YWAM MBI dba Mission Builders International

YWAM Lancaster has greatly benefited by our involvement with MBI, especially the L13 group. They consulted with our leadership team for a year. They worked with our leadership team and ministry leaders to help define who we are as YWAM Lancaster and what we most need to focus on and prioritize. This was incredibly helpful! They helped us in team-building exercises, practical steps to understanding our growth and what is needed in our stage of growth, and how to set up systems and structures to serve where we were at and to come alongside our leaders so they and the ministry can thrive. MBI was very professional as well as relational. We would not be where we are now without their help and expertise! We definitely recommend MBI and the quality of their services! They are a great organization to support!

I found the week of debrief to be very helpful. Thanks to this debrief, I have more trust and confidence in what God has for me in the next season of life and ministry. It also helped me to see how much God actually did during this past season of my ministry - my disappointment over certain things that didn't happen is not the whole story.

We have worked with MBI, specifically Ron and Dawn, and they are the best. They truly look out for your best interest and serve their hearts out, trying to grow and see our different YWAM locations excel! We wouldn't be the organization we are without MBI!

Loved working with MBI! They’re excellent professional staff enabled us to accelerate in the accomplishment of our mission and vision.

MBI is a great nonprofit. I've attended a few LIFT conferences and each time I leave with new tools. They bring experts in each field and provide us with the space to unpack the information given. MBI is an encouragement to all of us in missions!

MBI are a great service to missionaries all over the globe. Having personally and corporately benefitted from their services, I cannot recommend them enough. Small organizations can greatly enhance their chances for healthy growth if they enlist L13. Legal, Immigration, Financial and Tactical resources are also a great resource for a ministry of any size.

All of my experience with the team at MBI has been excellent! They have helped me a lot in how I can better grow my own nonprofit work, being more effective. They're very generous with their knowledge and expertise. I highly recommend MBI!

I have attended the LIFT conference that MBI hosts since 2012. This conference has given us the tools and resources we need to run our nonprofit successfully. The professionals MBI brings in are up to date on their information and present it in an understandable way.

I just finished my first attendance at the LIFT conference (Legal, Immigration, Finance, Tactical) put on by YWAM MBI. As a fairly new Personnel Director at our YWAM location, I wasn't really confident as to what I was going to learn. I knew I needed to understand more about Immigration Laws, but thought all other subjects would not apply to me so much. I still wanted to gain some understanding and at least get a broad picture since I also sit on the team that oversees operations on our base.

I want to report, that a whole new world of understanding has opened up to me. The presenters were knowledgable and skilled in their area and gave us lots of information to process. I could tell that the ones leading the conference would go over and beyond expectation to serve everyone and make sure we all took the best information with us to our bases. To know that MBI is there for us when we need expert advise, even beyond this conference, is a comforting thought.

YWAM MBI are professional and a pleasure to work with. They go the extra mile to make sure the issues I am dealing with are taken care of.

My wife and I volunteered through Mission Builders Inc for three months at YWAM Lakeside, Montana. They helped us arrange our time at the YWAM Lakeside campus and answered all questions we had. They made the process smooth and seamless. As we started planning for our 2025 YWAM volunteer time, Ron and Jeanette met with us and discussed the various bases and gave recommendations on which they felt would be a good fit for us. The folks we met at MBI in Lakeside, MT became good friends quickly. MBI is a selfless organization that supports YWAM bases "so that others may thrive". MBI connects volunteers with YWAM bases to help maintain their infrastructure, cook meals, clean, etc, so the staff and missionaries have more time to reach the world for Jesus.

First-class ministry with exceptional leadership training! I highly recommend this ministry.

MBI has provided invaluable leadership coaching to both our C-suite executives and managerial teams, ensuring that we remain compliant with legal and regulatory requirements at local, state, and national levels. Additionally, they have played a key role in debriefing our missionaries returning from various global assignments, facilitating smooth transitions.

Their expertise has also been instrumental in our Campus Masterplan, particularly in the design of one of the largest and most aesthetically pleasing buildings on our campus. For over a decade, MBI has further supported us by helping secure volunteers who contribute in numerous capacities, greatly enhancing the work we do on campus.

Over the past two decades, I've had the privilege to witness up close the wonderful ministry of Mission Builders International. Their volunteers have always been outstanding in their skills and exhibited a servant's heart that speaks highly of the organization.

Really love MBI's mission to help YWAM bases thrive. Their vision is huge and they are impacting people around the globe. Can't wait to see what this next year has in store for them and those they serve!

Love the ability to work at different bases across the United States. Such a blessing to be able to stay in my RV, help out in the kitchen ( or wherever needed) and worship with the students. My faith is renewed and I realize that there's hope for our world thru the dedication of these missionaries.

Hi! We are Jim & Kim Ledingham. I want to tell you a little bit about our first experience with MBI (Mission Builders International). My husband & I both recently retired and became brand new owners of an RV. Back story....on our first date, 22 years ago we shared with each other our belief that when we 'retired' we both had a hearts desire to serve. We talked about an RV at that time & traveling with some ministry to do volunteer work. Our time has come! Jim was unfamiliar with MBI, so we choose Lakeside, Montana & MBI headquarters because we were able to volunteer for a single week. It was life changing! The job that was assigned to us was perfect for us to be able to start this journey serving together. It was a full week of work & we painted a large hallway in one of the staff residences. Not only did the job fit us perfectly, but the staff was incredibly helpful & available. The appreciation shown to us by the residents of the building we worked in was unsurpassed, they showered us with their gratitude and we were humbled by it. The camaraderie with the other volunteers was life-giving. For one week, we were a part of a community of believers and humbled by their welcoming acceptance of us two feeble feeling retirees! We are looking forward to serving extensively in the future with MBI. That week was a turning point for Jim, and I couldn't be more thrilled to serve full-time missionaries in whatever tasks the Lord leads us to. Thank you to MBI for the opportunities available and prayers for many more to recognize that as retirees we still have a lot of life to share and there is much work to be done.

We are so grateful for Mission Builders and the wonderful volunteers they connect us with. Without their help many important campus projects would go undone. We are also thankful for the friendly and professional way they funnel and process volunteer applications. It streamlines the process and makes our work so much easier. Thank you mission builders for all you do. It truly is a blessing.

I worked for 5 years directing a Homes of Hope Program in the Dominican Republic. During this time, Mission Builders International was always by my side. We always had the staff to host our teams and do the construction, but taking care of the base of operations would wear our staff out. This is where MBI stepped in. We often needed help with things around our base location, whether it be cooking or cleaning or maintenance and MBI would send us volunteers to help us. The volunteers would seriously lighten the load of my staff and me as the director by coming with skills. I could release them on projects and not have to micromanage their work. Not only did they serve us well, but so many became close friends and were a gift to our family. I would not have thrived in the Dominican Republic without MBI doing what they do.

I worked as a full-time missionary for many years. Mission Builders International did a phenomenal job of screening potential short-term volunteer staff who would then come and serve alongside of our long-term team. The volunteer workers provided by MBI enabled us to have a far greater impact because they multiplied what we could accomplish. They were also a breath of fresh air due to their enthusiasm and passion to serve.

I would like to share my experience at the Lakeside, Montana base. I have no words to describe my time there. It changed my life and allowed me to develop a deeper relationship with God, all while providing me with the opportunity to serve others.

The breathtaking beauty of nature that surrounds the area is truly amazing. It's impossible to become accustomed to such incredible natural beauty, even after spending several days there.

This place is where you can truly witness the love and provision of God in tangible ways.

While Lakeside may be a bit distant from the city, one quickly realizes that this is a significant advantage. It allows for a deeper connection with God's creation, which is the awe-inspiring nature that surrounds the area, and provides a profound sense of serenity that's hard to find elsewhere.

Our month as Mission Builders with YWAM in Ozark, Arkansas was very rewarding. We were serving at the same time a school was going so very much enjoyed them too. This was our second time serving at this base so it was easy to reconnect with the base director, Barb, and the other staff. They were very organized and gave us a list of projects we could work on. There was another MB couple there and our combined skills were a great benefit as well as enjoying each other. Ozark YWAM Base is defintely a great non-profit where all the staff are humble and hardworking even as they manage time with their families also. We were blessed to be able to join in with staff devotions each day. Barb is definitely a servant leader who is sensitive to her staff's needs. Our month there was a great experience!

