Author Archives: Dave Young

Two Weeks Until Cambodia and Thailand Trip

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Just two weeks until I leave with JSMI for Cambodia and Thailand!  Time really does fly…

I recently received my flight itinerary, and on June 7th I will be flying from Chicago to Bangkok with a transfer in Hong Kong.

I am humbled and honored to have your prayers and support while I am on this short, but impacting trip.  Both, Cambodia and Thailand are predominately Buddhist, and less than 1% of the population is Christian.  We are going to be going deep into the jungle to areas where people have never heard the Gospel message one time.

We break down into small groups of 5-6 people, and will be doing ministry nearly every day in the markets and streets.  We will also be going to dozens of schools, which is such a precious experience to see the kids ask Jesus into their hearts.

Each night we will hold a crusade, where I will have an opportunity to minister to the people.  We are also going to hold a children’s crusade in each country, where hundreds to thousands of children are introduced to Jesus.

It is amazing all of the doors God opens for us on these trips.  It just shows His desire to reach the lost.  Thank you again for your prayers and support!  God bless you!

Cambodia & Thailand Trips – PAID IN FULL

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Thank you everyone for your prayers and support!  I am happy to report that my Cambodia and Thailand trip expenses are paid in full.  Please keep the group and myself in prayer as we get ready for the trip.  I am excited and honored to be a part of what God is doing in this part of the world!  Words alone cannot express how thankful I am to have your support.

Cambodia & Thailand Mission Trips

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I am excited to announce that this June I will be joining John Smithwick Ministries International on their trips to Cambodia and Thailand!  During this time, we will be doing ministry on the street, in schools and holding evening crusades.  Both countries neighbor each other, and have a predominant Buddhist population.  We will most likely be in areas of Cambodia that have never even seen Americans/Europeans before, so they are a very isolated and unreached people.

Cambodia is among the poorest countries in the world, and from 1975 through 1979 approximately two million people (20% of the population at the time) lost their lives from a massive genocide under the Khmer Rouge dictatorship.  It is a country with scars from their past, and in desperate need of Jesus.

Thailand is also a poor country, but has seen improvement over the past few decades, and is known as the epicenter for human trafficking in Asia, and quite possibly the world.  It remains a very lost country, but churches are growing here.

These trips present a great opportunity to reach the unreached like never before!  Since 2007, I have seen a total of 95,000 people come to Christ through three JSMI Team Trips. Thank you for having a tremendous part in that.  Please keep the team and myself in prayer as we prepare for the trip.

Check out the Cambodia/Thailand page for more info.  As always, be blessed!

Are you a trader? (Video)

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Here is a nice little video I came across that seeks to bring more awareness to the importance of living life for God and others.  We live in a world where all too many people are pursuing “things” instead of the purpose God has laid on their lives.  I am all for the American dream, just as long as our focus is in check with the awesome call God has given us.  In the end, all of those “things” will come together, and your every need will be met.  Let’s trade in the pursuit for the white picket fence, and get beyond ourselves to reach the lost like never before.

One month away until Nepal!

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Not that I am counting down…

In just a month, I will be on a plane headed to Nepal.  I just want to thank all of you who have prayerfully and financially supported me to go on this trip.  God is so good, and I can’t wait to bring the Gospel to the precious people of Nepal.  I will be posting updates and pictures from the trip upon my return, so be sure to check back!

100 Days Until I Leave for Nepal

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With a population of about 30 million, Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Up until 2006, it was the only formal Hindu kingdom in the world, and its population is less than 1% Christian.

This November, I will be traveling with JSMI Global Ventures to bring the Gospel to these precious people.  I know times are tight for some, but I ask that you prayerfully consider supporting me in this endeavor.  Your seed will be sown directly into the harvest field.  Together, we will bring the hope and life of Jesus Christ to the people of Nepal!

Please visit the Support page for more info on how you can become involved.  Thank you, and God bless!

Meaningful Ways to Use Social Media for Evangelism

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Social media websites like Facebook, Myspace, YouTube and Twitter continue to grow in popularity and now consume more of young people’s time over any other form of media.  With this growth, the church must continue to find ways to reach people where they are at.  One website that seeks to reach people through this means is I Am Second.  Their focus is on video testimonies from celebrities, and engagement through local groups.

While I think websites like these are great, it is still imperative that ministries who invest much of their resources to reach people online still keep a focus on personal relationships and engagement at the local level.  It is easy for people this day and age to supplement media (internet, television, etc.), with having a relationship with Christians and churches in their community.

