really making strong stands using bold speech against the Word/Faith movement and the false teachings of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, and a host of other false teachers that had been recently exposed by Hank Hanegraff (Christian Research institute) in his “Until-this-very-day” awesome book Christianity In Crisis. Discernment seemed to be in full swing and I could really respect the Calvary Chapel pastors and the tough stands they made. It was at this time that I really considered working with Calvary Chapels because of their allegiance to the Word of God and verse-by-verse teaching style.
Things were exciting and I guess that’s why it seemed so uncharacteristic of the times when a new book began to circulate through the churches called Perpetuated In Righteousness by Daniel Kikawa. The book alleges that Hawaiians were originally monotheistic and worshipped the God of the Bible. There were even allusions to them being one of the lost tribes of Israel.
I knew enough of Hawaiian history to know there was something extremely shaky about that premise given the archaeological and historical facts that Hawaiian people worshipped many gods and goddesses. They didn’t seem to have a Hebrew heritage. I knew enough about literary criticism to know that you can’t make huge historically revisionist claims like Kikawa was making in his book based on oral tradition and what his old auntie might have said. I knew enough linguistics to understand that just because certain Hawaiian words have phonetic similarities to Bible names, doesn’t constitute a case for them being a lost tribe of Israel or worshippers of the God of Israel in times past. I knew enough of the Bible to see that Kikawa’s “gospel in the stars” nonsense wasn’t biblically sound or feasible. God’s name is not “I’o”, the Hawaiian owl god, either and it also appears that he used some Mormon sources to account for the journey they must have made from the Holy Land via canoe. I had learned a great deal about this cult from my best friend (a Mormon for 8 years) and Calvary Chapel pastors.
So what does the mention of this book have to do with YWAM? Well, that was the scary thing. Calvary Chapel Honolulu’s radio station, KLHT, began to advertise this book on the air and apparently YWAM leader Danny Lehmann had Kikawa’s associate, Lionne Siu, to play worship for his Saturday Night Alive meetings. I was told, whether it is hearsay or not I don’t know, that Siu had made reference to God’s name being “I’o” in one of the meetings.
This couldn’t be right I thought. Lehmann would never allow that. That was appalling but there had to be an explanation. Again, to this day, I don’t even know if that was factual or not but it led me to a thought that maybe YWAM and its leadership wasn’t as discerning as I thought. I’m pretty sure I heard Danny endorse Perpetuated in Righteousness as a good book also and it gave me a bit more concern.
Well, time went by and my thoughts were led elsewhere from any intention of really being involved in YWAM but I knew that I wanted to teach God’s Word and minister to the young people of Hawaii with my band. Everything was going well and, on the verge of signing what would have been a disastrous record deal, I was approached by a local Calvary Chapel to be their youth pastor. It fit.
I went for it, got ordained after about 6 months and was loving every minute of it, man. 1997-98 heralded what I thought for sure was to be my future- a Calvary Chapel pastor someday! I definitely made my share of mistakes but generally I was really trying to serve Jesus. While ministering to Hawaii youth during this time, the Lord opened my eyes about some things concerning YWAM and this is actually where the real story begins.
The trail of discovery leads to my current perceptions of this group and I will trace it for you, briefly, of course (I use the term “briefly” as it means “abridged or edited version” Not that this article will be less than nine pages. Sorry.).
“Is That Really You, God?”
YWAM’s 25th anniversary celebration in the late 90s was in full swing at Calvary Chapel Honolulu. Standing on stage before us was YWAMs founding father Loren Cunningham. He was the original recipient of the vision of young people going to every nation of the world like waves of the sea. I sat with thoughts racing through my mind about what I had heard concerning YWAM in the past few years and, as Loren walked towards the stage, I asked the Lord to show me what was up. Why was I having the red flags as Lehmann introduced Cunningham? Well about halfway through his sermon, which rarely used scripture actually. It was more a collection of stories about how God has accomplished all these things through YWAM. Loren listed all these countries he was visiting and then he said the statement that would settle my case forever with YWAM.
