Base Staff
Base Team Leader
Jeremy // USA
Life with God gets better with each step as I continue to trust Him… Since 2005, I’ve been a part of the Around the World in 80 Days (AW80) DTS here as student, staff, and school leader. Unquestionably, these have been some of the best years of my life! Each year has produced greater challenges and responsibilities, but along with that I’ve grown in the revelation of God’s goodness and joy. These upcoming years will the biggest yet as I step into the team leading role here at YWAM Oxford.
Prior to my DTS, I finished college in Indiana with a degree in International Studies and Ministry and, following that, had the opportunity to study and work overseas in China and live for a season in Southern California. Some of my favorite things to do are snowboarding, traveling, staying active and healthy, hanging with friends, eating, and drinking good coffee.
It is a privilege being involved with such an impactful organization. God has used YWAM as a means to train and disciple me in my perception of who He really is and what His character is truly like. I am excited as I consider what He has planned for YWAM Oxford’s future and consider it a blessing to be involved with God’s story in this place.
Base Administrator / Training Coordinator
Jay & Mary // CAN / NZ
Hi, we are Jay, Mary and Joshua. Our passion is to mobilize people to frontier missions. We joined YWAM Oxford in Oct 2009.
Mary
I started with YWAM in 1984 and have been in and out of YWAM ever since. I have worked and studied with them in Australia, Philippines, England, and Germany and Vancouver doing a SBS, SOFM, leading four DTS’s, plus running a BLS. I’m currently the Training Coordinator here, training the school staff and overseeing the schools we run here.
Jay
I did some short term mission projects with my church in Canada after I got a diploma in Professional Photography. I took the mission’s course, “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement”. After that I was with Frontiers-Canada with a church planting team in Russia for 2 years. I completed my Crossroads DTS in March 2010 here at YWAM Oxford. Currently I am the Base Administrator, I am involved with our prayer ministry leading base intercession, I am also the frontiers missions coordinator, and I oversee our library and database. I have taught on frontier missions suitable for the DTS’s.
I have four favourite verses. The first is Gen. 12:1-3. The second is Matt. 28: 18b-20. The third is Acts 1:8. The fourth is Rom. 4:16-17a.
Mary and me were married in 2003 and had our son Joshua in 2006. He brings much joy to the staff and students at the base. He is learning lots at the Oxford area school.
Registrar
Mette // Denmark
Kia Ora!
I’m Mette and I’m from Denmark!
Before doing the Backpackers DTS in 2010, I graduated high school and I worked in Legoland to get funds (yup, LEGO). DTS was an awesome experience that changed my perspective on life, God and everything!
I wanted that same change for other people too, so I staffed the BDTS 2011. I saw God at work in people’s lives and got to partner with him in that. It was epic! He is such a good God and I love how he is able to make broken people beautiful.
I have a huge heart for this base and what God is doing here and therefore I decided to hang around a bit as registrar, instead of going home to Denmark just yet.
Welcoming people and making them feel at home here is on my heart, because I myself feel so much at home and happy here. So I love being able to communicate with the people who consider coming here to join us. God is doing amazing things in people’s lives here and what
a great pleasure it is to be in the centre of that, and being under His wings.
Treasurer
Bill // NZ
Bill has been the treasurer here at the base for 11 years now. Bill works two days a week at the Base, and lives in the town of Oxford with his wife Jenny. They have 5 adult children and currently 9 grandchildren.
Before he “retired” 10 years ago Bill was self employed as a gardener/landscaper. He loves all aspects of the English language and has written an autobiography and a 50,000 word illustrated handbook on the Campanulaceae family of plants.
BLS Coordinator
Deni // CAN
Hey everyone, I’m Deni from Alberta, Canada. I’ve been involved in YWAM since 2001, doing my DTS in Brisbane Australia. I came to YWAM Oxford in September 2010, where I stepped into staffing the Backpackers DTS, and have since stayed on as Base Staff. My heart is to walk alongside the staff & students as they’re being trained up to go where God leads them.
Prior to coming to Oxford I worked with Photogenx DTS/Track & the Na Kupono counseling ministry in Kona, Hawaii. Working with these two ministries was amazing, as the Lord took me throughout various nations all over the world & showed me how much He loves people & wants to us to be free to follow Him.
