by Craig Blair | May 5, 2026 | Places and Projects, Thrive
In late February 2026, a team of skilled volunteers from YWAM Lakeside in Montana and the MBI main office traveled to San Francisco to help complete a much-needed project at a YWAM ministry serving in the heart of the city.
Nearly 20 years ago, YWAM San Francisco purchased a 100-year-old building in the Tenderloin district. Recently, the ministry celebrated paying off the mortgage—making it possible, at last, to begin reinvesting in the building itself.
Meanwhile, the needs in the neighborhood have only grown. Drug use, poverty, and homelessness have steadily increased across San Francisco. During the COVID pandemic, many individuals experiencing homelessness were relocated to the Tenderloin, placing YWAM San Francisco right at the center of a growing crisis.
Today, ministry happens right outside their front door.
Each Thursday, their main meeting room transforms into a bustling food distribution center. Heavy pallets of food and supplies are moved in and out as hundreds of people come through the doors—seeking shelter from the weather, a meal, a shower, and a human connection. It’s in this same space that relationships are built, and the gospel is shared week after week.
As volunteer Andrew Hobby observed, “They are a caring group of staff who are selflessly serving this community.”
But that vital space was in rough shape.
The main floor—covering about 4,000 square feet—had not been renovated since the building was purchased. Years of heavy use had taken their toll, and the floor was in urgent need of repair. While the staff could handle small maintenance issues, a project of this scale was beyond their capacity. Professional estimates to re-epoxy the floor exceeded $100,000.
That’s where the volunteer team came in.
After hearing about the need, John Briggs, a board member for YWAM San Francisco, connected with Ben Walther of YWAM Lakeside. Ben quickly organized a team of eight volunteers from YWAM Lakeside and MBI, ready to donate their time and skills.
From the moment they arrived, the team got to work.
They began by cutting out and replacing damaged sections of the floor, then securing the entire surface to the floor joists. After sanding everything down, they applied a base coat of epoxy, added decorative paint chips, and finished with two additional coats for durability. Along the way, they also replaced broken ceiling tiles and spray-painted the ceiling black, giving the space a complete refresh.
During the renovation, ministry activities had to pause—something the surrounding community noticed immediately.
People knocked on the doors, hoping to come inside, unaware of the work underway.
Volunteer Luke Bosma recalled, “When people found out what we were doing, they became very excited. You could see how invested they were in this space and how grateful they were for what it provides.”
That response left an impression on the entire team.
Volunteer Benjamin Arnold was especially impacted—not just by the work, but by the perseverance of the ministry staff serving those struggling with homelessness and addiction. He reflected on how difficult it can feel to share the gospel with people who seem unreachable.
Then he heard a story that changed his perspective.
Benjamin shared:
“When it comes to homeless ministry, I often feel like Jeremiah, talking about broken cisterns that cannot hold water. It can feel like a waste of time to share the gospel with someone who is out of their mind on drugs. But this is what YWAM San Francisco does week after week, year after year.
“I asked one of the missionaries, Kent, if he had ever seen any fruit from their efforts. He told me about a man named Rex who used to come to their street services while high on drugs—hunched over and completely unresponsive. Kent often felt like talking to him was a waste of time.
“Eventually, Rex stopped coming. People assumed he had died from an overdose, and the community even held a memorial service for him.
“But a year later, Kent saw Rex again—alive.
“Rex explained that he had overdosed and nearly died in the hospital. While there, he encountered Jesus. The only thing he remembered was the gospel message he had heard at those street services. In that moment, he gave his life to the Lord.
“Today, more than 13 years later, Rex is sober, walking with Jesus, and serving the homeless on the streets of San Francisco.”
For Benjamin, that story was a turning point.
In a place that often feels defined by hopelessness, it was a reminder that God is still at work—still drawing people to Himself, even when no one can see it.
By the end of the week, the physical transformation of the space was complete—but the impact went beyond the floor itself.
Andrew Hobby reflected, “This was a big project to complete in a short amount of time. There’s nothing worse than leaving a job unfinished, but God was faithful and helped us complete it—even though everyone on the team got sick at some point. What we accomplished in one week was such a blessing to the staff. It gave them a real boost of energy just having us there.”
