YWAM ChiangMai History
(1968-2009)
YWAM ministry in ChiangMai began over 40 years ago.
We remember YWAM’s past. There are already foundations in CHIANGMAI that we are building on. We are not starting from scratch; we are not pioneering a new location. We acknowledge what’s gone before – both the ministries and the people.
We know that God is always creating and doing new things (Is 43:19), but He also commands us to lay memorial stones so that we will not forget our history and what He has done for us (Josh 4:4-7).
The History of YWAM Chiang Mai
1968-1975: YWAM outreach teams visit ChiangMai.
1971: David and Linda Cowie bring a small team to Bangkok (BKK) and stay to work among university students. The Cowies move the YWAM base to ChiangMai in 1975. Their focus was university students. Pastor Somkiet (BKK) is sent to Switzerland to do a DTS. In 1984 he sent his wife to do the iDTS in ChiangMai.
1976: Joe and Coleen Harbison arrive and within months the Cowies turn the Thai Ministries over to them. (They also held the position of: Thailand National Directors). They carried on the work with only one other person for years. Their ministry was to back packers, travelers, and university students. They hosted YWAM outreach teams and helped administrate the start of the Refugee Ministry. The YWAM base was located on Chang Khian Rd in Chiang Mai until the end of 1983.
1979: Judy Hayden, Mike Carey and Julie Fitzgibbon move to BKK to study language with view to join Harbisons in ChiangMai. They came up to ChiangMai in the Spring of 1981.
1980 June: International YWAM Leaders meeting in ChiangMai.
1981: Sanborn’s arrive; Mike, Julie and Judy join the team; Harbisons leave – Art Sanborn appointed Thailand National Director. First Int’l Preschool in ChiangMai started by YWAM ChiangMai team. Student ministry at CMU and began hosting many YWAM outreach teams.
1981-1984: Focus moves away from backpackers and onto unreached people primarily in North Thailand. Team continues to minister at the Univ. and also through English speaking club and classes. Preschool continues. (Most of this time the entire YWAM ChiangMai team all lived in community in a single house.) Scores of teams help to evangelize among Thais and tribal groups throughout the region among schools and villages. Churches begin as house churches then become different denominations as they grow. 2 Thai young men: Viraphan and Wichai do DTS out of country to prepare to staff first ever DTS in Thailand. Mike and Julie leave but Judy H. stays on; Wendy Stonex (now YWAM Cambodia National leader with her husband) joins – as well as others that come for 1-2 years.
Fourteen village church plants
• The very first “cell group” started was in September, 1981
• Worship, Jesus film and other films, dramas, mime, puppets, prayer for the sick, issuing vitamins, administering simple First aid, helping villages grow fruit trees instead of opium, smuggling Bibles
• Ongoing discipleship and Bible studies.
1984: First DTS in Thailand with 9 students (in ChiangMai) @ YWAM Base on Hadsudisuwi Road (Near Central). This is an international DTS in Thai and English. At this point YWAM ChiangMai has 4 houses and 35 people sitting down together for dinner each night. Staff included: Art and Ellen Sanborn, Mike and Cindy Spangler, Judy Hayden, Wendy Stonex, Viraphon, and Wichai.
1984: YWAM ChiangMai staff moves to BKK to establish a Thai Ministries base there. (Up until that time there was only Mercy Ministries in BKK.) Sanborns planned to move back to ChiangMai in one year after everything was established but the couple that came to lead the BKK work left (Burn-out). Focus remained on running DTS’s and with taking teams into the villages, especially villages where YWAM ChiangMai had started churches.
1984-1987: YWAM BKK established; relationship partnering with Mercy ministries. Scores of teams including Thai DTS teams, continued to minister in ChiangMai and North Thailand. Churches continue to be planted.
1984-1987- iDTS in Bangkok (2 per year). Staff included: Art & Ellen Sanborn, Judy Hayden, Wendy Stonex, Viraphon, Wichai, Nit Geske (when she was single), Gampon Kumdee, Pontip, (Later staff: Kenny and Vickie Franciscus). Some students included- Chaiyot (pastor in the south) and Christina (orphanage work in BKK).
1984-1987: Kings Kids ministry started by the Sanborn family. Team of 24 kids went on various mission trips.
1987: Sanborns move to Malaysia to help start a YWAM base in Penang but continue to take teams into ChiangMai. Gampon Kumdee appointed DTS director. Steve Goode takes on the role of Thai Ministries director as well as Int’l. Mercy Min director.
1987-1990: Continued YWAM presence in ChiangMai thru teams and individuals called there – focus to continually serve the church plants, and maintain the strong relationship with between YWAM & the local church.
ChiangMai has no actual base but a continued presence through the years until The Centre is established by Steve Gumaer.
1993: Bruce and Nit Geske come to ChiangMai with the vision for International DTS and a Base– purchase land in Mae Taeng for the purpose of YWAM Base. Work & teach at the Bible School run by the Filbecks.
