Project 54 Blog

For several years we’ve been praying for the right timing and a good open door for Nexus/WMI to begin investing in youth workers in Latin and South America.  This year we finally saw an opening to pursue in Costa Rica. Christian Camping International (CCI) has been developing a vibrant network of over 200 camps throughout Latin and South America. Just a few months ago, Ashley Denton was able to provide a training weekend for 40 youth workers from various regions of Latin America.  WMI also subsidized 50 copies of his book, Christian Outdoor Leadership, to be used in for training leaders as we build a partnership between CCI and WMI.

One of the great outcomes of WMI’s partnership with CCI Latin America will be a joint project in translating Ashley’s book into Spanish so it can be used as a resource for hundreds of Christian camps and outreach ministries in Central and South America. Project 54’s goal is to provide training and resources to indigenous youth workers as they seek to advance the Gospel through full spectrum youth work and adventure camping. We anticipate a significant increase in opportunities to partner with our friends in Latin America in 2012 and beyond!

Northstar in Japan has been one of our longest partners that we have had with WMI.  Northstar is a lodge nestled in the Japanese alps that hosts young japanese people all year long. Their goal is to use the relationships built through shared adventure to win the right to be heard with the Gospel.  In the winter they use snowboarding, in the spring and fall they use mountain biking, and during the summer they use wilderness trips to build relationships and share Christ.

Currently, Northstar is also acting as support and relief center in Japan as they continue to deal with fall out from the earthquake.  Their team has been providing relief for some of the harder to reach places in Japan.

It has been a privilege for us to partner with Northstar as they share the Gospel in Japan.  Please pray for them in their ministry to young people and to their broken country.

Over the past few years WMI has begun to develop a friendship with a few Indonesian youth workers.  Indonesia is a unique place because it has one of the highest populations of Muslims in the world.  Through our experience we have found that taking young people away from the city relieves them from the pressures of peers, parents and their community.   This is a powerful way to gain their attention for the Gospel.   This has proved to be especially true in Muslim cultures.  Young people begin to drop their walls when out on the trail.  Not only is it an inroad to share the gospel but for Christian leaders to begin to build the trust with these young people to start speaking into their lives.  Thank you for your prayers and support! Your efforts have made this kind of ministry possible!