CRIT #1

Harpenden, England

The first CRIT was held in Harpenden, England in October 2004.  It was called by YWAM Chairman, Lynn Green, who realized the need to improve communication within YWAM. About 40 YWAMers from around the globe gathered to discuss existing communication initiatives in YWAM, discuss needs, and brainstorm on how YWAM can improve communication both within the mission and to the public. 

Some of the existing communication ministries mentioned were: The International YWAMer, Transformations and In Touch (magazines), Global Perspectives/Procla-Media & Create International (video), YWAM-base-announce, the Go Manual, ywam.org, Publishing (US, Norway, Egypt, Korea), Genesis, YWAM Connect, mobile conferences, national newsletters and various collaborations with the local church.  Some of the areas mentioned for possible growth included: increasing communication skills among YWAMers (training), accessibility to more information, ways to facilitate collaboration between YWAMers, ability to effectively communicate to the public (both YWAM stories and dealing with crises), technology access discrepancies, language barriers, increasing value of communication, communicating 4K, finding solutions to connect all YWAMers, improving communication (both directions) between leaders and staff. 

CRIT participants began communicating via a CRIT Yahoo group/email list (which has since been discontinued).  A practical project that emerged from CRIT #1 was the YWAM-wide 50 Days of Prayer initiative, which ran in March 2005. 

CRIT #2

Colorado Springs, USA

The second CRIT consultation was held six months later and brought almost 60 YWAMers together in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; many of the participants had not attended the first CRIT.  While brainstorming what YWAM might look like with healthier communication habits and structures, the group reviewed how the mission coordinated news surrounding the Tsunami crisis.  They examined what YWAM did well in communicating about the mission’s affected staff and post-disaster relief, and how it might handle large-scale disaster and emergency-related news events in the future. 

A similar analysis was conducted on the various communication aspects of the 50 Days of Prayer Initiative which had just concluded.  An overriding question emerged: How can YWAMers work together to improve communications?  Working groups discussed ideas and potential projects including: the formation regional communication teams, developing an infrastructure for media relations, providing communication training to YWAMers and developing advertising products for YWAM.  The practical project to emerge was the latter: new YWAM brochures and a DVD containing four short videos were produced for international YWAM use.

CRIT #3

Harpenden, Engand

In May 2006, 57 participants met at YWAM Harpenden, England to provide ongoing focus and momentum for the CRIT consultation and projects.  A mission statement was developed: “The purpose of CRIT is to develop dynamic, effective communications throughout YWAM, with stories, messages and information freely flowing to every part of YWAM, to the wider Body of Christ and to the world so that the gospel story can transform all peoples.”

Critical issues that emerged from CRIT consultations held in 2004 and 2005 became working groups for 2006.  Each group identified how their potential project could contribute to the overall CRIT vision, and brainstormed about specific barriers to fulfilling this, together with ideas and potential solutions.  The groups included: creation of n Information Technology Symposium; Public Relations, Design & Branding; Multiplying communicators (identify and train YWAMers interested in communication); “Mind the Gap” (technology inconsistency in YWAM, languages, cultural differences, etc.), Creation of Communications Teams (Field & Regional); and some sort of YWAM Prayer and News Network.

Outcomes: A major objective for the CRIT workshops is to strengthen relationships among those in the CRIT network. The website ywamcoms.net was launched in early June 2006 to facilitate communication among group members.

A proposal was presented for a some sort of leadership group for YWAM communications and I.  It was recommended that a Global Communication Team (GCT) be created to assist the Global Leadership Team, to be made up of YWAM communication and IT experts.

CRIT #4

Lonavala, India

The fourth CRIT was held in Lonavala, India.  It drew more than 40 participants from around the world as well as many who came from the South and Southeast Asia regions, making it the most culturally and linguistically diverse group to date.  This CRIT got very practical, and working groups met throughout the week to work on actual problems and challenges.

