2023 October

This week I learned that the co-founder of YWAM International, Loren Cunningham, had passed away. Loren was a wonderful, humble man who impacted the world for Jesus. He will be greatly missed by us all. So, it is with great sadness, that I share with you that our dear friend and YWAM International leader, Loren Cunningham, has graduated from this life into the presence of Jesus. He passed away peacefully October 6, 2023 at 4.20 AM at home in his sleep.

I ask that you would pray for his family, which are dear friends of mine: his wife Darlene; his grown children: daughter Karen; son David and wife Judy and their three children, Madi, Kenna, and Liam.

I lived in Lausanne Switzerland, during my film school, and Loren and Darlene were living there then too. I have also been privileged to work with both David & Karen. I worked with David on his first Feature Film, Beyond Paradise, filmed in Kona, Hawaii; and Karen worked with me on our Broadway Musical, Judah Ben Hur, in Singapore.

Official Announcement: Loren Cunningham is with Jesus

Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) went to be with Jesus on October 6, 2023 at the age of 88. 
 
Loren was the first person in history to travel for the sake of Christ and the Great Commission to every sovereign nation on earth, all dependent countries, and more than 100 territories (Mark 16:15). Now he has added one more “stamp” to his well-worn passport: HEAVEN!

Loren is often called the “de-regulator of missions” because he broke the 1960s missionary paradigm by creating opportunities for Youth to serve short-term, globally and unsalaried.  This foresight opened the floodgates so that millions could come FROM everywhere and go TO everywhere as missionaries around the globe to proclaim the truth of God and display His love.

The ministry he founded, Youth With A Mission, an ever-expanding global missions movement born in 1960, has reached into every nation on earth through evangelism, training and mercy ministries (YWAM.org).  Tens of thousands of full-time staff participate from 200+ countries and various denominations and Christian traditions, serving at over 2,000 YWAM locations in nearly 200 nations.  Millions have served in YWAM programs as students, short-term volunteers and full-time staff.

Many have credited YWAM as being among the world’s largest mission movements.  But when presented with this claim, Loren always deflected the glory to Jesus, saying, “Well, however large it is, it’s not large enough because Jesus’ last commandment to reach the whole world with the Gospel has not been completed.” He was well-known for his call to build bridges of unity within the body of Christ, always quick to recognize the scores of other missions and churches serving together in partnership.

A humble and godly man with a wonderful sense of humor, Loren was approachable and designed YWAM to be decentralized, emphasizing “Joe and Jane YWAMer,” not a leadership hierarchy.  When people would refer to him as “doctor” or “reverend,” he would quickly say, “Jesus was just Jesus, and I’m just Loren.  Please call me Loren.”

The Vision of Waves of Missions

Loren’s call to the Great Commission came while kneeling at the altar during a brush arbor revival meeting in 1948 at the age of 13.  God spoke to him through Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

This personal call was confirmed by a vision – a mental movie – that he saw as he was preparing to minister in the Bahamas in 1956 (YWAMValues.com).  He was staying in a missionary’s home, kneeling beside the bed, praying in preparation to speak that night.  He says, “Suddenly, I was looking at a map of the world, only the map was alive and moving!  I could see all the continents, and waves were crashing onto their shores.  Each wave went onto a continent, then receded, then came up further until it covered the continent completely.  The waves became young people–kids my age and even younger–covering all the continents of the globe.  They were talking to people on street corners and outside bars.  They were going from house to house and preaching the Gospel.  They came from everywhere and went everywhere, caring for people.  Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the scene was gone.” (Excerpt from Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham with Janice Rogers, YWAM Publishing.)

Global initiatives launched under Loren’s leadership include King’s Kids International, the University of the Nations, YWAM Ships (28 vessels currently serve the most isolated islands and coastlands), and myriads of other ministries birthed by leaders he inspired.

The future of YOUTH With A Mission, University of the Nations, and YWAM Ships is in good hands!  The largest number of leaders and volunteers in YWAM are young.  They are confident, capable and committed to leading YWAM into all God has for the coming 60+ years.

Loren’s Background

Born in Taft, California, Loren’s family heritage was rich with generations of Christian ministers.  He married Darlene Scratch in 1963, who had an equally rich Christian ministry background and complementary leadership call, and from that point, they led YWAM together.  He was the apostolic visionary, and she was the people/team developer and implementer.

Loren’s educational background includes three Bachelor’s degrees, a Master of Science in Administration of Education, and three Honorary Doctorates.  He authored six books:  Is That Really You, God?  (translated into more than 150 languages), Making Jesus Lord, Daring to Live on the Edge, Why Not Women?, The Book that Transforms Nations—the Power of the Bible to Change Any Country, We Can End Bible Poverty Now and No Boundaries.

Loren is survived by his beloved wife, Darlene Joy Scratch-Cunningham; his daughter, Karen Joy Cunningham; his son, David Loren Cunningham (Judith Fitts-Cunningham); and three grandchildren, Madison Grace, Kenna Faith and Liam Reid.

Thank you for your prayers for the Cunningham family and for YWAM during this time. May the peace of God be with each of you today as we mourn together as the global family of YWAM.

Know that we love you, we believe in you, and we are praying for you!