Youth With A Mission (YWAM, generally pronounced "y-wam") is an inter-denominational, non-profit Christian, missionary organization. Founded by Loren Cunningham and his wife Darlene Cunningham in 1960, YWAM's stated purpose is to "know God and to make Him known".
YWAM includes people from over 180 countries and a large number of Christian denominations, with over half of the organization's staff from non-Western countries. YWAM has over 18,000 full-time volunteers in more than 1,100 ministry locations in over 180 countries. They train upwards of 25,000 short-term missions volunteers annually.
Youth With A Mission was conceived by Loren Cunningham in 1956, as a 20-year-old student in an Assemblies of God College, he was traveling in the Bahamas when he had a vision of waves breaking over the Earth. When he looked closer the waves appeared to become young people taking the news of Jesus into all the nations of the world. He envisioned a movement that would send young people out after high school to gain a sense of purpose when going to college, and would welcome Christians of all denominations.
On days of north wind infinity appears
Against the unknown allegiance of fear
Of pagan wisdoms and pagan sights
We created kingdoms blended by might
All fearless servants
Blind fortunes for the throne
For the ode of glory dominated here
On glorious horses through wide landscapes
Might poisoned the minds of men
From the age of passion
Soldiers of the hand
Under the wrath of the sun
They ruled the lingdoms
And built a new dawn
Dark kings hailed beyond all fate
Above the gates of infinity
Imperiums call the profane
On days of north wind illusions appear
Against the unknown allegiance of fear
Pagan wisdom - pagan sights
Create the vision blended by might
Dark empries beyond all fate
Above the gates of infinty
Imperiums call the profane