| Author | Message | ||
     frightened_mom (frightened_mom) New member Username: frightened_mom Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 67.48.30.219 |
Has anyone had any dealings with an organization called Youth With A Mission. I'm scared to death they are a cult and I'll never get my daughter back. I've been researching on the internet and have read where they brainwash the kids that go to their discipleship training course and mission work. I'm so afraid that once they get her she'll never come back, or worse, she'll be scared for life. Please...If anyone knows anything PLEASE help me. She wants to drop out of college for this and has scholarships. I'm at my wits end!! | ||
| whoohoo (whoohoo) New member Username: whoohoo Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.107.120.24 |
Hi there, I went ahead and checked out the official website itself and it seems pretty much okay. Almost like going to a University for God.  I just think in todays world if person wants to get into religion, ministry and helping others and also closer to God, it would be so much better than going to a regular university, spending tons of money and also don't forget about all the "partying" that goes on while she is away! Who is to say after she graduates that she is guaranteed a job? Many new college graduates these days are finding it harder and harder to find jobs after graduation. Sad but true... I don't know... I just say, God Bless Your Daughter, she is heading in the right direction and don't you worry so much!  | ||
| saint_nate (saint_nate) New member Username: saint_nate Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 66.92.232.98 |
Apparently the previous poster is either a poor and gullible researcher or a practiced liar. Here's the real research: http://www.rickross.com/reference/youth/youth1.html http://www.apologeticsindex.org/y05.html http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/ywam.htm http://cultinfobooks.com/detail.asp?product_id=CSJ03-02D http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/ywamapostasy.html If you want more, put "youth with a mission" and "cult" into Google. You'll find it. | ||
| whoohoo (whoohoo) New member Username: whoohoo Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.107.117.46 |
I wasn't checking it out in "DEPTH" in which the way you did. Also, I was only trying to "cheer" her up a tad. Nobody had any idea that YOU went through such a horrible experience by just joining this church?! How strange?!I am so sorry for what happened to you, what you had to go through! Look how "STRONG" you are now!  | ||
| saint_nate (saint_nate) New member Username: saint_nate Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 66.92.232.98 |
No need to feel sorry for me. I was never involved with YWAM, and am no stronger for an experience I've never had. I also have absolutely no idea how I gave you the idea that I was involved with them at any point. If jumping to conclusions were an Olympic event, you'd win the gold for distance but wouldn't even place in the accuracy category. What you called "trying to 'cheer' her up a tad" I call "giving deliberately bad advice." Looking at the website for a suspected cult is NOT a good, critical method of evaluating their claims. If you want to find the truth, it helps to check the detractors' statements. You don't need to know much about critical thinking to know that. And if you doubt that criteria, test it by using the Hare Krishnas as an example. Here's a start: http://www.iskcon.com/ The fact is, this is a woman concerned with her daughter's well-being - and rightfully so. This is not a time to "'cheer' her up a tad," it's a time to collect enough data to make an informed decision. | ||
| ryan (ryan) New member Username: ryan Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 208.254.22.50 |
HELLO: this is incredible | ||
| whoohoo (whoohoo) New member Username: whoohoo Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.107.134.189 |
ad hominem of no value deleted by the Ghost (Message edited by admin on December 10, 2004) | ||
| whoohoo (whoohoo) New member Username: whoohoo Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.107.114.196 |
Oh "give me a break"! Ghost?! Why don't you delete Miss "Stick up the bum" attitude's post as well? I am going to say it like it is and I will say it again... to Miss "Saint You Ain't", why don't you pull that stick out of your bum hole and come down about a hundred notches or so! I don't think there was any reason what so ever to be such a biiiaaatttch!  What a loser... | ||
| whoohoo (whoohoo) New member Username: whoohoo Post Number: 24 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.107.136.46 |
I can't believe it! You innocently reply to someone and here come's along miss Wendy the "Wench"!  Who has to be the sarcastic "Bitch" none the less... LOL! Thanks Saint_it ain't! "Hahaha"!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| lindsey374 (lindsey374) New member Username: lindsey374 Post Number: 12 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 24.20.106.194 |
