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YLI is 20 years old in 2022!

A message from Executive Director, Ash Zook. I just returned from Ghana in late November, and my excitement level was almost as high as when I first joined YLI. Over the past 13 years I have either lived in Ghana with my family or have taken four trips each year. But since 2019, I haveContinue reading “YLI is 20 years old in 2022!”

YLI at year 20

We’re getting older, but YLI is still a ministry of young leaders! When I arrived in Ghana in 2002, Jim Moye told me how much he wanted to introduce me to Vincent Asamoah. Jim was obviously very excited about this Vincent guy. He was the director for the Ghana Baptist Convention with a busy travelContinue reading “YLI at year 20 “

Discipleship growth in universities

God wastes nothing, not even a global pandemic! For the last two years, YLI West African director, Yakubu Zachariah (Zach) and his top Nigerian leaders, Abraham Shuaibu and Peter Iliya, have not been permitted to travel and gather for many training events due to COVID restrictions. Instead they’ve focused their discipleship efforts on students atContinue reading “Discipleship growth in universities“

Love through Food and Clean Water

We call it “Love Evangelism” and its key to discipleship! Our leaders stayed at home more this year, but led with their lives in very practical ways. In YLI we simply call this Love Evangelism and encompasses 30% of YLI’s Basic Training. In summary, we Christians might have great evangelistic fervor and the best technology,Continue reading “Love through Food and Clean Water“

YLI Intern Addison continues Naomi’s work with displaced children in Sunyani

Addison is a YLI Intern who was discipled by Naomi Awuni, who we lost to liver disease in November of 2020. Naomi’s King James School was started after she visited makeshift villages of displaced people living in the forest outside her town and saw they were not receiving education. As part of Naomi’s hands onContinue reading “YLI Intern Addison continues Naomi’s work with displaced children in Sunyani”

2022 MINISTRY GOALS

Your opportunity to join in! Zach, the YLI Coaches, and the seven Interns have proposed an exciting 2022 plan. The growth in both Ghana and Nigeria means that next year Zach will be traveling more to Nigeria and he will be delegating more of the Ghana leadership responsibility to Jonah, David and Simon, a YLIContinue reading “2022 MINISTRY GOALS“

Naomi Awuni, 1965-2020

Dear Friends of Young Leaders International, November 19th I heard from Sharon Awuni that her mother and our Coach, Naomi, had died suddenly. My friend Naomi was just 55 years old, and joined YLI the same year I did. She was a close friend and a great encourager during some difficult seasons of leadership. WeContinue reading “Naomi Awuni, 1965-2020”

Yakubu Zacharia: pastor, missionary and disciplemaker

YLI’s relationship with Zac began in 2007. We’ve been watching him for a while, and this year he was invited to become a Coach. Zac is from the Dagomba people of northern Ghana and ministers cross-culturally in a Konkomba community called Naamu. When Zac moved to Naamu he rented a room in the home ofContinue reading “Yakubu Zacharia: pastor, missionary and disciplemaker”

Jonah: clean water for Sedbeni

Sedbeni is a community of approximately 750 people (>50% of whom are children) in Ghana’s northern region. YLI Coach Jonah Manyan and his team planted a church in the community a few years ago, and it became evident to him that a lack of access to clean drinking water was the most pressing issue in the community. DuringContinue reading “Jonah: clean water for Sedbeni”

Podcast: Why Africa? Why Ghana? Why Kpenchila?

Radio interview with Ash.