It’s such a privilege to be part of what God is doing in New Zealand, especially here in Oxford. Did I mention that I love it here? Being on this base is like being part of an amazing family. The love that’s so evident here is life changing & continues to draw us closer to the Lord. :D
Outreach Coordinator
Kim // USA
Hellooo. My name is Kim Golden (otherwise known as the golden child), and I am 24 years old from the great state of INDIANA in the USA. I grew up in the midwest but have traveled around a lot and have lived quite a few places. I’m currently on staff heading up the Outreach Department so I’m a little more stationary than I’ve been the last few years when I was staffing DTS’s and traversing the world so I’m considering New Zealand more “home” but my heart is the world.
The quick version of my story: at 19, my life and the future were a bit fuzzy. I spent a summer in the middle east doing archaeology with my university and a guy I was working with told me about a YWAM school he did in Italy. It resonated in me for some reason and six months later, I was DTS and New Zealand bound. I rocked up to New Zealand with no idea about who I was or what it meant to follow Jesus. I had faith but there was no depth to it. In being surrounded by a community of people who loved me and allowed me to be where I was at, I felt the freedom to really pursue the heart of Jesus, work through the hard questions, and thus have a passion ignited in my heart for the kingdom and for sharing the HOPE that is within me.
Some would say I’m a bit of a free spirit and I tend to think that my life has to be scripted because the most ridiculous things seem to happen to me. (It’s quite Truman Show-esque.) It’s awesome. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for the redemption and restoration he’s brought to my life and for the JOY that I now walk with. I feel like my life has been given back to me and I am so, so grateful to be chasing after the heart of a God who gives us life to the full.
I did my DTS in January of 2008 and have been on staff since. I love New Zealand and living in Aotearoa has been one of the biggest blessings to my life. This is the land where I really found God and I’m grateful to be able to serve here. The coffee here is nice, the coconut chocolate is the way forward, I have a car called The Boss (or, the Little Boy Speed Racer) and some good friends to walk the journey with. It’s a beautiful life.
Kings Kids South Island
Juddy & Rachel // NZ
We are Juddy and Rachel, we have 3 girls Grace, Ella, and Abby. We did a family DTS in Matamata in 2008 and felt that the Lord was calling us to reignite King’s Kids in the South Island on our return to Oxford. We felt the calling but had no experience in King’s Kids, the Lord really blessed us with another couple Mike and Fe who had years and years of experience between them. So together we have seen the rebirth of this ministry.
We have now completed several outreaches in the South Island. We have been blown away by the impact that King’s Kids has on families and individuals. It is so rewarding to see the kids and youth grow in their relationship with the Lord and realise they can hear from Him for themselves. We have seen families grow together and move forward in areas of forgiveness and communication. It is a privilege to be involved in this ministry as it has far reaching impact on lives and families.
Kitchen Assistant
Rebecca // CAN
Kia ora
I’m Becs, and I like to pray with a knife in my hand. And by that I mean the kitchen is my prayer room these days.
Well, did the backpacker school in ’09 and staffed the last 2. Led 2 outreaches to India and was hoping to go back there sooner, not later, but God’s got other plans for me. And so now I’m base staffing and seeing things from a different angle, which is sweet-as.
For me, this seasons about Him. Seeking Abba with my entire being and not holding anything back from Him. Not worrying about cooking or anything else that I can so easily get distracted by. But putting Him first and foremost trusting if I do everything else will fall into place.
I’m passionate about dessert, eating with my hands, volleyball, and playing piano.
Hospitality Coordinator
Cindy // USA
My journey to missions began with a mission trip to serve with YWAM in Recife, Brazil in June 2010. While there working with the YWAM staff I was touched and inspired by their heart to serve and felt the Lord calling me to do a DTS and prepare to serve full-time in missions. I came to YWAM Oxford from Dallas, Texas in February 2011 to do the Father’s Love CDTS. After an amazing time of healing and growth during our school, I had the opportunity to lead an outreach team to New Zealand’s North Island and to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The Lord opened the door for me to stay after DTS and join the YWAM family here in Oxford as the Hospitality Coordinator.
