“What is the city but the people?” 

      William Shakespeare

Since YWAM Pittsburgh was founded in 2001, we have seen God do many incredible things. We can share story after story of how God has brought thousands to himself. Stories of the man in Africa who was blind and now can see, or the woman in Peru who was lame and now walks. From Israel to Fiji, Mongolia to Liberia its been humbling to see him provide for each group with the words to say, the locals to work alongside and the money to get there. The sights have been amazing to see ...we've been to the Taj Mahal, Christ the Redeemer, The Great Wall, and Machu Pichu just to name a few. However, the sights, food, and all the souvenirs aren't really why we go. We go because these distant lands hold the ultimate creation... people.

Over the past year God has been calling us to move into the city limits of Pittsburgh. For years we have been so blessed to be in a beautiful, serene environment in Belle Vernon (located 45 minutes outside of the city) that easily makes prayer and worship inspiring. However, we were challenged to not just go on outreach but to live on outreach in our city. So, a small team moved into the west-end of the city in March of 2011. We rehabbed a house that had seen better days with hopes that it would be a foretelling of a spiritual rebirth of many of our neighbors and city dwellers. Within just a few months God had already been providing opportunities for us to engage with people and represent Christ. No one would accuse the west-end of Pittsburgh of being picturesque ….as one lady from a Suburban church put it, “I've never been over there but I've heard of it on the news.” However, God shows us the beauty everyday in the redeemable heart of a fatherless child, lonely addict, and lost socialite. He is rebuilding our city heart by heart.

About this time, God networked us with some amazing leaders in Pittsburgh's South Side who invited us to operate our mission out of their historic monastery. For months, YWAM Pittsburgh and the Burning Bush House of Prayer sought after the Lord until He brought us to a conclusion: YWAM Pittsburgh and BBHOP were to merge together to form two separate, but whole, communities. In September, YWAM Pittsburgh moved out of Belle Vernon and into the 3rd floor of the BBHOP. A week later with the paint still drying on the walls and boxes being opened to unpack, we began our first Discipleship Training School ACTUALLY in the city. What a wild ride! Being located just two blocks from Carson Street's bustling night life as well as the many local universities, we have an opportunity to reach a wide range of Pittsburghers, Americans and foreigners. We are very excited and blessed beyond measure to be right where we feel God had been calling us for so long. 

God is doing a mighty work here in the 'burgh. We are thrilled to be a part of it as we look to what the future holds for our neighborhoods, our nation and our world's next generation.