Derek & Rebecca
Mitch & Sarah Matt & Angela
Lincoln & Jenny
Lynette
Bri
Martha
Agnes
Accountability
We were once asked if being in YWAM allowed us to be 'lone rangers' on the mission field and in all fairness the answer could have been yes. However, Derek and I strongly believe in accountability and community with the people we do "life" with. Throughout our first year of marriage Derek prayed for a couple to mentor us in missions and marriage. Within that first year God answered our prayer in the form of David and Janis whom we worked with (and lived next door to) for the next 4 years at the Lighthouse Children's Shelter. In pioneering the YWAM base we have sought the same accountability and community and God has again provided people to mentor us and speak into our lives.
We felt as our supporters in prayer and finances some of you might be interested to know how that community works for us today. Even with our national YWAM team, as the base leader for YWAM Rustenburg Derek is the final authority for base ministry. So, in order for us to be in true accountability and allow guidance into our lives we have several things in place.
Within our YWAM context we have complete transparency in every aspect of our lives. We have a policy that within this group that there is no question that cannot be asked. We meet as a YWAM team once per month for prayer and update of personal as well as ministry issues. Additionally, we are with these same people daily and they view our lives from a front row seat.
Part of this team's calling is to support the work of God on a local church level and in that we are all immersed into our own local church bodies where we use the giftings God has put within us. As a family we are committed to Vantage Point Church in Rustenburg and submitted to the eldership team.
On a daily basis Derek works with the training ministry of our local church to prepare and use in various outreach context, including YWAM. In this he has submitted to the eldership of our local church and we have accountability and mentoring in our personal lives in the form of John and Gill. I, Rebecca am also submitted to this authority and minister in this area, but because of family life am not with them daily.
Lastly, we meet several times per year with our YWAM Cluster, a group of about 25 YWAM leaders who minister in or near our province. This is the least frequent of our accountability groups, but because of the nature of our work and callings this group often understands some of our struggles the best.
In each of these groups, there is an overlap of people who see us in each context and do 'life' with us in each. This is amazing for us and we are more grateful to the Lord for this than we could ever express.
