WILDERNESS MINISTRY INSTITUTE’S VISION
That young people in every culture will personally encounter Jesus Christ and have an opportunity to grow in their faith through transforming wilderness experiences.
WILDERNESS MINISTRY INSTITUTE’S MISSION
Developing outdoor leaders who are committed to local relational youthwork, who are humble in the heart, and who will excel in the skills of safely and effectively introducing young people to Jesus Christ through outdoor adventure.
RAISING UP CONFIDENT AND COMPETENT YOUNG LEADERS
As we look afresh at the experiential nature of Jesus Christ’s teaching and training methods, there are many contemporary implications for recruiting, training, sending, and sustaining leaders in urban mission movements today. Whether from developed or undeveloped nations, there is a need for raising up more young mission leaders who have the character, confidence, and competence to engage their local mission field. Outdoor adventure is a proven training ground for developing these kinds of leaders.
WMI offers training to develop hard and soft skills that equip, encourage, and empower wilderness ministries worldwide.
THE WILDERNESS IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR TRANSFORMING LEADERS
Throughout history, God has used the wilderness as a special place for transformation. The Biblical text indicates that God’s strategy for developing mission-focused leaders has often involved transforming wilderness experiences. This is an integral part of God’s design for apprenticeship. Yet today in our increasingly urbanized world young people are less able to experience the wilderness.
In developing strategies today for recruiting, training, sending and sustaining young leaders as cross cultural or local youthworkers who can effectively introduce the young to Jesus Christ, we must re-emphasize this ancient apprenticing method which produced leaders such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Ruth, Jacob, David, Peter, James, John, and Paul. Each of them were profoundly called and shaped by the God in the wilderness.
