Homage to David Ross & YWAM-AIIM

I spent a good 7 years at this modern-day monastery.

When I first left the east coast I was attracted to 3 locations: Colorado Springs, Montana, and Seattle. Seattle took the cake. I think I was afraid of being land-locked. I needed ocean. Plus I was drawn to the ministry of a man named David Ross, who was ordained a Presbyterian minister and left for Korea in the (50’s?) as a missionary. Since then he’s never really been back (although he now lives and operates in the States), in a sense David has become Korean himself, his life spent on the Korean diaspora. My guess is 95% of his time is spent with Korean people. It’s his life. I heard someone say that the development of Christianity in Korea in the past 60 years is due in large part to 3 men:-  R.A. Torrey, (Youngki Cho?) and David Ross.

While at this monastery I learned the secrets of lectio divina, which is a smarty-pants way of saying Bible meditation. I learned to be still and listen. I learned to have crazy fun, and how to get healed by being me. I learned to think critically about the mission enterprise and to see the unreached peoples of the world and what can possibly be done. I was released to try new things and to be bold.

So last night hanging out w/the old crew for Joyce / Jdogg’s baby shower @ the Ross’s crib was like old times w/family. Truth be told it is always a little sad to see them after it feels like I left to church plant up north, nonetheless, the AIIM extended family is very large, extending all up and down the Western seaboard and across the States. And extended “family reunions” take place every so often.

This was a place that fed me, nourished me, made me strong and healthy, taught me to dream big, and released me to the broader Christendom at large.