Welcome!

Dear Valued Friend or Family Member,

As many of you know, from February 2010 to May 2011, I lived in Brisbane, Australia, doing two Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). While I was there I rediscovered my love for God and saw his amazing works done in countless different ways. I really learned who God is in my life and who I am through his eyes. I also got to spend an amazing six-and-a-half weeks in Miri, Malaysia, for my outreach mission. The whole experience completely changed my life. Throughout my time overseas God revealed himself to me in ways I didn’t even know existed and molded me into a much better man. There were many ups and downs along the way, but everything I experienced helped me grow not only as a man, but as a servant of the Lord. I also found a real heart for worship. I love how I can connect to God through song. This time was by far the most intense 15 months of my life and I will hold on to that experience forever.

During my DTS I really felt God calling me to leadership. All my life people have been telling me that I am a leader, but I never really knew what to make of that. I now feel that I have the potential to be a strong influence to youth and young adults. So I have decided to do what is called a Basic Leadership School (BLS). I will be going back to Brisbane in January for an 18-month course where I will be staffing two DTSes and doing six months of logistical work at the YWAM base. I will also be having lectures and hands-on leadership training throughout the course. I am really excited to get back to Australia. It is a place that I have absolutely fallen in love with. I feel it is where God has called me to be for this time and that he has a lot more to show me about my calling throughout the BLS.

I will be staffing a DTS that is centered around sports, which is perfect for me. I have loved sports my entire life and I have a passion for it; I love seeing what God can do through sports ministry. I know it will be a very challenging yet rewarding experience.

The BLS will be an 18-19 month commitment and it isn't free. Missionaries in YWAM are required to raise funds for their training and service. The course itself costs $500. As a staff member I will also need to pay $500 a month for rent, food, and other basic necessities. In addition, I will be going on two different outreach missions which will cost between $2000 and $4000. If you could please be praying for provision of finances, I would really appreciate it. I am trying to build a monthly support team, so if you do feel led to donate to my cause, it would also be much appreciated. If you'd like to make donations online, just click the "DONATE" button on the right side of this page. The site is not set up for recurring gifts, so if you would like to donate monthly, please bookmark the site and return there each month. You can also send a check to my parents and they will make sure the funds are deposited in my account. Please make the check out to Nina Wichman and send to 1527 Verdi St., Alameda, CA 94501.

I really feel that this time will be the most intense experience of my life, but I also know that I will gain so much from it as I continue to grow in leadership and as a man of God. Thank you so much for your support, both in prayer and finances. I feel very blessed to have so many people who believe in what I am doing!

God bless,
Jake Wichman

P.S. I tried to keep this letter brief; if you have any questions or want to hear more about my YWAM experience, please feel free to contact me at timtamslam47@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!