Now, the ministry has a renewed space ready to serve the community for years to come.
Luke Bosma summed it up this way: “This experience showed the power of volunteering. This was a necessary project that likely wouldn’t have happened this soon otherwise. We were able to use practical skills to support something that will impact lives for years. It was a privilege to be part of what God is doing in the Tenderloin.”
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 | Mar 7, 2025 | Letter from the Director, Thrive
MBI is one of hundreds of global campuses in YWAM’s network. Our sole purpose is to provide practical and training support for other locations so they can thrive and fully realize their mission goals.
MBI’s ability to offer extraordinary services to our missionary counterparts relies on our quality staff. Our team consists of experienced long-term missionaries who know the ropes and understand the challenges of serving on the field.
We want to introduce you to the four incredible YWAM missionaries who recently joined us, allowing us to offer even more help than before.
The construction of Mission Lodge—MBI’s all-in-one center for refreshing, retooling, and resending YWAM leaders and missionaries—is well underway. We recently welcomed Benjamin Arnold and his wife, Liz, to help us realize this crucial part of our ministry vision. Benjamin oversees the current construction phase as MBI’s Mission Lodge project manager. He has a civil engineering and construction background in building large infrastructure projects.
Benjamin is originally from Austin, TX, and Liz is from Campbellford, Ontario, Canada. They have served in YWAM for two years. Before moving to Lakeside, they worked in English camps in Thailand, drilled water wells in Mexico, and preached the gospel in Indonesia and New Zealand. They love outdoor activities, from hunting and fishing to hiking, camping, and riding motorcycles.
Sally Jo (SJ) Vander Yacht is from Lynden, WA, and has served 15 years with YWAM. She also has a Master of Arts in the New Testament from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She says: “Most of my YWAM experience has been serving in the realm of biblical training, including seven years at YWAM Lakeside-Montana with the SBS (School of Biblical Studies) and an additional five years with their Biblical Seminars program.”
Sally Jo loves teaching, training, learning, problem-solving, and helping people understand the hot topics of our current culture and society. She is pioneering and building the Christ-Centered Sexuality (CCS) ministry under MBI’s umbrella. Sally Jo says, “CCS trains and educates Christians in a non-affirming understanding of God’s design and desire for sex, sexuality, gender, and marriage while also helping people learn how to engage in compassion and pastoral care for those who struggle with sexual brokenness.”
Sally Jo also manages MBI’s Instagram account. When she isn’t busy with her MBI and CCS responsibilities, she enjoys boating, traveling, playing Call of Duty, and keeping up with her rambunctious golden retriever, Murphy.
Nate Ballivian works long-distance as part of MBI’s L13 (Leadership 13) team and as MBI’s Volunteer Coordinator. He took his YWAM DTS (Discipleship Training School) in 2006, adding on subsequent YWAM training and leadership schools, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies with Ecclesia College, and life purpose and calling coaching with Coaching Mission International (CMI). He and his family live in Lindale, TX, where they have served with YWAM Tyler since 2009.
Nate loves being exposed to different cultures and foods and enjoys working in facilitation, team building, life coaching, strategic thinking, and leadership development. He says his favorite challenges include “developing something and then passing it on so it’s not dependent on me and helping people and teams get unstuck by bringing clarity.” He also loves being out in nature, reading biographies and historical nonfiction, keeping up with Michigan in college football, and watching Arsenal in the Premier League.
Nate especially enjoys cooking and “eating yummy food” with his wife of 17 years, Lauren, and doing activities with his three kids: Gabe (13), Ephraim (8), and Beatriz (6).
Amy Stevens is a YWAM lifer with 32 years of service and experience. She recently joined MBI to serve as office manager and in L13 resource development.
Originally from Minnesota, Amy lived at and worked on staff with YWAM Lakeside-Montana for 11 years before moving to Taiwan and serving with Taipei Ministries for 21 years. While in Montana, she served as staff for the SBS (School of Biblical Studies) for two years before launching the Titus Project in 1996 and running it for seven years. Amy was the local Titus Project leader and overseer of what became Titus Project Int’l in Taiwan. Additionally, Amy was part of their ministry leadership team, the leadership council, the budget review team, the fiscal team (as an overseer), and the director’s office.