We are both grateful and impressed by the YWAM MBI team's expertise, professionalism and dedication to their client. We are highly satisfied with our engagement with them.

We had the privilege of working with Ron and Dawn at MBI via their Leadership 13 initiative. Their approach to organizational growth and leadership development helped us overcome some big challenges regarding our business facing the post-Covid world. Ron and Dawn carry a level of knowhow, wisdom and personability that makes doing hard, strategy work, fun and meaningful. Ron’s insights into our organizational structures, coupled with Dawn’s expertise with our team and team member dynamics, gave us the perspective we needed to locate our current state as a business as well as the vision of where we want to go. We are so grateful for L13 and MBI, and the impact made in our people.

Mitch Santala
CEO
Executive Scheduling Associates

I really enjoyed the experience and I’m thankful that through volunteering I was able to expand on the skills that I have. Everyone that I met was very friendly and helpful.

Five out of five stars. The minimum word count is too much.

YWAM MBI has been able to teach us on organizational growth and assess our place in that growth for our organization. Through this process they have been able to advise and give perspective as to where we are at and give relevant direction and instructions in adapting to our rapid growth.
We have experienced how they create a depth in team through personal assessments and explaining how our strengths and weakness can work better together, creating a more cohesive team. They have given us tools to help us have more productive team meetings. Their ability to equip our leaders through Training the Trainer, has increased our ability to raise up leadership within our staff.
As a young pioneering organization their partnership has helped us strategically navigate our fast growth with a sense of clarity on how to move forward. We are very grateful to them for their experience and ability to clearly give guidance. Their commitment to lifting the hands of our missionary campus by giving us tools that are useful and solid creates a stable foundation for us to fulfill our mission of Reaching the Unreached!

YWAM MBI has consistently strengthened many of our YWAM ministry locations in the Caribbean where we have lived and served and now they are helping us in Lancaster PA. June 2021 one of the MBI leaders came and helped us work through the stages of growth / predictable success. This was a turning point for us since it brought such understanding of the journey we are on. We have great people but when you grow so fast (we went from 15 staff to 50+ staff in two years) the systems were not in place for sustainability. With MBI walking alongside of us we now understand the white water we are in, allowing us to give grace to each other in the process of establishing systems for healthy growth. Our Leadership team benefited from another MBI leader who helped each member understand the way God wired them and how they will function on the team. We recieved training on how to run an effective meeting, decision making with "fist of 5" which has started to save us from long exhausting meetings. My wife & I have pioneered many times and have helped others pioneer many times in the Caribbean. Having MBI as our consultant team has made YWAM Lancaster's pioneering journey so much healthier since language has been given to our whole staff team that enables us to adjust to our experiences. We are so grateful for the MBI team's investment in our leaders and staff!

As exciting and rewarding as it is to start, grow, and lead a ministry, it is incredibly challenging. It requires a keen focus on fundraising, recruiting staff, developing staff, creating a strategic plan, financial management, complying with government laws (including visas, not-for-profit establishment, and tax and labor laws), in addition to knowing how to lead and inspire people. Most ministry leaders have experience and expertise in one or two of those areas, but rarely all of them.

The staff of Mission Builders International serve as professional coaches, advisors and consultants to ministry leaders in all of these areas. Each of their staff brings unique skills, experience and education in one or more of the core areas above.

As a missionary for over 16 years who served in senior leadership of 100+ missionaries, I have personally experienced firsthand the challenges and obstacles of leading ministries. And I thus have a keen appreciation for the services provided by Mission Builders International. Not only are they the only ministry I know of that provides these services, but they do so at a low cost that you would never be able to find or match in the marketplace.

I have personally observed the impact MBI has had on several sizable ministries in Asia and the USA - helping them to establish a strong strategic plan, grow the capabilities and capacity of their leadership teams, complete the design and construction of large facilities, and grow their overall ministry impact.

I highly recommend MBI as a key strategic resource to anyone who has been called by God to grow and develop a healthy, sustainable ministry.

MBI is a wonderful organization that helps resources YWAM bases with training to help them succeed. They also are a gateway for volunteers to get connected with local YWAM bases they can serve with. MBI helped line up 4 different locations for our family to go and volunteer at. We helped with a whole variety of tasks - technology, IT, volunteered in the kitchen, helped with hospitality, worked in a soup plant, made quilts, helped with administrative tasks, participated in community outreaches and built a home for Mexican family. We had a wonderful experience and it enriched our lives.

Incredible staff! We were so blessed by this nonprofit - highly professional and highly relational. They are 5 stars across the board without a doubt,
Thank you MBI for all that you do!

Probably the most Integrous leadership team I have ever met. I would trust to always do the right thing in a timely manner. Trust worthy to do what they say and say what they do. The level of professionalism in all they offer is unmatched. You will not be disappointed with your engagement with MBI.

We came to MBI for the summer. We have been serving in Mexico for the last 7 years, and will be heading back there this fall. Our time with MBI has been an excellent way to reflect on the last years of ministry, to rest in the Lord, and to continue building up our skills in order to move forward in full time ministry. I have been interning with the debriefing ministry, and my husband has been focusing on his TESOL certification, and special projects for MBI. The staff members here have welcomed us in like family, and it has been a privilege to learn from their years of experience. We feel like we are leaving refreshed and built up, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Village South Africa has benefitted from the support of Mission Builders International for over 18 years.
Currently we serve several orphan care centers and three private Christian schools where we have sponsors for over 70 students. Mission Builders has helped us recruit over 10 volunteers to serve at the schools and orphanages.
One of the couples, Stuart and Barclee Huggins from Onterio, Canada, have served two years and are now helping with our marketing strategy and are plugging into our leadership! Stuart just brought a film crew over from a popular outdoor show to feature our ministry and help us with a marketing video.
We provide a safe and uplifting environment for volunteers. We are always looking for more help.
For more details, contact Brad Rauch kuduhntr@gmail.com.
Village South Africa is a 501(c ) 3 charity. villagesouthafrica.com

Traveling the United States and serving at many YWAM bases has been a privilege and a tremendous blessing. At each location I am welcomed into a family that is full of excitement for serving God, their community and each other. They appreciate and value the work and attitudes brought by mission builders to share in their building of Christ's body.
God is using this dedicated and directed enthusiasm to reach here and into many nations with a hand of provision and a message of hope.

I had a truly amazing experience at mission builders at Heredia in Costa Rica. Our hosts Donna and Terry were super hospitable and got to connect with god, animals, and nature with people from around the world. A great experience to reflect, pray, and do some work - as I am at a crossroads in career this year. looking forward to future experience with mission builders, and YWAM.

My husband and I volunteered full-time with MBI for 3 years, serving at 13 different YWAM campuses in 10 different states. We volunteered in all sorts of capacities and connected with so many wonderful people.

Most of the locations where we served gave us free lodging and food in exchange for our labor. A few required fees. Some locations are set up for RV hookups.

No particular skills or training are required. They’ll match you up with whatever you are interested in, willing or able to try. You can volunteer for a week to 6 months at various locations, but we found the optimum stay was 2-3 months.

Whether you are on vacation or between employment, single or married, young or old, there are lots of great ways you can serve in the USA or abroad. The MBI application process is fairly simple, and the website will help you find places to go, based on your skills, where you’d like to be or what type of ministry you’d like to partner with.

If you are looking for a great way to travel, meet people and serve God, MBI is a fantastic avenue to do so!

We volunteered in September, 2021 at the YWAM base in Cimarron Colorado. We had a great experience working with the staff and other volunteers. We were also able to meet and interact with students who were at the base training for missionary work teaching English to non-English speakers. This base is in a beautiful location and the directors and staff were very welcoming and helpful. The RV spots are awesome and the fellowship was uplifting! Since we were there at the end of the summer season, Susan worked in the kitchen, canning produce from the onsite garden and helping with some meal preparation. David worked on final maintenance projects around the base in preparation for winter. It was a blessing to be part of their ministry and we definitely plan to return again. YWAM Mission Builders has been a great first volunteering experience for us since we retired 6 months ago.

Susan and David Swank

Ywam was one of my best experience of my life! Without any doubt I wish that everyone can life this experience. Being a mission builder teach me a lot of things but one of the most important thing that I learned was that the only thing that can full your heart is to serve God.
The LA ywam base was where i found my family, my friends also my teachers and counselors. I feel honored to be able to had served here.