1994: Gumaers come to ChiangMai to lead SOFM, which is delayed for one year. National Office moves to Chiang Rai.
1994: 2003: The Centre: (Director: Steve Gumaer & Noel Hutcheson) YWAM and Asian Outreach join forces to reach Univ. students @ CMU, also the YWAM ChiangMai offices are set up at this outreach centre. In 2003 YWAM ChiangMai formally withdrew from this Partnership, but good relationship continues. (YWAMers involved included Bruce and Nit Geske, Jeff and Lucy Williams, Steve & Oddney Gumaer, Toby Knoblach, and others).
1995: SOFM with 18 students, lead by David & Sue DePew, Bruce Geske & Steve Gumaer. Held at the YWAM Base (Jerry Crows house: Base and Offices). Jerry and Jarrirat Crow translate New Testament into easy to read Thai Language. Bruce and Cathy Paul, Shan & Melissa Sompormas, Fern & Daniel come to Chiang Mai.
1996: Phil & Yvette Anderson come to ChiangMai; their home becomes the YWAM Base.
1996: Bruce and Nit Geske appointed Location Leaders of YWAM ChiangMai. Other YWAMers eventually join them to minister in ChiangMai including: Kathleen, Williams, Avril, (now in BKK) and Nakatsukasas, (now in South). Focus is still mostly on CMU Univ. Students.
1998 – 2003: COM: Training & Support for YWAMers in “The Big Country”. Leader: Johnny Buckner. Note: 2004 became NEI, training and support for nationals called to the nations.
1998/9 – Present: Partners formed: Leaders: Steve & Oddney Gumaer: Reaching the persecuted Karen in Burma and Thailand.
1997: Go Teams: Donny and Sharman Zondervan – taking short term church teams into the SE Asian region.
Nov 1999: Art & Ellen Sanborn and Sean & Anne Sanborn join YWAM ChiangMai.
2000: Bi-monthly YWAM ChiangMai meetings begin at Sanborn’s Ban Ing Doi house. YWAM Team grows though many are still completing their Internship, so YWAM ChiangMai is still looked at synonymously with The Centre. About 8 families and quite a few singles are part of YWAM ChiangMai. More YWAMers are moving into the ChiangMai area to plant churches but begin to operate outside the YWAM ChiangMai base.
2001: Jeff & Jiin Roggenback to ChiangMai.
2002: Kathleen DeMaso opens The Home of Joy Orphanage and moves into their current location.
2002: ChiangMai Leadership team established: Location Leader: Bruce & Nit Geske; Team: Jeff Roggenback, Sean Sanborn, and Guiseppe Restivo.
2002: Outreach Teams office established on Khan Klong. Move out of The Centre. Team includes: Chris Lenty, Jenny Kornell, Jeff and Lucy Williams, Sean and Anne Sanborn.
2002 Aug- 2004 Nov: Base Facility at Wang Tan Villa is established for offices, meetings and teams/staff hospitality.
2002: September: The 1st International DTS in ChiangMai since 1984: Bruce and Nit Geske lead the school
2002: Fall: Phil Carlson, Al & Joanne Brown, and Jeff and Jean Neases come to ChiangMai.
2003: YWAM wraps up work at The Centre. The Centre is turned over to Asian Outreach.
2003: Micah & Morgan Wood join YWAM ChiangMai.
2003: September: 2nd International DTS in ChiangMai: Bruce and Nit Geske lead the school.
2004: Jeff & Michelle Duke join YWAM ChiangMai.
2004: May: Think Tank meetings begin.
2004: Local Church and Mission Association (LCMA) formed through YWAM. President: Gampon Kumdee, Secretary: John Hall
2004: September: 3rd International DTS in ChiangMai: Bruce and Nit Geske lead the school.
2004: September: John and Trudy Hall move to ChiangMai from Isan (North East).
2004: Indo China Frontier Missions Regional Leadership team (FM-RLT). Focus: Church planting, Thai Church, Frontiers. (Team Includes John Hall, Art Sanborn, Sean & Anne Sanborn.)
2004: October: ChiangMai Leadership team established: Location Leader: Bruce Geske Leadership Team: Jeff Duke, Al Brown, John Hall.
2004: Dec: Move into Current Base Facility on Super Highway. – for offices and meetings.
2005 Jan-Mar: NEI makes use of the new Base Facility for their Mission Training.
2005: Birth of WonGeneration (Ministry to University Students): Micah and Morgan Wood (at the YWAM Base).
2005 Jan-Oct: Life Link (HIV Workers Network Ministry): Jeff and Michelle Duke. In October Jeff and Michelle Duke depart.
2005: September: 4th International DTS in ChiangMai: Bruce and Nit Geske lead the school.
2005: September: John Hall takes over position of Regional Director. Bruce remains the Location leader.
2006: September: DTS on Haiatus for one year.
2008: John Hall departs.
2009: Jeff and Michelle Duke return.