About the University of the Nations
God spoke to Howard Malmstadt and Loren Cunningham and said that he wanted YWAM to have a university. God wants people to understand how the Bible applies to every area of society including family, government, education and business.
This holistic approach to missions will be an important part of seeing communities transformed. So in 1978, YWAM launched a university to develop young men and women’s skills, character and worldview.
A Global University
University of the Nations, Kona, Inc., tradename YWAM/UofN KONA, located in Kona, Hawai’i, is just one of numerous campuses and/or bases, each independently owned and operated, throughout the USA and around the world, engaged in the Youth With A Mission (“YWAM”) movement.
YWAM is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to presenting Jesus personally to this and future generations, to mobilizing as many as possible to help in this task, and to the training and equipping of believers for their part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Loren and Darlene Cunningham founded YWAM in the early 1960s and established the very first University of the Nations campus to train youth in YWAM in 1978 right here, at the campus of University of the Nations, Kona, Inc., tradename YWAM/UofN KONA. Every other campus and/or base using the name “YWAM,” “ University of the Nations, or “UofN,” reflect the same approach to evangelism which includes training and mercy ministries.
Every year, more than 15,000 students take courses in campuses and/or bases throughout the USA and around the world adhering to the vision and values of the YWAM movement. There are currently more than 700 campuses in more than 150 countries providing training in almost 100 languages.
Here at University of the Nations, Kona, Inc., tradename YWAM/UofN KONA, located in Kona, Hawai’i, we are a highly diverse campus. We have many international students from around the globe enrolled in our campus for training and mercy ministries. We are committed to helping our students become fully equipped to fulfill their God-given calling. We have courses in the arts, healthcare, linguistics, sports, communication, counseling, education, science, and more.
The core program is the Discipleship Training School (“DTS”) which is required for all other courses offered on our campus.
The unique UofN Experience
Live-Learn Environment
Students in the University of the Nations live together in dormitories, study together in class and work together on each UofN campus.
This community learning concept embodies the New Testament model of Christians who live and learn together and work toward common objectives. This family-style approach implies a sharing of meals, resources, ideas and talents in a spirit of love and unity. Our students and staff come from many nations, cultures, denominations and generations, and God forms us into a beautiful family.
The live-learn concept gives students remarkable access to our faculty and staff, who model the life of Christ in many everyday settings. Through the combination of academic study and community life, students grow in character as well as wisdom.
Our Modular Education System
Unlike typical universities, where students take several subjects in any given quarter or semester, University of the Nations students take only one 12-unit school per quarter. This gives our students an in-depth understanding of that subject.
Each week, the school focuses on a different theme within that subject, instructed by international speakers who are respected within their fields.
Each school is typically followed by an internship or cross-cultural field assignment to give immediate application of what was learned. We believe the best way to learn is by doing.
An added benefit of the modular system is the relational dynamic it creates. Most of our classes are small enough for our students to get to know one another well. From this comes many lasting friendships, greater cross-cultural understanding and an amazing network of connections within the larger YWAM family.
Multi-Cultural and Cross-Cultural
Our courses are offered all over the world with students from multiple nations in each school.
You can study the Bible in Taiwan for nine months, then go to another location in Asia to teach others how to study the Bible for themselves. You will learn by doing and you can gain insights while you serve in cultures different from yours.
