INTIMACY. IDENTITY. IMPACT
We're a community full of young people that are deeply committed to knowing God and making Him known.
We truly believe that God began a beautiful thing when he created Youth With A Mission globally. It is our absolute privilege to pursue Jesus in community and champion one another as a local family.
Intimacy
Everything we do flows from intimacy with God - through prayer, worship, and His Word. We seek Him first, gathering regularly in His presence and anchoring our lives in Scripture. As we behold Him, we’re shaped in truth, joy, and humility, growing together in faithful, everyday discipleship.
Intimacy
click to learn more
identity
We live as sons and daughters, serving while trusting God to shape us along the way. We pursue a culture of honor - taking responsibility, valuing one another, and growing in self-awareness. Committed to holiness and transparency, we walk in joyful obedience, choosing openness, fighting for relationship, and protecting unity in community.
identity
click to learn more
IMPACT
We’re committed to seeing God’s Kingdom move from Northland to the nations - being present locally while staying connected globally. Through training and discipleship, we equip and send people to multiply impact, engaging every sphere of society with purpose and faith
Impact
click to learn more
Our Mission
YWAM Northland exists to pursue deep intimacy with God as our first love and greatest joy.
From that place, we are rooted and formed in Christ, equipping and releasing people through training to know God and make Him known.
As part of the University of the Nations, we carry a call to disciple the nations—sending out lives transformed to impact every sphere of society, locally and to the ends of the earth.
From that place, we are rooted and formed in Christ, equipping and releasing people through training to know God and make Him known.
As part of the University of the Nations, we carry a call to disciple the nations—sending out lives transformed to impact every sphere of society, locally and to the ends of the earth.
our Vision
We carry a vision to hold training and mission in tension - where discipling people and serving our local community are never separated, but strengthen one another. Positioned in the heart of Northland, we’re committed to being present, accessible, and deeply connected to the people we’re called to serve.
We long to see Northland championed into identity, discipleship, and mission, while equipping those who come from the nations to live missionally wherever they’re sent. Our heart is for deep transformation - across our region and beyond - through the spread of the Gospel to every people group.
This vision is lived out through our training schools, partnerships with ministries and organizations, and the development of community initiatives. We’re also committed to sharing the redemptive story of this land, believing that true justice and reconciliation are found in Christ. As the world searches for answers, we’re eager to join God in seeing His Kingdom come - here in Northland, and to the nations.
We long to see Northland championed into identity, discipleship, and mission, while equipping those who come from the nations to live missionally wherever they’re sent. Our heart is for deep transformation - across our region and beyond - through the spread of the Gospel to every people group.
This vision is lived out through our training schools, partnerships with ministries and organizations, and the development of community initiatives. We’re also committed to sharing the redemptive story of this land, believing that true justice and reconciliation are found in Christ. As the world searches for answers, we’re eager to join God in seeing His Kingdom come - here in Northland, and to the nations.
Our core Beliefs
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) affirms the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God and the absolute reference point for every aspect of life and ministry. Based upon God’s Word, who He is, and His initiative of salvation through the atoning work of Jesus (His death, burial, and resurrection), the following responses are strongly emphasized in YWAM:
Worship
(click to learn more)
We are called to praise and worship God alone.
Exo 20:2-3; Deu 6:4-5; 2Ki 17:35-39; 1Ch 16:28-30; Neh 8:2-10; Mar 12:29-30; Rom 15:5-13; Jud 24-25; Rev 5:6-14; Rev 19:5-8
Holiness
(click to learn more)
We are called to lead holy and righteous lives that exemplify the nature and character of God.
Lev 19:1-2; Psa 51:7-11; Jer 18:1-11; Eze 20:10-12; Zec 13:9; Luk 1:68 75; Eph 4:21-32; Tit 2:11-14; 1Pe 2:9,21-25; 1Jo 3:1-3
Witness
(click to learn more)
We are called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him.
Psa 78:1-7; Isa 40:3-11; Mic 4:1-2; Hab 2:14; Luk 24:44-48; Act 2:32-26; Act 10:39-43; 1Co 9:19-23; 2Co 2:12-17; 1Pe 3:15-18
Prayer
(click to learn more)
We are called to engage in intercessory prayer for the people and causes on God’s heart, including standing against evil in every form.
Gen 18:20-33; Exo 32:1-16; Jdg 3:9,15; 1Ki 8:22-61; Eze 22:30-31; Eze 33:1-11; Mat 6:5-15; Mat 9:36-38; Eph 3:14 21; 2Th 3:1-5
Fellowship
(click to learn more)
We are called to commit to the Church in both its local nurturing expression and its mobile multiplying expression.
2Ch 29:20-30; Psa 22:25-28; Psa 122:1-4; Joe 2:15 17; Mat 18:19-20; Act 2:44-47; Act 4:32-35; 1Co 14:26-40; Eph 2:11-18; Heb 10:23-25
Service
(click to learn more)
We are called to contribute toward God’s Kingdom purposes in every sphere of life.
Deu 15:7-11; Deu 24:17-22; Psa 112:4-9; Pro 11:10-11; Zec 7:8-10; Mat 5:14-16; 2Th 3:13; Tit 3:4-8; Heb 13:15-16; Jam 2:14-26
who are the staff at ynl?
While we do call ourselves "staff" - we are all unpaid, full-time volunteers. We do a lot more than run DTS and BCC and we're committed to being sons and daughters that know God and make God known regardless of whether a school is running or not. We have a wide range of nationalities, ethnicities, gifts and passions that serve in different ministry areas and pioneer various projects both locally and abroad. As a team, we currenlty range between the ages of 18 through to 35yrs.
what is the leadership structure at ynl?