Great training, personable coaches... they make their classes and topics relatable. it was just great to go in depth on some internal issues and be able to look at tangible solutions

We worked at MBI during the summer months of three different years. Words cannot express how impressed we are with the work that Mission Builders and YWAM are doing. They reach the world by sending individuals all of the earth to help with a multitude of different tasks. During our many weeks at MBI we mainly did construction projects at both places. We thoroughly enjoyed the people we worked with and the work we did. We would recommend either organization in a heartbeat.

We already knew about MBI and had hosted a few individuals when they came to serve at our location. When the L-13 arm of MBI agreed to work with our leadership team for a year we were thrilled. It's been a whirlwind of activity and they have helped us set goals and advance the ministry as anticipated!

YWAM MBI goes the extra mile in coming a long side ministries and giving them the most excellent material and tools available to help them become more successful in whatever they are doing. They have spent the last year with our ministry helping us get out of ruts and patterns that we could not get out of ourselves. They didn't impose their ideas, knowledge or expertise, but rather brought perspective and the perfect coaching, tools, and guidance needed for how to find the answers and solutions ourselves. They also brought accountability and discipline so we could meet our goals. The are very professional and carry a lot of authority. We wouldn't be where we are today without their help.

We received some great volunteers through YWAM MBI. They were super helpful in getting set up with them in all the logistics. We look forward to continued partnership.

Mission Builders Internationals helps direct volunteers to many missions locations around the world including our Youth With A Mission campus in Lakeside, Montana. They have been great to work with through the years, as they have facilitated hundreds of short term volunteers to serve with us. These volunteers have been an amazing blessing in many critical areas at our campus.
Mission Builders International is very professional, but they always keep the individuals needs first and foremost through their process. I highly recommend working with them!

We are thankful for the role that YWAM Mission Builders takes in supporting YWAM campuses and placing volunteers where they are needed. Our family has been blessed to be able to work with them!

Being Mission builder in YWAM LA has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I grow up and learned a lot in many aspects and I will be forever grateful with God and the base for this opportunity to serve in His kingdom.

I highly recommend MBI volunteer opportunities. I am volunteering with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) this summer. The website works well. The initial process to apply to be a volunteer was easy and efficient for myself and my 2 references. Communications have been timely. Are you looking for something to do in your next chapter of your life? Be a volunteer or support MBI and YWAM organizations as the Lord leads you.

MBI is great! It's a wonderful way to be able to go and serve a YWAM base short-term, helping them out whilst also getting to know the campus and staff there to be able to know if you want to make a longer commitment. I loved being able to get a taste of local ministries and culture at the same time as helping the campus to function!

Going through Mission Builders Intl/ YWAM and volunteering at YWAM Recife, Brazil was by far one of the best experiences of my life! I am so humbled by this opportunity. The amazing people and missionaries at the base were absolutely lovely and so wonderful. The work that this base is doing even despite the COVID times is of such blessing to the community. My favorite part of volunteering was working in the children’s homes and having the opportunity to love on and work with these sweet, parent-less, lesser fortunate children who have already been through so much in life. However, despite their circumstances these kids have the sweetest, kindest spirits. I went to volunteer and “be a blessing”; however, in turn, I turned out to be the one who was blessed the most. Do NOT hesitate to volunteer! Missions Builders so very easily facilitated the whole process of getting connected with a base and I’m so blessed to have served at YWAM (JOCUM in Portuguese) Recife, Brazil!

We have been so blessed to work with Mission Builders International/YWAM. We just completed our fifth outreach with them at the Ozark YWAM Base. One of our favorite experiences at each base is getting to know the amazing staff and hearing their stories. As Mission Builders we are given a list of projects around the base to work on and then we complete other projects that we notice need work. It is such a blessing to also be included in their group bible studies and prayer groups. We came for a few weeks to serve. They give up their own lives to serve sometimes for years. What an example of humble servanthood! We would recommend MBI as a great way to experience missions short term, and a way to encourage and serve the staff. MBI is a wonderful fit for retirees like us and we plan to continue serving.

Great experience serving at YWAM Los Angeles! The community there made me feel so at home. Their hospitality and the love that they have, plus their fervent passionate fire in worship, prayer and even outreach makes this volunteering experience unforgettable! It has been over a month since I volunteered and I still miss my time there!

You will be blessed if you choose to volunteer and sow your time, love and spirit there!

YWAM Northwoods is located on Potato Lake in Northern Wisconsin. It’s a beautiful peaceful place that welcomes volunteers with open arms and loves them deeply. Whatever skill you bring, they are deeply appreciated and highly valued by the staff.
One can experience Gods peace and enjoy Gods creation.
Come, serve, relax, and be a part of Gods hands and feet.

My husband and I volunteered at the Juarez Mexico YWAM base for 3 1/2 weeks in February 2020. As mission builders we were able to assist with cleaning, organizing, building and decorating . We also were able to assist in the orphanage at Juarez YWAM base. The staff was pleasant to work with and were appreciative of our assistance. I would highly recommend YWAM as a great place to volunteer.

My wife, Thelma, and I have had the honor of being involved with MBI for over 10 years. Currently we are serving at Gleanings for the Hungry, a YWAM base, near Fresno, CA. It is one of our favorite places to serve. We travel in an RV. They have 14 RV spaces. The long term staff are friendly and are always welcoming and glad to see us. Gleanings for the Hungry is deemed an essential ministry that has remained open during the Covid crisis. They send food all over the world and also serve the local community and food banks. It is a meaningful ministry to be a part of. We recommend contacting MBI to sign up to serve!!!

My experience at YWAM Barbados as a Mission Builder was extraordinary! If your desire is to know God more, this is the place for you. As a faith-based organization, the emphasis is on hearing from God through study, worship and meditation in The Word. The accommodations are clean and comfortable. The "great house", the original plantation house, along with several other lodges are well maintained. Constant updates and repairs are a priority. The gorgeous 7.5 acre campus is a budding tropical paradise, with a gazebo overlooking the sea in the distance. The potential on this base is huge! I found Bajan people to be extremely warm and friendly willing to assist even total strangers. The YWAM Barbados staff are wonderful encouragers who gently enfold you leading you to the many ways your gifts might be utilized during your time there on the base or in the community. Anyone seeking a profound sojourn in their faith walk should strongly consider YWAM Barbados as a Mission Builder. It could change your story!

This was our first mission and felt drawn to Ywam ships Panama outpost

Mission Builders
Volunteers visiting YWAM bases to help the missionaries accomplish projects or to give relief

When I went I knew that I was limited in my capacity to do things but prayed that God would give me health and a supply of strength to do the things that were needed for each day
With prayer partners God used me to accomplish many projects. There are many things that help out from taking the task of cooking one meal a day to mending T-shirts and backpacks for the teens.
I was able to sew 10 sets of curtains that would provide relief from the sun but let breezes in
Refurbished cushions, and built patio 4 - 12ftx9ft rain barriers that will make the deck useable in the rainy seasons. Ed able to do electrical as well and maintenance projects.
We were able to "Grandparent" the teens and figured out how to use the fruit that was grown on the island to make delicious cookies and other sweets.
Not speaking Spanish was a barrier that made visiting with and helping the Ngobe's hard but translators (thanks boys) and two way radios helped us. We were able to look after the base while the leaders took a working break in Panama City
There were challenges galore, From living between the ocean and the jungle with 109 steps and 100-200 ft of dock, decking and slabs to walk up to the base, and relying on Nathan and his panga (12-15 seater boat) to get us anywhere, to cold showers and 28days of a hot flash. Ed says some days he was a puddle, haha and chitras (no seeums) at dusk and not knowing the language
But the Blessings far out weighed the challenges
The Pineault's were excellent hosts providing many laughs and site seeing opportunities. They provided projects as we got them done and didn't overwhelmed us and were not perfectionists but gave very needed direction as needed. Nathan is a Jack of all trades and could be relied on to fix anything. The wild life was spectacular and the rain forest was plush and colourful.

