YWAM BISHOP
OUR MINISTRIES
BISHOP & BEYOND
YWAM Bishop is located in the homeland of the Numu People, also known as the Owens Valley Paiute. Numu families have lived in this beautiful land for thousands of years, irrigating and harvesting local plants, trading with other nearby First Nations People, and seeking to honor each other and the Creator.
This home we now share is located in the beautiful and remote eastern part of what is today California. Our office is in the small city of Bishop (population 6,000) which sits deep in the high desert climate of the Owens Valley at over 4,000 feet (1,300 meters) above sea level. To our west are the majestic Sierra Nevada, rising to over 14,000 feet (4,500 meters), and are lush with trees, alpine lakes, tall granite crags and small glaciers. We are merely an hour and fifteen minute drive from Yosemite National Park, as well as within hiking distance of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inyo National Forest, and other world renowned mountain treasures.
Not just a backpacking trip...
It can be very difficult to understand how “outdoor adventure” works as a ministry tool if one has not been on such a trip.
The challenges, fears, and failures, coupled with the victories and successes of an outdoor adventure, in an unfamiliar world, creates an incredibly heightened learning environment where the instructors can facilitate biblical based lessons and discussions that very often lead to a life long change in behavior and beliefs. Why do outdoor adventure trips very often lead to life long changes? Because the lessons learned were learned by the participants themselves in an unforgettable environment.
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The body of Christ
We are thankful for all those who walk and labor with us. Our team consists of financial and prayer partners, advisers and board members, part time volunteers, friends, family, and our committed full time staff. We are currently in need of expanding this family, especially with full time staff, financial partners, and prayer partners. If you believe God may be leading you to join our full time members, please contact us for more information.
A sleeping giant
If you live in the United States, or anywhere in the Americas, you may or may not realize the story of tragedy that surrounds your home. At the same time, you may or may not have met the beautiful native people that God has attached to this land for thousands of years.
The success of hundreds of years of European colonization in the Americas brought devastation to the families and cultures of these First Nations People. Through much of this history, Christians sadly stood by and did little to prevent great injustice, and, even worse, at times have been complacent with it., and few have seen the need to develop relationship.
At YWAM Bishop, God has moved our hearts to see hope and change come to this story. The heart of Jesus is for healing, restoration, and new life.
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When you walk along the road
We are only minutes from no less than four internationally renowned rock climbing and bouldering areas, dozens of natural hot springs and volcanic landscapes, world class trout fishing, and one of the world’s great ski resorts – Mammoth Mountain. Bishop is in Inyo County, which is approximately the size of the state of New Hampshire, but contains a population of 18,000 people. Though small and remote, Bishop contains a variety of restaurants and shopping opportunities for its size, as it is a center of commerce for this desert & mountain region. Bishop is equipped to serve the tourists who come from all over the world to play and relax in our outdoor wonderland.
Volunteer Groups
Volunteering on a short-term outreach is a great way to immerse yourself in another culture, meet new people, learn new skills or use the professional skills you have, and give back to a community or nation in need. There are no harder working people on earth than those who volunteer for something they believe in! We invite you to consider putting your God given skills to work with us.