by Becky Hefty | Feb 2, 2026 | Places and Projects, Thrive
“The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, those with leprosy are cleansed, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Luke 7:22)
These are the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Luke after John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” In His reply to John, Jesus pointed to the evidence of lives being changed all around Him.
At MBI, we are reminded of the miracles Jesus performed while He was walking among us when we hear reports of lives being changed in the YWAM locations we partner with and serve around the world.
One YWAM ministry that is seeing amazing evidence of God’s hand at work is YWAM Ships Kona. Over the years, MBI has sent volunteers to serve with YWAM Ships to help them thrive.
Here is a one-minute time-lapse of a life being transformed aboard their medical ship this past year. (They really do look like busy little bees!)
Directors Brett and Karen Curtis recently told us:
“When our ships appear on the horizon, hope is literally arriving in these island communities. Volunteers from the Americas, the Pacific, Asia, Europe, and beyond step onto shore together—a beautiful picture of the nations serving side by side to bring healing.
“And then comes the moment that says it all: the eye patch comes off just one day after surgery. In that instant, a life is changed. A gift of sight is restored—a gift that will bless someone for the rest of their life.
“Here is a grandfather seeing his granddaughter’s face for the very first time. Can you imagine the rush of emotion in that moment? Pure joy. What an impact!
“Ultimately, the crew on board the ship desires to restore spiritual blindness by sharing Jesus’ love with those they are serving, often leading to a life restored in Christ. Spiritual and physical blindness steal so much. Restoring sight and faith gives more than we can measure. It is truly one of the greatest privileges we have.
“Thank you, MBI, for being part of this miracle-making family.”
by Becky Hefty | Dec 16, 2025 | Places and Projects, Thrive
David Roach is a carpenter from Birmingham, Alabama, where he worked as an independent contractor until recently. When he agreed to work with MBI on our Mission Lodge project, we knew God had sent us a hard-working professional with an exceptional work ethic.
In the early 2000s, David worked in Alabama with current MBI board member David Garrigan. When it was time to frame the Lodge, Garrigan tapped David as the best-fit carpenter for the job.
David says: “MBI’s director, Ron Brewster, invited me to attend The Event, their October 2024 fundraiser. When I heard their story, I was impressed with the faithfulness and prayers of the people who envisioned this place when there was nothing there. I was also impressed with how they were stewarding the funds, working toward building the Lodge debt-free. I saw genuine faith and the miraculous answers to their prayers as money and materials immediately came in.
“I had always sought purpose in my work in Alabama, but I wasn’t finding it. I needed more than what I was doing. When Ron asked me to join the Mission Lodge project starting in April, I prayed about it and felt God pulling me. I accepted the job, working independently and as part of the MBI team by partnering with project manager and professional Benjamin Arnold.
“Mission Lodge has become a floodgate of purpose for me and an answer to prayer. Now, I am working on a big-picture project. My co-workers feel the same way. We’re all applying our skills and professions with a sense of purpose.
“I’m growing in faith. And I trust that when this project is done, He will have the next thing waiting for me.”
by Becky Hefty | Aug 28, 2025 | Connections Article
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international mission organization that has reached every continent through its mandate “to know God and to make Him known.” YWAM locations and ministries have been reaching the nations since 1960 through training, evangelism, and mercy ministry. Navigating the fulfillment of the YWAM mandate has sometimes meant complications and complexities, requiring knowledge, skills, and practical help to overcome challenges.
Mission Builders International—best known as MBI—began in 1978 with a simple yet impactful idea: What if people with practical skills could serve YWAM ministries worldwide, helping them thrive? From its inception in Kona, Hawaii, MBI developed into a global volunteer movement that supports YWAM locations through practical, hands-on service. Over the years, MBI has mobilized thousands of volunteers—ordinary people with a heart to serve—who’ve helped strengthen YWAM campuses in more than 100 countries. Whether it’s building classrooms, cooking meals, fixing plumbing, or just showing up with a servant’s heart, MBI volunteers free up full-time missionaries to focus on their calling.
In 2019, we began expanding our services to include unique, professional, and contextualized support tailored to the specific needs of mission leaders and staff. We recognized a growing need to come alongside those on the frontlines, much like Aaron and Hur did for Moses, to help hold up the arms of those faithfully carrying the weight of ministry.
Through leadership coaching, personal debriefing, and strategic site and building design, we’ve been able to share the load, bringing strength,
clarity, and encouragement to those who often serve behind the scenes and under great pressure.
Every day, our heart and focus remain the same: to find meaningful ways to keep missionaries on the field, thriving in their calling, and supported in the life-changing work God has given them to do.
At its core, MBI exists “so others may thrive.” Every act of service becomes part of God’s greater story of transformation around the world.
by Becky Hefty | Jul 30, 2025 | MBI Services, Places and Projects
Partner Architects is helping to build the mission by working with ministries to create places that support God’s redemptive work in the world. Partner Architects engages the nations by focusing its design services on underserved areas of the world with low Christian populations and no access to professional services.
SUMMER INTERN
This summer, Partner welcomed intern Sarah Conaway from Auburn University in Alabama. She just completed her junior year of architecture school, where she is pursuing a dual degree in architecture and interior architecture. After returning from a mission trip to Uganda and hearing about Partner through LinkedIn and friends, Sara felt she was supposed to intern with Partner. A surprise financial gift confirmed her decision.
