Hello friends and family! Thank you for being interested in my page! My name is Luke VanKooten, I’m a 20-year-old missionary for an organization called YWAM. I am from a town in the US called Lynden WA, and I have decided to do missions in Australia!
About a month into my time on my Discipleship Training School, I realized I wanted to be part of missions longer than the 6 months I was planning to do. After prayer and fasting I felt God was pulling me back to Airlie Beach! For the next 2 years I am committing my time to staff at a small base in the Whitsundays. Airlie Beach is a backpacking bucket list for many young people seeking fulfillment through drinking and partying. I will get the chance to meet all kinds of people traveling through the area and do my best to reflect Gods light to those I interact with!
Staffing has 2 parts to it: One, I will help lead and mentor the students on the DTS. Helping them grow in their faith and being someone who they can go to for help and any question they might be facing while they are rapidly growing in their relationship with God. I will also be leading the Backpacking “stream” on the DTS, taking some of the students on hikes and exploring the beautiful nature God has given the Whitsundays.
Secondly, I will be studying in a class called Ministry Development School or MDS. This class focuses on different subjects including how to better lead in different ministries, growing in my spiritual walk with God, prayer and worship and many more subjects! I already have grown so much in the past year and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in this next school!
Through this time, I will be needing your help! I ask that you consider being part of Gods calling in my life. First, is supporting me through prayer. I will be in a leadership role; I ask that you pray for me to stay humble and to be focused on the path the Lord has set out for me. Also praying for Gods protecting and provision in my life.
Here’s some prayer points that could help:
• God revealing Himself to the people in Airlie Beach
• For the student to grow in their faith and become radical Christ followers
• Protection for me and the people at my base while we evangelize to our community and the nations during outreach
• God providing for me (energy, discipline and finances)
You can be an answer to my prayers!
By helping me financially, I have worked up the finances for tuition, rent, health insurance and a visa but I am still short on a few things. I come from a hard-working family and I have always believed that if I want something, I need to go and get it. Not getting paid by YWAM makes it hard for me to have time and the resources to provide for myself.
With that said, you can trust me, your money won’t be lost in the abyss! It will be used diligently, how?
• Giving back to God through tithing
• Groceries
• Meals
• Outreach
In total I am looking for $500 USD per month. I am honestly happy that you’ve read this far in my bio, but if you feel the need to give, I would be beyond grateful for your generosity!
Thank you so much for being a part of my mission work and expanding God’s Kingdom.
God Bless,
Luke