A little more about us and the work we do.

We are Abrie and Lydia van Wijk, a young married couple serving as full-time missionaries with YWAM Medical Ships in Townsville. We joined YWAM independently—Abrie in 2021 and Lydia in 2022—connected personally in 2023, and married in 2025.

We are based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Our day-to-day work begins locally and connects with people and opportunities across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and beyond.

Yes. We both serve full-time as volunteers with YWAM Medical Ships and rely on a community that supports us through prayer, friendship, encouragement, practical help, and financial partnership.

We see young people wrestling with anxiety, identity, loneliness, fear, and direction. We also see enormous creativity, compassion, leadership, spiritual hunger, and potential. We want to help provide trusted relationships, healthy community, practical tools, discipleship, and opportunities to act.

Abrie serves in mobilisation and recruitment leadership. He supports enquiries, communication, onboarding, training pathways, and connections to places where people can serve in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and beyond.

Lydia serves directly with young people through Alive, the weekly youth group, youth camps, high ropes, and adventure-based learning. These environments develop faith, trust, leadership, courage, and resilience.

YWAM stands for Youth With A Mission. It is an international Christian missions movement focused on knowing God and making God known through training, evangelism, and practical service.

Alive is the Thursday night youth group in Townsville. It is a place where young people can find community, build trust with leaders, explore faith, and begin a longer journey of personal and spiritual growth.

Adventure-based learning uses practical challenges and supported activities to teach courage, communication, teamwork, leadership, resilience, and healthy responses to fear.

No. Some may enter full-time missions. Others will carry faith, compassion, courage, leadership, and practical service into their workplaces, churches, families, neighbourhoods, and communities.

Partnership means carrying a shared vision together. It can include prayer, friendship, encouragement, accountability, introductions, advocacy, practical expertise, regular support, or a one-time contribution.

Not at all. Prayer and relationship are central. You may be able to encourage us, share the vision, offer practical skills, make an introduction, or help in another way.

Our monthly updates are the best place for current prayer points. In general, pray for wisdom and strength, young people, healthy teams, open doors, people considering missions, provision, and lasting fruit.

Yes. We would love to talk with churches, small groups, and communities that want to hear more, pray with us, or explore partnership. Contact details will be connected before launch.

We serve full-time as volunteers. Financial partnership helps cover the ministry and everyday living expenses that allow us to continue serving sustainably.

It supports practical ministry costs—such as youth programs, camps, mobilisation, communication, training, and travel—as well as normal living expenses such as accommodation, food, transport, insurance, healthcare, and communication.

Both options will be available when the payment frontend is connected. We appreciate every expression of generosity and do not want anyone to feel pressured.

They are made through YWAM Townsville, processed by YWAM Townsville, and then applied to our volunteer expenses within YWAM Townsville. The official giving platform will provide current eligibility, designation, receipt, and processing information.

Our monthly newsletter is the best way. We share stories from ministry and everyday life, what we are learning, where we see God moving, and practical ways you can pray or take part.

We aim for one thoughtful update around once a month. The exact timing may vary depending on the season of ministry and life.

Yes. We want it to feel like a personal update, not a one-way announcement. We welcome replies, questions, prayer requests, and encouragement.