The birth of YWAM's University of the Nations

Eighteen years after its inception in 1960, Youth With A Mission (YWAM) founded Pacific & Asia Christian University (PACU). The first campus was launched in 1978 in Kona, Hawaii. PACU was founded by Dr. Loren Cunningham (right in the photo) and Dr. Howard V. Malmstadt (center in the photo) on the premise that students could be equipped in skills to help them bring the Gospel into the foundational areas of society worldwide. Loren's book, Is That Really You, God? tells the story of the birth of YWAM and U of N. 

A development guide was created to develop seven colleges/faculties and several multi-disciplinary centres that would educate and train students in those areas. A master plan for the campus was prepared by a team of planners and architects, led by master planner Jim Miller (left in the photo), who carefully considered the best environment for implementing the founding principles.

University schools were developed rapidly in many nations and on six continents. Many of these schools were linked with PACU. However, the regional and local names no longer reflected the worldwide scope and unity of YWAM's higher education. Therefore, the Board of Regents unanimously adopted the new name, University of the Nations, at their meeting in 1988. The name change took place officially on June 2, 1989. Our complete name at Kona is now " University of the Nations, Kona campus," or "U of N Kona for short.

The campus continues to build out its 100-acre property. Its most recent development was the partial completion of Phase Three of the Village II project. This four-building complex includes housing for students and staff, a large classroom, plus communal laundry and recreational areas.

U of N's Founding Father -- Dr. Howard Malmstadt

When YWAM's Loren Cunningham began his dream of a missions university he turned for help to a world-respected educator and scientist, Dr. Howard V. Malmstadt. This tribute to the YWAM pioneer educatoris reprinted from a 1994 issue of U of N's Online Magazine. Howard died in Kona on July 7, 2003. A book about his life called  Into the Light was published in 2007 and is available at www.ywampublishing.com.

Why would a prominent scientist and distinguished educator resign at the height of his career to help found a missionary training university?

Dr. Howard V. Malmstadt didn't just wake up one day and decide, "I'm going to be a radical Christian." He has been radical most of his life. In fact, as a young man he prayed about being a missionary. He was advised that he would have more influence as a professor, interacting with students from around the world. So he pursued that goal wholeheartedly.

Professor H.V. Malmstadt was known as "High Voltage Malmstadt" to his chemistry students and colleagues at the University of Illinois (1951-1978), where his prolific ideas and energy were nearly legendary.

One momentous day at a seminar in 1974, Howard met Youth With A Mission founder Loren Cunningham. They started giving educational seminars together, and eventually, Loren asked Howard to help expand the training arm of the mission.

Three years later, Howard set aside his distinguished U of I career and moved with his wife Carolyn to Hawaii. His vision and academic experience soon began shaping what was to become Pacific and Asia Christian University, forerunner of the worldwide University of the Nations.

The master planning stage for the Kona campus (1978-1981) involved hundreds of meetings where Howard, Loren, architect Jim Miller, civil engineer David Ross and other leaders prayed and hammered out the vision. "As a mission we are called to form projects and courses under the direction of the Holy Spirit, not just because they are a good idea," Howard often says.

When major construction started in 1983, the Kona campus consisted of one new building and a few dilapidated ones. About three years later the major roads and four new buildings were completed, along with the flags and fountain at Plaza of the Nations.

Howard's innovation of the Mission Builders program in 1980 expedited construction, and many of the volunteers were drawn into full time service. The Administration Building, built in 1980, was their first project.

Howard's role as International Provost and later as International Chancellor has been to help U of N President Loren Cunningham with the overall development of U of N resource campuses internationally. For the last 22 years Howard has been working to pull together resources and form teams of architects, engineers, project managers and academic personnel to make and carry out master plans for U of N resource campuses worldwide.

In addition to developing resource campuses, Howard has coordinated the development of U of N's worldwide network of about 300 branch locations in 90 nations offering hundreds of different courses.

U of N is founded on educational and spiritual principles that Howard encountered during World War II. He describes a secret class at MIT, where he was trained to be a Navy radar officer:

"The founders of this course condensed several years of university classes into a few months, so we could join the fleet quickly. This immersion training, combined with hands-on projects, was the most effective teaching I've ever had. And we found that as we worked closely in unified teams, there were continuous breakthroughs."

This experience influenced the development of the intensive modular courses, combined with immediate field application, that we have at U of N today. "If the field assignments are done right, we will be using what we learned and seeing what we should be learning," said Howard.

Fifty years ago the admiral told Howard's class, "How well you listen--how well you learn--could be a matter of life and death for 1000's of people." Howard saw the truth of that during some of the fiercest naval battles of World War II.

Today he asks U of N leaders, "Do we feel that way about our schools? Do we develop our programs and administrate them that way? I believe the Lord wants us to realize that what we are doing in this University of the Nations will be a matter of spiritual life and death for thousands and thousands, and hopefully millions..."

When the war ended, Howard directed a navy radar fundamentals school. When he noticed that there were usually personal reasons why a student was not doing well, as opposed to the commonly assumed lack of ability, Howard changed some policies.

"I told my large staff that we needed a lot of one-on-one contact with the students, so we could help them walk through the difficult times," said Howard. "We've implemented that at U of N. If that ever slips away, we must immediately set up a program to insure that essential one-to-one contact."