“We’ve been commended by the Pope for our great work among Catholic youth.”
It was something like that and I almost stood up and gasped. I definitely couldn’t “Amen” that! What was he saying and doing? From a Calvary Chapel stage? How could that be labeled something to be proud of or discerning? He was clearly using it as a credential and I was really bothered by that. As far as I was concerned, Rome was something people needed saved from and even the pastor’s son had made a video showing on Cable access that portrayed the Roman Catholic Church as the “Whore of Babylon” (A belief that I don’t agree with, by the way). Nonetheless, Calvary Chapels had seemed to take issue with the Catholic Church quite frequently and rightly so. Many pastors, including my pastor at the time had been saved from Roman Catholicism and would testify to the fact of the seriousness of that issue.
I want to bring to your attention my naiveté in all this. Had I just read some of YWAM’s publications already circulating for a good while at this time, any question I had as to the safety of this group would have been confirmed. YWAM’s ecumenical unions with Catholics were early features apparently. [See Section on Ecumenism]
YWAM leader Floyd McClung published his book, The Father Heart of God, in 1985 and YWAM still uses its premises today. In those pages he had used the story of the Pope’s charitable visit to an enemy in prison who had tried to kill pope John Paul II and stated:
“It was to this cell that John Paul made his pilgrimage of forgiveness in late December 1983. Although on one level, it was an intensely intimate transaction between two men, it was also an amazing example of Christian charity…Whether one is Protestant or Catholic, it is impossible to deny the significance of John Paul’s actions. What he did was profoundly Christian. He sought out his enemy and forgave him. In so doing, he gave Ali Agca a new understanding of God…In those short 21 minutes John Paul, who said he spoke to Ali ‘…as a brother’ opened up for him a way to the Father.” (McClung, The Father Heart of God, Kingsway Publications, p. 116).
McClung, as executive director of YWAM at one time, had this book republished in YWAM publishing. The sentiment portrayed in the above example shows a clear picture of how unclear their perception is of the dangers and false religion that is Roman Catholicism. The Pope is not a Christian, judging by what he teaches and promotes. One only wonders which “father” the young ex.-terrorist was pointed to by John Paul. Please don’t misunderstand, Pope John did a nice thing, a good deed but is a false teacher that represents one of the most dangerous counterfeit world religions on Earth. Cunningham, McClung or anyone else shouldn’t endorse this man or the Roman Catholic Church.
Sadly, Today YWAM has “Kerygma Teams” of charismatic catholic missionaries in total affiliation working together in ecumenical union. How can YWAM do that? How can they say there is no distinction between Rome and the biblical faith? Suffice it to say, that single statement really rang loud and clear in my heart and I decided, as a Calvary Chapel youth pastor, I needed to familiarize myself with the teachings of YWAM, if only for the sake of the young people in my church who had gone or were going.
Joined With Joyner?
It was a slick slide into muddy water from there. I began to ask some questions about the statements Cunningham had made at the YWAM 25th anniversary celebration. Surely a few unwise statements don’t nullify so many years of Christian service. In truth the actual danger that I would discover is the philosophy of ecumenism, loose doctrinal adherence and downright tolerance for and promotion of heresy on the part of YWAM’s leaders. At what cost? The spiritual lives of my friends!
Sitting in my office at the Calvary Chapel I worked at, I would often go out to the bookstore to borrow a book for my studies. I was deeply in love with all the members of this church (and still am) and so, whenever I would see a questionable book on the shelf I would approach the owner and express some concern. At first, my opinion was greeted and, in most cases followed. And then The Final Quest arrived.
