Before our team left Kona, Hawaii in 2018 to pioneer YWAM in Nanaimo, Francis Chan took up an invitation to speak in YWAM for the first time. He went on to share an unforgettable message to our missional community. His message planted a seed of faith in our team that would grip our heart and grow over the next five years of pioneering. As Francis looked upon our community, he specifically spoke to Gen Z. He described the young people gathered there as wild animals stepping out boldly and courageously from the safety and comfort of their homes and churches into the jungles of the world. A generation with undomesticated and untamed faith so that the darkest, hardest places in the world would hear the message of Jesus. These young messengers would be wholehearted in their trust and obedience to God as witnesses. That they should stay wild in their faith and thrive in the wilderness produced by their intimate friendship with God. Though convicting and challenging, our team was not ready for what this meant. The fruit of Francis's message in our team would take several years to form into a specific vision.

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From '21 to '23, it seemed like society on a global scale was growing agitated and aware of a spiritual malevolence imposing chaos and suffering upon the world. It was as if all of creation was groaning and waiting for the sons of God to be revealed (Rom 8:18-23)! At the same time, hope was stirring and overtaking despair. God's glory and great purposes began to explode across the world. A growing movement brimming with young people from many nations, began to respond to Jesus, believing His message and teachings by stepping out in wild places where encounters with God were unexpected. Even though Satan lays out strategies to produce docile, confused, bitter, cynical, and comfortable Christians- Gen Z has been responding with an untamed, courageous faith, and unwavering trust in Jesus. There was more revelation to this given to this vision through God's word.

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There are passages that have given much weight and clarity for the Wild Ones. The events and disastrous word that God gave to Israel in Exodus 33 ,when He said He would give them their promised land but He would not go with them since He may destroy them because of their stubbornness born out of fear and unbelief. However, this disastrous word was thwarted and God's presence would continue to go with them because of several factors:

• God's character (Ex. 34:6-7),

• the deep and personal friendship between Moses and God (Ex. 33:7-23),

• and two young men under 21-Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14:24; 30).

 

And so, it is with the latter factor of Joshua and Caleb, that the same character, culture and Spirit that was in them would be over Gen Z- The Wild Ones as a go anywhere, do anything, all-in-for-Jesus, Generation!​