Support Letter

Hey Everyone!
I am going to be working this summer for YWAM Chicago. I sent out a support letter that shares a bit about what I've been thinking and what I'll be up to! Here is the letter!! Enjoy!


May, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

I am so excited to share with you all that God has been and is doing in my life. Before I do that though I want to say thank you for the love and support you have shown me over the last year and a half! I appreciate it very much and know that I couldn't have done it without you.

January through June of 2010 was an awesome adventure for me as I traveled to Perth, Australia and Mexico City, Mexico for the Compassion DTS. As I look back on those 6 months I realize how much the Lord blessed me with that time. I was able to spend lots of quality time with him in prayer and in reflecting on all the years I had spent in Chicago while looking forward to all he had in store for me. It was a time of working through all the feelings that come with major transitions in life and learning more about what it means to be a child of God. He met me where I was in such tangible ways, ways that were so surprising yet uplifting. It was a meaningful time for sure.

As I finished my time the inevitable question of "what are you going to do next" was asked by many people and I struggled because I didn't have the answer. I did, however, feel very confident that God would make it clear in His timing. That confidence came because of what I had felt God had been saying to me. There were two main things God revealed to me during my DTS concerning what my future might hold.

The first thing God revealed was that my ministering in Chicago is not over. I planned on coming back to Chicago when the DTS was over but thought that God might use the time away to lead me to a different place in the kingdom. I have always felt a desire to see the nations reached for the Lord and have loved all the places I have traveled. I knew I needed to be open to whatever God might have for me and where that might take me. Week 4 of the lecture phase of the DTS was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of YWAM International and the 25th anniversary of YWAM Perth. Throughout the week we heard people tell stories about how God worked in and through them to grow that ministry. It was fun to hear the stories and be a part of the celebrations but throughout the week I kept thinking about the 15 years I'd spent in Chicago and all the people I'd met and things I'd done. I took the time to celebrate all that God had done in those years, thanking Him for my time in Chicago and yet surrendering it as well so I would be ready for what he had for me in the future. As the DTS continued beyond the celebrations week I felt like God wasn't taking my heart for Chicago away but growing it stronger and even helping me dream about what my part might look like. As my heart for Chicago grew I felt sure that God was saying that there was more for me in the city but that it would be different than what I had done before.

The second thing I took away from my 6 months away was a better understanding of God's heart for cities and the strategy and type of vision it takes to reach a city for Christ. I know it's not a coincidence that God brought me to Perth to do a DTS during a MegaCities year. MegaCities is a ministry of YWAM Perth that focuses on a city of over a million for one year joining with local believers to bring about city transformation. In 2010 the focus of MegaCities was Mexico City. I was able to be a part of the first wave of teams that pioneered the work that would continue throughout the year and beyond. I'm so thankful that I was able to do my outreach with that focus. It is such an incredible ministry. MegaCities finished its year in Mexico City with some amazing results. God used the 1000+ international volunteers that flooded the city for over a year to bring tremendous change to the lives of thousands in Mexico City. More than 46,000 people heard about Jesus from these teams. Over 10,400 made a decision to follow Jesus, 1700 Bibles were handed out and over 53,700 people received teaching from the teams (like mine) and speakers that came. These numbers were what the teams reported but the final numbers from the local pastors revealed results outnumbering what the teams had reported. Transformation has started in Mexico City because workers were sent. I would love to see this type of change happen in the city of Chicago!

I’ve been back in Chicago now for over 8 months after spending time post DTS with friends and family. I took a non ministry job to pay the bills until I knew what my next step in ministry might be. Recently I was asked by YWAM Chicago to work with them this summer. They have groups from all over that come to the base and work in the city. Most of the groups are made up of high school students that will come for a week or two and do work around the city through organizations that are connected with the YWAM base. I will work with the groups helping with the logistics of what they will be doing and also live at the base and help oversee the groups that are staying there. I definitely believe the time is right for me to work with YWAM Chicago.

I love the ministry YWAM Chicago has in the city. Like MegaCities, they have a vision to see God bring transformation to the city. One of the things that I have learned from them is that we can take up Jesus’ call to go and reach the nations without ever going to another country. The nations are here. Of the 9 million people in Chicago, 1 out of 7 is foreign born. 64,000 new immigrants move to Chicago every year (175 a day) and almost half are from the least evangelized nations of the world. There are over 100 languages spoken natively by the students of Chicago public schools. In a 5-mile radius around the YWAM building there are 350,000 people of which 35% are foreign born representing nearly 150 different nationalities. The high school down the street from the base speaks 53 different languages natively by the student body. Chicago is made up of 400,000 Muslims, 150,000 Hindus and 250,000 Jews. Chicago is one of only 20 cities in the world with over 1 million foreign born. I am excited to reach the nations in a city that I love and help others to step out of their comfort zones and do the same.

Another aspect of this job I am excited about is working with high school aged youth. I still feel called to work with youth even though I know it won't look like what I have been doing, being a youth pastor in a church. I am excited to work with the groups of youth and help them as they process through all that they will be doing and experiencing in the city and encouraging themin their walks with the Lord.

In order to be able to work with YWAM Chicago this summer I will need to once again raise my financial support. I am hoping to start working with YWAM Chicago by the middle to end of June through the beginning of September. To cover my expenses (condo, insurance, taxes and basic living expenses) I will need to raise about $5000. Would you prayerfully consider supporting me financially so that I will be able to work with YWAM Chicago?

You can make a one time tax deductable donation by writing a check to Suburban Life Community Church and sending it back to me in the envelope provided. to me in the envelope provided. SLCC will send you a receipt for tax purposes.

I am excited to be able to work with YWAM Chicago this summer but have felt the weight of this step of faith. Part of that is because I have been praying to see if YWAM Chicago is where God would like me full time. I am hoping that God will use my time there this summer to confirm that for me and help me to see my place in that ministry. I would love to have your support in prayer over my summer and this decision as well. I have loved and appreciated all of your prayers on my behalf. I know that I need people who are willing to pray for me as I step out in faith. It really is a scary thing but exciting for me as well!

Thank you for your support of me. I am so thankful for each and every one of you. God is so good and I count all of you as one of his many blessings to me in my life! Thank you for taking the time to read this. I have been without a computer since I was in Mexico which has made updating all of you a challenge. I will send out updates by email and on my blog at www.blogspot.com/kathioom. If I don’t have your email address please let me know. If you’d prefer me to send you an update by mail, please let me know that as well.

I am looking forward to a great summer in the city! Thanks again!

Expecting great things from God,



Kathi Oom

Long time

I have been without a computer for while now and not able to update my blog. I got an iPhone so that I can still communicate with people and just found this amazing app that connects me with my blog! I will be updating it now!! Sorry about the gap in posts!! Hope you are are doing well this Mother's day!!


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