As a woman that is called to encourage, edify and teach other woman I was able to help with wound care and after getting to trust me and know my heart Christina trusted me to teach her and a Ngobe grandma how to Crochet for stress relief and to bless the Ngobe tribe with hot pot holders and hats for the colder season(74-78degrees F ) haha

Christina and Nathan have a big vision for winning the Nobe but need help getting and keeping the infrastructure to where it will house staff and students

While challenging, volunteering was so worthwhile and many more projects are on their list to be accomplished from giving relief from correcting homeschool work to social media and accounting to carpentry, More electrical engineering, hand drilling water wells to providing Sunday services for the Ngobe this YWAM needs long term staff as well as volunteer individuals or groups to accomplish their vision of reaching teaching to know God and training the Ngobe to help make him known.
Shelley and Ed Friedrick

I recently spent six weeks volunteering as a Mission Builder at the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) base in Colorado Springs. It was marvelous and life-changing. To say it was out of my comfort zone is a bit of an understatement. But the people there, both the staff and students, were open and loving and welcomed me in. I will tell you I went there with no great special talents... Except wanting to help out in any way I possibly could. This was a first adventure for me and I am contemplating either going back as a volunteer or going deeper as a student.
Do not let age or lack of specific talents keep you from getting out and getting involved. Personally, I highly recommend Mission Builders International. They were very accommodating and extremely helpful... And with them you can go geographically as far or as near as you want.

I was amazed at how intuitive, creatively thought out this excellent ministry is! The concept of linking mission locations, long and short term missionaries together is cutting edge!
They are giving all of a us way to unite the Body of Christ in a way catered to God's individual calling in our lives. Fantastic!
On top of that they help create relationship based partnerships through their streamlined application process in a secure setting on the web! This is a huge advantage for all concerned.

Thank you MBI

bill sopher
YWAM Central Baja

My husband I volunteered at the Kona location of YWAM for three weeks. The team there was very welcoming and friendly. We felt a part of a something big happening around the world. Overall the experience was very positive. Accommodations were good, basically a hotel room and bathroom. The location had a pool that was accessible any time of the day. A good way to cool off after working.

I just recently retired and love to travel. A friend encouraged me to check out YWAM Mission Builders International and I filled out an application with them. I chose the Lakeside Montana location because I knew some of the people in leadership there. I volunteered in the kitchen for two weeks and my experience there was extremely positive. The supervisors and staff were very friendly and helpful and serving the students and staff there was rewarding. I went on my own and it was a leap of faith for me, but it was well worth the effort and God blessed me and encouraged me for my willingness to serve Him. I would definitely go back to Lakeside. It's a beautiful area near Glacier National Park. I am also planning to check into some of the overseas bases that need volunteers. Sign up and go! You won't regret it!

I had a great experience volunteering with YWAM Mission Builders in Montana. Wonderful people, well run organization, and a worthy cause. I intend to return again in the future, Lord willing. I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Gleanings for the Hungry is a wonderful ministry providing food for the hungry in the world. I had a wonderful, fun summer working in the kitchen feeding up to 225 hungry people who turn donated peaches into dried fruit. I made many wonderful friends here and so enjoyed morning chapel and worship, a great start to the day. This experience was so good that I signed on to come back in the Winter during the dried soup production. I highly recommend this volunteer opportunity.

YWAM Mission Builders is a great way to get involved in community, to serve and more important allow the Lord to change you in ways one would not anticipate. It is for all ages, not just retirees. A most wonderful way to see what YWAM is, come along side great people and connect with people from all over the world that are walking through the same things in life with God. There are many ways to help/serve. Stay in the dorms or bring your RV (either way you quickly become family).
Bonus about Lakeside, MT is the natural beauty all around. (I'm from Montana so alittle biased on that one).
Do it!
Blessings, Peggy

When I first found out about the opportunity to serve as a Mission Builder in different location I was a little skeptical to register. I have hear of so many organization that offer the opportunity to serve as a mission builder that never follow up with volunteer and the application get lost or the organization is understaffed and answers to question are slow in coming. But Mission Builder International staff really surprised me: they were promp to review my applicaiton and also very through in answering question in a speedy manner. The number of location available to apply is extensive and MBI really helps to connect with the location of choice and they always follow up. The website is user friendly and the steps are self explanatory. It also preserve our privacy. I am quite happy that I signed up. I have now applied at serve at two different location and i have been really happy with the opportunities. I would recommend MBI to anyone who wants to experience Mission short term or any YWAMer who is looking for a new place of service and wants to explore different location. The fact that the staff keeps in contact with the volunteer is really a blessings and it made me feel safe and comfortable wherever I have been.

It has been a pleasure to work for YWAM Montana through mission builders. They have been eager to help me with any concerns coming here and have made me feel at home. I would highly recommend mission builders to anyone considering it.

I've been doing missions since 2016, and ever since I began my journeys, I have used the MBI website to find & apply to different places to serve at.
I've had a calling on my life since I was a child, and MBI has helped me fulfill that thus far!
10/10 will use again, and have recommended to friends and family.

For my very first Mission Builder's trip I went to the Chico, CA Springs of Living Water YWAM base. My Mission was to help with the sewing projects. I also did mending for some of the staff. In addition I taught an 8 year old how to sew and had a blast doing so. If you have a few days or hours you could donate to this very worthy cause, they would love to have you. Everyone is good at something and you can put your speciality to work in an enviornment that is fun, peaceful and encouraging. I highly recommend this base.

My wife and I spent the past two summers with Mission Builders at YWAM Montana.
We were looking for a place to make a productive contribution for "Kingdom" work. Meaning work that would enhance the propagation of the GOSPEL of Jesus.
Not only were we doing productive work, but we were welcomed by staff and students. I believe we received greater blessing that we contributed.
our work was done within our ability and energy level. Worked hard, but rested when needed.
What fun to interact with the younger generation and be blessed until we needed a rest. Makes my heart "smile" when I remember the great times we laughed, hugged and prayed with our new "grandkid" friends.
Come help and be blessed!
Ron and Judy Duncan

My wife and I were so blessed by our time serving @ YWAM Cimarron, Colorado. This was our first time volunteering with Mission Builders, and our lives were personally enriched and blessed. The staff and students made us feel right at home! The Lord renewed a fresh passion and vision in our hearts for missions! It is hard to completely put into words how we were so touched by being there. We made some new friends; and now our Christian family has been expanded by getting to know the wonderful people there. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity! We hope we can visit this location again ASAP!

Our time at the Cimarron, Colorado Base was awesome! The staff there is wonderful and they treated us like part of the family. I had such a good time working in the kitchen with an amazing team of Godly people. The RV site we had was full hookups in a shaded beautiful spot. This base is one of the most beautiful places I've ever volunteered and the Spirit of God definitely rests there. We will definitely go back!

A “Different” Kind of Vacation

We didn't know what to expect when we stepped off the plane in San Diego in March. But we did know that God had put it in our hearts to have a “different” kind of vacation this time...a “vacation” that would be more about serving him and others than about being served. We had heard about Mission Builders, an arm of Youth With A Mission, from some friends of ours. After researching several opportunities on the internet and spending some time in prayer, we both felt a peace about serving in Mexico at the YWAM base in San Antonio del Mar.

Upon our arrival, we were overwhelmed (in a good way) by the welcome we received and the friendliness of those involved in various programs there. YWAM San Antonio del Mar is a big and busy place. There are many ministries that flow out of this base. So aside from completing our daily tasks such as food preparation and serving,washing dishes or cleaning toilets and mopping floors ; we were also invited to join teams doing outreach in Tijuana and other nearby locations.

This was like a dream come true for both of us. Early morning visits to a local orphanage to make breakfast for the children and visiting a local school with the library bus gave us insight into the lives of many Mexican children. We also had the opportunity to share with men in an addiction recovery center and a homeless shelter. Going for a prayer walk through the redlight district of Tijuana and joining the team who had started a program for children and mothers in another needy area of the city were definite highlights. But also a real eye opener as to how people live outside the resort areas of this well know vacation destination. We felt privileged to join in with three different teams to build houses for needy families through the Homes of Hope program. Our hearts broke as we began to see these people through Gods eyes and with HIS heart.

I haven't even touched on the blessing it was to fellowship and worship and pursue God's heart with like minded people from all over the world! All in all, by the end of our stay, we had fallen in love with the place and the people. As they say, “We have been spoiled for the ordinary!” We went to give but received so much more in return. Now we look forward to the next adventure that God has for us.