Amy says she gained working knowledge through seminars, experience, and trial and error. She is skilled at teaching, creating resources, systems/SOPs, and information organization. Her favorite challenges include creating spreadsheets, expenditure reports, and systems, especially those related to numbers and accounting.
Amy also says, “I love difficult passages in the Bible, studying and teaching through them. I love to see those without hope and searching for meaning come to believe in Jesus and go on to being discipled, becoming pastors or DTS leaders, etc. And I love the cross-cultural aspect of missions where people from all nations and vastly different cultures come together with the same purpose: to make God known and follow him.”
Amy is married to Michael Stevens from Australia. They have four gifted, mission-oriented adult children: Elise (24), Kenna (21), Anaya (19), and Nathan (18).
The Lord has blessed MBI with a treasure trove of skilled and talented people to help us continue assisting the YWAM missionaries who are making a difference in the world. Thanks for supporting our team with your prayers and encouragement!
by Becky Hefty | Feb 5, 2025 | Thrive, Volunteer Viewpoint
MBI has recruited and sent volunteers to global YWAM mission locations for decades, providing them the practical help they need not just to get by but to flourish in the ministries God has called them to. Not only that, our volunteers also thrive as they find their niche in missions! Here is the first-hand story of one of MBI’s current and most prolific Mission Builders, Ed Wandell.
“Four years ago, I was researching YWAM and other RV-related service opportunities. YWAM Lakeside in Montana got my attention. Another YWAM ministry, MBI (Mission Builders International), was across the road. ‘Let’s see,’ I thought. ‘Montana in the summer? Let’s go!’
“The help I got from MBI via phone, email, and their website, full of places and opportunities, began to enlarge my thinking. These and MBI’s flexibility with fewer restrictions compared to other organizations caught and held my interest.
“It was a God-inspired ‘leave this place’ time. God was ready to introduce me to the upside-down nature of His kingdom. I sold everything back home, bought a travel trailer, and jumped in. Many things led me to make such a significant change, but God gave me a lot of peace and excitement about what was in front of me. Since then, He has kept my service fresh and rewarding.
“Seasons of the yea
r, friends I want to see, campuses where I have good memories of blessing and being blessed, and places where there is a need are all parts of my prayerful decision-making process. I haven’t found a way to make a mistake yet! My biggest challenge is fitting in too many friends, places, and memories each year.
“So far, I’ve made 25 volunteer visits to 13 YWAM locations: Lakeside, MT; Faith Harvest Helpers, WA; Salem, OR; Chico, CA; Gleanings for the Hungry, CA; San Antonio del Mar (Tijuana), Mexico; Richmond, VA; Northwoods, WI; Tyler, TX; Cross Wind, KS; Seven Peaks, MT; Raleigh, NC; and Cimarron, CO.
“I typically serve in maintenance/facilities, which encompasses many jobs. But I have also hel
ped in woodshops, kitchens, food banks, and numerous other campus ministries. God has me excitedly looking forward to and fondly looking back at all of them. Now, that doesn’t mean all the work and situations were equally enjoyable everywhere—it means that God was in all the places and blessed all of them. I recently helped install a new liner in an active sewage pond. I’m still processing that!
“All the locations have had their arms open to welcome me, and it feels like they are holding on to my bumper when I leave. They appreciate the help and encouragement of someone investing one to three months of time and resources into their ministry.
“It’s easier to jump into their community at the smaller locations. Friendships are made quickly and more personal, and they feel our help immediately.
“I have been told, ‘You are not here just to fix stuff, but to grow closer to God. That’s the most important thing.’ That sure takes the pressure off to get everything done! And the culture of all these bases is to know God and to make Him known. It’s easy to make genuine friendships with that as a foundation. While each base has its personality, I love the YWAM focus on prayer time and worship. These gu
ys know how to worship!
