About Us: Mikael was orignially born in Oslo, Norway and immigrated to the United States in 1995 with his mother. He got involved with YWAM a bit during high school, then more and more after high school, doing his Discipleship Training School (DTS), where he met Renee, in 2004. He returned on staff in 2005 and has worked with schools and youth ministry, as well as the Discipleship Training School and international outreaches.
Renee was born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and, like Mikael, was lead to explore God’s plan for her during her Discipleship Training School with YWAM in Closkelt in 2004. After returning to staff in 2005, Renee has been consistently involved with the DTS program, leading several outreaches and eventually leading a school with Mikael in 2007. Renee has also served as a staff coordinator with YWAM Closkelt.

About Discipleship Training Schools: Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) aim to prepare messengers of the gospel, helping students to know God in depth. The goal is to form Christian character and establish Biblical relationships while developing a daily walk with God. This intensive Christian training course begins with an 11 or 12 week classroom phase followed by a typically 12 week outreach. The DTS is designed to encourage students to develop in personal character, to cultivate a living relationship with God, and to identify their unique individual gifts and callings in God. Cross-cultural exposure and global awareness are special emphases throughout these courses, preparing the students to reach current and future generations and answer the call to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations” Matthew 28:19. (taken from YWAM Int’l. website. Find out more about DTS).

About Youth With A Mission, International: Youth With A Mission is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced “WYE-wam”), our calling is to know God and to make Him known. Back when we began in 1960, our main focus was to get youth into short-term mission work and to give them opportunities to reach out in Jesus’ name. Today, we still focus on youth, and we also involve people of almost every age (even many people who choose to spend their “retirement” in active service). Our many ministries fit into three main categories: evangelism, training and mercy ministry. We are currently operating in more than 1000 locations in over 149 countries, with a staff of nearly 16,000. (taken from YWAM Int’l. website ywam.org)

About the website’s name: Job speaking after some profound suffering: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return.  The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away.  May the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21).  This verse is obviously the origin for the title of the website, and it’s one of our favourite verses because it describes a sort of steadfast relationship with God that is not enslaved by present circumstances. It’s also a statement that gives room for the mysteries of God; it acknowledges his place without jumping to conclusions about his actions.  It describes an attitude of humility and the reality of being naked before the Lord – so obvious in birth and death, but often intentionally fought throughout the rest of one’s life.

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