I volunteered in the fall for Mission Builders at the YWAM, Mt. Campus. I worked for the Facility department. I enjoyed working in the workshop and got to build several projects for them. I had a small workshop at my home several years ago but being able to use their large woodshop was a real treat. I hope to come back again and volunteer part time. As a former pastor I was blessed to see the youth here eager to spread the gospel. I highly recommend Mission Builders as a place to invest in God's kingdom in a tangible way!
Fred Rohland

Mission Builders was a great place to give back to the Lord just a small portion of all He’s given me. If you’re looking for a place to plug in with other Christians and make a difference it can be a great adventure. My husband and I came to the YWAM, Mt. campus and volunteered during the fall quarter. We love the beauty of this area. Quite a difference for 2 Floridians! I worked in the Hospitality department which does a lot to keep up with the constant influx of speakers, family and friends who come to the campus to visit. The department makes sure all the rooms and apartments are comfortable and inviting for guests. It was so great to hear all the compliments from guests who were there. My time here has been rewarding and I will always remember it as a special time in my life. I thank Mission Builders for giving me the opportunity to work with such a great group of people and make so many new friends, young and old alike.
Linda Rohland

What an experience! I served with a YWAM Base in Lakeside, MT, as a Mission Builder. They asked me to be the receptionist for most of the day and then then for the last hour and a half, I helped in Housekeeping. It was always a fun time. Greeting staff, students and guests to the base and working shoulder to shoulder with the students. This generation needs my generation - sometimes just to listen. I value the time that I have spent at 4 different bases in the USA and also internationally.

My wife and I had the opportunity to go to Taiwan, along with a team of 3 others, to do some construction projects, in a dorm building. We put in new bathroom counters with sinks, some tiling work, painting, and general clean up in the building. Even though Taiwan did not have the supplies and materials that we in America are accostumed to having at our local home improvement big box stores, we made the best of what we got. Although it was the hottest time of the year to go, we had a great time! The hosts of the YWAM base were great and very hospitable. The food was very good and the city of Taipei was generally very safe. Many a night, I was walking the riverfront late at night. I don't recommend that but I felt safe. Overall we had a very positive experience. It was nice to know that we had people praying for us while we were "on mission!"

Absolutely INCREDIBLE, this program is definitely about relationship. As we know we are designed to be in right community with one another and this program is exactly that. Relationship with others around the world and importantly relationship with God. I was unsure what this experience would hold for me, it held challenge, adventure, discovery, gaining a new family. This program gives you to option to choose your commitment time which is so ideal, I was able to do 2 months which is great because I am a student and could not commit to the 5 month DTS training. I got to be a servant of the Lord, cleaning around the base, helping cook meals for 120+ people, doing children's ministry, delivering basic necessities to the homeless, delivering Bibles, praying for people and learning about cultures from around the world. I learned so much more about God, myself and other people from this experience. More than I could ever learn in a classroom. 10/10 recommend this program to ANYONE. despite current commitments, finances etc. God was faithful through this experience and keep praying if you are thinking of going on a program like this one, then GO where God leads! I served in San Jose, Costa Rica by the way and their base is one big family of brothers and sisters in Christ, so amazing!

First of all, it was a very unique experience, in terms of vacation: you are surrounded by people of faith who pray blessings upon your stay with interactions of an uplifting nature, you benefit from a superb location (in Le Chatel), in beautiful accommodations in a country where prices are prohibitive... You work to make the load lighter. I was given free-range to spruce up the grounds that needed much tending and that was rewarding. The times of shared worship were precious. The only thing that was challenging for me was to be thrust into food preparation, without formal training in that realm. It made me realize though that, with God, all things are rendered possible. As soldiers of the cross, we must be versatile and ready for combat in any zone! It did encourage me to hone more skills for my future Mission trips. May the Lord continue to bless you. Viviane

This is my first experience with Mission Builders, I didn't know what it was I knew we had to volunteer. What I found instead of work was freedom in Christ. It's been a good experience and I'm looking forward to serving again.

Mission Builders International is very knowledgeable and friendly. After a couple phone calls it feels like you're talking to a member of your family. They are patient and determined that you have the best experience you can possibly have. If they can't answer a question they will find out and get back to you. We have served on a number of mission trips through MBI and they have been very good experiences.

My wife and I volunteered to work at the YWAM Campus in Colorado Springs in July of this year. No students were on campus as the fall semester had not begin. We had a variety of jobs awaiting us and had some staff also helping with various chores. Accommodations were quite satisfactory. We enjoyed our work trip and learned more about the campus and their goals for providing students with the necessary skills for mission work. Colorado Springs is a lovely place to visit, especially if you come from areas of the USA with high humidity!

My wife and I had an opportunity to volunteer at YWAM Tyler Texas in March. It was a fantastic experience. She worked on moving and reassembling a campus library while I worked on repairing storm damage as well as remodeling a space into 3 new office areas. The folks at YWAM were gracious, welcoming us and inviting us to participate in evening activities. The staff was organized and provided lots of leadership/guidance. We pan to go back and would recommend this camp as a place of service to anyone seeking a fun place to volunteer.

MBI is a great organization to be involved with. My wife and I have volunteered 17 times with YWAM and have found every experience to be exciting, rewarding and fun.
We especially enjoy serving in Kona Hawaii. No only does it allow us to miss the Canadian winter, but we get to see God move in fantastic ways.

We volunteered at YWAM Northwoods in March. We were greeted warmly upon arrival and that hospitality continued through our 2 week and 2 day stay. It was a great place to be! Work projects were easily accessible and the staff helped us to be comfortable in all that we put our hand to. We worked at remodeling a room, housekeeping and kitchen duties during our stay. At the end of our stay, the staff surrounded us in prayer to send us off. We highly recommend this campus!

I really enjoy volunteering for Christian organizations YWAM Salem has been so good to me. One thing I want to say is we are never to old to work for God. I am 73 years and God is keeping me healthy. As long as God keep me going I'm planing on doing His work. God Bless

I traveled to my first YWAM site on 2/16/2016, in Ozarks, Arkansas. A bit worried as I arrived after 5 PM, I was met eagerly by the head of the base, Barb. I was given a tour and made to feel really welcome. Supper was at 6 & all the staff and students were friendly. Now I am 73 & most of the students are in their early 20's BUT all talked to me, shared their stories with me when asked. I was Blessed beyond words by my 2 weeks on this mountain top. The genuine faith filled, humble attitudes; but normal young dress and actions so inspired me. I had plenty to keep me busy but was encouraged to rest & join Bible & prayer sessions. They really appreciated everything I did to help. I left rejoicing, so encouraged for our younger generations. Mary

The staff & the community were just awesome. Seeing how the Lord is working outside of the U.S.was really eye opening. My wife & I had a life changing experience while we were helping out. We are currently praying about joining YWAM full time. I can't be more encouraging that you take some time to partner with this organization. They are mobilizing today's youth for Christ's mission.

If you are reading this... you have the heart to go... Now.. here is the nudge.. Go! I have been on many bases in several countries, they all seem to amaze me with the staff and the hospitalitly! You don't need to be a master of anything, just a willing hand and try. It is a great experience to see the kingdom of God at work around the world! Even if you start out by
volunteering for a day, it is a start ! That's what counts! Not all bases are the same, but when you find one that fits, be prepared to be amazed at the people you meet and things that get done! A couple of words will put a new meaning in your heart. Yes... I will go! It is an experience that can change you for the better, in All aspects of Life! Blessings!

