Week #1: Why We are Here: A Framework for Action
Janna Moats - Since joining Youth With A Mission (YWAM) staff in 1997, Janna has continually held a focus on women and children at risk. She has developed courses and seminars for training and empowering those working with women and children at risk as well as mobilizing the Church to focus on critical social issues. Her desire to stand with the widow and orphan led to the formation of the Women & Children’s Advocacy Centre. Before her involvement in YWAM, Janna was a teacher, school administrator and espresso café owner. Widowed in 1997, she has two grown children and four grandchildren.
Janna Moats - Since joining Youth With A Mission (YWAM) staff in 1997, Janna has continually held a focus on women and children at risk. She has developed courses and seminars for training and empowering those working with women and children at risk as well as mobilizing the Church to focus on critical social issues. Her desire to stand with the widow and orphan led to the formation of the Women & Children’s Advocacy Centre. Before her involvement in YWAM, Janna was a teacher, school administrator and espresso café owner. Widowed in 1997, she has two grown children and four grandchildren.
Week #2: Inner Healing
Christy Scott has been involved in missions and inner healing through her parents' ministry (Safe Harbor) from the time she was 5. She is currently living in Costa Rica and traveling around to other countries teaching on the Father's heart and how to "encounter" Jesus so that His love and Truth chases away the lies. Her heart is to see the Body of Christ built up in the Foundation of who He is so that they can be who they were created to be...
Christy Scott has been involved in missions and inner healing through her parents' ministry (Safe Harbor) from the time she was 5. She is currently living in Costa Rica and traveling around to other countries teaching on the Father's heart and how to "encounter" Jesus so that His love and Truth chases away the lies. Her heart is to see the Body of Christ built up in the Foundation of who He is so that they can be who they were created to be...
Week # 3: Applying the Spheres
Colleen Milstein was born and raised in South Africa where she later spent ten years working with the disenfranchised in various contexts, such as the Vrygrond squatter camp outside Cape Town. At the same time, she received her Bachelor's degrees in Theology and Development from the University of South Africa. In 2000, she moved to Switzerland where she was director of the University of the Nations (YWAM's university) campus in Burtigny. Here she became involved with the work of the Women and Children's Advocacy Centre and in April, 2010, joined as fulltime staff. Among other things, she leads a course on critical thinking from a Biblical perspective, and lectures widely on justice issues and the church's engagement within the complexity of poverty and injustice.
Colleen Milstein was born and raised in South Africa where she later spent ten years working with the disenfranchised in various contexts, such as the Vrygrond squatter camp outside Cape Town. At the same time, she received her Bachelor's degrees in Theology and Development from the University of South Africa. In 2000, she moved to Switzerland where she was director of the University of the Nations (YWAM's university) campus in Burtigny. Here she became involved with the work of the Women and Children's Advocacy Centre and in April, 2010, joined as fulltime staff. Among other things, she leads a course on critical thinking from a Biblical perspective, and lectures widely on justice issues and the church's engagement within the complexity of poverty and injustice.
Week # 4: Behavior and Behavior Management
Michelle Grimes - I have taught in an urban school district for fourteen years. For three years, I taught fourth grade. For all my other years, I have taught 5th grade. I have had all kinds of students from a variety of backgrounds. I have had some major discipline issues ranging in their diagnosis. Twice I have been named star teacher by my staff who have named my relationships with my students as one of the reasons I have been selected. In all my background as a teacher, I have employed several different discipline strategies and have tried various methods of reaching my class. I have lead class meeting, been a part of groups to train students as leaders, and have seen students successfully tested out of their special education status. I have discovered with patience, lots of prayer, and a positive attitude, one can reach most students no matter how challenging they are.
Working within a poverty community, I have also discovered several things about how to work with others. I have had ELL training ( English as a second language) training due to the high number of second language students in our community. I learned not only ways to better help and understand my students, but also how I went through some of the same stages as these students, because of my choice to be a part of a community not my own. I have witnessed the struggles of the inner city community, been frustated over them, but more importantly I have developed more of a compassionate understanding for those I am in community with. I have become a part of them by living among them, attending their churches, and most importantly developing friendships and family-like relationships with people in the inner city.
I also worked within a inner city youth group at one time in my life. We worked with twelve year olds through high school age. I witnessed many fights, moments of violence, and undisciplined youth. It was a weekly challenge to be able to teach them anything about our faith. Yet I also saw windows of opportunities, where truth flooded one youth, and it was all worth the struggle. We know longer run the youth group due to the leaders moving, yet I maintain relationships with several of them. I have two beautiful god-daughters from one of the youth, that I have been able to be a part of their lives.
