This quarter, we have the unique privilege of hosting YWAM’s Leadership Training School (LTS). This means that Jim Stier, former YWAM president and founder and director of YWAM Brazil, is here empowering and equipping our LTS students with the skills and abilities to rise up as the next generation of leaders.

I had the chance to sit down with Jim and ask him a few questions about how he first became involved with the LTS, his vision and hope for its students, and what he senses God is doing this quarter . . .

How did you first get involved with the Leadership Training School (LTS)?

“I did the first ever LTS back in 83’ at the Kona, Hawaii base. I had started YWAM Brazil and wanted to learn how to train leaders so I could multiply more leaders in Brazil. I wanted to equip them with tools and skills to be leaders in their own country so they could bring more people to know God. So eventually, I started the LTS in Brazil and within a decade we had multiplied by a factor of ten and had a couple thousand workers throughout all the Brazil bases [50-80 operating locations]. Then in 1995 I became President of YWAM and was looking for a way to serve the whole world and I felt God leading me into Leadership Development as a way to do that. We did the LTS in Indonesia and had fantastic results and so we kept doing them all over the world.”

What is the vision of the Leadership Training School?

“The goal really is to see new ministries created, helping people around the world, and ultimate bring them to a greater understanding of who God is. We have had many past students come through the program and do amazing things. One student started an evangelism DTS in his home country of Cambodia to raise up evangelist leaders who would reach every corner of Cambodian with the Gospel message. Others have gone out and started house-church movements. Many have started YWAM bases in new locations; preschools have started amongst unreached people groups. Really we’ll know if it was a successful LTS in five years from now when we see dozens of new ministry initiatives starting up all over the world.”

Why do you love to do the LTS year after year?

“Really I love seeing the fruit that comes from the school and what students do after with what they have learned. We have actually started a Leadership Development Center in Brazil to further mentor this next generation of leaders, which opens in April 2012. There we will continue to mentor and support leaders as they continue to develop their visions and skills.”

What is unique so far about this particular group of students?

“Every school has a unique personality. I would characterize this group as being instantly united. They work well together and get along great. Its like they are already enjoying the school and each other even though it is still early in the school. I like that.”

What do you sense God doing already through this school?

“I feel like this LTS will produce some really wonderful projects. You know, we have had several prophecies that YWAM is going to increase. A lot! So we better get ready for that. We want to prepare a generation of leaders that will be able to absorb or even create that big increase. And I’ve seen it happen before in Brazil. Train a few hundred leaders and each of them trains thirty people and soon enough you have thousands! It is very important that we prepare and make way for a new generation of leaders so we are ready for what may lie ahead.”

Thank you Jim, for sharing your wisdom, passion, and your heart  for developing leaders with our students this quarter!