Our recent trip to YWAM Berlin was one of the best yet! Having seen an urgent need request posted on Mission Builders International (MBI) website for Berlin, GE, we assembled a team of four people and headed there for a 4-week mission trip. We were blessed beyond measure, as Jesus promised, serving those full-time missionaries on the tip of the spear. Not only did we complete several work projects and cooking for 25 people daily, we provided much-needed encouragement and built relationships with staff and students that will last a lifetime! We have taken several mission trips in concert with MBI and cannot more highly recommend this fantastic organization to anyone interested in short-term mission work. They can use those who are skilled as well as those who think they are not but just want to serve. MBI provides mission builders to YWAM bases around the world - just pick where you want to go. If you have ever considered mission work (see MT 28: 19-20) check into MBI for opportunity and encouragement - you WILL be blessed!!
Len & Lynne Benson

For the months of September through December Brian and Karen were Mission builders at the Lakeside, MT YWAM base. It was an awesome experience to see the Kingdom of God progressed by the staff and students who live on this base. We made and built new friendships with all who were on the base from the Ukraine, Madagascar, Switzerland and all over the USA and Canada. Sharing meals, conversation, worship, work, Bible studies and life experiences was refreshing and recharged our spiritual batteries. Brian served by teaching carpentry as well as building cabinets for 8 kitchen units and working on Fridays at the Habitat for Humanity project in nearby Kalispell, MT. Teaching a life skill like carpentry is a valuable outreach tool as well as being useable around the world wherever there is a need to build something. Brian, who celebrated his 73rd birthday while in Lakeside, was immensely proud of the young men he trained and he absolutely loved teaching them.
Karen was the front desk receptionist answering phones, emails, questions from visitors as well as handing out mail and packages---Amazon at Christmas time. Because she handed out packages, she was often a recipient of chocolate gifts….always yummy. Occasionally, she was Mom or Grandma to students and staff with pray time and long conversations.
This base is a community that worships, plays and works together and does a great job of welcoming Mission Builders into their family. Hearing what these staff and students do overseas and stateside was like hearing a continuation of the Book of Acts. The staff that leads, teaches and guides this base is exceptionally gifted at modeling “Jesus, the servant”. It was a privilege for Brian and Karen to serve them in return and they hope to return to YWAM MONTANA and work there again.
Brian and Karen Langton

I recently returned from a months stay at YWAM in Dunham, Quebec, a move that was facilitated by Mission Builders International. They made it so easy! I have been looking for short-term ministry opportunities for quite some time and believe I've finally gotten the right connection! I am looking forward to my next adventure with Mission Builders!

My wife and I volunteered through Mission Builders for YWAM Chatel in Rolle, Switzerland for about 6 weeks. We had a wonderful time. We approached MBI less than a month before we wanted to leave and they did awesome finding us a spot on such short notice. The leaders at YWAM Chatel were kind, generous, and so helpful in fitting us into the base's flow. We felt like we were a part of the team at Chatel and had a great time working, growing, worshiping, and admiring the Swiss Alps over Lake Geneva. We would happily recommend volunteering through Mission Builders.

Our daughter is in fulltime ministry with Youth With A Mission, so we thought we would find out more and try it ouselves. We (my husband and l) recently retired. We have found a great place to continue serving the Lord and see the USA or the world. YWAM does great work and there are a huge variety in what you can do. We were treated great and felt loved and appreciated.

I went to visit YWAM in Lakeside MT for 3 weeks and volunteered in the Housekeeping department. I was glad to be able to help out in a useful way, but also found plenty of time to rest and to engage with the community. I loved working alongside other people - staff, students and other Mission Builders - and it was encouraging and inspiring to listen to other people's stories as to why they were in Montana, and what God was doing in their lives.

We served whit YWAM Penang for 5 weeks. Usually we helped at the KAWAN Shop. KAWAN Shop is a second hand store and our work consisted in checking, washing, ironing, cleaning the cloths and the other stuff. With the acquisition of the stores they support the homeless work. Sometimes we also helped whit the homeless minestry where we gave food to the homeless people and were their friends. We had a lot of time to build our relationship whit god. Also we could see, what it means to do a dts outreach. We really enjoyed the time here and we were really touched by the kindness and hospitality from the staff here.

YWAM Iquitos, Peru. Aug. 2015. Used our gifts to bless the ministry Neil: general maintenance, including electrical, resetting doors, prayer warrior at the base and then assisted in various activities on river ministry. Susan: office type work, light cleaning. Child care. River ministry: visitations to encourage local pastor/families.
Assist in meal preparation, set up and clean off dining table. Encouragement to all.

I had been to Guadalajara, Mexico before and so I wanted to return. I was thinking about how I could get there and enjoy my time there when I remembered YWAM. I had other friends do DTS's with them and all had had the most positive experiences. So, in short, I trusted YWAM. That's what gave me the courage to go alone.

I found out that I didn't have to do a DTS but instead could be Mission Builder--simply volunteer. This was right up my alley. I wanted a low cost way to stay for a month and simply serve people and expand the kingdom of God. The people who helped me with the application process were excellent and hooked me up with Jose at JUCUM (YWAM in spanish) Guadalajara. After a few emails back and forth with Jose, I decided to buy the plane ticket.

My time there was so restful--even though I was serving. The time when I most realized this was after I had returned. The Mexican culture I was in was devoid of materialism and the drivenness of success that I constantly feel while living in the big city here in America. So when I returned, all that "stuff" hit me like a wave. But, now that I'm back into the swing of things, I can see how my experience serving the peoples of Guadalajara, Ixtlahuacan, Chapala, and Ajijic will help me to live better while I'm here in the states. I have a much broader perspective on life--one that I don't believe I could have without physically going outside America.

I loved the Mission Base, all the people there, and the beauty of Lake Chapala (which the base overlooked from a mountain side). I got to learn more Spanish and was able to touch so many peoples lives with the love of Jesus. I felt so useful! All my gifts in teaching, music, and audio engineering were used. It was a life changing experience. I would actually love to go back and live in that area for an extended period of time. Maybe 2 years or so. I would love to serve the people there.

Overall, it was an absolute blast! I did expect it to be a good experience, but it was certainly better than I had thought! I would be a Mission Builder again in a heartbeat.

Hello. MY name is Sophie, and I vountaried as a missionbuilder at YWAM LA for 3 months.

The things I ususally do were landscaping, hospitality, and kitchen jobs. Most of work I usually do by myself and I'm so shy, it was hard to get along with people in that base. So I had plenty time being alone, I tried to use that time spending with God. Read the Bible, joined the worship time in the base.

During that time, I met holy spirit vividly. He said to me, "I love you so much, I love you and I love you." and repeat several times. And also, he said "I sent you here. Don't be afraid to be alone. I will send you people at the proper time, and I have been sending people since you have been here."

After that whenever I feel hard, I was trying to remind what God told me. I still remember what God told me. It makes me so cheerful and being loved by him.

Exceptionally Positive Experience.... YWAM has a unique role in serving " The Kingdom"
and YWAM Cimarron has a unique place in YWAM. Great place to Serve and Celebrate

My wife and I spent a week at Lakeside, MT MBI/YWAM in May 2015. Our intent was to come serve and get a feel for the people involved with MBI and CDTS and to seek God's direction. We were very pleased with both programs as we were able to attend morning CDTS sessions while meeting some very wonderful servants of God such as Arnold & Deb, Pete & Fran and Donna Burgess. The classes were wonderful and we felt the Holy Spirit's presence during our stay, through the lives and the teachings of classmates and instructors. We look forward to future trips to Lakeside and beyond as we have plans, Lord willing, to explore more opportunities to unite with God's servants at Lakeside and eventually overseas, serving as Mission Builders and perhaps coming on staff eventually.

We have served several times with YWAM Mission Builders. Always, we have been very happy that we did. The different places where we went treated us extremely well with both food and accommodations. Each time we met wonderful people in charge and also other wonderful volunteers. With some , we have become friends for life. This kind of activity could be called vacation with a purpose even though we put in 6-8 hours a day. Weekends are always free to explore and get to know the area. We highly recommend this organization.

My wife and i spent a week with YWAM Burtigny Switzerland. This was a great experience from the first contact. Email inquiries were returned on a timely basis. Information was provided in advance to prepare us. Phone calls answered immediately and a smiling happy welcome when we arrived. This is critical particularly for first timers out in the field for the first time.

Then the real test is how are we intigrated as part of the team...? It was so easy. Everyone made an effort to sit by us at a meal and share. Answer questions and direct us as needed. None were aloof. We felt as part of the family.

This was a time when we're were able to serve others and yet made to feel as if we were the honored ones. We were blessed beyond our expectations....and then to add to this the natural beauty of Lake Geneva and all the towns to visit...we could not have asked for more.
Craig and Karen Riley age 65 Stat of Washington USA

I was unemployed worker looking for something to do between the end of ski season and a summer job. I filled out a 30 minute application, the was easier but hard because my skill set was not where I wanted to help out. Mission Builders contacted me with days of application (three months before I wanted to volunteer) and recontacted a month later because they need my idea on were I wanted to volunteer. My list was early by home locations about as the months was fall by two of three location did need my skills. So, It was weeks before my available time and Craig for Mission Builder Contacted YWAM Canby and found that they could use my skills for April and May. When I got this email but YWAM Canby need me, I had got a virus so I had to postpone the trip by a month.

