Over the years, one of the key words to us as YWAM Perth has been Acts 1:8 – the conviction that God is calling us to reach out simultaneously to our “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.” We’d like to spotlight a wonderful example of that from last month – two initiatives that ran at the same time with very different geographic focuses. 

In April we helped run the Djeran camp for Indigenous kids here in Perth, while Remarks, our photojournalism ministry, reached out in Central Asia. Two very different projects, one very faithful God!  

Right after Easter, Djeran Camp was held for local Indigenous youth (Djeran is the Nyoongar word for Autumn). This camp was birthed 13 years ago from a burden on the heart of Petrina Neufeld, a local Indigenous Christian leader. As YWAM Perth, we’ve been supporting this vision and helping to run the camp since 2012. The aim of the camp is to provide a context for young Indigenous folks to encounter Jesus, and be encouraged, mentored and championed. Some kids come from very challenging circumstances, and it is so meaningful to see God show up in the midst of all they are going through. 

Kayleigh, a YWAM Perth staff member who served with the camp, shares this story: 

“God gave me the wonderful opportunity to witness His love moving throughout these kids! The first night we were praying over the rooms and one of the girls asked sternly that we not pray for her. We acknowledged her request and moved on to the next room. Yet by the end of the camp, in just four short days, the Lord had worked on her heart. As the campers got ready for bed the last night, she asked if we could read the Bible out loud over their room. The room that night was so full of God's love and peace. It was truly amazing to see how God is reaching His children.”

Meanwhile, a staff team headed up by our Remarks photojournalism ministry spent three weeks in two Central Asian nations. They served alongside long-term workers, ran a photography seminar for Afghan refugees, did home visits in villages, documented what God is doing in the region and served with a Christian youth conference (an unprecedented opportunity in a region with a Christian population of 1%). The team was very impacted by the faith and perseverance of local believers and long-term Christian workers in the face of persecution and challenge.   

One of the team members, Liam, shares this story of a “divine appointment” they had to share with a local couple: 

“We walked around a landmark mosque, seeing if there's anyone to talk to. Somehow this couple bumped into our group, and we started chatting with them. We got on the topic of faith. Being at a mosque it was quite a natural conversation topic. Some of our team started to share the gospel, which the couple hadn't heard the full extent of. One of our team got a word for the girl, which was really specific to her current situation with her family. She was really impacted by it. They started to leave, but came back and the girl asked 'How did you know this? There's just no way you could have known. How did God tell you this?’ 

“One of the girls from our group shared her testimony and more about God and prayed for her. The local girl was really touched, and totally lit up. She was super thankful and smiling. Then the couple went on their way. We were very grateful to plant that seed in her heart. Thankfully, we were with a regional team looking to pioneer a long-term work in the nation we were visiting. They got her contact details, and plan to connect with her next time they are there.”

It’s so encouraging to see how God uses our availability and obedience near and far, in individual lives and in communities. We know your prayers are crucial in helping to see further doors opened to the gospel, so thank you for standing with us in His purposes. And please let us know how we can be praying for you in your “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria” or "the ends of the earth."

Blessings,

Mariecia, Caleb and Ari

Directors of YWAM Perth