Michelle Grimes - I have taught in an urban school district for fourteen years. For three years, I taught fourth grade. For all my other years, I have taught 5th grade. I have had all kinds of students from a variety of backgrounds. I have had some major discipline issues ranging in their diagnosis. Twice I have been named star teacher by my staff who have named my relationships with my students as one of the reasons I have been selected. In all my background as a teacher, I have employed several different discipline strategies and have tried various methods of reaching my class. I have lead class meeting, been a part of groups to train students as leaders, and have seen students successfully tested out of their special education status. I have discovered with patience, lots of prayer, and a positive attitude, one can reach most students no matter how challenging they are.
Working within a poverty community, I have also discovered several things about how to work with others. I have had ELL training ( English as a second language) training due to the high number of second language students in our community. I learned not only ways to better help and understand my students, but also how I went through some of the same stages as these students, because of my choice to be a part of a community not my own. I have witnessed the struggles of the inner city community, been frustated over them, but more importantly I have developed more of a compassionate understanding for those I am in community with. I have become a part of them by living among them, attending their churches, and most importantly developing friendships and family-like relationships with people in the inner city.
I also worked within a inner city youth group at one time in my life. We worked with twelve year olds through high school age. I witnessed many fights, moments of violence, and undisciplined youth. It was a weekly challenge to be able to teach them anything about our faith. Yet I also saw windows of opportunities, where truth flooded one youth, and it was all worth the struggle. We know longer run the youth group due to the leaders moving, yet I maintain relationships with several of them. I have two beautiful god-daughters from one of the youth, that I have been able to be a part of their lives.
Week # 5: Justice and the Character and Nature of God
Scott Freeman is from California and has served in YWAM since 1996 in Kona, Switzerland, South Africa, many countries in South East Asia and now lives in Central America full time. Scott has a B.S. in social services from University of the Nations has worked the last three years at YWAM San Jose leading Children at Risk Schools and Compassion DTS’s - helping train young leaders who will be advocates and workers for children at risk around the world. Most recently, he began pioneering a new work in Jaco, Costa Rica, reaching out to at-risk children and youth.
Scott Freeman is from California and has served in YWAM since 1996 in Kona, Switzerland, South Africa, many countries in South East Asia and now lives in Central America full time. Scott has a B.S. in social services from University of the Nations has worked the last three years at YWAM San Jose leading Children at Risk Schools and Compassion DTS’s - helping train young leaders who will be advocates and workers for children at risk around the world. Most recently, he began pioneering a new work in Jaco, Costa Rica, reaching out to at-risk children and youth.
Week # 6: Project Planning and Development
Lance Rawlins was born and raised in South Africa and began working with YWAM in Cape Town in 1993. He served in several different roles over the years with an emphasis on development in Southern Africa. In 2005, he moved to Switzerland where he worked in leadership development and pursued his degree in Business Management which he has been able to use in training grass-roots projects in developing their financial systems. He currently heads up the Field Connections Program within the Women and Children's Advocacy Centre which focuses on capacity building and empowerment of initiatives to women and children at risk in the developing world.
Lance Rawlins was born and raised in South Africa and began working with YWAM in Cape Town in 1993. He served in several different roles over the years with an emphasis on development in Southern Africa. In 2005, he moved to Switzerland where he worked in leadership development and pursued his degree in Business Management which he has been able to use in training grass-roots projects in developing their financial systems. He currently heads up the Field Connections Program within the Women and Children's Advocacy Centre which focuses on capacity building and empowerment of initiatives to women and children at risk in the developing world.
Week # 7: Mini-Outreach in Nicaragua
Week # 8: Child Growth and Development
Leslie Freeman is from Virginia and has served in YWAM since 1997 in Denver, Kona, Cambodia, Thailand, Switzerland, South Africa and now lives in Costa Rica with her husband and four boys ages 7, 5, 3, and 1. Leslie has a B.S. in social services from University of the Nations and a M.A. in Education from Regent University. Leslie’s current ministry is to her four boys – homeschooling and raising them, but her heart and passion is also for children at risk.
Leslie Freeman is from Virginia and has served in YWAM since 1997 in Denver, Kona, Cambodia, Thailand, Switzerland, South Africa and now lives in Costa Rica with her husband and four boys ages 7, 5, 3, and 1. Leslie has a B.S. in social services from University of the Nations and a M.A. in Education from Regent University. Leslie’s current ministry is to her four boys – homeschooling and raising them, but her heart and passion is also for children at risk.