We volunteered for three months at YWAM Destination Paradise, in Belize, on Ambergris Caye.
My husband, a retired Electrician spent his day doing electrical, plumbing and routine maintenance. I did a variety of tasks, cleaning, baking, some cooking and data entry.
We were invited to participate in worship services, small group prayer time and attendance at Community Church.
About 40 students and staff, was a pleasant sized group. We enjoyed becoming acquainted with them and participating in activities.
We would encourage volunteers to be ,"self motivated" , offer to do tasks and adhere to the Base standards and expectations.
Doug and Anna Marie Boyes

I had an awesome time with YWAM Boston staff and student! I was greatly encouraged to see the love and passion they have to reach out to the lost to share God`s love.

My wife and I volunteer most weeks at the YWAM base in Rockford Minnesota as we live in the area. I'm an electrical contractor and maintenance tech. by trade and will be retiring at the end of May 2015. We plan to volunteer at the YWAM base in Mazatlan Mexico in the future having visited it briefly this year, and also plan to do the same at the Amsterdam base next fall. We have been very impressed with the loving spirit shown to us as well as the professionalism.

We volunteered for 2.5 weeks at YWAM Tyler , TX. My husband did construction most of the week. He really enjoyed meeting and working and learning from the other volunteers. Many of the volunteers there were retired people who had been coming to Tyler for many years, some were new. Several different organizations were represented. We had a great place to stay and the host was wonderful, Karen, made us feel so at home and welcome. The food was all included and usually quite good. We did have a kitchen and did some cooking ourselves. We had opportunity to meet and talk with many of the missionaries there, staff and students from all over the world. All were so appreciative of everything we did. Myself, I did a variety of things includig: cleaning, painting, cooking, and counting pills for un upcomming medical mission trip. It was a great experience and we hope to return again.

Serving with YWAM Chatel was a wonderful blessing to me. It is a great place to have quiet time with God, and to learn how to serve people and God. The place is beautiful, and the people there are lovely as well. I have had learnt a lot during the time I was there, and I met many lovely people.
I would love serve with YWAM in the world in the future again. And of course I would encourage my family and friends to go serve as MBI with YWAM somewhere in the world.

Hello everybody,

This is Manoela from Brazil. I'm almost 22, industrial engeneering student and intern worker at Bosch Brazil.
I got my vacation from work and college to be a mission builder in YWAM San Jose, Costa Rica.

10 months ago (April/2014) i understood a calling from God saying that i needed to go to some place not so reach and make the people feel loved through things that i like to do, for example, playing soccer.
Actually the soccer program was for DTS people. But since there was soccer in Costa Rica I didn't see that like an obstacle.

I arrive in Costa Rica on the 2nd of January and I stayed in a friend that I met in the USA last year and then in amazing friend of him until my journey volunteer journey starts.
I went to the YWAM base on the 6th. At first I was really scared because my first roommates were 2 big spiders and I really got crazy. Anyway, I was there a little bit afraid because it was at night so i didnt have so many people to talk. Before i sleep i just prayed to God saying that I was really afraid and really anxious because I knew nobody and I didnt have the things by my control overthere. So this was the most important point to be worked on me.

God is awesome, He just surprised me on the next morning that I woke up. One thing that I was always afraid was dont have something to do like having too much free time. It was awesome because everytime that I started to think: I will have nothing to do in some time, He always surprised me with something, like in my second day in the base: everybody was playing soccer. This is something that I really like to do, actually, I could spend my whole life playing. On the next day I could go to the beach and day by day until my workduties start I always had something really exciting to do and everyday i could meet some new people.

As a mission builder, I could work in sooo many things like I could help in the hospitality, I could help in the kitchen to cook to the base, I could play soccer again, I met the new DTS people and they are amazing I could not have better people to know. I could help the Homes of hope and the Metro Ministries too aaaand i could join some of the DTS soccer classes

My wife and I joined Mission Builders International (MBI) in the late 1990's. We served for several years on the Board of Directors; as "assessors" (i.e. is this project safe, strategic, and doable?) of foreign locations looking for help; and as missionaries to some of those foreign countries. MBI, as it's mission statement indicates, "connects Christians to front-line missions"; equally as important in my view, MBI offers Christians wonderful opportunities to grow dramatically in their faith as they interact with very different cultures from their own and as they address real-life problems on the cutting edge of "preaching the good news to all creation". In addition, when Mission Builders return to their home churches, they come with a wealth of legitimate hands-on, faith-buildiing experiences to share with their friends. It's a win-win-win ... experience! Who can pass up that kind of an investment?

L. Peter Larson

MBI provides a powerful message that with God's guidance and help, anything is possible. I have witnessed this organization starting from no more than 2 people and their dedication to serving God. The donations received have always been responsibly spent and the example demonstrated by MBI has been a very real witness to thousands around the world. Many have grown in their walk with the Lord as the result of a well organized and dedicated leadership and staff. I am confident that God will continue to bless this incredible ministry.

I was asked to join MBI some years ago after I met John Briggs and told him what I had seen in the mission field. Living this past 25 years in Asia I have seen the great need for mission support, not just financial, but more importantly through having supporters come physically alongside and get involved. The mission field can, at times, be lonely and daunting, but having witnessed how effective MBI is in helping relieve those stresses (not just by sending teams to help with projects, but also simply by having supporters help with day-to-day chores), I believe they have proved themselves to be a caring and professional ministry that is first amongst equals. Blessings, Michael Lyon (TTc)

I am a Construction Project Manager building
on a 2.5 million dollar children's home at
Rancho Los Amigos children's home
an orphanage located at the YWAM base
in Juarez Mexico.
Mission builders have assisted us in
blessing us with building materials.
Thank you again
Austin Degenhart
Project Manager
El Paso Texas / Juarez Mexico

Mission Builders International is a wonderful non-profit based on the concept of training people to share the love of Jesus with others in the form of helping hands, products and training!
Donations of supplies have been particularly helpful.

We are blessed and privileged to be a donor of Mission Builders Intl over the past 15 plus years. We may not always be able to be on the frontlines, but we can make it possible for others by being a part of MBI. They have a great network of tying together givers and goers to further the work of The KIngdom for God. We love the concept of sending teams to be support for existing ministries. We have seen all aspects of MBI from the office management to being on two teams. They excel at providing a good experience for all who participate. It has inspired us to continue to be donors, making it possible for others to go!

I love the work Mission Builders does! I like to call it Vacations With A Mission, and one day I hope to join one of their teams. In the meantime I participate vicariously through prayer support and by reading their newsy and uplifting newsletters. Our local populace enjoys having MBI and Youth With a Mission in the community. With so many years in missions, marriage, child raising and faithful living, John and Donna Briggs are a treasure. Their wisdom and witness is far ranging and they are exemplary nonprofit team leaders.

Mission Builders is an adequate representation of their name. Their goal is to mobilize people to partner and assist Youth With A Mission locations all over the world to further the gospel of Jesus Christ with their God-given skills and expertise as they share their time and talents to 'build up' the mission with the long-term works in a variety of different nations. Adults of all ages can go and serve short-term to help fulfill the Great Commission. From CEO's to domestic engineers and everything in between, God will use who is willing to serve with whatever they have to give.

YWAM Mission Builders has been an incredible help to our mission over a number of years. They have both connected us with very talented and hard working volunteers as well as building materials for our renovation projects. We are impressed with their expertise and sincere commitment to our mission and our needs. They are an incredible group of people with a big heart!

Dropping chocolate chips on cookie batter is taking longer than it should because I'm gazing out the window at the mountains. It's October 31st and winter is closing in here at YWAM Cimarron, Colorado. My husband Dean and I, in our role as Mission Builders, have just spent the last week helping the staff prepare for a remote, high mountain winter. Dean has been hauling wood for the various buildings and doing maintenance while I have spent all week in the kitchen preparing food for the freezer...and whipping up daily sweet treats for the hard-working folks here. It is always a delight to spend time at this well-kept facility. But way more than that, it is so heartwarming to see the way the staff here is so intentional about making a difference in the world. They have all done outreaches to bring hope and help to hurting people in many rough places. Being part of the ministry of Mission Builders International is a richly rewarding way of living as we vividly see hope for the future happening before our very eyes.