Back home in Texas I have three grown children and one precious grandson. I’ve been, for the most part, a full-time mom over the years and also a part-time banker and home decorator and am now enjoying my new role as a grandma. I especially enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, travel, singing, and a good meal with friends.
I am so blessed to have the opportunity to share my passion to serve others and show hospitality as I serve the Lord with this amazing family here. My greatest passion and desire is to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to share His amazing love with others.
Hospitality Assistant
Deborah // NZ
Hi, my name is Deborah, Deb for short.
I immigrated to New Zealand in the 70′s from the UK. Jesus kindly saved me in Motueka which helped me make New Zealand my home and I love it. I have been married and have three wonderful grown up children, Joanna is married to David, Ben is working on a dairy farm, and Simeon is at Canterbury University.
I did a DTS in 2006 which totally changed my life and I knew I wanted to return to Matamata base to serve. I also had the opportunity to join a team that went to northern China – none of us wanted to return home. The Chinese we met were hungry for Father God and they so appreciated us coming to there nation. I look forward to the next outreach.
I am currently serving at the Oxford base which is great. My heart is for my own family, to serve children and to be part of what God is doing in our community, here at the base and in Christchurch where my home church is.
I love God’s creation, painting, riding my bike, and living in community here.
Base Maintenance
David // CAN
I was born and raised in the great white north called Canada but over the last couple of years I’ve called Oxford home as I’ve been working with YWAM.
I was a student on the AW80 school in 2010 and needless to say it changed my life. I came to do my DTS knowing that I needed a change in my life and the Lord definitely met me there. Once DTS was over I knew I wasn’t going home to live the “normal life” and that I would end up back in New Zealand. So I came back to staff the AW80 school in 2011 and it again was an amazing experience – challenging, confronting and growing to say the least (but worth every second). I was blessed with the opportunity to lead a team through South America with a great friend, Kim. We had an amazing team and the whole experience was nothing short of Epic. God showed us some amazing things and did even more incredible things in the lives of the students, the people we encountered, and in us as leaders.
Because I went through South America this year and my ‘Around the World’ ticket was eastbound I wasn’t able to go home and see my family in Canada. So I came back to YWAM Oxford to staff and serve on the base doing maintenance. It was a great season of letting the Lord refuel me, giving me some rest, and show me what it’s like to live as a son to the Ancient of Days. Needless to say, life is exciting and God has me on a journey I could never have pictured or imagined which I know is just going to get better.
I’m blessed to have the support of my family, my mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law are all behind me and equally excited about the path I’m on. I’m sure my niece, Ella, would say she is too, but she’s only one so I’ll just trust that the slobbery smiles and ear piercing screams on skype are her way of showing me that I’m the coolest uncle around. When she’s old enough I’m sure that’s exactly what she’ll say.
Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. – Galatians 4:6-7 (NASB)
Christchurch City Ministry
Noah & Kate // USA
Originally from Denver, Colorado we’ve relocated to New Zealand in obedience to the calling of God in our lives–a calling which was given to Noah at a DTS in 2001 and joined by Kate through marriage in 2008. We both did our YWAM training in NZ (Noah—Oakridge 2001 with an outreach to the South Island. Kate—Marine Reach Tauranga 2007 with an outreach to Fiji.)
We live about 50 minutes away from Oxford in Christchurch, and oversee the City Ministry House which has become a place where students, staff, and traveling YWAM teams can arrange for a bit of rest or engage in urban ministry/outreach (among other things). In addition to this, we also help with the base website and help to coordinate Friday night outreach in the city.
Beyond our responsibilities with YWAM, our heart is to see Christchurch turn to God through the implementation and networking of discipleship-based, organic, missional faith communities. We regularly connect with organic church leaders in the city to collectively hear the voice of God and move in obedience to what He says. Kate is a freelance writer, currently volunteers as an English tutor and helps at a primary school. Noah works part-time as a freelance graphic artist, illustrator, and web designer (among other things).
All that aside, our burden is for the doubters, the questioners, and those of little faith – to have their questions answered and discover God’s plan like never before! He has given gifts to each of us and, if we let Him, He directs our lives so we can use them for His glory!
