The story of Caleb has special significance for us in YWAM because of the attention-grabbing parallels between Caleb of old and Loren Cunningham.
Parallels of Caleb and Loren’s stories:
1. Caleb and Loren both stepped foot in their promised land for the first time at age 40 (Canaan and Kona campus, respectively) and requested their inheritance at age 85 (Joshua 14:7).
2. Caleb and Loren have both declared they have “wholeheartedly followed the Lord,” and are “alive and well,” ready to secure the promised land for the kingdom of God (Jos 14:9-12)
3. Caleb won many battles on his own but asked for help when it came time to conquer Kiriath-sepher, “the city of the book." Loren has also won many battles for the kingdom of God but now is asking for help to see the Book, the Bible, in every city in the world.
4. Othniel rose up to fight for Caleb’s promise and secure the land. We believe it’s time for us to do the same for Loren!
Loren's "Caleb year" ends on June 30th when he turns 86. The whole of his "mountain" has not yet been secured, and that is where you and I fit in. We can serve him in family-love, like Othniel served Caleb.
In Kona and beyond, Loren has laid the groundwork for a multigenerational future of Great Commission exploits. But there are still some giants facing the Kona campus which need to be conquered.
The main one is retiring the 4.1 million dollar mortgage on the campus property. We would like to bless Loren with a surprise culmination-of-your-Caleb-year birthday gift on June 30, 2021. On that day we would like to bless him that the good news that the mortgage has been paid off!
We would like to invite you to prayerfully consider giving $85 to the Caleb Legacy Fund to celebrate Loren’s 85 years of life.
The story of Caleb’s faith has inspired many across the Body of Christ throughout the generations. It has a special significance for us in Youth With A Mission, because of some attention-catching parallels between Caleb of old and Loren Cunningham, YWAM’s founder.
A number of years ago, someone asked Loren before a large audience, “Loren, do you have a bucket list?” Loren said, “No! But I have a mountain list!” and proceeded to quote Caleb's famous line, “Give me this mountain!” (Jos 14:12 KJV).
Loren’s “mountain” includes missional aspirations, like ending Bible poverty, and seeing the University of the Nations’ training available in every Omega Zone in the world. But his “mountain” also includes the desire to secure the promised inheritance of the UofN Kona Campus. That’s what this letter is all about.
Consider the parallels:
When Caleb was 40 years old, he stepped foot for the first time as one of the twelve spies commissioned by Moses “to explore the land of Canaan” (Num 13:2 NLT). The day after Loren turned 40, he stepped foot for the first time in Kona, Hawaii.
Forty-five years later, when Caleb was 85, he spoke with Caleb so that he could secure the inheritance that had been promised to him because he had “wholeheartedly followed the LORD”(Jos 14:9 NLT).
Today Loren is in a similar place in his life journey. Loren at 85 is in his “Caleb year.” Having “wholeheartedly followed the LORD,” he too is wanting to secure the promised inheritance for the kingdom of God.
Caleb declared that the LORD had kept him “alive and well” and that he was still strong enough to fight for his inheritance (Jos 14:10-12 NLT)! This faith-filled, fighting spirit is equally “alive and well” in Loren.
As you read on in the story, we discover that Caleb won some amazing battles (Jos 15:14)on his own, but asked for help when it came time to take the town of Kiriath-sepher (Jos 15:16). Othniel, his future son-in-law and first judge of Israel (Jdg 3:9-11), responded to Caleb’s heart desire and conquered Kiriath-sepher for him, thus completing his promised inheritance.
In a similar way, Loren has fought and won many battles for the kingdom of God, but at this time has used his strength to call others to join him in conquering Kiriath-sepher, which literally means, the “city of the book.” Most of us are aware that in this culminating season of his life, Loren has poured out his heart and soul to make sure that every “city” – and every family in every city – has the Book in their own heart language! May many Othniels arise to secure this mountain for the kingdom of God!
Loren’s “Caleb year” ends on June 30th when he turns 86. The whole of his “mountain” has not yet been secured, and that is where you and I fit in. We can serve him in family-love, like Othniel served Caleb. That is why I’m writing you this letter. It’s a call for many “Othniels” to arise and help secure the promised inheritance for the Kona campus.
In John 15:15, Jesus distinguishes between friends and slaves. A slave merely does what is asked of him or her without understanding why. In contrast, a friend’s actions are different. Friends do what they do – even those things which are costly – because they know the heart of their friends, for they understand their deepest wishes. This is true love: living to make the dreams of your friend a reality.
In Kona and beyond, Loren has laid the groundwork for a multigenerational future of Great Commission exploits. But there are still some giants facing the Kona campus which need to be conquered if we are to secure the promised inheritance.
The main one is retiring the 4.1 million dollar mortgage on the campus property. We would like to bless Loren with a surprise culmination-of-your-Caleb-year birthday gift on June 30, 2021. On that day we would like to bless him that the good news that the mortgage has been paid off.
Shhhh! This is a secret; we don’t want Loren to know about this ahead of time. This is where we all could jump in and have a part in blessing Loren with an unexpected birthday surprise!
I would like to invite you to prayerfully consider giving $85 to the Caleb Legacy Fund celebratingLoren’s 85 years of life. Over the past 45 years about 50,000 staff, students and mission builders have been a part of the Kona campus ohana. If everyone gave $85 to celebrate the culmination ofLoren’s 85th year, our mortgage would be paid off! Of course you could multiply the 85 by any figure that God places in your heart and give that too.
Would you please pray and ask God how you can be a part at this time?
In 1976, God moved powerfully and made a way for YWAM to purchase the property. And since that year this campus has been training young people to know God and make Him known.
More than buildings, this land represents young leaders trained to hear God's voice and obey his calling. We launch teams that share Jesus with unreached people groups and met the needs of the poor. Our students become leaders in every area of society who use their influence to establish God's kingdom.
But Loren has yet to see the fulfillment of his "wave vision". We believe there are still millions of young people that must be trained and sent. This land is important because it is set apart for that very reason, a place dedicated to knowing God and making him known.
On June 30, 2021 we celebrated Loren's 86th birthday.
We gathered to worship and celebrate Loren in a simultaneous event hosted in Kona, Orlando and Switzerland.
We surprised Loren with an announcement that over 600 YWAMers and friends from 19 different nations donated over $2,261,636 towards the YWAM Kona campus!
Friends and supporters of YWAM have continued to donate and as of July 15, 2021 we have now received well over $3,000,000 towards securing this land inheritance.
We're grateful for each donation and see this as an amazing miracle and investment in the future of the Great Commission.
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Email: CalebLegacy@uofnkona.edu
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