Another aspect of the World War II radar school was a fine creative atmosphere. This was also available at U of I. "It proved again that a creative atmosphere leads to creativity. This is another thing we want to provide at U of N," said Howard. "Only when you provide academic freedom to responsible people can they develop unique ideas. At U of N, it is also a matter of having spiritual character. We then give those leaders the freedom to develop courses the way they think best.

"The colleges should give that same freedom to the students. It all comes back to giving them freedom to be who God wants them to be, and not a clone of who you are."

"If we want to stay on the leading edge, U of N can never be static," Howard continued. "That means we must have people doing things that we have never done ourselves. At U of N we have a long way to go in providing that kind of creative atmosphere. But God has given creativity to everybody, and it is our job to bring out that creativity in people."

Another principle of U of N is that we are a "multiplier for missions". This multiplication concept came from Howard's experience developing the "electronics for scientists" short-course at U of I.

People were saying it would take scientists three years to learn to apply World War II electronics innovations to their research problems. But Howard didn't believe it. He designed an intensive modular course that was relationship based. The scientists who took it often knew little or nothing about electronics. But by the end of the intensive short course they were improvising new systems that resulted in breakthroughs in their work.

Howard realized many scientists wanted to duplicate the course. So, over 30 years ago, he and Dr. Chris Enke developed a textbook/equipment package that was used internationally. "Because we not only taught a few hundred students, but also facilitated the teaching of over 100,000 students worldwide, there was a multiplication factor," explained Howard. "The Lord is leading U of N to multiply missions training in this same way."

Chris Enke, who was Howard's first lab teaching assistant in the electronics short course, described what it was like to be mentored by Howard: "Howard inspired tremendous loyalty in his students by the way he treated them. Even though I was a student, he always treated me as a colleague. And he shared royalties with me fully right from the start."

Howard also had a major role in Chris's spiritual journey. "Howard made me hungry by what he was and what he shared about his faith," Chris said.

Now, when some colleagues tell Chris that he gives his own students too much credit, he passes on the attitude Howard modeled for him--there's enough credit to go around.

Many people have commented on Howard's humility. John Kuhne summed it up well when he said, "Howard doesn't get caught up in the lie of roles. He just sees his role as another way to get the Gospel out there."

Barbara Opperman, wife of one of Howard's colleagues, spoke of Howard's active faith while he was at U of I: "Howard never hesitated to share his faith with his graduate students. And when he was presenting papers at scientific meetings, he acknowledged the Creator."

Howard has had numerous affirmations of his work as scientist, educator, and co-founder of University of the Nations. One of his most significant scientific honors came in 1995--the Hasler Award, presented by the Spectroscopy Society of America.

Brian R. Strohmeier, Chairman of the Award Committee, states that "Professor Malmstadt has made immense contributions to analytical chemistry, especially in the areas of atomic and molecular spectroscopy, both as an educator and a researcher...he is well known for his brilliant scientific intellect, nurturing personality, high moral standards, enthusiasm, creativity, and leadership in analytical chemistry.

"The world of atomic spectroscopy today is largely a result of the many generations of students that he has mentored..."

Howard still keeps in touch with his former doctoral students, many of whom are now internationally renowned scientists themselves. He is the author or co-author of more than 150 scientific articles and ten internationally used textbooks.

He has won numerous national teaching and scientific awards (see inset), and is still is called upon to speak at international scientific gatherings. His work with the U of N has continued that quest for excellence.

Loren Cunningham says: "I cannot imagine the University of the Nations without Howard...I admire him as a man of God with sterling character and deep commitment, as well as excellent gifts to help fulfill Christ's mandate through the U of N."

Howard vividly remembers the day God called him to work with YWAM. He was sick in bed when he heard God say, "Lay down your university career and go work with YWAM." At the time, Howard thought his role would be solely to help Loren develop educational packages. Howard said yes to God, and started phasing out his doctoral students in an orderly manner.

During that three-year process, Howard was nominated to be the president of another university. He was about to say "no" when he remembered, "YWAMers pray about everything. I need to ask God about this." As he was praying, the Lord told him that YWAM would have a university, and he would be part of it.

"Daily during that time," Howard said, "scientists and students would quiz me at length about reasons for leaving my U of I career. This gave me many opportunities to witness."

Dr. Derek Chignell of Wheaton College says people still remember a chapel talk Howard gave at that time. The message was, "It's never too late to be a missionary, even at age 55!"

Howard laughs when he describes Loren picking him up at the Kona airport in 1977. "It was the only time I've seen Loren nervous. He told me God had said we were to have a university. Loren was so shocked when I said, 'Oh, God already told me that!'"

Chris Enke admires Howard's decision: "Howard did a courageous thing--he left his team of more than 20 doctoral students, excellent labs, research funding support, and a successful career to go work with YWAM."

This was especially courageous considering the tremendous challenge Howard faced of building a university with little money and an all-volunteer staff.

Howard still loves working with students, and it's common to see him in earnest conversation with many nationalities in the U of N Kona cafeteria. As new U of N International Provost Tom Bloomer once quoted, "'Even if you had ten thousand teachers, you'd not have many fathers.' Howard is the main father of the U of N, and has a father heart for all of us."