Lynn Green is a small-town Colorado boy who ended up living more than 40 years in and around London, England. He successfully courted Marti DeFebbo, the secretary of YWAM’s Founders, Loren and Darlene Cunningham. Before they knew it they had produced a whole crowd of kids and grandkids so that the immediate family now numbers 20. They all live within a mile radius of one another on the north edge of London.
Their lives are thoroughly international, but are also anchored around the family home which is part of a missions training community, a University of the Nations campus. They have found enduring friendships with people who inspire them in the big global family of Youth With a Mission.
Senior leadership in YWAM and other public ministry have taken Lynn to more than 110 nations. Some of his adventures include being part of the founding team of March For Jesus and he initiated and led the Reconciliation Walk, giving the opportunity to more than 2,500 people to walk portions of the route of the First Crusade apologizing for atrocities done in the name of Jesus.
Lynn and Marti continue their commitment to taking the good news of Jesus to everyone and currently focus mostly on China and the Middle East.
Hi Lynn, The only time I saw you or heard you speak was at university of Kent Christian Union in 1970-ish. All I remember was YWAM! The Lord sent me to Philippines in 2001. I worked for Book of Hope and we did an outreach in Mamburao on the island of Mindoro in 2002 where I met some YWAMers – the first ones for 32 years! Things then moved fast. Every book I read had YWAM in it or so it seemed and I ended up doing my DTS at Antipolo Base at the grand age of 57. In 2013 the Lord clearly called us to move back to the Subdivision where the Base is situated and we built a house only a 2 minute walk away. We are now doing Youth Alpha courses for the local squatter kids, in our house. Amazing how things work out? Blessings, Nick Fell.
Hi Lynn. Came across old handwritten (and typed) letters from 1971 – got me wondering how you guys were doing. Not up to date with YWAM for quite a while. Like myself you probably reason: “Where did those years go.?” But I was one of a group of three Northern Irish persons joining you back in the day. The name is Ken Riddles – but then how could you possibly remember? 😎 Anyway just a quick hello. Blessings to you and your family. Love to Marti. ken.riddles@btinternet.com – and – seedsinmotiontruthnart.wordpress.com
Thanks for getting back in touch, Ken. I think Marti has already got back to you. It was very kind of you to stir up some old, wonderful memories of our times in Northern Ireland.
Hello Lynn, I’m sure there is a better way to contact you with this question but, maybe I’m blind, but I can’t seem to find a contact me location on your website.
I am from the USA and have been in YWAM for over 10 years. I am currently working on a base leadership team in Central America.
I wanted to know if you have already covered the topic, or if not, if you could talk in more depth about honoring the sabbath.
You mentioned it in the document you wrote about pruning off Tom Bloomers word. I would like to hear from a YWAM leader more in depth about what the idea is of honoring the sabbath. I have my Biblical opinion but I work with a team of people who think that it is no longer necessary to set aside a day within the week to “rest” (such a broad term that needs some definition. What is rest? What does honoring and not honoring the sabbath look like.
I am asking because this was one of the things specifically mentioned in the pruning 2020 document. I think it was a vitally important word for YWAMers all over the globe. Because to be honest, I don’t think we as a YWAM culture do this very well. I think we often, for the sake of working hard for the kingdom, choose to disobey this commandment (we think we are above it or something).
I think it would be really helpful if this idea of honoring the sabbath was explained a little deeper and brought to some definition for us YWAMers.
Thanks for any input you have,
Aaryn
This subject remains debatable among New Testament believers. A case can be made, especially from Hebrews, that we are in a constant state of sabbath rest in Christ–by faith. A case can also be made for the importance of setting aside a day a week for rest, worship and investing in our relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I would not be the best person to explain this subject because I am not a convinced advocate of just one of the two differing views; I attempt to live in the constant Sabbath Rest, but also see the need for some weekly rhythms that include a day set aside for more time in the Word, family fellowship and enjoyment of friends.
Hi Lynn. Lydia Smith has just forwarded me your recent blog on all the Covid measures and I have to say it is one of the best expressed analyses that I have read. Thank goodness at least a few Christian leaders are speaking up about the current paradigm. My worry is that these are few.
I attended the YWAM camps at Ifield Hall in my 20s and the teaching has never left me. It has been enormously helpful to my Christian walk .
I should add that I was so very inspired to witness the mothering skills of Marti – that has also been an inspiration in my own life.
I have now signed up and look forward to receiving more of your blogs. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Lynn.
Every blessing to you and your extended family.
Thank you for this website! This has been so incredibly helpful along with all your videos. I have been in YWAM for 15 years now and listening to these videos and reading this info helps me understand things so much better!!! Incredibly freeing! Very much to the point and great communication on what God has been and is doing in YWAM!
Thanks for the encouragement, Aaron!
Hi Lynn. I grew up in GJT (FMHS class of ’93) and am currently doing a Crossroads school in Tyler with your brother-in-law as my one-on-one. Between stories from Leland and Dave and Jeff, reading Loren & Darlene’s books, listening to “No Compromise” while visiting Garden Valley cemetery, investigating the Pratney/Olson library, and taking jogging trips through the woods to the Mercy Ships campus, it has been fascinating to simultaneously learn about the rich background surrounding this Tyler base, about the significance of our Western Slope in YWAM’s history, and to feel so connected to the intersection of the two! To complete the circle I feel I just need to get my teenage boys to do an SST in Cimarron this summer! (You can pray for that!) Anyway, if we cross paths someday I’m sure it would be fun to talk with you.
And FWIW, as a highly visionary-oriented person myself, I’m pretty sure that the most encouraging “homegoing gift” we could all give to Loren would be authentic demonstrations (not just words, but demonstrative ACTION) of rededicated zeal to EBPN!
Hola Lynn, DESDE ARGENTINA, UN GRUPO DE CRISTIANOS LLAMADOS A EXPANDIR EL REINO , ESTAMOS ORANDO POR TU VIDA Y LA DE TU FAMILIA…TE BENDECIMOS, ROGAMOS QUE EL ESPIRITU SANTO TE VISITE CADA DIA Y TE HAGA SENCIBLE A SU VOS……
Hello Lynn, FROM ARGENTINA, A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS CALLED TO EXPAND THE KINGDOM, WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOUR LIFE AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILY… WE BLESS YOU, WE PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL VISIT YOU EVERY DAY AND MAKE YOU AWARE OF YOU.
Thanks very much, Norberto.
Hello Sir Lynn, your blogs are very useful for me to serve with the global YWAM body, with much needed perspective and truth. May I know where to post the questions we have for your Friday TV sessions please, Thank you.
You can post them here.
Hi Lynn
I loved your stories about the Reconciliation Walks in the 80’s. I noticed you referred to N.Ireland in a reply to a comment above. I was wondering if you ever went down south into the ROI. There are some interesting historic Celtic Christian sites there tho’ I dont know if there are churches that are experiencing the Holy Spirit there today. I expect that there are as the preent Pope Francis is very open to that as was his preacher to the Cardinals & Francis himself. This short clip is from a longer talk by Ranero Cantalamess recorded some years ago now – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZ1N9gbSHY
Yes, I have been in ROI several times, but don’t know much of its spiritual history–except as seen through the eyes of the book, How The Irish Saved Civilisation.