Ross Lackey says, “Sarah arrived in late May and has contributed to so many aspects of every project in the Partner office. We’re trying to give Sarah a window into what serving in our mission looks like, plus a breadth of experience and growth in all aspects of architecture. Sarah is easy to work with and has integrated seamlessly with the team and office culture.
“Interning with Partner Architects is a beautiful time where we can come alongside a young architect and prayerfully discern God’s heart for them and how God might be using their vocation for His purposes. Sarah has appreciated the experience and could see herself possibly doing this long-term, which would be helpful for missionaries around the world.”
PROJECTS
YWAM Gambia, West Africa
Last year, a new YWAM campus took root in Gambia, West Africa. YWAM Gambia reaches its local community, the surrounding villages, and the nations while also discipling Muslim converts in how to thrive as Christians in a Muslim country. Partner Architects came alongside YWAM Gambia from the start, helping them design and execute a campus development plan that will meet their diverse ministry needs.
YWAM Gambia now reports that they have completed a water tower, a workshop/vocational training building, a bathroom block, and two of the three levels of their housing structures. The third story of each housing unit is underway. The YWAM Gambia missionary team has labored diligently, and Ross says, “They are very proud of their accomplishments.”
Freedom’s Promise, Poipet, Cambodia
Freedom’s Promise is an anti-trafficking ministry community in Poipet, Cambodia. They reached out to Partner Architects for help designing a campus that could accommodate all of their multifaceted ministries. Ross says, “Freedom’s Promise began as a trafficking rescue organization, going into the bars and nightclubs to get women and young girls out of their modern-day slavery. They strategically transitioned to trafficking prevention through a six-pronged community development and evangelism model.”
The Freedom’s Promise campus is nearing completion. They will open their doors in August or September as a ministry community ready to provide education, healthcare, job training, Bible teaching, and trafficking awareness classes. “Now,” Ross says, “they can maintain a stable and permanent presence in their community, empowering and multiplying their work.”
UofN Pailin, Cambodia
The UofN Pailin YWAM location in Cambodia is a ministry plant of YWAM Battambang. Ross says, “YWAM Pailin serves, educates, and develops youth to see this generation fulfill its God-given potential. When they outgrew the facilities they had rented for eight years, they purchased land, debt-free, and called on Partner Architects to help with their campus design. They started work at the first of the year. The perimeter fence and entry gate (with electrical pumps, guardhouse, and garbage area) are completed. They’re ready to start building now, beginning with their worship pavilion next month. At the same time, they’re designing their multi-purpose building.”
YWAM Pailin understands that sharing the life and truth of Jesus in a nation comprised of 72% young people will open the door to seeing God bless the entire nation. Partner Architects is helping them realize their goals.
YWAM Mazatlán, Mexico
YWAM Mazatlán, Mexico, is located in a historic part of the city. They’ve operated their bustling ministry for years out of a single renovated hotel near the ocean. When it became apparent that their facilities were too small to match their big vision for training and sending 3,000 missionaries each year, they acquired five adjacent pieces of surrounding property. Now, they’re developing a visionary, 3-acre campus plan.
Ross says, “This is Partner’s most complex project to date. The YWAM Mazatlán campus design includes retail spaces, raised common areas, four 8-10 story towers, and parking garages, all on a three-acre footprint.”
MBI HOME PROJECTS
Partner Architects continues to help oversee each construction phase of MBI’s Mission Lodge project. As time allows, they advance other projects in the queue, including MBI’s RV park and staff-housing area.
The Partner Architect team continues to pray that God will call skilled, well-rounded, visionary professionals out of the secular arena into the mission. Ross says, “There is a great need for architects in missions. We’re excited to add skilled people with a heart for missions to our team!”
by Becky Hefty | May 5, 2025 | Connections Article
YWAM missionaries are fulfilling the Great Commission worldwide through their unique callings and ministries. MBI helps them succeed through contextualized services designed to equip leaders, build the mission, and engage the nations. Here’s how MBI’s Leadership13 (L13) members recently accomplished those objectives.
Equipping leaders: Dawn Masucci, Ron Brewster, Nate Ballivian, and Amy Stevens traveled to Tyler, TX, to coach the leaders of Living Alternatives in vision and strategy. Living Alternatives has focused on the wholeness and well-being of pregnant, single, and underprivileged moms for nearly fifty years, protecting the unborn, educating parents, and providing resources for women and families while promoting a culture of life. The ministry provides living spaces, support, counselling, and testing and ultrasounds through their clinic on wheels.
Building the mission: Dawn connected with leaders at YWAM Durres during a recent trip to Albania. Discipleship, training, reconciliation, and pioneering within the young generations are at the heart of the YWAM Durres mission. Since 2015, YWAM Durres has expanded to include three other campuses and multiple staff and personnel. Rapid growth means they require extra help. Dawn says, “They’d heard about MBI but didn’t know how to connect. When I contacted them, they shared their story with me. We had a great discussion about how MBI could support them. MBI will be moving toward partnering with them to send the additional help they need.”
Engaging the nations: YWAM North Cascades in Bellingham, WA, consists of three interrelated training and ministry locations. The newest is a farm that grows food to distribute among the poor in the Bellingham community and provides a place to train/disciple young people in farming. Dawn, Ron, and Jared Peifer offered staff training and leadership instruction, helping YWAM North Cascades navigate the dynamics and logistics of running three locations while maintaining community. L13’s input enables them to fulfill their mission to train and send young people “from the Pacific Northwest to the ends of the Earth” to reach the lost.
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