Extremely false prophet Rick Joyner of Morningstar International wrote a series of books, which attempt to compile the contents of years of bizarre visions from God to this man. They are of an extremely spurious nature and basically are shot down by the author himself when he acknowledges in the intro to his first book in the series, The Final Quest, that there may be “chaff” mixed in with truth given him allegedly by God. Actually Jesus converses with him as well as dead saints and he takes the standard Third Wave trip to heaven and holy mountains and other such figmented vacation tours. The actual stories would be ridiculous were it not a serious sin to converse with dead people (necromancy, anyone?). Anyways, the book made its way through our store to some churchfolks and I was left thinking “Where did it even come from?” and “What was it doing in a Calvary Chapel?”
The answer: Shocked? Don’t be. YWAM. Yes a friend of mine, home from DTS, brought the book in because it was making rounds in the DTS he was in. He is a very good friend who loves the Lord and missions so much. I am offended that my friends were being inundated with the equivalent of dangerous spiritual narcotics in the form of Third wave materials like Joyner’s books, and others who have written stuff just as bad.
In a nutshell, C. Peter Wagner, Cindy Jacobs, Dutch Sheets, Mike Bickle, Floyd McClung, Kansas City prophets, Rick Joyner, Joy and John Dawson, etc. All of these writers and teachers have had some leavening influence on YWAMers as they read and get a hold of their published materials. John Dawson’s book Taking Our Cities For God, is standard reading for our young people in the DTS’s and is filled with Third Wave teachings with a little of the word/faith leaven thrown in. That’s just one example of bad stuff for my friends to get a hold of.
The newest wave of heresy to hit the church today is C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation, which attempts to restore a church government form that never really existed anyways, and is making huge inroads to the church and with young people via YWAM. Its doctrines aren’t even new; just a re-hashing of old Latter Rain teachings condemned as heresy by the Assemblies of God in the 50’s. But it’s back and in a big, bad way.
In 1999, Wagner, the chief apostle of this movement, was a keynote speaker at a YWAM leaders conference, where Third Wave doctrine was taught by Third Wave false teachers and Loren Cunningham was even hailed as the apostle of YWAM. Horrendous and dangerous stuff here, folks!
Back to me. Made some stands and got mildly hammered and called divisive and all the standard disdain from my friends who don’t share the same convictions. All things aside it was a turbulent time for me in ministry anyways at this particular church and conviction levels differed among the pastoral staff. I was clearly on my way out but not before I got to share my heart with the young people there.
India came into play in 1999 and for the last 4 years my heart and mind is set on ministering here as much as possible. YWAM here is every bit as in trouble as it is back in America and when I returned home to Hawaii for a year in 2001, a few more YWAM scenarios unfolded.
Two more Straws for the Camel’s back
Two of my friends whom I still love and cherish to this day came back from their DTS’s with stories to tell. One said her leaders needed therapy and after having met some abroad and read the teachings they promote and give to the youth, I agree. (I’m thinking of holding a discernment seminar for YWAM leaders. Good idea? Will it fly? Wishful thinking I’m afraid.). The other dear friend and former youth grouper recounted to me details of the conferences she attended with her leaders where there was slaying in the spirit and other such shenanigans. She also mentioned that her heart couldn’t receive some of the teachings from speakers either, for discernment reasons.
I’m afraid that my friend was not being overcritical or alarmist because now I am quite aware and informed about a great deal of the subject matter going through the DTS’s here in India as well as back home. These were 2 warnings from dear friends that eventually brought the fateful stand against YWAM.
The Lemon and the highway
My message: the Lemon. My subsequent ministry direction: the highway (Hit the road, jack!).