This past Spring my husband and I participated in a Crossroads Discipleship Training School with MBI. At the conclusion of the classroom portion of our school we went on an outreach with MBI staff to Romania. Through the experience we learned so much about God, his Word, missions and ourselves. We had our world view enlarged, our strengths matured and our weaknesses uncovered. We are so thankful to have had this special season together with Jesus. It has drawn us closer as a couple, opened doors for future ministry & learning and it has clarified our purposes for life. The staff were true mentors to us who cared about our individual growth and assisted us in having the best possible experience we could have. I would encourage those looking for a short term missions experience to consider allowing Mission Builders International to help them find a suitable placement, so that they may be blessed as they bless others.

For several years I felt the pull to do some type of missions work but felt I was too old to live in a hut in a 1st world country (my idea of what missions work had to be)! After attending a Youth With a Mission Crossroads Discipleship Training School (CDTS), I discovered the opportunity to work at Mission Builders International. I have been here as a full-time volunteer staff member for almost two years. I have the unique opportunity to assist in the placement of volunteers from all corners of the world who want to serve in short-term missions around the world. Mission Builders International makes it easy and safe for the volunteers, and it opens the door to new horizons! Helping people to have a life-changing experience is an awesome job!

I have been associated with MBI for almost 20 years. I have had Mission Builder oversight at a MB location in Kona Hawaii and seen hundreds of people of all ages come through our location to serve our Mission from 14 year olds to 80 plus year olds and most lives were incredibly changed or restored as well as for some at later ages, they would say "their lives had just begun". Serving others takes ones focus away from oneself to others and allows God to work in both lives in truly amazing ways.

For the past 8 years I have served as "Field Staff" with Mission Builders International in third world countries helping to train people with to "capture" and "clean" water using Appropriate Technology. I have been privileged to have worked with the poorest of the poor but have seen lives changed as we empowered these precious folks to empower themselves.

Mission Builders has made this possible by providing a place for people to 'simply serve' those whom have needs both in developing nations and the 1st world. Thanks to all involved on the Board and Staff for giving Field Staff a platform to work from.

With a heart for missions, but not knowing how to begin after a move to Montana far from friends and family, we were put in touch with Mission Builders International.

MBI connects those with a servant’s heart to front line missionaries and organizations within the YWAM campuses around the world who can use their gifts and talents in tangible ways and by lifting their arms through encouragement, prayer and friendship.

We have been truly blessed with our association with Mission Builders International throughout these past 12 years. We have served in North America and made several trips to Israel. We know that volunteering with Mission Builders International will be a life changing experience and you will be forever grateful you stepped out in faith and made it happen.

I have been a volunteer staff member at Mission Builders International for 3 1/2 years. I love this role because we help lift the arms of full time missionaries around the world by placing short term volunteers on the field. It is a double blessing as those who go to serve actually benefit by exposure to a different culture and have an opportunity to create relationships with a myriad of people.. sometimes creating friendships that last a lifetime.
We get the privilege of acting as a free travel agent for those who want to make a difference in the world, but may not know how to navigate the journey!
We also get to go on the field and serve as well. My personal target nation is South Africa and I was able to serve there for 7 weeks in 2014.

Some 15 years ago, we in Youth With A Mission Thailand asked Mission Builders International (MBI) if they would help us build a training facility in the northern city of Chiang Rai. We got much more than we expected! They first sent a team over to help us think through exactly what we wanted to use the facility for, and do strategic planning for it. Our eyes were opened in great and valuable ways by the team of volunteers who were very friendly & helpful, but extremely professional. From there MBI began sending teams over to help with the actual building, following up until it was completely finished. It has been an incredible blessing to our organization, and people from all over Thailand (and the world!) have been trained, equipped and mobilized from that Training Center. We are very grateful to MBI for their invaluable assistance, and highly recommend them to any organization. You'll find that they do much more than "just build". They can also help you envision and think through goals for the future, and make realistic and attainable plans, as well as helping with the practical aspects of construction, etc. We in YWAM Thailand have greatly benefited from the help of Mission Builders International.

Mission Builders is a great organization that helps people with a heart for missions have the ability to use their time and talents to serve many places in the world. They simply need to know where you would like to serve, when can you go and what skills do you have that you want to use. Our family has served now in 4 locations that Mission Builders has connected us with. We now have ongoing relationships with the ministries in those locations and are now making return trips.

We have been serving the Lord as volunteers with Mission Builders International since 1994. They have provided opportunities to serve as volunteers many places throughout the world at various Youth With A Mission campuses. The needs for volunteers and the opportunities to serve are so numerous that it would take a separate book to compile. We can safely say that this opportunity, thru MBI, has been a life changing experience and continues to change our lives still today. The joy in the words, faces, and attitudes of those we serve and serve with, might normally be sufficient in itself, but there is still much to do for the Lords Kingdom, and MBI has just the opportunities to fulfill those services.

MBI in Lakeside Montana has been so helpful in placing my wife and I to help others all over the world.
They are friendly, professional and committed to serving all those involved.
The staff is very knowledgeable about the staff at so many different locations.
The MBI staff really want you to have a great experience.
I have told many friends about MBI and they to have had a great experience.
Reliable and friendly sums it up.

Mission Builders International was founded out of the North American Office of Youth With A Mission in Seattle, WA in 1990. My wife, Jacky and I were part of the founding team of MBI in order to facilitate connecting volunteers, skilled and unskilled with YWAM training center around the world.

MBI was modeled after a very successful mission builder program in Kona, Hi. at the University of the Nations Campus of YWAM. During our 2 1/2 years of volunteering in a leadership roll, assisting volunteers, in helping to build a world class campus, we learned how valuable volunteers can be to a non-profit ministry like YWAM.

MBI has given us, as a couple, wonderful opportunities to serve YWAM in numerous countries of the world building several training centers in Nepal and Thailand. In addition, doing many short-term assignments in support of getting YWAM ministry locations prepared to receive volunteers and making many wonderful friends as we served these front line ministries. We loved every assignment working with staff, students and volunteers over the years.

Our lives have been truly enriched as we came alongside the missionaries in the foreign fields of the world and in North America.

We would encourage everyone to listen to God's voice, take a step of faith and volunteer with Mission Builders International. It will change your life forever.

Shalom
Lynn and Jacky Battermann-MBI board members

The Org helps connect those who want to serve with their gifts and talents to locations around the world that have needs of those gifts and talents. They are friendly and have been doing this for many years. I highly recommend MBI for those who want to volunteer.

A chance to use the gifts that you possess to help further the gospel message. From cooking to computer programming, and gardening to construction, there are so many ways to help. My husband is a mechanic and I am an avid gardener and cook. We've served all around the US and are so glad that we can be a part of mission work without having to go to a seminary for training! We just serve using the gifts and skills that we already have. YWAM is s global ministry, so you can travel the world while helping others.

I am blessed to be a Board member of MBI. For me it truly is a two way street. I get to see the results of Our lord and Savior reaching our thru MBI volunteers to serve people in need and people who are hurting. And hearing first hand the of miracles precipitated by teams working world wide. On the giving end, helping set goals and directions for MBI and participating in the give and take of open discussions of how, when and where we go. A big part of the board work is supporting the MBI staff with funds, prayers and encouragement. Setting goals and watching the Lord bless us and help us reach those goals. Board members also help the process of connecting volunteers with mission projects by being active volunteers and also describing how MBI works in making the connections.

I have had vast experience in receiving YWAM Mission builders into our community to come along side long term missionaries in such a variety of services. 'builder' can be misleading if you take it literally. You do not have to be a carpenter or know the trades. Our Mission Builders have served us in the kitchen, in the garden, in our pre school, in leading a daily devotion, in our worship team, being a hostess and decorator, and yes, installing electrical, framing walls, laying carpet and tile. Joining Mission Builders International is the key to unlocking the most exciting investment of your life and opens the world of missions to you. You will always receive more than you give and that in itself is the blessing God has waiting for you.

It's important to consider the leadership of an organization when assessing whether to volunteer, support, partner, etc. In the case of Mission Builders International, I have known and worked with the leaders for 20+ years and am proud to call them friends and neighbors. They quietly go about their business with integrity. The result is a loyal and passionate following for their important work.