Stephe & Rite's personal website:  www.ywamconnect.com/sites/mayersfamily

Stephen Mayers with his wife Rite

Stephe was born in London and had his first introduction to YWAM at Brunel University, while studying for a Chemistry degree. After attending a summer of service in 1977, he continued on to a DTS at Holmsted Manor in England. There he met Rite, who he married two years later in Canada. They came to Scotland in 1980 and Stephe was made national director in 1984. He continued in this role until 1998 when he took on the new challenge of being the Western European director. Since 1993, his main focus has been leadership development and he has been developing courses. The leadership development course has been the key course and he is now seeking to multiply it into other regions.

Stephe's wife Rite has been a pioneer from the start and established a preschool in the west end of Paisley in 1987. Since then she has developed the training and multiplication of the school. She established a preschool resource team in 1997 with the vision of taking a "preschool in a suitcase" to other nations. This has been a reality in a number of nations now and her team continue to follow up and develop those preschools

Stephe & Rite have three children (two in their teens), John, Johanna and Joseph. Other member are Simba the cat, and Brandy the wild border collie. There is always an open door and lots of people from all over the world dropping in, so you are always welcome.

Mariette Louw

Mariette joined the mission in 1978 after a teaching career of 10 years of which 6 were spent as a missionary in Zimbabwe. She is South African by birth but has been in the UK since 1984. She spent her initial years in the UK based at Kings Lodge and is now living in Paisley, Scotland. She has been involved in the national leadership team for many years and pioneered a number of SOIWSW's internationally. She says "Join YWAM and see the world" has been true in her life. She travels to many nations and teaches and trains the body of Christ in Intercession, worship and spiritual warfare. She has been on staff of the leadership development course for the past few years and had a major impact on the lives of the leaders. Her passion is to see a greater level of spiritual authority released in leaders across the mission.

Barry Austin

Barry is originally from New Zealand. His first contact with YWAM was in 1967 when he joined an outreach team to the South Pacific Islands. With this team he saw a significant move of the Spirit in the Islands of Tonga. He joined full-time YWAM staff in 1970.

He is married to Kay and they now have two grown children: Nadine is married and a missionary in Japan and Michelle who is working in London.

When they came to England in 1976 Barry established the first DTS in Europe at Holmsted Manor. He formed the Basic Leadership School running alongside each DTS which developed many leaders for YWAM Britain over the years. They were base leaders for six years before moving up to London to help establish the work there.

Their next assignment was the King's Lodge and they were base leaders there for a further six years. They are still based at the King's Lodge and Barry travels widely teaching and working in the area of leadership development. Barry is on the European Leadership Team focusing on staff and leadership development.

For many years Barry has been a voice calling attention to the pastoral needs of mission staff. He is concerned for the ongoing spiritual growth of staff in YWAM and is frequently a speaker for staff and leadership development seminars.

Kay, Barry's wife, is now the manager of a Family Centre operating under the auspices of Spurgeon's Child Care and based in a local church. She is very effective in using her practical skills reaching out to the needy families in the area.

Sue Pratt

Sue joined YWAM in 1986, doing her DTS in Amsterdam and going on outreach to Liberia, West Africa. From there she was part of DTS staff in Amsterdam and led teams to Liberia, and in 1989, went as part of a two woman team, sent by Amsterdam to start a base in Liberia. They lived through the civil war, ran DTS’s and community development training, and formed a Liberian team of about 7 staff and many more volunteers. In 1996, due to the third outbreak of war, they left Liberia with the help of the American Marines! After leading one DTS back in Amsterdam she then went to Lausanne, Switzerland, for two years, leading DTS’s and came to England in 1999, having worked overseas for 13 years. She still works with DTS development internationally. Sue has enjoyed coming back to her homeland, but still loves Africa.

Dan Bushy

Seen here at the start of the LDC in India. More information on its way!

Gary McKinney

We, Gary and Deanna McKinney, originally from Upstate New York, have lived and ministered in Spain for over 25 years. Driven by a passion to "present every person complete in Christ" and raise up leaders in the Body of Christ, for many years we have been discipling young people and training leaders from many nations to go to the nations. At present, we are working primarily
with the Leadership Development Course to bring renewal to and equip YWAM leaders. In addition, we recognize the importance of the family of the
leader and are developing materials to equip and train effective families. Finally, our mission involves brings healing to the hurting as a means of enabling them enter into the fulness of their identity and destiny in Christ.

Rob Westwood leads the LDC based in Australia. He is the training director for YWAM Australia and is based in Melbourne.