Jan '14 - New Year, New DTS, New Season

Hello to my family & friends in America and around the world! 

It's been quite a season these past 3 months. As most of you may recall, I recently staffed my first Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM Toowoomba from July - December 2013. Those incredible 31 students have now all graduated and left to either go home or continue on as missionaries. Some went to other YWAM bases in the world to be on staff, a few returned to YWAM Toowoomba to staff alongside us, but all are pursuing the Lord's heart for their future. It was amazing and the Lord moved mightily amongst the students, the staff, the community, and in Thailand while the teams were on outreach. 

With that school completed, things here at YWAM Toowoomba have continued to move forward. The Lord has given us favor to start out first January Music & Worship DTS! It's very exciting as now we can run 2 DTS's a year and train up more young people to take the gospel of Jesus out into the world! 
As announced last week, I am currently on staff for the January DTS. Last Friday we welcomed 29 new students to YWAM Toowoomba and kicked off the Jan DTS on the 25th. Last week was the first week of lectures and we had a speaker from YWAM Brisbane come in to speak on the Character & Nature of God and also Hearing God's Voice. It was very crucial because knowing God more and hearing His voice seems to be a deep desire in each student - which is amazing! Now, we are about to start week 2 of lectures where they will be taught on Worship & Repentance.

The school is shaping up to be an incredible journey for the students and staff. We have almost a whole new staff team, which allows us to be able to do even more ministry in the community! We have 2 of our staff working alongside Easterfest, and 1 staff member working at what's called The Base - a ministry for youth and the homeless here in Toowoomba. We'll also be sending different teams of 10-12 students each week to The Base to do ministry as well.

One of the things I love that God's doing here (and has been doing for years) is the unity between the believers in Toowoomba. Honestly, I've never seen a city where the believers are united together in prayer and love like I've witnessed and been apart of here. They have what's called the Christian Leadership Network - which basically is a weekly prayer meeting with ALL of the christian leaders in the city: church pastors, youth leaders, school chaplains, ministry leaders, anyone in any position of leadership within any denomination and affiliation in the Christian community. I've attended the meeting multiple times to prayer with the different leaders in Toowoomba, and it is a beautiful experience to witness the leaders all united in prayer and in spirit. 

All in all, the Lord has proven Himself so good and so faithful; I'm sincerely blessed and privileged to be doing what He's called me to do. I love how he continues to prove that He does not call the equipped, but He equips the called. God is good all of the time!

I do have something on my heart to share with you for you to prayerfully consider...

Originally when the Lord called me here, I thought that my time here would be a 6-12 month season—the Lord had something else in mind. The Lord has made it clear that my time here is not short-lived. As of January 2014, I have committed the next 2 years to being full-time staff here at YWAM Toowoomba. Being that this path is not a specific school but a commitment as a full-time missionary, it changes the layout of my financial needs. As you know, as a missionary and a YWAMer, I do not receive a paycheck of any kind for what I do. The Lord is teaching me to rely fully on Him for all of my needs financially. With that being said, I am trusting God for an additional $200 a month for room and board, food, and future mission outreaches. Any support will help and be greatly appreciated! Calvary Chapel and my parents currently support me as a missionary, and at this time, I am seeking to add those that would be willing to partner with me financially for my extended time as a YWAM missionary in Australia.

I know God has an army of supporters lined up for me to carry me in prayer and financial support. Monthly commitments would enable me to commit fully to this call God has placed before me. Individual donations are also a huge blessing. Partnering with me financially makes you equally as instrumental in training up the next generation and carrying the love of Jesus across Australia, and across the globe. By supporting me as a missionary, you are allowing me to carry the Gospel to wherever God calls me to. On outreaches we would be working in/with churches, evangelizing in villages and on the streets, building houses, teaching English, healing the sick, working in shelters, and ministering to women and children in the sex-trafficking industry. The ministry we do varies on the locations God calls us to, but wherever we go we are the hands and feet of Jesus.

Monthly support can be sent directly to me at YWAM address below, included in CCW offering with noted designation, OR if it is easier, it can be done through CCW secure give online, and include "Chelsea Ritter YWAM" in memo. Please don’t hesitate to email me at misslady.ritter314@gmail.com if you have questions or want to update on my journey. I am also available to Skype, face to face, or through facebook, if you would like to hear more testimonies and stories of what God’s done and what His plans are for what’s to come


Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider this. Please keep me in your prayers and know I love and miss you all! 

God Bless,
- Chelsea