We have an incredible volunteer staff team and within this body of staff we have a leadership team of 5 members called "Awhi Rito".
"Awhi Rito" refers to the centre-shoot (the "rito") of the New Zealand flax-bush, also known as the "harakeke". This leadership team comes around the centre-shoot (our fresh young adults/students/future of the mission) to support and embrace ("awhi") so that the mission can grow and thrive with good stewardship, covering and care.
We have two ministry directors, Barry and Letitia Gager (plus their two children), who have been involved with YWAM directly since 2012 and 2013. Both completed their schools in New Zealand with this ministry when Letitia's late-grandmother was the director, before passing the role on to the Gager's in 2020.
We have an incredible Board of Trustees that we are directly accountable to and have great relationship with. These trustees are long-standing and active members of YWAM internationally and/or the local community. We count ourselves incredibly blessed by their wisdom, expertise, and pastoral covering.
"Awhi Rito" refers to the centre-shoot (the "rito") of the New Zealand flax-bush, also known as the "harakeke". This leadership team comes around the centre-shoot (our fresh young adults/students/future of the mission) to support and embrace ("awhi") so that the mission can grow and thrive with good stewardship, covering and care.
We have two ministry directors, Barry and Letitia Gager (plus their two children), who have been involved with YWAM directly since 2012 and 2013. Both completed their schools in New Zealand with this ministry when Letitia's late-grandmother was the director, before passing the role on to the Gager's in 2020.
We have an incredible Board of Trustees that we are directly accountable to and have great relationship with. These trustees are long-standing and active members of YWAM internationally and/or the local community. We count ourselves incredibly blessed by their wisdom, expertise, and pastoral covering.
how does someone join the ynl team?
The first step to joining any YWAM community as a full-time staff volunteer is to successfully complete a DTS. Next, we would welcome you to reach out to us via our contact form or email directly to be in conversation with our onboarding and leadership team.
what happens when there are no schools on?
When schools are overseas or finished we boldly live what we teach!
- We undertake projects with the ministry that require more hands and time than we can allocate during a training quarter.
- Staff head out on outreaches within New Zealand or abroad as we pioneer new locations and new missions within them.
- We connect with locals and international friends to strategize, pray, dream, and encourage in the Great Commission.
- We attend second-level schools and training seminars either within our own ministry, at other bases in NZ, or abroad for 3 months.
- We work toward the next incoming cohort, taking calls and preparing our premises for the next wave of missionaries.
- We undertake projects with the ministry that require more hands and time than we can allocate during a training quarter.
- Staff head out on outreaches within New Zealand or abroad as we pioneer new locations and new missions within them.
- We connect with locals and international friends to strategize, pray, dream, and encourage in the Great Commission.
- We attend second-level schools and training seminars either within our own ministry, at other bases in NZ, or abroad for 3 months.
- We work toward the next incoming cohort, taking calls and preparing our premises for the next wave of missionaries.
What is the housing like?
The DTS has 3 houses on a hill overlooking the city of Whangarei. Staff and students all live on-site to ensure a family environment where staff are accessible and modeling what they teach. Students share a room with others, usually around 4 others, depending on the size of the school and the housing available at the time.
Staff live on-site with the DTS housing or in various other staff-houses either on the same hill or within short-driving distance.
We count ourselves incredibly blessed to live in the homes that we do. The views are stunning, the homes are clean and renovated, and we do our best not to pack everyone in if we can help it (rooms of 4-5 people max).
Staff live on-site with the DTS housing or in various other staff-houses either on the same hill or within short-driving distance.
We count ourselves incredibly blessed to live in the homes that we do. The views are stunning, the homes are clean and renovated, and we do our best not to pack everyone in if we can help it (rooms of 4-5 people max).
What makes YWAM Northland unique?
A few points that are very 'us' would be...
1) We have a unique flavor as a YWAM community in NZ that is distinctly 'kiwi' and very intentional with the story of missions in this country, especially as it pertains to the communities we work amongst in Northland.
2) We're passionate about bible literacy: We have a 12-week, second-level Bible course designed to take graduates deeper in bible knowledge after completion of DTS.
3) We're a young, urban community which pioneered a new location in the city in 2023. Previously we operated out of a rural base which YWAM owned for 33 years. This means that although we are 'new' in our city, we are well established as a training and sending location in the region.
4) We love our city: We work with many local ministries and encourage students to accompany staff frequently.
5) We love cross-cultural missions: We believe we can invest deeply into both our local calling and our global calling, and that God has more than enough innovation and grace for these to co-exist.
1) We have a unique flavor as a YWAM community in NZ that is distinctly 'kiwi' and very intentional with the story of missions in this country, especially as it pertains to the communities we work amongst in Northland.
2) We're passionate about bible literacy: We have a 12-week, second-level Bible course designed to take graduates deeper in bible knowledge after completion of DTS.
3) We're a young, urban community which pioneered a new location in the city in 2023. Previously we operated out of a rural base which YWAM owned for 33 years. This means that although we are 'new' in our city, we are well established as a training and sending location in the region.
4) We love our city: We work with many local ministries and encourage students to accompany staff frequently.
5) We love cross-cultural missions: We believe we can invest deeply into both our local calling and our global calling, and that God has more than enough innovation and grace for these to co-exist.