YWAM is awesome! I have many friends whop have worked with them or gone to theyre schools and they are amazing tools for the kingdom. One thing you have to understand is america doenst usually understand what it takes to be a Christian.. for some it will cost theyre lives. I am a missionary (not with YWAM) and some may view me to be extreme that I put my life in danger all the time for the cause of Christ but I see it as a blessing. Missionaries live on a different wave length hehe and though it may be hard to understand yoru daughter is in Gods will. YWAM is a great place to do missions through. | ||
| coconutmom (coconutmom) New member Username: coconutmom Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 71.99.164.194 |
To the mother who originally posted to this thread: You have a right to fear for your child. There are many who seek to use youth for their own gain. I have run into a few myself. As a mother myself I choose to be as involved in my childrens affairs as well. It is our job to help them to make good choices. Not enough parents STAY involved in their childrens lives. My advice: Stick to your gut feeling, pray and research, research, research! | ||
| hurdygurdygurl (hurdygurdygurl) New member Username: hurdygurdygurl Post Number: 14 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.116.113.31 |
YWAM - Youth With A Mission is an organization I have been involved with. I did a DTS - Discipleship Training School in Australia in 1987. YWAM is either a good or bad experience, depending on the people in leadership. There could be some controlling folks. I pray your daughter will be safe. For support and comfort, please go to YWAM Associates at: http://www.ywamassociates.com/ This is a safe place for those who have been involved with YWAM. Perhaps, you can find some hope and understanding here. Thank you frightened_mom for your post. May you find peace at this time. Pray for wisdom. May God be with you. | ||
| kt1 (kt1) New member Username: kt1 Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 80.235.133.150 |
I spent 2 years in a YWAM greenhouse,being brain washed and programmed to follow and obey their rules and teachings.I was forced to wash feet as a repentance for my sins!!!!! Don't end her there. Sure she will be thinking she is having a great time whilst there, but as soon as she leaves she will realise exactly what had happened to her there and will spend the rest of her life trying to undo the damage they cause. | ||
| rachelengland (rachelengland) Intermediate Member Username: rachelengland Post Number: 200 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 69.128.222.206 |
sounds fun to me | ||
| munchkin (munchkin) New member Username: munchkin Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 62.255.32.17 |
while it is good to be cautious it is not good to be to controling. For starters it might just push your daughter further away. Why not go with her to the local YWAM and see for your slef what happens there. Ask her before you go, and tell her in as unemotioanl terms as possible, that you just want to make sure she'll be safe, same as if she was going to any other non-religous college/Uni. I know that this seems weak, but it is a good step that you can find out more info, buys you some time to reasearch from all angles pros and cons. and won't/shouldn't alianate you from your daughter. I offer this as someone who works with Teens from all backgrounds good luck and rember not everything that seems odd is a cult. to the person who linked to the Hare Krishan site. What was your meaning it was unclear to me? love becca | ||
| rachelengland (rachelengland) Intermediate Member Username: rachelengland Post Number: 251 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 69.128.222.206 |
wow becca you are just full of info and those smiling faces just charming -listen when i was 18 i went on a ywam missions trip we traveled in a yellow school bus from the midwest to mexico-i had a blast-there was a quote i wrote down in the back of the my Bible that i learned from them and it comes to mind often-blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bended-you can imagine how handy that has been for me in many of my practices-especially yoga-love rachel ..... | ||
| rachelengland (rachelengland) Intermediate Member Username: rachelengland Post Number: 252 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 69.128.222.206 |
oh and another funny story about that trip-we all went to a little dispensa(market) and bought matching t-shirts and shorts that said Corona all over them-we had no idea this was a great mexican beer-we wore them to church on Sunday to give testimonials you can imagine the looks we received-oh those were the days of the innocence.... | ||
| jimito (jimito) New member Username: jimito Post Number: 18 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 4.159.113.12 |
great story!! I could see the pastors face when you all stood in front of the church-awesome! | ||
| mymamma (mymamma) New member Username: mymamma Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 24.9.184.25 |
My daughter just came back from a YWAM DTS and OUtreach. In retrospect, I would have not allowed her to go and spend her entire college fund in a mere 5 months and come back with irresponsible and foolish ideals. I am a Christian, but she is living in another realm of what she believes and how she thinks she can live. At 19 we are all idealistic and have dreams, but she has been brainwashed! | ||
