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Info

WHY? 

I find one of the popular discussions among Christians today is about discipleship. Churches have 'services' every week, but discipleship is scarce.

As a result, many Christians are weak. People in my generation are leaving churches, and as a result of leaving churches, many sadly end up leaving the Church. When they leave the Church, they leave God's best behind and take on a gospel different than the gospel Jesus gave us.

A poll in 2007 published in USA Today found 7 out of 10 young adults stopped attending church services by age 23. In 2011 Relevant Magazine stated that 80% of young, unmarried Christians have had sex, and of those 80%, 64% have done so within the last year and 42% are in a current sexual relationship. (these are only a few out of hundreds of statistics)

Why are they leaving? Christians need something deeper than a weekly service. More importantly, they need a place where they can talk about real life and personally seek God with other believers in open, trustworthy, growing relationships focused on knowing God, AND beyond that, making Him known.

According to Zondervan Church Source 97% of all church members have no involvement in any sort of evangelistic outreach. Christianity Today found that only 1% of their readers had witnessed to someone "recently."

We've got to do something about this!

My Vision
In 2005 the Spirit of God said to me through 1st Timothy, "set an example for all the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." He made it clear that was a life-calling.

At this point my vision is:

to disciple young adults into knowing God deeply and to equip them to make His awesomeness known to the world with confidence.

“HOW can I help you do this?"

At this point some of you are asking this question. Well…

I need people to join me in prayer. There is an enemy afoot who doesn't like what I'm doing. I need people who believe prayer makes a difference to pray for me. If you're interested, you can keep updated by subscribing to my email update list. I also write occasionally on a blog.

I need people to join me financially. This is all going to be volunteer and I need God's people to help me meet my needs as I pursue this. YWAM Salem has suggested I have $800/month to $1200/month to meet my needs for food, housing, travel, etc. If you have any inclination to give any amount pray about it! I've put the information on How to Give below. Any questions??? Email me at jmlemaire@gmail.com.

What am I doing? 

I am committing to be with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Salem, OR for the next two years. I will be working on the missions base leading Discipleship Training Schools (DTS): intensive six-month courses that guide students ages 18-30 into knowing God and making Him known. 

"Throughout the DTS experience, students will not only learn in a classroom setting, but live missionally by serving in the local community, attending small groups, and experiencing one on one discipleship. The DTS is broken down into two sections: a 3-month lecture phase followed by a 2-3 month outreach overseas."  

The short video below can give you more of an idea of DTS.

How to Give

First off, When to give?

I begin September 12th. So it’s best for me if you start giving in September, but you can still give any time during my ministry with YWAM Salem (the next 2 years).

Now, How to Give

You can give one-time, monthly, or yearly by check (or cash), automatic withdrawals through your bank, or credit card.

Checks

Make checks out to YWAM. Please do not write anything in the memo section of your check but attach the pledge card or a sticky note with my Name on it and mail it to:

YWAM Salem

7085 Battlecreek Rd. SE

Salem, OR 97317

Authorize Automatic Withdrawals with your bank

There is a form to fill out for this one. I've attached it below. All you need to do is to read the form, provide the required information, and we’re set. You can either copy&paste it to a Word document or Email me at jmlemaire@gmail.com and I will send it to you in a PDF format.

Credit card (two ways to do this)

1. Go to ywamsalem.org and click on the “Donations” button.

·      Click on the yellow “Donate” button (this is done through Paypal).

·      If you have a Paypal account you can just put in the Purpose [“Joel LeMaire Missions Support”] and the amount.

o   Sign in and make the payment.

·      If you do not have a Paypal account go to the bottom left of the page to where it says, “Don’t have a Paypal account?” and click Continue.

o   You will be guided to a page where you can put in your credit card information.

2. You can call the YWAM Salem reception office at (503)364-3837

·      Ask to be transferred to Accounting

·      Give Accounting your credit card information and how much you would like to donate

The best way to give is checks or automatic withdrawals from your bank. If you give by credit card or through Paypal there is an additional processing fee taken out of what you give.

If you have any questions please call the YWAM Salem accounting department at (503)364-3837 ext. 308 or email accounting@ywamsalem.org.