As a result of this consultation, field communication teams were formed in both South and Southeast Asia.  The Value Communication campaign was launched to promote communication as a value in YWAM.  A YWAM crisis response document was drafted, and plans were launched to hold the annual Information Technology Symposium. (The first will be in June 08.) Probably the most tangible outcome of CRIT 07 was an explosion of interest in communication ministries in Asia. 

Immediately afterwards, the first YWAM Basic Communication Workshop (an outcome of CRIT) was held with almost 30 participants.  Regional participants learned basic skills in public speaking, writing, video making, photography and design layout.  The workshop created a hunger in many of the participants to seek future training in their particular areas of interest.

CRIT #5

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The fifth CRIT was held at the YWAM location near Buenos Aires, Argentina.  It was attended by 42 YWAMers from several Latin countries as well as Europe, North American and Africa. 

A second Basic Communication Workshop (BCW) was held the week prior to CRIT and was attended by many of the same participants.  Students gained a biblical and historical perspective of communication and studied public speaking, writing and visual communication.  Then they broke into smaller interest groups and learned about specific topics of interest including video production, photography, blogging, research and other subjects.

CRIT participants got to hear two inspiring messages from YWAM Argentina leader Alejandro Rodriguez on communication.  They also heard from International Chairman Lynn Green via Genesis teleconferencing technology.  Besides times of corporate worship and reports, CRIT 5 got very practical as participants quickly formed working groups to brainstorm and create strategies for actual projects, most building on previous CRIT initiatives.   The Mind the Gap group committed to developing an infrastructure for improving communication translation in YWAM.  The Value Communication team chose to concentrate on packaging Alejandro Rodriguez’s messages on DVD along with other materials for leader’s conferences to be held this year in Brazil and at the Southern Cone Leader’s Conference.  The Multiplying Communicators group concentrated on developing a database of YWAM communication ministries and working on a marketing strategy to advertise these ministries.  They also discussed ideas for developing more training programs besides the BCS.  The Communication Teams group launched LatinCom, the newest member of the International Communication Network.  This will be coordinated by Michele Etchart in the southern region and Leda Romero in the Northern Cone, with help by Veronica Schaab, who will bridge the various regions and help connect the Spanish speaking and Portuguese regions.  The Y-Wiki group committed to launching a Wikipedia-type web site by March 2009 (by the next CRIT).  This will be a place where YWAMers can post their stories, photos and videos in various languages from different perspectives, anywhere in the world.

CRIT #6

YWAM Hope Land, Uganda

Forty-one YWAMers from around 20 nations gathered at the Hope Land base in Uganda in April to build bridges in the area of communication. YWAM’s 6th Communication Research Information Technology (CRIT) meetings were coordinated by YWAM’s International Communication team in Colorado Springs and AfriCom, whose role is to connect approximately 1500 YWAM staff in 122 locations around the continent.  In January, they launched the first ever School of Field Journalism.

“One of the primary goals of CRIT,” said Miranda Heathcote of AfriCom, “is to come up with effective ways to multiply communicators within the mission.

The Basic Communication Workshop (BCW) is a result of previous discussions within this working group.”

During the first week of meetings, a Basic Communication Workshop brought together almost 30 students to increase their skills in design, article writing, photography, public speaking and other topics.

The second week involved strategies in Communication. Participants brainstormed about increasing the value of communication in YWAM, how to train communicators and strategized about identifying and multiplying future communicators. Leaders are now gathering information about specific needs and plan to hold six-week training workshops across Africa. They are gathering tips and resources to help other bases communicate more effectively. Another goal is to develop regional communication teams as well as teams on each African base.

"I came expecting something a little boring with a bit of technology,” said Sarah Adeyinka from Nigeria, “but I came away learning more effective ways of communicating. The one thing that’s stayed with me is something Sugi Mulyono from Indonesia said—that even our silence is passing along a message.”

All who attended said they were inspired and challenged, but God gave Sarah a whole new direction for her life. She is now planning to develop communication initiatives in the South Pacific.

