Matt & Steph Bell
Serving with YWAM
We are passionate about sharing our testimony and reason for our hope (1Pet 3:5), to anyone who will listen. We are passionate about sharing the love of Christ through relationships, art/media, and music. We believe in defending and ministering to the broken. The Bible says that true religion is caring for the widows and orphans. In a broader sense our heart is for those that need hope reinforced around them.
Our mission field is where God tells us to go. This ends up being more thought out and complicated than it sounds. Right now we are involved with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and they are a wonderful resource for us to be used most effectively and strategically in the direction God has impassioned on our hearts. Out of the available YWAM bases around the world, the Perth base is one that is leading in innovation and pioneering ministries. Matt and I will be staffing at the base, and according to base guidelines for family, will not be apart as a family for more than a month. There are currently about 300 full-time, long term missionaries functioning under the bases leadership. Every three months another 100 students rotate through various training programs at the main part of the base. Christians, new and seasoned, young and old, are trained/discipled for 3 months then rotate out onto the mission field.
Two Stories:
1.) We could share numerous stories of how we have seen God work through us as a couple. Matt seems to be the older brother for every kid between 6 and 14. He helps get God out of the boxes people put Him in. “Thank you so much for helping my little boy be passionate about praying.†-a mom that had previously struggled with getting her 7 year old be attentive at church. She cried as she told us he had offered to pray for her headache before prayer was ever mentioned. She was so proud of him and was thankful that we had been there. The little boy had joined with us, the week before, to pray for a neighbor girl who we saw gain feeling in her legs for the first time.
2.)   I on the other hand am very passionate about using art in everyday ministry. We were speaking at a homeless outreach and I was asked to share. I put a piece of paper on the wall behind me and drew a picture while another person read a Psalm. The picture was of Jesus on the Cross with his hands reaching around a person in a strong embrace. We finished with an explanation of Gods love, our value, and His longing for relationship with us as individuals. A woman approached me after, crying. “Thank you. I needed to here that.†Matt and I ended up praying for her (a back-slidden Christian) and for her husband (a devout Muslim). Before our time was up she hugged me goodbye and she slipped something into my pocket “I’m stronger nowâ€, she whispered, tears in her eyes. I checked my pocket when she was gone. It was a “tic†(heroin) pipe, ready for use. Immediately, I destroyed it. Unknowingly we had shared with them that in our weakness we need to lean into God, turn away from things of the world that will only satisfy us temporarily, and that Jesus was the only one that could save us from our sins.
Note from Galloway:
We can support these missionaries with our prayers, our encouragement, and our financial gifts. If you would like to contribute to the work they are doing in AIM, send checks to ______ .