Here’s a recap of the highlights of August (?) 2001’s game. It was a packed house. Sunday morning crowd of about 300 in attendance at the Calvary Chapel I had ministered at for 2 years. This was my one message to preach from the pulpit. My pastor was away at a conference and I came out swinging.( To this day, I deny the allegation that I waited for him to be out of town for me to say what I said)
I preached a message about unity and truth. For the most part, it just wasn’t well put together I thought. I said a few things I really wished I could’ve rectified and some of my anecdotes were less than accurate. My second to the last point was that false teachers were among us and we were not able to have real fellowship with them but they were and are unpleasant realities. I took the verse from Paul in Acts 20:29 to the Ephesians elders: “savage wolves will come in among you…” and then, without making a distinction, I launched into my final concerns about, you guessed it, YWAM! In truth, that verse was the final portion of my third point and the YWAM concern was my fourth and final point but I did not clearly separate that I was talking about two different things, although, in terms of some of the teachings in YWAM currently, the verse could have an application.
I had talked with Danny Lehmann earlier that week about some aberrant doctrines in YWAM. He agreed with me on some but didn’t seem too concerned about the continued presence of some very real dangerous teachings and practices from the New Apostolic Reformation and Third Wave movements. He actually admitted to me that because of YWAMs interdenominational-open arms and huge numbers, that there were some real false teachings existing within some DTS’s. This is of course a fact concerning any institution of church today but there are certain major doctrines that are in real need of removal (The Third wave washing through YWAM is one of them).
I was told that problems were there but I would not stop YWAM. It even came to the point where Lehmann told me that if I had a problem or concern with YWAM that I should send young people somewhere else. Let me get this straight. A Calvary pastor and Pacific representative of YWAM, gives permission to another Calvary youth pastor to send kids somewhere else because there is definite false teaching in YWAM but leaders wouldn’t be taking stands against it? I thought this was unacceptable and that, if this be the case, then YWAM should cease and desist representing itself to Calvary youth as a missions option; at least until some of these problems were dealt with. But that was not to be.
I referenced his apparent lack of concern in my message and went on to warn of the new apostle s and their agenda. I didn’t directly quote anyone but gave what I perceived to be a general sentiment from their collective teachings; namely, that they wanted to take over the church with their new revelations and “fresh words” and usurp the authority of the pastors.
I’ve got to admit that statement sounds subversive and conspiratorial in an X-files sort of way and well I definitely could have said it better but I was rather incensed and nervous for having to speak about this issue, but I felt it needed to be said so I did. From further study into their teachings, I have come to accept the position that that very danger is a presence within the New Apostolic reformation and regardless of whether they want to be characterized that way; even their own messages confirm that this is exactly what was happening.
After that message two people existed, many who agreed with me and my warnings about the teachings in YWAM and several who believed that I had intentionally taught that YWAM were the savage wolves Paul warned about.
My problem: I communicated poorly and didn’t intend to make a causal connection between YWAM and savage wolves but, truth be told, one could get that impression from what I said and for that, I knew reparations had to be made. The following was done:
1) The sermon tape was discontinued almost immediately
2) I went back over the pulpit the next Sunday, under the tutelage of my senor pastor (who returned quite shocked at what I had done) and clarified my true intent: YWAM is not all savage wolves but the teachings that are widely held and accepted were dangerous in my opinion and something needed to be said and done about it. I reaffirmed my love for everyone and made it clear that there was no personal attack involved.
All’s well that ends well. Right?” In some cases, Yes. But here well, needless to say I am no longer ministering at that Calvary Chapel or any Calvary Chapel right now for that matter. I had done the unthinkable! I had come against a group and a leader in that group that reacted sharply and quickly. I was basically “tarred and feathered” by many for saying what I had said. How dare I come against a move of God like YWAM? How dare I “come against” a man who had more good works in his little finger than the collective congregation had done? I was a “son of thunder” who “pulled all the feathers out of a chicken and could never ever put them all back in the right places”. These were accusations made by Calvary pastors here in Hawaii.
Danny Lehmann called me a “sower of discord that the lord hates” and “unworthy to take communion” because I had the “Blood of the saints on my hands”. He accused me of slandering Wagner and others with what I had said. Despite my repeated attempts to apologize and assure him that I never personally attacked him and had done the reparations required of me, he refused to forgive me. He didn’t accept my apology numerous times on the grounds that he didn’t believe I was sincere. In other words, I needed to be in debtor’s prison because of the irreparable damage that I had supposedly done. He also refused repeated attempts to meet with me to iron things out.
