Lindsey Tarr

Review of Youth With A Mission Perth

In the kindest way possible, I would not recommend...

In the kindest way possible, I would not recommend this base at all. There were many things that felt too pressuring and manipulative for me, and even though they would assure me that there was no pressure in their teaching, I came home to share my experiences and many were extremely shocked even with my conservative, thorough explanation. I also injured myself in the beginning of outreach and now, 11 months later, need surgery because of pushing myself too hard under the team expectations of outreach. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret doing it because God works everything for good, but the teaching was extremely swayed toward Arminian theology and very open-theistic with hints of semi-pelagian teaching as well. I didn't witness much grace on the base at all. A couple of the main base leaders are incredible, but the teaching from others is very Arminian and seems to almost come from a fear of losing salvation instead of love. Not much grace consisently observed in teaching and practice. Overall, not reformed and if you're for Calvinism, just don't go. The teaching seems to makes sense in the moment, but throughout all twelve weeks of lecture their theology contradicts itself. On a postive note, they understand how to create long-lasting change even with short-term mission trips, and I think that is an encouraging take-away. I also had the privledge of meeting other students from all over the world and they are still some of my most cherished friends. On the base, just know when to say no and stand your ground in the most honoring way possible. Overall, incredible brothers and sisters in Christ and passionate about the right things, but the whole of it was not great and their theology is not reformed and actually very damaging as a whole.