YWAM Leaders
Jari Koivu's ministry to spiritual seekers is tapping into a vast ripe mission field largely unrecognized in the church today. Millions of westerners are seeking spiritual reality and the last place they expect to find it is in the church. Jari has pioneered an incarnational missions approach inviting the non-churched to discover the reality of the biblical God and is often overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of those wanting prayer and spiritual guidance. Just as those called to reach isolated unreached tribes need to learn their languages, customs, beliefs and practices, so Jari and his coworkers have developed methods that resonate with seekers without compromising biblical principles. He has my full endorsement and support.
Jeff Fountain Director, Schuman Centre for European Studies/University of the Nations former director YWAM Europe
What do other YWAM leaders say?
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North America
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Cyprus
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California |
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Jari Koivu is a man of Word and Spirit. He is passionate about addressing injustice and about intimacy with Jesus being the ultimate solution to injustice. Having ministered throughout the world, Jari lives out the message that he brings through providing practical tools for engagement and also through being the messenger himself on a regular basis. His ministry is Biblical, rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit and effective. I recommend him to you.
Phil Gazley Social Justice Ministries Coordinator YWAM City Initiatives Team Three City Ministries Leader YWAM North America Coordinator for the Kern Coalition Against Human Trafficking Finland We had Jari teaching for 5 full days in our DTS this past February, his topic for the week was "Holy Spirit and Evangelism" The first thing I can say about Jari as a DTS teacher is that everything he taught us is based on his own personal experiences in his spiritual walk, held up to the Word of God to ensure proper interpretation and accuracy. Jari teaches the things we believe he is living and practicing in his own life. His week was very encouraging for the students as well as the staff, as he gave plenty of time for the Holy Spirit to work and speak, but at the same time kept the week busy using plenty of examples for the group to draw from. Everyone of us in the school received revelation from God during the time Jari was with us, and we all better understood as individuals our place and role in the Kingdom of God as His witnesses. One of the most important points that Jari emphasizes during his teaching is the importance of the work of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism, he uses the scripture to teach these points as well as his own experience in his "New Age" ministry in Toronto, Canada. I highly recommend Jari Koivu to speak in future DTS's. Erik Davidson DTS leader, YWAM Koivumaki, Finland |
At any given time in history are some people more receptive to the gospel than others? The answer is an obvious yes! Identifying those people that are ready, open and having being prepared by the Holy Spirit is a major key for breakthrough.
Jari has identified a certain people group that are receptive and ready to encounter Jesus Christ. His training of local churches in Cyprus to engage in such outreach has born much fruit over the years. I can highly recommend Jari's ministry for equipping those who are wanting to minister effectively to a receptive people group and work fruitfully among them. Martin Dolan Senior Leader Living Stones House of Prayer, former YWAM Cyprus National Director. Romania 2010 I invited Jari Koivu to teach in our pro-life DTS about "Holy Spirit and Evangelism". We were blessed by the way he understood the work of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. In a world that believes more and more in the supernatural and new age we need to have a response that is godly. If you would like your students to learn how to discover what God is about to do in your midst and to learn how to be guided by Him while praying for people and sharing Jesus, Jari's teaching will be a great addition to your DTS curriculum. Along with the teaching times Jari gave us the opportunity to practice hearing God's voice and to wait for the Holy Spirit to lead us. Ana Maria Fumey Director, Pro-Life DTS Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
Jari Koivu is a cross-cultural missionary to a rapidly growing segment of Western society--spiritual seekers. When I returned to North America after 14 years of pioneer missions among the Muslims of Central Asia, it was obvious to me that churches in the West are facing a cross-cultural missionary task in their own neighborhoods... and I'm not just talking about immigrant populations. The people outside our churches are culturally distinct from those inside. They think differently, have different values, and speak a different language. This is not a problem--every missionary knows that these barriers can be overcome. Jari and the teams he trains are willing to take creative risks and step out of what is familiar in order to reach hungry hearts with the only message (a lived, spoken, and demonstrated message) that can satisfy them.
With the collapse of the skeptical and rationalistic "modern" worldview, a ravenous spiritual hunger is reasserting itself in the post-Christian West. People are eager for spiritual experience, divine revelation, miraculous healing, and other manifestations of spiritual power. For most Christians, the "New Age" is an alarming development. Jari and his team know that this hunger and search are actually an opportunity for followers of Jesus willing to learn another language, enter another culture, and lovingly demonstrate the reality of Jesus. Jari helped our ministry understand how to enter this community and be a witness among them. He gave us principles and tools for effective ministry. Most importantly, he inspired us to step out, experiment, and take risks. I can't think of anyone better qualified than Jari for equipping your church or ministry for the missionary challenge facing us in North America. Nathan Andrews YWAM Mendocino Coast |