At the end of this second phone conversation in August 2001, Lehmann admitted to me that he had never even looked at what YWAM was teaching internationally. Was that true? If so, how could he have been so angered and accuse me of lying when he himself had not even seen what his own movement was teaching?
I made several attempts, working through my former pastor to have a face-to-face meeting to iron out our further difficulties but these meetings were refused by Lehmann. In fact, I wrote him a letter from India, delivered via my former pastor who also wanted reconciliation to take place, outlining my concerns about the situation and willingness to continue dialoguing. (Here’s that letter if anyone wants to read it: Click here)
Please understand dear reader that I acknowledge my sins in this arena before God and, of course would have said things differently and more carefully if I had the chance to do it all over again, BUT one thing I cannot recant or renounce: The entire point of this lengthy testimony is that YWAM as an organization needs to exhibit discernment and rectification of the damaging leaven that, in many cases, is present and accounted for within its DTS’s and the writings of its leaders. Its leaders should be the ones to take stands against the false teachings many are promoting within YWAM or they should “come out of her” and stop “repping” in our churches.
Their affiliations are also an issue. This has to be mentioned: Latest developments are Joy Dawson and Loren Cunningham have been connected with Benny Hinn, without question one of the worst teachers in the church today and a proven false prophet. What’s going on here? Is it not time to draw some real boundaries within YWAM in terms of who and what kind of ministries you will ally yourselves? How can I do anything other than warn young people from going to YWAM when the top leaders show such a frightening lack of discernment?
This is the point that got lost in the disarray caused by my bad communication and the resultant resentment towards me. Again, to go back would not mean to withdraw my concerns about YWAM because they have grown in the last year with the continued research into what is being taught. I will tell you this discerning reader; it is getting worse at an alarming speed. This brings us to the final section:
Parting shots
After the smoke cleared, I made more apologies and have always been willing to be corrected and rebuked. I must be willing to ‘take lumps” for my mistakes and sins. I have to humble myself often and when I do the Lord reveals areas that need fixing in my relationship with Him and other people. It is a process, not of cataloguing sins and remaining under guilt but of being open and pliable to the Holy Spirit’s conviction.
Mr. Lehmann and I have had another sit down meeting in Nov. 2002. At this meeting between Danny, myself and two Calvary pastors, some colleagues and I were characterized as divisive and attackers of the church for taking the stands we’ve taken. Lehmann referred to those of us in apologetic ministry as “terrorists” and “snipers”. (Lehmann supposedly apologized for making those remarks saying something to the effect that “He had sunk to our level by doing that.”) he actually justified the Hinn connection by attempting to cite Chuck Smith (Founder: Calvary Chapels) as being at least in partial support of Benny Hinn’s ministry by referring a call-in radio listener to attend one of Hinn’s meetings to see if God would heal her. (Can anyone in Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa or elsewhere confirm that idea? If so, contact me at alohasteve2002@yahoo.com ) Equally dreadful was his response to the real attack that C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation constitutes on today’s churches: Lehmann’s response when questioned was “God’s doing a ‘new thing’”.
Where do we hear that terminology? From where comes that rhetoric? The Third Wave movement itself. Combine this with the fact that this man has, unapologetically and without retraction, had Third Wave/First Nations Movement leaders like Richard Twiss, Lionne Siu, and others on his local radio show. These guys inundate Hawaii and Calvary Chapels with their aberrant viewpoints. YWAM leadership seems characterized by what can only be described to a loose adherence to doctrinal purity, and a refusal to judge rightly with discernment.
