Founder of Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Loren Cunningham, died in his sleep at his home in Kona, Hawaii, on Friday (October 6). The 88-year-old was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in March.

His heart for global missions famously took him to every nation in the world for the sake of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15). A statement by his staff announcing his passing said: “Now he has added one more ‘stamp’ to his well-worn passport: Heaven!”

He took Good News to every nation on earth

Global missions movement YWAM, founded by Loren in 1960, has reached out to every nation on earth through evangelism, training and mercy ministries. 

Full-time staff of various Christian denominations hail from over 200 countries and serve in over 2,000 YWAM locations. The ministry has also paved the way for millions of students and short-term volunteers to serve in ministries ranging from YWAM Ships to YWAM Olympic outreaches.

Loren’s Stage 4 cancer diagnosis was announced by his wife, Darlene, on March 3 this year. Photo from lorencunningham.com.

Among its wide-ranging programmes, YWAM Singapore runs training courses, including the five-month fulltime Discipleship Training School (DTS), the nine-month School of Biblical Studies and the School of Frontier Missions, which equips long-term missionaries for unreached people groups. Their mercy ministries include care for street ladies, the homeless and at-risk youth in Singapore prisons.

Despite YWAM’s global outreach, Loren would habitually deflect the glory to Jesus with: “Well, however large it is, it’s not large enough because Jesus’ last commandment to reach the whole world with the Gospel has not been completed.”

A call while on his knees

True to YWAM’s name, Loren’s call to missions came to him in his youth – when he was just 13 years old.

While kneeling at a revival meeting in 1948, he received God’s message of Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” 

Born in Taft, California, Loren’s family heritage was rich with generations of Christian ministers. Photo from lorencunningham.com.

In 1956, again during prayer, he had a vision, what he called a “mental movie”: “Suddenly, I was looking at a map of the world, only the map was alive and moving! I could see all the continents, and waves were crashing onto their shores.

“Each wave went onto a continent, then receded, then came up further until it covered the continent completely. The waves became young people – kids my age and even younger – covering all the continents of the globe.

“They were talking to people on street corners and outside bars. They were going from house to house and preaching the Gospel. They came from everywhere and went everywhere, caring for people. Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the scene was gone.” (Excerpt from Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham with Janice Rogers, YWAM Publishing.)

He went on to, not only take the Good News to all nations, but also earn three Bachelor’s degrees, a Master of Science in Administration of Education and three Honorary Doctorates. He also authored six books, including Is That Really You, God? which has been translated into more than 150 languages.

He heard his Shepherd’s voice and followed it

Tributes came pouring in world wide at the news of Loren’s passing yesterday. 

“Not many people come down the road of life who have an impact like Loren Cunningham,” said Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

“He was a force for the Gospel. His vision and passion for reaching lost souls with the Good News of Jesus Christ was unwavering – and God gave him the ability to communicate, to inspire, and to motivate thousands of young men and women to go into the world and do the same.

“We will miss him, but the work is not finished. I pray there will be an army of young people to pick up where he left off. Even in our last visit a few months ago, Loren had his eyes fixed on Jesus and his mind set on Kingdom work – what an example for all of us.”

Said Lynn Green, from YWAM’s University of the Nations campus: “Loren Cunningham, world-changer, has transferred his citizenship to ‘life in the age to come’.

“Jesus said, ‘My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me.’ Loren heard the Good Shepherd’s voice from a very young age and followed, whether the path led to costly sacrifice or great blessing.” 

When Salt&Light reached out to the YWAM Singapore leadership, the response was unanimous.

“We are saddened to hear the news of Loren’s passing today. But we are grateful and celebrate the life of this amazing man of God from whom we have received the legacy of faith and obedience.”

YWAM Singapore at their new seven-storey premises on Lorong 9 Geylang, which itself is a testimony of God’s provision. Photo courtesy of YWAM Singapore.

The team recalled how Loren first visited Singapore in 1963 with his bride Darlene on their round-the-world honeymoon. Since then the couple has visited YWAM Singapore during significant global YWAM gatherings held here.

“Loren recognised Singapore as an Antioch nation that receives and sends out nations to be a blessing,” said a spokesman for the YWAM leadership. “He championed pioneering initiatives out of our island state, believing that societies would be transformed by the Gospel.

“We are grateful for the example and legacy of Loren who is both a father and leader to many of us.”

One of the leaders, Hudson Kim, who oversees local and global pioneering work and partnerships, and heads YWAM Ships Singapore, met and received God into his life and subsequently became a YWAM missionary “because this man simply obeyed 63 years ago. I am deeply grateful”.

“Loren heard God and saw a vision that was unfathomable. He obeyed simply because he believed it was the Lord and he persevered and went to the ends of the world championing young people to preach the good news,” Hudson told Salt&Light.

“Loren and Darlene constantly reminded the family of YWAM globally: Hear God, Obey and Persevere.”

Three generations

Loren’s legacy of global outreach will continue, say global staff. 

“The future of Youth With A Mission, University of the Nations, and YWAM Ships is in good hands! The largest number of leaders and volunteers in YWAM are young. They are confident, capable and committed to leading YWAM into all God has for the coming 60+ years.”

Added Joseph Chean, YWAM Singapore’s National Director for 12 years until he stepped into the role of Strategic Coordinator for Antioch 21 in August this year: “One wisdom that Loren said to me when I sent him to the airport in 2006 was this, ‘Joseph, whatever you plan and implement as a YWAM leader, think in terms of three generations, its implications and its impact.'”

Loren is survived by his wife, Darlene; daughter Karen; son and daughter-in-law David and Judy; and three grandchildren, Madison, Kenna and Liam.

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