tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411682691107232214.post8540446435686479813..comments2023-05-25T07:53:57.447-07:00Comments on An Artist in Paradise: YWAM's Cycle of PovertyLonge Hawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883395494701073905noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411682691107232214.post-85348619583047235712018-02-22T21:19:40.300-08:002018-02-22T21:19:40.300-08:00I was on staff 4 years in Kona and 6 months in Eng...I was on staff 4 years in Kona and 6 months in England. After a successful career as an engineer but only a 'nominal' christian I retired in '03. A friend in ministry had a teenager who had a great adventure in the 'Kings Kids' part of YWAM and traveled to Mongolia with his team in the 90s. I've always loved to travel so the YWAM spin was very appealing to me as a way to serve God in retirement. I bought it hook, line and sinker. Fast forward to 2012 when my wife and I finally left Kona. I had no idea how our lives in that environment had pulled us apart emotionally and damaged each of us spiritually.<br />In 2014 my wife of 44 years walked out and we were divorced in June of that year. I'm still processing this stuff.... but one thing for sure is the power of blame and shame that is just below the surface in the staff and leaders in Kona. My ex-wife still thinks it was 'God's will' for us to be involved and has blamed me for the breakup.... Truth be told, we were both pretty messed up. I've discovered that God's grace really is sufficient even for this. I'm still lonely, but the whole mess has forced me to press into God for my healing.... you guessed it, I had to spend a lot of time in the toilet of self pity before my healing began. After 4 years alone, part of what I see is that YWAM is a distilled version of a lot of toxic stuff in the American church. This may sound strange, but I'm now being blessed by serving as a volunteer at a small YWAM base on the mainland. I guard my prerogatives carefully now, and will never commit to being on staff again. I believe the larger bases are the most abusive because they are really institutions rather than christian fellowships. Smaller fellowships, in any situation, are more like families.... and are therefor more able to express the true love, acceptance and forgiveness of Christ. That kind of experience can actually bring healing to people rather than the abuse that so many have found in YWAM. An excellent book on the dangers of ALL man made institutions is "Dr. Frankenstein and World Systems" by Bob Mumford.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com