Lehmann (who is now a Calvary pastor) also alleged that Chuck Smith believed in apostles and prophets in the Church today implying that he held the same view as Wagner and others. (Can anyone who is familiar with Wagner’s idea of the restoration of apostolic and prophetic OFFICES in the Church today confirm that Chuck Smith holds that view? If so contact me at alohasteve2002@yahoo.com ). I, for one, cannot believe that Pastor Chuck holds the same Third Wave view as these new prophets.
The accusations made towards me and others were done in the presence of two Calvary Chapel pastors with whom I had worked in ministry. I won’t mention his mannerisms and obvious disdain for me. Truth was, Lehmann had refused to meet with me to reconcile and made it clear at this meeting that he’d rather not even be there.
Sadly, the emerging verdict was that I was “unloving” for questioning these things and taking stands against the possible infiltration of some Third Wave doctrine into Calvary Chapels. Last I checked, Calvary Chapel pastors were staunchly opposed to the shenanigans and heresies of Hinn and the other Faith teachers. I have heard many Calvary pastors almost “rail against” these men and the Trinity Broadcast Network, unapologetically labeling them “heretics” from the pulpit, in some cases. When the groundbreaking work, Christianity In Crisis (Hank Hanegraff, Christian Research Institute) came out, the reaction was outrage and outspokenness against Hinn and other Word/faith doctrines, yet today the stands seem to be softening in many cases. No thanks also to that wonderful little Jabez prayer, er, mantra.
I am pleased to report, though, that I had at least 20 encouraging responses from an open letter I sent out to some Calvary pastors across America outlining my concerns about YWAM. Most agreed that there were real problems that needed to be dealt with and more than one thanked me for standing. Several made it clear that they would not even think about letting their young people near YWAM because of local problems and high-level lack of discernment. I therefore conclude that the position of some of the Hawaii Calvary Chapels in this area is not necessarily representative of many Calvary Chapels across America. This gives me hope and vigor and, well, I’m a friend of Calvaries and will minister that way until I can no longer be of use.
I say all that to say this:
Are we overreacting? Are we taking “crazy pills”? Has something changed in the sentiment and direction of ministerial conviction among some Calvary pastors and so many others? Are we “unloving” and attackers of the Church now for pointing out the danger of being affiliated with someone who was characterized as a heretic by the same who now condemn our stance? What will be the future ramifications if good churches allow YWAM to be a viable missions option rather than investigating the Third Wave ties this organization is filled with?
As we finally draw this to a close, I want to make a few more things clear:
1) My current status: not officially working with Calvary Chapels and definitely not wavering in my stance towards being super concerned for where some of the Hawaii Calvaries are going and the continued downward spiral that YWAM is in.
2) I bear absolutely no ill will or animosity to anyone in YWAM personally but I am adamantly opposed and will remain so appalled at the teachings of the Third Wave movement and related heresies. It is shameful for any ministry to ally themselves with proven false prophets and if they don’t want to show discernment, they deserved to be black listed as viable missions options by the church that cares for biblical truth.
3) I am genuinely sorry for any fault I have had in how things turn out and ask all involved to continue to be open to any reparations the Lord tells me to make. Forgive me where necessary and feel free to contact me with anything you think I need to know. Dialogue is oh so healthy.
4) I want to talk about these issues. There is a great deal more that I could say in the above article but I’ve said enough.
I must stand by my current convictions: YWAM is not a wise choice for anyone interested in safe spiritual mission work at this time. See our other current as well as forthcoming articles for info on some areas of real concern in YWAM. False teaching has consequences both for the perpetrator and for the victim. Test all things by God’s Word and reject the false. Until YWAM leaders like Lehmann, Cunningham, Dawson, Greene and others make this effort we should abstain from sending our young people or going ourselves.