Week # 9: Street Children
Mati and Julie Gali are based in Recife, Brazil. Mati has leadership of the YWAM base where their focus is ministering to the street children. Over the years they have seen the work develop and make a real difference in the lives of many children.
Mati and Julie Gali are based in Recife, Brazil. Mati has leadership of the YWAM base where their focus is ministering to the street children. Over the years they have seen the work develop and make a real difference in the lives of many children.
Week # 10: Human Trafficking
Rochelle Potter was born and raised in Japan where her parents worked as career missionaries for OMF International. She moved to Portland, Oregon in 1996 and pursued a degree in Biblical Theology and Communications. Upon completion of her degree, Rochelle moved to South Korea where she was a high-school teacher for four years, and during this time started a ministry to support and aid Korean women working in prostitution. Over the next several years, the plight of people enslaved in the sex trade became a major priority for Rochelle and she spent time traveling through Eastern Europe to do research on the problem in this region. Eventually moving to Salem, Oregon, she continued to pursue her passion to find freedom for victims of human trafficking around the world and in August 2010 she joined the Women and Children's Advocacy Centre as part of the Anti-Human Trafficking team.
Rochelle Potter was born and raised in Japan where her parents worked as career missionaries for OMF International. She moved to Portland, Oregon in 1996 and pursued a degree in Biblical Theology and Communications. Upon completion of her degree, Rochelle moved to South Korea where she was a high-school teacher for four years, and during this time started a ministry to support and aid Korean women working in prostitution. Over the next several years, the plight of people enslaved in the sex trade became a major priority for Rochelle and she spent time traveling through Eastern Europe to do research on the problem in this region. Eventually moving to Salem, Oregon, she continued to pursue her passion to find freedom for victims of human trafficking around the world and in August 2010 she joined the Women and Children's Advocacy Centre as part of the Anti-Human Trafficking team.
Week # 11 Attachment Disorder and Celebrating Children
Greg Burch (Ph.D.) will be speaking on Celebrating Children. He is a professor at ESEPA Seminary in San José, Costa Rica where he teaches in cross-cultural studies and children at risk issues. After a ministry of six years in Caracas, Venezuela among street-living and working children Greg is now dedicating his time to global research and advocacy on behalf of children at risk. Greg is author of the book, Community Children: A Ministry of Hope and Restoration to the Street Dwelling Child. Greg is married to Christina and they have two children and currently reside in Portland, OR. They serve with the Latin America Mission.
Leslie Freeman will be speaking on Attachment Disorder.
Greg Burch (Ph.D.) will be speaking on Celebrating Children. He is a professor at ESEPA Seminary in San José, Costa Rica where he teaches in cross-cultural studies and children at risk issues. After a ministry of six years in Caracas, Venezuela among street-living and working children Greg is now dedicating his time to global research and advocacy on behalf of children at risk. Greg is author of the book, Community Children: A Ministry of Hope and Restoration to the Street Dwelling Child. Greg is married to Christina and they have two children and currently reside in Portland, OR. They serve with the Latin America Mission.
Leslie Freeman will be speaking on Attachment Disorder.
Week # 12 Immigrants and Refugees
Phil Gazley is the Social Justice Ministries Coordinator for the Youth With a Mission Network of City Initiatives. Phil was previously a Pastor in the UK and an area director with YWAM inCanada. Since 2000 Phil has specialized in issues relating to human trafficking and refugee resettlement. With anti trafficking work, Phil is a trainer of law enforcement and social service providers and is a research assistant with the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. He also provides practical tools for involvement for YWAM bases around the world. With refugee resettlement, Phil trains churches, community groups and YWAM communities in the cultural mentoring of refugee families. Phil is a frequent speaker in many settings and nations. He is a board member with a number of organizations and is also on the leadership team for city ministry in YWAM North America. He is married to Caren and they have 2 teenage children. They live in California.
Phil Gazley is the Social Justice Ministries Coordinator for the Youth With a Mission Network of City Initiatives. Phil was previously a Pastor in the UK and an area director with YWAM inCanada. Since 2000 Phil has specialized in issues relating to human trafficking and refugee resettlement. With anti trafficking work, Phil is a trainer of law enforcement and social service providers and is a research assistant with the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. He also provides practical tools for involvement for YWAM bases around the world. With refugee resettlement, Phil trains churches, community groups and YWAM communities in the cultural mentoring of refugee families. Phil is a frequent speaker in many settings and nations. He is a board member with a number of organizations and is also on the leadership team for city ministry in YWAM North America. He is married to Caren and they have 2 teenage children. They live in California.