During the third week, eight YWAMers began to tell stories of what God is doing throughout Africa. Led by Argentina’s Cristian Barrios, YWAM’s Storytellers ministry visited YWAM Torch Ministries, which includes Kangulumira Integrated Health Program, a community-wide AIDS clinic, Child Education Sponsorship, Women at Risk, and Spring of Hope, a ministry to disabled children. At the end of the week, these communicators turned over brochures, photos and articles to help promote these local ministries. A video is also in the works.

CRIT #7

Chiang Mai, Thailand

CRIT 2010 was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in March.  This 7th annual event included three weeks of activities.  It began with a Basic Communication Workshop (BCW) held at the DTS center away from the busy city.  YWAM staff came from throughout the world, with almost twenty participants from the region.  As usual, it was a jam-packed week where students learned to value communication and picked up some very practical skills in writing, design, photography, and digital communications.

Mildred, one of the participants from the Philippines, became very excited about new ministry possibilities for herself.  She started to understand the importance of effective, life-giving communication, and sensed God calling her to tell some of His stories.  She later wrote:
“Because of the workshop in Thailand, I found I really like to write, and now I feel empowered to do it.  I want to be a mission communicator, so little by little I’m thinking about what I should write and how could I mobilize people to go for missions.  There is so much work to do to fulfill the Great Commission, and I see this as my part.  I want to write stories and make videos for an unreached people group by going on site to know their culture and understand their beliefs, and then tell their story to mobilize the church to GO!  This is what is now in my heart, and I’m praying to God about the next step.  Thank you.”

The Communication, Research and Information Technology (CRIT) consultation was held the second week at the Holiday Garden hotel in Chiang Mai.  There were about 40 people from more than 20 countries including Europe, Africa, the U.S. and Asia.  The group was especially pleased that two Mongolian YWAMers were able to come for the very first time.  They were joined by representatives from YWAM Frontier Missions and Create International, promoting discussions about communication issues surrounding ministry to the least-reached.  Missions researcher Todd Johnson spoke about mission trends in the world, especially in the Asia/Pacific region.  Unlike previous years, most CRIT working groups were divided by region instead of topic, which allowed for relationship building and time to deal with region-specific challenges.  

Dynamic outcomes from CRIT 2010 included:
• Fortification of AsPaCom (the Asia/Pacific Communication Team)
• Healing & expansion of SpiceCom (the South Asia Communication Team)
• Significant growth of networks
• Commitment to:
• Improving church relations through communication
• Frontier missions
• Base-to-base communication
• Communication training
• Research
• Strengthening communication initiatives locally, regionally & globally
• Developing orientation materials for staff
• Promoting security & 3D communication
• Multiplying workshops (Other communication workshops being held in 2010 include Colombia, England & India.  More are planned for 2011.)
• Translating YWAM documents & websites
• Serving leaders with communication needs

During the third week, participants split into two groups and locations.  The smaller group did a Storytellers Outreach working with Chiang Mai YWAMers to interview, write, and photograph transformation stories from local ministries.  The larger group met to strengthen the communication team network and develop strategies especially relevant to their work.

All the events surrounding CRIT 2010 served to continue developing and strengthening Youth With A Mission’s communication network.  As James Davison Hunter, author of the book, To Change the World, points out: “The key actor in history is not individual genius, but rather the network and the new institutions that are created out of those networks.”

Participants in the YWAM communication network function both face-to-face in their different regions and also virtually around the globe, using technologies such as Skype and tele-conferencing (known in YWAM as Genesis).  This network is an ever-expanding grassroots initiative that looks like YWAM itself; it is global, intercultural, inter-ethnic, and cross-generational.  Communication teams currently serve in Asia/Pacific, Africa, Europe, Latin America and South Asia.
The communication network serves leaders in disseminating important messages; works to promote unity between YWAM leaders, staff, and locations; tells stories of what God is doing around the world; creates opportunities for service; bridges gaps in technology, language, gender, culture, and other areas.  It attempts to use all ideas and technologies that improve YWAM communication within the mission family, with the greater church family, and to the public.  It is a network of networks that strives to build the Kingdom of God at multiple levels, including equipping of missionaries, strengthening the central nervous system of YWAM (communication), influencing society, and representing God in all of life.