YWAM HCMC

Our Mission: We are an international Christian missions movement dedicated to providing opportunities for people from all over the world to serve in Vietnam and the nations.

Our Vision: We are called to be a harbor to recieve, to train, to equip, and to release people to pursuit God’s calling for their life in Vietnam and nations.

As YWAM Vietnam, we want to see Vietnamese sent-ones as missionaries to other nations. Vietnamese has a part in the great commission of Jesus. Vietnamese are called to Go as other nations as well.

What is YWAM?

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is a global Christian missionary organization that focuses on evangelism, training, and mercy ministries. It was founded in 1960 by Loren Cunningham, with the goal of mobilizing young people to spread the message of Jesus and serve communities around the world.

Key Aspects of YWAM:

  • Mission:

    • “To know God and to make Him known.”

  • Structure:

    • YWAM is a decentralized organization, meaning it doesn’t have a traditional headquarters or hierarchy. Individual locations (called bases) operate independently but under the shared vision and values of YWAM.

  • Core Ministries:

    • Evangelism: Sharing the Christian gospel in various ways, from street preaching to digital media.

    • Training: Most notably the Discipleship Training School (DTS), a foundational 5-6 month program involving biblical teaching, spiritual formation, and a cross-cultural outreach phase.

    • Mercy Ministries: Includes humanitarian aid, medical work, disaster relief, education, and community development.

  • Global Reach:

    • YWAM operates in over 180 countries with thousands of full-time staff and volunteers. It’s known for its youth-oriented, cross-cultural focus and its flexibility in ministry approaches.

  • Non-denominational:

    • YWAM is not affiliated with any specific church denomination and welcomes participants from various Christian backgrounds.

Why Ho Chi Minh City?

Location: Southern Vietnam

Status: Largest city in Vietnam.

Population: Over 9 million (metro area exceeds 13 million)

History:

  • Founded in 19th Century.

  • Became Saigon under Vietnamese and French rule.

  • Capital of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

  • Renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976 after reunification, honoring the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh.

Economy:

  • Vietnam’s economic and financial hub.

  • Major industries: manufacturing, finance, technology, tourism, and real estate.

  • Rapid urban development and foreign investment.

Culture & Lifestyle:

  • A vibrant mix of French colonial architecture, Buddhist temples, and modern skyscrapers.

  • Famous for street food, nightlife, and motorbike culture.

  • Key cultural sites: War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Ben Thanh Market, and the Cu Chi Tunnels nearby.

Transportation:

  • Traffic is dense and chaotic—motorbikes dominate.

  • Tan Son Nhat International Airport serves both domestic and international flights.

  • Metro system (under development) is expected to improve public transit in the coming years.

Climate:

  • Tropical climate with two main seasons:

    • Wet season: May to November (hot and humid with heavy rain)

    • Dry season: December to April (hot and relatively dry)

Our Values

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) has 18 foundational values that guide its beliefs, practices, and decision-making. These values were established by founder Loren Cunningham and are considered core to the organization's identity.

Know God

To know God, His nature, His character, and His ways.

Make God Known

To make Him known throughout the whole world, especially to those who have never heard.

Hear God’s Voice

To listen to God and obey His voice in personal and corporate guidance.

Practice Worship & Intercessory Prayer

To engage regularly in worship and prayer as central to their relationship with God.

Be Visionary

To be led by the Holy Spirit and act in faith, looking toward God's purposes with creativity.

Function in Teams

To value teamwork in leadership, ministry, and decision-making.

Champion Young People

To believe in and invest in young people as leaders, regardless of age.

Exhibit Servant Leadership

Leaders are to serve others, following the example of Jesus.

Do First, Then Teach

To model a lifestyle of putting biblical principles into practice before teaching them.

Be Broad-Structured and Decentralized

To have a flexible and organic structure that allows for growth and innovation.

Value the Individual

To treat each person with dignity, respect, and love.

Value Families

To support and strengthen families within the mission and the communities they serve.

Be International & Inter-denominational

To embrace diversity in cultures, languages, and Christian traditions.

Be Relationship-Oriented

To value relationships as central to ministry and leadership.

Have a Biblical Worldview

To apply biblical truth to every area of life and society.

Communicate with Integrity

To be honest, truthful, and clear in all forms of communication.

Practice Hospitality

To reflect God’s heart by being generous and welcoming.

Practice Dependence on God

To rely on God's provision through prayer and faith, not guaranteed salaries.