Lessons from Trying to Tame A Wave: Highlights from Writing the Early History of Youth With A Mission

In this talk, Allison will share about her research on the largest and most influential Protestant missionary organization in modern history – Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Drawing from her dissertation research, Allison will highlight YWAM’s religious pre-history and situate it among the rise of post-WWII global evangelical mission movements. She will give an overview of YWAM’s rapid global expansion through its innovation and development of mobilizing untrained youth in short-term missionary evangelism. Here, she will show how YWAM rapidly grew as a grassroots pentecostal youth movement through transnational, interdenominational mission networks. From this global vantage point, Allison will tease out the distinctly Canadian and Albertan contributions and connections in YWAM’s history that unquestionably led to its early success, both in North America and around the world. Rev. Allison Kach-Yawnghwe, PhD, is a religious historian specializing in Christian mission, evangelicalism, Pentecostalism, and world Christianity. She holds a PhD in Theological Studies from Boston University, a Master’s in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Regina. Her recent dissertation explores the early history of Youth With A Mission, focusing on its intersections with Pentecostal/evangelical movements, youth counterculture, and women’s history. She has co-edited Creative Collaborations (2023) and contributed a chapter to Expanding Energies (2024). Dr. Kach-Yawnghwe holds leadership roles in various scholarly societies, including serving as Vice-President of the Canadian Society of Church History. Ordained with Ministers Network Canada, she has over 15 years of experience in intercultural missions across several global regions. Originally from Saskatchewan, she now resides in Montreal, continuing her academic and ministry work.