YWAMers, I love you guys and long to see you serving the Lord as discerning missionaries. Please make sure your DTS experience and teachings are in conformity with God’s Word and don’t let anyone teach you differently. May the Lord richly bless and keep you. Any response is welcome: alohasteve2002@yahoo.com
Calvary pastors and churchfolk everywhere: Please contact me and let me know I’m not taking “crazy pills”. Love you all in Christ Jesus. Steve Mitchell Gate Way Ministries India
An Open Letter to Calvary Chapel Pastors of America Concerning YWAM
From Steven Mitchell, Power To Stand Ministries
Sent: Feb. 2002
Dear reader, this is a copy of an open letter sent to many Calvary Chapel pastors in the United States outlining some existing concerns about affiliating with Youth With A Mission. I am pleased to report that I got almost 30 responses from concerned Calvary Chapel pastors/youth pastors. All received were favorable in that they agreed with the concerns I raised. In addition, several even shared specific incidences that confirmed these things. All were thankful that a stand was being taken and felt that it was a good thing that they weren’t the only ones with these concerns.
The response was less than favorable from those in YWAM who were forwarded this message. But it was good in that several YWAMers contacted their leaders and asked about these things. Although this is no way a pleasant situation, it is good to see that God is working in the hearts of the discerning ones in YWAM, at least to the extent that they gave these issues thought enough to question their leaders.
At the end of this message, I have included the sole response received from a married couple who are leaders in YWAM, but they stress the fact that they can, in no way, be considered representative voices for the group. Strangely, it seems that no one is yet willing to step up to the plate who can authoritatively speak for YWAM policies. This, in itself is cause for concern but I was happy to see that at least one couple in YWAM was moved to respond. In actuality, they did not send this response to me but it was forwarded to me by a concerned individual.
Again, I am including their response and my subsequent address of their points. The reason these correspondences are included is so that you can get somewhat of an idea of the issues involved and the difficulty in dealing with an organization that seems less than willing to have an active dialogue about the concerns raised. By God’s grace, perhaps the future will see a change in the predicament. Enjoy…
My Open Letter Sent to Calvary Chapel Pastors (USA) in Feb. 2002:
Dear Pastors and Overseers of Calvary Chapel,
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus. I trust this letter finds You seeking Him and shepherding the flock joyfully, skillfully and prayerfully.
By way of introduction, my name is Steven Mitchell. I live in Mililani, HI and have been actively serving the Lord and ministering to the People of God here in Calvary Chapels. I am currently involved in teaching A home fellowship and I have a heart for the multitudes of high school And college age folks here in HI. I'm also a missionary to Mumbai, India working in association with some Calvary Chapel mission teams.
I'm writing because my heart is heavy concerning what I believe is The advent of some serious danger into our fellowships. I pray that you will read this letter through and I have tried to condense the contents as much as possible. Calvary Chapels have always stood for the truth and the authority of God's Word and, throughout the years, made bold stands against the erroneous teachings of the Word-Faith movement and the cults. Defending the Faith has been a key tenet in the ministries of Calvary Chapel.
My concern lies with the massive mission organization, YWAM (Youth With A Mission). I don't know how widespread the associations are between Calvary Chapels and this organization elsewhere in the U.S. but I can tell you that it is popular as a mission's option here in HI for Calvary youth. I am writing this letter to you to voice my concerns about some dangerous teachings that have consistently worsened among many of YWAM's adherents.
I believe there is a potential spiritual health hazard awaiting many of our young people if we send them to D.T.S.s (YWAMs Discipleship Training Schools) for mission training, who are then sent to various mission fields across the globe carrying with them some very questionable teachings. I am not saying all YWAM bases are corrupt but as a pastor
I only wish to alert fellow pastors to the potential danger that may befall some of our precious youth as we send them abroad with YWAM.
There are several reasons I have felt the need to share my concerns about YWAM with you.
(1)Check out their web sites. You will find that there are articles concerning the ecumenical unions with the Roman Catholic church and the Charismatic Catholic renewal movement. This is cause for grave concern for any of us who have studied the teachings of Rome and have found many of them to be unbiblical. Union with these groups is only one facet of concern.
