The Mission Adventures Story
It was 1986. Sean Lambert was praying about mobilizing students for missions. As he prayed, Sean believed God asked him, “Do you believe Me for 1,000 youth each year?” Full of faith and vision Sean responded, “Yes, Lord. I believe!” Working from YWAM Los Angeles, Sean got on the phone to mobilize students. That year 30 people travelled to Mexico City to distribute Bibles.
Discouraged, but undaunted, Sean doubled his efforts. He organized trips to Mexico, to Europe, and even Around the World bicycle trips. Still only 85 kids participated in 1987.
Then a youth pastor named Charlie Morales called. He said he wanted his whole youth group to experience a short-term outreach. He said that most trips were too far, too long and too expensive. Charlie and Sean worked out a 12-day trip to Tijuana, Mexico for $129. Charlie brought forty kids.
A light went on for Sean. Whole groups, including their leaders, were fired up for missions. From then on, Sean focused on mobilizing groups.
Fast forward to 1991. 1,000 kids were trained at the YWAM center in Los Angeles and went on outreach in Tijuana. God’s question to Sean had been answered. That same year Sean was commissioned by YWAM LA to pioneer a new center in Tijuana.
Fast forward to 1996. The LA to TJ program was maxed out. YWAM TJ was at full bore, hosting more than 3,000 people each year. Other YWAM centers were calling, asking Sean how he did it. Sean assembled a team to develop a way to multiply the program.
In 1997 the Mission Adventures Network was launched as a coalition of YWAM centers across North America. They dedicated themselves to providing easy access to missions for youth groups. Total participation in 1997 topped 4,000 people.
Fast forward to today. More than 30 YWAM centers in a dozen nations have joined the Mission Adventures Network. Since ‘97 more than 42, 000 young people have participated in a Mission Adventures outreach.