It all started when a 20-year-old American college student, who was in the Bahamas on a singing tour, spent some time in prayer. As he leaned back in his bed and looked up, he saw what he called a "mental movie." He saw waves on a map. The waves turned into young people, going to every continent, sharing the good news about Jesus. "Was that really you, Lord?" he asked.

This radical idea, that young people could be missionaries, stayed with this young man, Loren Cunningham. Four years later, in 1960, he started an organization with that idea expressed even in its name: Youth With A Mission. Today, Youth With A Mission (YWAM) has grown into one of the world's largest Christian mission organizations. The story of how YWAM began and how it grew is a story of God's direction and God's grace in using ordinary people from countries all over the world.

YWAM Houston

Currently, YWAM Houston partners with Joe Williams Ministries and together they hold weekly church services for the street kids. This “Montrose Street Reach” consists of a hot meal, a time of worship, a gospel/ministry presentation, and fellowship. In addition, they offer many services such as food, clothing, transportation, blankets, and reconciliation with families. They also help with job searches, referrals to proven rehabilitation and Christian residential programs, and referrals to health care and other social services like HIV and pregnancy testing. For the street babies, prenatal vitamins are available and baby essentials such as diapers, formula, clothing, etc. are provided. Many local churches and ministries provide meals for the street kids as well as volunteers to assist in this outreach.