YWAM also endorses key teachers of the Third Wave hyper-charismatic movement (C. Peter Wagner, George Otis, Jr., John & Joy Dawson, and others). Adding to this point, I have been told by a YWAM regional leader that YWAM is so large and embraces so many groups that there is bound to be inherent error in the teachings at some bases. Sadly this has proven to be a true statement but is that a risk we should take with our youth?
(2) YWAM has ties with the false prophets and pseudo-apostles of C. Peter Wagner’s "New Apostolic Reformation". False prophets such as Mike Bickle, Bill Hamon, Jack Deere, Rick Joyner, and Cindy Jacobs (to name a few) are endorsed and some of their books sold in YWAM online bookstores. C. Peter Wagner and George Otis, Jr. materials are even published by YWAM Publishing. These books will be recommended reading for our young people as they enter the mission field with YWAM.
Concerning mission training and practices offered to new YWAMers, chief "apostle" C. Peter Wagner, John Dawson and Cindy Jacobs have been front people for the horrendously unbiblical spiritual warfare practices that YWAM has utilized on the mission field. Even a quick look at John Dawson's book "Taking Your Cities For God" (still recommended YWAM reading) should cause the red flags of discernment to go flying. We need not send our young people away to learn these unbiblical practices let alone "train them" to bring these teachings to other countries.
See Section Spiritual Warfare
(3) YWAM has and is currently endorsing authors and false teachers who are now in alliance with one of our nation's most fallacious televangelists and proven false prophet, Benny Hinn. Calvary Chapel has always taken strong stands against the ministries of Hinn and others of the Word-Faith movement and has always taught not to tolerate false prophets in the church.
Benny Hinn has had Joy Dawson of YWAM, Cindy Jacobs and Dutch Sheets (of the "apostolic movement") on his program numerous times in the past few months, and they all applauded and supported the "anointing" of Hinn as well as plugged their own ministries. My heart broke on the night of 1/10/02 when I saw Joy Dawson take the stage with Benny Hinn at his crusade in Honolulu and they shared of their joint plan of reaching Hawaii's youth. The testimony they gave that night concerning a previous youth gathering in Anaheim featured all the aberrant and heretical behaviors that Calvary has always refused to let in our churches. Benny himself announced Joy as being affiliated with YWAM.
To be in any way connected with this bizarre phenomenon is shameful. Joy Dawson on the night of the Hinn crusade, as a representative of YWAM, made no distinction between the agendas of YWAM and Hinn regarding our youth. This fact should move us to take a stand to preserve the spiritual health of our young people. In my opinion, YWAM must change its policies or we must withdraw our participation.
I am unable, within the confines of this letter, to share with you numerous personal testimonies of my youth friends who have been in some way negatively affected by the teachings or mission experiences with YWAM. I can provide you with specific documentation concerning the individuals above, YWAM's teachings and the presence of their books in YWAM bookstores upon request. Another source of info on some of the unbiblical practices of YWAM can be found at the following link:
http://op.50megs.com/ditc/fprophets.html#ywam
If you are unfamiliar with C. Peter Wagner, his ties to YWAM, and the agenda of the "New Apostolic Reformation", you may want to read about Wagner's affiliations here:
http://op.50megs.com/ditc/wagnerquotes.html
My heartfelt thanks to all of you who have read this far and it is my desire to hear from you fellow ministers of the Gospel on these matters. For documentation or questions concerning anything I've written, please contact me at:
alohasteve2002@yahoo.com
Please allow a few days for a response as I will be writing from India. Above all, may we continue steadfastly in our faith and never grow weary in our ministries for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and to our precious flocks that He has entrusted to us.
Thanks again, brothers. I look forward to hearing from you.
In Christ Jesus, to serve and to protect,
Steven Mitchell
Gateway Ministries/Answers For India/ Power To Stand Ministries
Read Response
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Index To Section 10C 