| heartlander (heartlander) New member Username: heartlander Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 66.74.8.205 |
My heart and prayers go out to you, Frightened_Mom, as your concerns are legitimate. | ||
| whoohoo (whoohoo) New member Username: whoohoo Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 24.4.252.172 |
To mymamma, you need to act now and do something to get her out of that, otherwise you will lose her! | ||
| pilgrim Intermediate Member Username: pilgrim Post Number: 217 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 195.93.21.134 |
To everyone: Go to the Religious Cults and Sects section of this discussion board and you will find more information about YWAM. | ||
| scaredmom7 New member Username: scaredmom7 Post Number: 3 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 24.12.83.198 |
Our daughter has been involved with a creep from this organization since meeting him last summer. Since he came into her life and started "helping her grow", she has separated from her best friend and totally alienated herself from her family. Yesterday her grades from college came in. Last year GPA: 3.65. This fall: 1.07. She lies, sneaks around to see him, and slanders all of us. She is flat broke- she pays for everything because he's saving to go back to DTS and another "mission." Parents, DO ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO TO KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY FROM THIS NEST OF VIPERS!!!!!! And please, pray for ours. | ||
| robere New member Username: robere Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 165.118.1.50 |
I realise that her posting is dated (2005!), but I cannot believe that Hurdygurdygurl referred someone to YWAM Associates Inc for 'support and comfort'. It's a bit like referring someone to a company's head office staff for advice on being ripped off by the staff of one of the company's branches. While this approach may help with a company that has a strong commitment to ethical governance, it may not help in many other cases. Regrettably, the inclination of many organisations would be to 'cover up' the problem and do a 'feel good slime job' on the complainant. I note that the RickRoss site published a good account of one poor fellow who did complain about YWAM leadership at the Maui base and in the end was branded some sought of litigious complainant. Now rather than expending so much of my time and energy complaining after the horse has bolted, my suggestion would be to read the growing volume of worrying comments about YWAM experiences from a wide variety of individuals and then weigh up the probability of risk before you enter. It appears that YWAM, despite their assurances otherwise, still have a long way to go to ensure standardised high quality organisational governance across their worldwide network of bases. They actually have a legal RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that this is done to the very best of their ability. Otherwise they may well face a very expensive class action from an apparent growing throng of disenfranchised, psychologically injured individuals, and/or individuals who believe they have been financially duped. That’s the opinion I’m drawing from the plethora of negative comments. The matter of industrial health and safety laws also appears to be relevant to this matter and these laws also include responsibility for the psychological safety of individuals. If YWAM is working on this matter, can someone point me to their documentation that addresses this issue? I am open to input from both sides of the argument, but so far am coming to the conclusion that there are a lot of complainants, but few valid refutations of the legitimacy of these complaints. | ||
| robere New member Username: robere Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 165.118.1.50 |
I realise that her posting is dated (2005!), but I cannot believe that Hurdygurdygurl referred someone to YWAM Associates Inc for 'support and comfort'. It's a bit like referring someone to a company's head office staff for advice on being ripped off by the staff of one of the company's branches. While this approach may help with a company that has a strong commitment to ethical governance, it may not help in many other cases. Regrettably, the inclination of many organisations would be to 'cover up' the problem and do a 'feel good slime job' on the complainant. I note that the RickRoss site published a good account of one poor fellow who did complain about YWAM leadership at the Maui base and in the end was branded some sought of litigious complainant. Now rather than expending so much of my time and energy complaining after the horse has bolted, my suggestion would be to read the growing volume of worrying comments about YWAM experiences from a wide variety of individuals and then weigh up the probability of risk before you enter. It appears that YWAM, despite their assurances otherwise, still have a long way to go to ensure standardised high quality organisational governance across their worldwide network of bases. They actually have a legal RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that this is done to the very best of their ability. Otherwise they may well face a very expensive class action from an apparent growing throng of disenfranchised, psychologically injured individuals, and/or individuals who believe they have been financially duped. That’s the opinion I’m drawing from the plethora of negative comments. The matter of industrial health and safety laws also appears to be relevant to this matter and these laws also include responsibility for the psychological safety of individuals. If YWAM is working on this matter, can someone point me to their documentation that addresses this issue? I am open to input from both sides of the argument, but so far am coming to the conclusion that there are a lot of complainants, but few valid refutations of the legitimacy of these complaints. | ||