Nonetheless, websites like these are great ways to introduce nonbelievers, who otherwise would not be reached through traditional forms (friend/family member invite to church, revival meetings, local church marketing, etc.)

Here are a couple of videos from I Am Second that I thought were worth posting:

One of their first, and most popular videos -

More recent video posted to their site -

Concerts – A Way to Reach the Masses

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What comes to mind when you think of summer?  Barbeques, pool parties, ice cream, fishing, beaches, family trips… but for some of us, summer is synonymous with going to a concert or music festival.  Several years ago, I was introduced to the band Disciple at Cornerstone Music Fest in Busnell, Illinois.  I am not one who really gets into heavy metal or hardcore rock, but I really liked their music (especially their older stuff).  What really hit me though, was the message the lead singer Kevin Young (no relation) gave at the end of the show.  He basically gave an alter call, and there was a good response from the crowd.

Now, you may say “only Christians attend Christian concerts.”  Believe me, this is not true.  I saw some people doing some very ungodly things at Cornerstone.  I think a lot of Christian young people invite friends they may never consider inviting to church to a Christian concert, because it is not overtly preachy or judgmental.

Sure, there is the controversial subject of what constitutes Christian music, and how a band should act or what their songs should say.  But in the end, all of that does not matter to me (at least for this blog post).  I just try to do my best to judge their lyrics and actions in light of the Word, and get past the look or sound of the band.

One thing that can’t be denied is Disciple’s commitment to reaching people at their concerts.  Every concert, Kevin provides an opportunity to speak to people’s hearts and lead them to Christ.  He may not do it in the most traditional way, but it is effective.  For nearly the past two decades, thousands, if not tens of thousands have come to Christ through their music.

Here are a couple of videos of Kevin Young’s preachin’ at his concerts:

Let’s pray for and support bands that reach people.  I view their work in the same light as an evangelist holding a crusade meeting or street outreach.  In the end our goals remain the same.  Reach the lost.

- Be sure to check out Lady Gaga at Lollapalooza in a couple of weeks at Grant Park! – just joking

Four Months Until Nepal

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In exactly four months, I will be on my way to Nepal with John Smithwick Ministries International. With less than 1% of the population being Christian, Nepal truly is an unreached nation. I know in my heart that this trip will truly change thousands of lives, and can turn the tide in this Hindu stronghold.

This will be JSMI’s first time to Nepal, and we are all very excited to bring the Gospel to this unreached nation.  Please continue to pray for me and the team as we prepare for this trip.   Also, pray in agreement that we will have favor among the local government for open opportunities to do ministry in their cities and villages.  We also need to be in prayer for the in-country ministries that we will be working with.

Thank you to all of those who have supported me so far.  I could not do this without your support, and together we will accomplish great things through Christ!  As of this post, I have 63% of the funds raised to go.  If you would like to give towards my trip, please visit the support page.  May God bless you in everything you do!

In Lieu of the World Cup

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10 stadiums, 64 games, 3.2 million in attendance, over a billion viewers worldwide.

If you are not an avid sports fan, you may have missed out on a little thing called the World Cup these last four weeks. Americans are not known to be the most enthusiastic about soccer (known as football by almost everyone else in the world), but it certainly seems like more attention has been given to this World Cup. Maybe its the improved performance by the U.S. team, or it could be that the tournament is more unique given that South Africa is the host nation.  Personally, I like watching because of the unpredictable nature of the tournament, but I also like seeing different people from totally different cultures play on the same field, by the same rules, rousing the crowd in the same manner.

This tournament has brought back memories from my first overseas mission trip to South Africa in 2007.  Soon after getting off the plane in Johannesburg, I met a gentleman who spoke with pride about their preparations for the World Cup.  What matters most to me though are the images not seen on television during these games.  Like many other countries in Africa, this nation has been through a lot over the years.  Aside from large numbers living in object poverty, South Africa has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world with nearly 1 out of 5 people living with the disease.  Most of the infected being children.

South Africa is a Christian nation by most accounts, but many of its people live in darkness not knowing true life in Christ.  This is especially true in the townships on the outskirts of the larger cities where poverty, AIDS and desperation run rampant.  In these areas many have a works mindset wrapped in traditional practices leading to distorted perceptions of God.

Impact Africa is the in-country ministry we worked with in 2007, and I would like to encourage you to visit their website to see the work they are doing in South Africa.  Their heart is to bring hope to the hopeless in South Africa’s most destitute places, and I have seen first hand the fruit of their ministry.  They are seeking people to work in South Africa on a long-term or short-term basis.  Feel free to check them out at www.impactafrica.org.