The Americas Cunningham Legacy Tour -April 2024

by Dawn Gauslin

Thank you, YWAM Global Family, for your prayers for Darlene and the first 2024 Cunningham Legacy Tour.

Darlene has just completed the final leg of the Americas Tour, where several thousand YWAM leaders and staff gathered at the events hosted by YWAM San Antonio del Mar, Mexico; YWAM San Jose, Costa Rica; YWAM Cartagena, Colombia; YWAM Curitiba, Brazil and YWAM Orlando, Florida USA.

Dar shared that these times with the YWAM family have far exceeded her greatest hopes and expectations, as each gathering celebrated Loren’s life; looked at YWAM’s true leader – Jesus; considered how to erect “stones of remembrance” (Joshua 24) to rehearse the ways of God to the next generations; honored our African and Brazilian leaders who recently laid down their lives in following God’s call; pondered our YWAM Legacy Words; and looked with anticipation toward the promising future that lies ahead for YWAM.

Loren’s reassuring voice resonated at each event, as videos rolled with his warm “hello family” and victorious proclamation “Jesus is Winning!”

Many of you saw the painting a Brazilian artist did of Loren surfing with Jesus that circulated at the time of his Celebration of Life in Kona November 3-5 and Lausanne December 6 (see the Kona recap video:

I love the new painting this brother did for the Brazil Legacy Event of Loren holding up Darlene’s arms as she rides the YWAM missions wave, forging the way for upcoming generations of YWAMers of all ages and ethnicities to catch the wave with her (@charles.cocriador).

Ride on! That’s what these Legacy Events have been all about: making room on the wave for Gen Alpha and Gen Z to take the lead, while the while the Millenials (Gen Y), Gen Xers, Boomers and elders cheer them on.

Darlene’s “team” at each event thus far has varied, but most have included David Hamilton, Giacomo Coghi, Garth Gustafson, Andy Byrd and/or Paul Childers, along with leaders from the host region.

Part of the brilliance of each of the Legacy Events (pre-planned by God, not by the organizers) is that they have been embedded into regional staff gatherings. This has allowed much greater opportunity to identify and apply fresh words of the Lord, maximizing each opportunity.

Many spiritual fathers and mothers who pioneered in the Americas were present at the events to help recount the history that serves as the foundations for the future, such as Leland Paris, David & Christine Hamilton, Rick & Karen Allegretto, Edgar & Carol Chavez, Ricardo & Marilu Rodriguez, Markus Buser, Bill & Val Landis, Jim & Pam Stier, Sean & Janet Lambert, Mike & Darla Berg and Ramona Musch.

There have been amazing moves of God’s Spirit among the thousands who have attended, and great excitement and anticipation for the bright future God has for YWAM.

Giacomo reports, “The Cunningham Legacy Tour has reaffirmed the reality that the leader of YWAM remains the One who has led us all along: Jesus. He is our leader and we will follow him! Our rich times of worship have resulted in repentance and the commitment to remain mission true as we lean forward and step out in faith into this new season.”

Garth adds, “The Legacy Tour events have been extremely significant times for our YWAM family to gather; remembering the legacy not only of Loren, but of the way Jesus has led us over the past 64 years.

Jesus met us in each location in unique ways calling us to ARISE! One thing we have seen for sure as we have been traveling with Darlene: our history is rich, our global movement is strong and the best is yet to come! I want to encourage every YWAMer to get to at least one of the upcoming Legacy Tour events, as this is such a key moment for our YWAM family's journey and our future."

Prayer points:

1. PRAISE & THANKSGIVING! As you may know, Darlene was quite ill for several months following Loren’s graduation. Barely out of the woods from pneumonia - the final ailment that threatened to keep her home - she set out on this April Legacy Tour in faith that God would heal and energize her. Thanks to your prayers and His response, she was wonderfully sustained “on the road,” as she sought to do the things God asked her to do, taking the rests she needed, and leaving some parts for other team members to do.

2. UPCOMING CUNNINGHAM LEGACY EVENTS 2024 includes Central Asia, Norway, Mongolia, South Korea, South Africa, Nigeria and New Zealand. More events are shaping up for 2025. Please pray for each of these events - for fresh words of the Lord to emerge for the thriving future God has for YWAM and for new young leaders to be called and say “yes.”

3. CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY THE TANZANIA TRAGEDY and the fatal car crash last year in Brazil. Honoring these fallen heroes has been a focus of each Legacy Event – sending out a “Macedonian Call” for others to rise up and fill the space their departures created.