This Non-profit student platform is immense with vision and opportunities. This Non-profit has the heart to see students challenged with crafted on-field experience and training that sparks their interests and has a real-life impact. Their platform is varied with a global reach which allows for intercultural training and exposure. Overall, this program’s student impact mixed with student support and real-life training does not have a hard time competing with a basic study aboard program.
For over a decade, John Henry and I have pondered alternatives to the four-years-of-college-fits-all model of higher education. Will it take the Corona virus’ impact to convince us that a sedentary and shockingly costly, 19th century means of learning is obsolete? YWAM Converge demonstrates how Christians are ahead of the culture with educational innovations that shape not only the mind, but also nurture the heart to love God and mobilize the hands to love others.
Converge’s global internships enable enthusiastic young adults to learn alongside passionate practitioners with Shalom-oriented outcomes, the biblical human thriving which we find in scripture.
Douglas Batson,
National Certified Career Counselor
Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner
YWAM Converge has been organized to efficiently and effectively connect college students and others with necessary missions around the world. Through YWAM Converge, young people are being provided with real platforms for passionately pursuing their callings, for legitimately demonstrating their their faith in action and for meeting desperate needs in a desperate world.
YWAM Converge came to enlighten my life after a dark season of frustration with my calling. I became a volunteer translator with Converge one year after I dropped my pre-university music studies in a state of deep depression. All I had known until then was worship singing since I was 11, and now my calling was completely buried! However, because ALL THINGS work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose, I ended up joining a 1-year translation class back in my city where I met the Translation Coordinator, and first intern of Converge, who is now one of my most cherished friends. It never crossed my mind that my Father could use those hidden linguistic skills to make converge available to the Spanish-speaking world and allow other students to connect with their own life-changing missions opportunity. I learned that I had been pursuing only one part of a whole vision God had for me.
After a couple of years learning to trust Him in communion, sharing in fellowship with the amazing staff and leaders that we have, and being trained as I serve with YWAM Converge, I discovered a God-given passion for cultural mediation to eradicate Human Trafficking. I know God has placed worship in my heart and voice as a powerful spiritual weapon, and now He is uncovering strategic cultural skills so I can be His instrument of light and freedom in the most obscure corners of the earth where He longs to be known and glorified.
Maria Alejandra.
Cartagena, Colombia.
YWAM Converge has been providing a exceptional leadership program. They are amazing people to help and transform collegiate group in the world. Highly recommended.
When I was in college I found the student ministry internships (now Converge) and headed to China for two summers to use my occupational therapy skills in an orphanage. These experiences changed my life! I now live overseas and have adopted four children! I’m so blessed that John set me up in this internship that impacted me so much.
Muchas veces he visto como esta organización impulsa a las personas a reconocer su propia identidad y a marcar la diferencia en la sociedad de forma sencilla y profunda, utilizando sus propias capacidades y partiendo de los recursos que posee la comunidad. Esto me ha enseñado que cuando nosotros somos lo mejor que podemos ser, realmente podemos hacer que el mundo sea mejor para todos.
I first met YWAM Converge Ocean City Director John Henry in October of 2017, when I heeded a very personal calling to pursue international missions.
From my very first contact with John and other YWAM managerial staff, I knew that this organization was one of deep spiritual conviction, prevailing honesty and focused accountability. Accordingly, I knew my affiliation with them would be life-altering, and it was.
After conversing with John and other YWAM staff, and discerning that an international outreach trip was what I truly wanted to do, I committed to and attended a 5-month Discipleship Training Course (DTC), between October 2017 - February 2018, in preparation for a 1-week Outreach trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
On March 10, 2018 I joined 3 other YWAM volunteers and ventured to Belfast, spending a week in that city, meeting the fascinating citizens, and learning volumes about the culture and history of the tenuous peace that has existed there for many decades. Because of the insightful and sensitive historical background we were given during our training course, we were very well prepared for many potentially upsetting situations we encountered on a daily basis. The importance of this sensitivity to Northern Irish culture should not be undervalued, and YWAM staff know this.
We also worked with elementary students in after-school programs, as well as youth in church-based organizations and Catholic schools. At every turn, emotionally, geographically, and physically, my mind and heart were enlightened in powerful and memorable ways.
Subsequently, I was asked to consider a candidacy for a seat of the YWAM Board of Directors. I heartily agreed to the nomination, and was approved and now sit on the Board of Directors.
Throughout my experience with YWAM, I have learned that the leadership within this organization endeavors to make each volunteer feel valued and essential. What a blessing to each volunteer, to know that his/her ideas and contributions are not only welcomed, but encouraged and very often, sought after.
I highly recommend YWAM Converge as a non-profit organization worthy of prospective volunteers' valuable time and genuine efforts.
I'm very impressed with what John Henry has developed: it's a crisp, compelling online presentation about a project methodology that seems to have all the bases covered. I would like to link up some of my returned mentees (who themselves have projects around the world) with this method for getting student teams to work with them on their projects.
I have had the privilege of knowing and serving with the leadership of the ministry over the past thirty years. I find there call true, the passion mature and contagious and their commitment to integrity tested and encouraging.
Adrian Sinke
I have had the priviledge of observing this ministry develope and reach others over the years. It is a committed group of leaders all over the world who really want to equip and empower students. They are not only interested in reaching the world in this practical way, but also in the hearts of the students and their walk with God. I only wish they were around when I was a student. Check it out! Your life and others will only be changed for the better!
Review from Guidestar