Loren and Darlene Cunningham bid aloha to Hawaii and headed south this week to begin the first of six “Founders’ Journeys” to celebrate YWAM’s 50th Anniversary together with YWAMers at 42 locations around the globe during 2010.

This first journey takes them to eleven locations: New Zealand, two locations in Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, three locations in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.  It will take 20 air flights to get them to all of the locations, and as Loren said recently “we’ll have to be careful not to sneeze, or we might miss a stop!”  They will arrive home in Kona just in time to celebrate Darlene’s mom’s 96th birthday on February 23rd.  Affectionately known as “Mama Dar,” she is hoping to visit them on-site at one of their upcoming Founders’ Journeys and she is in the final throes of completing her first book, to be launched during this 50th anniversary year, entitled The Worldwide Wanderings of a YWAM Widow.

YWAM/UofN Kona had a time of prayer and commissioning the Cunninghams at their recent Ohana Gathering (staff retreat).  There was a great sense of anticipation and joy, as the Kona family sent them off to be with the rest of the YWAM global family this year. Hundreds crowded around them, including daughter Karen, son David, and “Mama Dar,” to pray for the Word of the Lord, health, strength and safety throughout this year….and for no weather or mechanical difficulties that might cause air travel delays.  YWAM Kona also took up a generous offering to help fly the Cunninghams to remote, developing world locations.  Although they are purchasing “economy” tickets, their travel costs are high because they must travel on the carriers and flights that get them to the right places in the right sequence.  Jonathan Hamilton, Loren’s scheduling assistant who has been working with Loren for the past two years researching these itineraries says, “The travel itinerary is like a jig-saw puzzle, with one segment locking in tightly to the next segment.”  Most locations will have a 5-session event (some fewer) with the Cunninghams doing Session 1 the first night; Sessions 2, 3 & 4 the middle day; Session 5 the morning of the third day, and then flying on to the next location that afternoon!

At each location, Cunninghams together with the host YWAMers will thank God for His goodness in the PAST, celebrate His faithfulness in the PRESENT, but most importantly, they will look to the FUTURE with anticipation of all He desires to do through YWAM to complete the Great Commission and disciple nations.  At each location, the participants will have an opportunity to join into a worldwide commitment to help fulfill God’s dreams by signing YWAM’s “Jubilee Covenant” (see attached).

To find the YWAM Founders' 50th Anniversary Event closest to you, go to www.YWAM50.com