“The past four years have also been a special time for me to write and publish a book titled My Father Journey. It’s not about my physical journey with Mission Builders but my spiritual journey of searching, wrestling, and healing. My everyday Mission Builder experience—a combination of physical service and community engagement—helped create fertile soil in me so that when I returned to my RV every night, writing flowed out of me. It helped add reflection time to round out the journey I am on.
“This stuff will grow on you. I call mission building my ‘seek, serve, and see tour.’ Traveling alone, I have ample time and opportunities to seek God and enjoy a growing relationship with Him. The serving is the glue that holds it all together, and I also get to see so many wonderful places around America.
“It has been a journey with a purpose!”
by Becky Hefty | Oct 21, 2024 | Thrive, Volunteer Viewpoint
MBI believes YWAM’s frontline missionaries are heroes as they engage the nations with the mercy and gospel of Christ. We aim to provide the practical training and resources they need to thrive in their calling. We also believe that our Mission Builder volunteers are heroes because they sacrifice their time, skills, and sometimes retirement to work alongside YWAM missionaries for kingdom purposes.
Here is the story of an extraordinary family of hero volunteers from Seattle, Washington. After Autumn Duckworth, her husband Ryan, and their three young children, Noa (11), Ashton (9), and Dakota (6), faced down Autumn’s life-threatening disease, the family chose not just to survive but to thrive.
Autumn says: “In April of 2022, I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. By May of 2024, after several surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, my tests showed no evidence of disease. Summer was coming, and we needed a change of pace, a reset, a new rhythm, and a renewed vision as a family. We didn’t just want a vacation; we were looking for a VWAP (Vacation With A Purpose) where we all could serve and receive training as a family.
“The Lord directed me to MBI. I contacted Jeanette Brewster, and we began to let God orchestrate my family’s nine-week summer mission-building adventure. I’d been ‘prayer circling’ for a God idea/opportunity since January 2024. In His perfect sovereignty, He directed my attention to six YWAM campuses where we could serve alongside the local missionaries.
“The first was at YWAM Lakeside, Montana, where we enjoyed serving on the Facilities team. One highlight at the campus was watching the DTS School of Dance perform the beautiful production of The Story of Creation to Resurrection. Seeing so many young people worship Jesus freely through the creative arts was so impactful for my three children. 
“Next was YWAM Cascade, Idaho, for a week-long Family DTS, where we learned how to take our brokenness, unique passions, and giftings and allow God to redeem them into something beautiful. Learning to speak shalom over our family also helped us recalibrate and recenter our family on Jesus.
“At YWAM Emerge in Colorado Springs, we served on the Grounds team. There were so many highlights here! Volunteering and learning more about their genius OASYS aquaponics ministry was incredible. We hope to partner in the future with this ministry, as it’s a brilliant and tangible way to love God and others through building aquaponics systems, enabling other groups to achieve nutritious and sustainable food security in a dignified way.
“We then went south to YWAM Vicente Guerrero in Baja, California, Mexico, where we partnered with Mexico
Mission Adventures from YWAM Chico, California. My kids were astounded to see the impoverished living conditions of these amazing people. It gave them a greater appreciation for what God has provided for us. Seeing my three kids work hard to bless this family with a new home was unforgettable.
“Next, we headed north to YWAM Mendocino, California, where we helped with the library and installed ventilation systems in the cabin bathrooms. This place is truly anointed. Morning prayer at 8 a.m. was such a gift! On the last day, the local missionaries spoke and prayed prophetic words over us. It was a life-giving encouragement to our family.
“Last but not least, we had the pleasure of serving at YWAM Chico in California after the Park Fires struck the
area in July. Initially, everyone was evacuated, but after five days, things began opening back up. We witnessed His miraculous work firsthand as we provided relief care and cleaned, rebuilt, and restored things to order. Additionally, we got to hand out food and clothing to some of the homeless people in the Chico community and pray for people during street evangelism in Redding.
“We hope to return to each of the bases during our summers for 1-2 week long mission builds to serve and bless our new friends! Each base provided a unique ministry we are excited to partner with for life.”
Are you ready to be a hero and make a difference? Visit missionbuilders.org and explore your opportunities!
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