Celebrating YWAM family

Stefaan Hugo has been the leader of the YWAM training centre in Worcester, South Africa, for the past 12 years. This week, amidst much celebration for the faithfulness of God over more than a decade, he handed over this leadership role to Bruno Guntelach who will partner with his wife, Judy.

Twelve years ago the Worcester training centre started in an old hospital, which the 15 staff members set about transforming into classrooms, accommodation and meetings halls. Today there are over 150 staff members and the centre is training people from many different nations, to work in diverse ways to take the message of Jesus to the communities of Africa and beyond.

One of the ministries at YWAM Worcester is a language training school. Many missionaries come from nations such as Brazil and Korea to learn English in order to be able to take news of God's salvation to other nations. Nilto is one such Brazilian graduate of the school who is now working in Maputo, Mozambique, where a new YWAM ministry has recently been established. In the riots in that city last month, Nilto was able to get news about the situation to those outside Mozambique, in order for prayer and practical help to be mobilized. He is one of many people who have been equipped to serve in other African nations through the work of YWAM in Worcester. They describe themselves as a 'gateway to Africa and the world'.

Over 40 nationalities came together to celebrate the foundations of this YWAM campus and to dream of the future growth and fruitfulness possible as they work together. Bruno Guntelach, originally from Switzerland, took on the symbolic mantle of authority from Stefaan Hugo, as leaders from YWAM in the region, as well as community leaders, welcomed him in this new appointment and prayed for him and his family.

There has been a long partnership between the YWAM training centres in Worcester and Muizenberg (the location of our communication team for YWAM Africa projects). It was wonderful to celebrate with staff and students and to look forward with them to all that is to come.