| robere New member Username: robere Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 165.118.1.50 |
I realise that her posting is dated (2005!), but I cannot believe that Hurdygurdygurl referred someone to YWAM Associates Inc for 'support and comfort'. It's a bit like referring someone to a company's head office staff for advice on being ripped off by the staff of one of the company's branches. While this approach may help with a company that has a strong commitment to ethical governance, it may not help in many other cases. Regrettably, the inclination of many organisations would be to 'cover up' the problem and do a 'feel good slime job' on the complainant. I note that the RickRoss site published a good account of one poor fellow who did complain about YWAM leadership at the Maui base and in the end was branded some sought of litigious complainant. Now rather than expending so much of my time and energy complaining after the horse has bolted, my suggestion would be to read the growing volume of worrying comments about YWAM experiences from a wide variety of individuals and then weigh up the probability of risk before you enter. It appears that YWAM, despite their assurances otherwise, still have a long way to go to ensure standardised high quality organisational governance across their worldwide network of bases. They actually have a legal RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that this is done to the very best of their ability. Otherwise they may well face a very expensive class action from an apparent growing throng of disenfranchised, psychologically injured individuals, and/or individuals who believe they have been financially duped. That’s the opinion I’m drawing from the plethora of negative comments. The matter of industrial health and safety laws also appears to be relevant to this matter and these laws also include responsibility for the psychological safety of individuals. If YWAM is working on this matter, can someone point me to their documentation that addresses this issue? I am open to input from both sides of the argument, but so far am coming to the conclusion that there are a lot of complainants, but few valid refutations of the legitimacy of their complaints. | ||
| maryland2004567 New member Username: maryland2004567 Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 69.140.166.136 |
I think we should go back to the origin, how to save the daughter, not detract the topic and chat personal. One suggestion is good, we may terminate this topic and go to Religious Cults and Sects section for practical solutions. The above three notes are confusing. Bye. | ||
| robere New member Username: robere Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 165.118.1.50 |
Isn't the idea of this site to provide facts? Unfortunately though, providing convincing facts is sometimes a lengthy exercise and more so if one is to add some details of the context in which the author gathered his or her facts (that I see as part of the validation process). I agree that the original question raised in this thread was about a mother dealing with anxiety about a daughter getting involved in YWAM. Perhaps we won't solve her problem with anxiety because we are adding additional information about why people should steer clear of YWAM. This information can only add to anxiety. I for one have prepared a lengthy comment about the first chapter in Dean Sherman's book about Spiritual Warfare. Mr Sherman is after all, one of YWAM's leading lights and his philosophy about spiritual warfare is taught at about every YWAM location around the world. I was actually a personal witness to the events described in this particular chapter of Mr Sherman's book and will post a refutation of his views, but not at this site sadly because of the complaints about the length of comments. I will however take the time to revisit factnet and list the website where I will make the posting. Regrettably my refutation is necessarily lengthy as a result of my desire to post all the facts in a manner that will be convincing to readers (including current members of YWAM who may be skeptics of any criticism of YWAM philosophy). I will include information that will provide clear evidence to Mr Sherman that I was indeed present at this sentinel event. Cheers, Robere | ||
| robere New member Username: robere Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 165.118.1.50 |
Sorry about the 3 postings of the same comment dated December 3. I have no idea why this occurred and apologise that valuable web space has been used unnecessarily. Robere |
