On the 15th of May 2010 YWAMers gathered in Port Harcourt from across Nigeria to celebrate the 50th anniversary with the founders, Loren and Darlene Cunningham.

Prior to the grand Jubilee celebration, Paul Dangtoumda, the national leader, had called for a staff conference as a step which would prepare YWAM Nigeria to enter into the year of Jubilee. 

This was a great time of reflection as YWAMers from across the nation united in prayer with the determination to experience the blessings of Jubilee. Nothing must hold them back. Paul Dangtoumda, Mrs. Ann Amene and Pastor Chris Delvan were the guest speakers during the staff conference that started three days before the Jubilee, with approximately 350 participants.

Loren CunninghamYWAMers in very colourful and beautiful Nigerian outfits sang and danced joyfully to welcome Loren and Darlene a day before the 50th event. Flames from burning torches pierced through the dark Port Harcourt night as they held them high in procession as a symbol of the flame that must go forward. When Loren and Darlene arrived and laid hold of their torches, YWAMers gathered round to have their own candles and torches lit by the founders. There was a deep sense of the reality that Loren and Darlene were certainly not here to hand over their flame and stop going, but rather to light each person's torch and "run the race" together.

On the day of the event the YWAM football team played a friendly match with the ex-militant team. This was a way of engaging the ex-militants to also partake in the celebration, since YWAM teams have been reaching out to them.

In the evening the hall was packed with a sea of jubilant and expectant faces. YWAMers and other prominent guests arrived to share in the joy. Most Nigerians dressed in their rich and beautiful cultural way, as they danced in celebration of the Jubilee. Juliette led the crowd of about 1000 in an electrifying praise session.

The hall was beautifully decorated to reflect "WAZOBIA" meaning "come" in Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, the three major Nigerian languages. Loren and Darlene walked in, dressed in very prestigious Nigerian outfits accompanied by a cultural troupe. Though highly honoured, the founders still showed the highest humility and it was obvious that they were very pleased to be in the largest most populous black country on earth.

In his welcoming speech Loren acknowledged the love Nigerians lavished on them and he went on to recount God's faithfulness through all who heard and obeyed God throughout the 50 years of YWAM. "We feel your love and we thank you for the welcome. God is the founder, sustainer and He's the reason why we celebrate," he said.

Modesta led the whole gathering into singing a Jubilee song, which was written by a YWAMer in Nigeria titled "the flame is moving forward...."

Of course, we cannot forget the beautifully decorated anniversary cakes. One was baked in the shape of a bible with the inscription, "to know God and to make Him known." It also had the YWAM logo. The second cake was the shape of the numbers "50."

Mrs. Ann Amene, the woman of peace for YWAM Port Harcourt, led the cutting of the cake. In her speech she noted that it is not a coincidence that the nation of Nigeria, too, will be 50 this year. Nigerians see this as a "God-incident" for both YWAM and Nigeria to be celebrating their 50th anniversary in of 2010. Mrs. Amene prophesied all the seven blessings of Jubilee found in Leviticus 25 on YWAM, Nigeria and Loren and Darlene, as she invited them to cut the cake together.

Loren CunninghamLoren recognized all the guests from different spheres of society, new believers, and the YWAM tribe. He stressed that this is now Africa's time. He proclaimed God's love for Africa and pointed that the greatest richness of Africa is her people. "All of Africa's blessings could become a curse if her people don't fulfill God's desires," Loren cautioned. "God is calling Nigerians to give leadership to other parts of the earth," he challenged. But the biggest challenge for the evening was for YWAM to go "where we are not."

Just when we thought the atmosphere couldn't get any more exciting, it did: Darius and the DTS outreach team presented a very moving "Freedom" song, which he wrote about his changed life. The session closed with a big feast.

The next day Darlene recounted God's faithfulness in not just providing for the YWAM family but also in sending correction. She encouraged everyone to live a life of faith and to have the "I won't quit" spirit.

Then it was time for the presentation of the YWAM timeline: Youdom Valery the SBS leader from Yaoundé and communications person in Cameroon presented the timeline for YWAM Cameroon.

Paul Dangtoumda shared an inspiring story of the start of the vision for YWAM Nigeria, which was actually birthed in his heart in Hawaii in 1990. The dream was to pioneer a base in Togo, which would mobilize Nigerians to come help pioneer the work in Nigeria. In 2002 the YWAM work began in Nigeria.

A 37-minute video on the history of YWAM Nigeria was shown. Emotions changed from excitement to heaviness as the section of the video showed the accident that took place in 2005 where eight YWAMers lost their lives. Jise, one of the survivors called it the "dark days of YWAM Nigeria," in an interview where he tried to recall how it all happened. But, like Job concluded, "...should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" Job 1:10 (New Living Translation).

Excitement soon returned when Paul began to share stories of God's amazing victories, in the face of tremendous challenges. One such victory was the battle for the souls of the *militants in Port Harcourt. [NOTE: these are social/political-activist militants, not religious militants.]

Paul introduced Nature, an ex-militant, now a YWAMer in Port Harcourt, to share his story. Before his conversion Nature was deeply involved in occultism, murder, drugs, kidnapping, militancy and many other crimes. He told of how God saved him and sent him back to reach out to other militants. It was a very tough call but he obeyed. God also led him to speak with government officials in Abuja where he obtained permission to start an amnesty work among the militants. Through this process he saw God's faithfulness and this led to most of the militants laying down their arms to receive amnesty.

It was also at this time that Solomon, a former notorious militant known as "Bin Laden of Nigeria" gave his life to the Lord. Reconciliation between the government and the militants began. Today Nature is grateful to God and to YWAM for his transformation. YWAM has been involved in discipling the ex-militants and they are constantly sharing testimonies of how their lives have been changed. Today YWAM has a mini base in the ex-militant camp with 30 YWAMers working alongside 300 ex-militants per session.

Andrew and Ansel, the leaders of YWAM Jos recounted how the government sent 300 militants to Jos for a retreat last year. About 100 of them gave their lives to Christ and about 45 were baptized into Christ.

Paul also invited another ex-militant called Samson to share his story of transformation. For Samson, his greatest challenge was while on DTS outreach: he was asked to return to the militant gangs and share his new life in Christ. "I never thought I would be the one standing confidently before people and testifying of the goodness and deliverance of God in my life. Though the militants knew my former life very well, it was incredible to see how they opened their hearts to receive God's word through me," Samson said.

All three ex-militants moved the crowd with their testimonies. Nature with his courage, young Samson with his sense of humour and Solomon who was called "Bin Laden" but is now a Child of God.

Loren CunninghamLoren gave Nature, Samson and Solomon a warm embrace and prayed for each of them, one-by- one. It was such a special moment and the whole atmosphere was charged with the "God is able" spirit.

The event would not have been complete without the children. When Loren and Darlene sat to talk with all the children, it felt like when Jesus said, "permit the children to come to me..." The founders told them of when the Lord called them to missions, Loren at age 13 and Darlene at age 9, and they encouraged the children to obey God. They prayed for them, laying hands on each child. This was remarkable and encouraging for the parents.

Individual ministries, bases, campuses and schools were also prayed for.

The final day was quite symbolic as YWAMers all recommitted to the Lord and signed the Jubilee Covenant. It was a time of deep reverence and worship as everyone broke bread and drank wine together in communion to remember our Lord Jesus.

This is the year of His Jubilee and the flame is certainly moving forward. YWAM Nigeria will keep going until it is done!

Reporter: Anne Abok, Media Village Nigeria, for AFRICOM West; Photographer: Alex Abok, Media Village Nigeria and PISMOBEACH (a YWAM outreach team from USA).