Director-Lisa Jones

I am a native Southern Californian. I did my DTS in Kona, Hawaii. I love cities and people, they energize me and I come to life!  I especially love this place.    Frank Lloyd Wright said,  “Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles.”   That’s not what happened, it just seems like it.  I am extremely grateful to God that he has provided me an opportunity to realize my dream of working with youth at-risk and youth incarcerated on a transformational level, and that He didn't stop there.  My passion lies with the church being all that it can as every member is made fully aware that God has called us to reveal His love in a way that presents Him to others for who He truly is.   I desire to see God’s perfect love come down and bring peace to the city.   I have the chance to do that here, in Los Angeles, everyday...it’s a good thing.

April Lindh

I'm originally from Wisconsin. I did my DTS in Los Angeles in 2001 and never thought I’d end up serving here long term.  But I did.  I have been on staff with YWAM LA's Urban Ministry since 2003 andI have loved every minute of it. Most of my time is spent with youth in the city, going to court with them, meeting their families and seeing God move in their lives.  One of my favorite things is seeing people from different backgrounds and cultures interacting and learning from each other’s similarities and differences.  And if you were part of Urban Ministry here you’d see that’s a daily occurrence. Someday I hope to end up doing community development in developing nations.

Barry Houser

Growing up in suburban Pennsylvania, I would have never envisioned serving in a large urban setting as a missionary.  I have been with YWAM Los Angeles for over 10 years now, and working specifically with Urban Ministries for 5 years.  When I did my DTS in 1998, one of my staff asked me if I stayed in missions long-term would I stay in a rural or urban setting.  I told him that if I had to choose, probably a rural area.  Little did I know God had very different plans.  I now love the city and couldn’t see myself living anywhere else.  Part of my YWAM journey was doing School of Biblical Studies in Montana in 2003-04.  Through SBS, God confirmed my calling to the city and my passion to reach the lost here.  During SBS, my desire to teach God’s word grew.  After I graduated I began to teach in DTS and SBS.  Working with Urban Ministries, I realized teaching doesn’t just happen in the classroom, but in counseling times at Juvenile Hall, in houses of gang members and with teams of Christian youth who come to do outreach in our city.  I consider it a privilege to serve God in this great city.

Jessica Siemens

I’m originally from Washington, the Evergreen State.  I did my Discipleship Training School in the Fall of 2007, here at YWAM Los Angeles.  I came hoping that my passion, to see urban areas transformed by hope and freedom through Christ, would increase.  In the course of my DTS I saw God meet people in ways I had never seen before.  After completing my DTS I returned for a seconday school, The School of Ministry Development.  I wanted more.  It was during that school that I had the opportunity to help lead an outreach into the city with 135 young adults who were part of a local church.  We served for a weekend throughout the greater Los Angeles area.  A year later I am both on staff with the Urban Deparment and a part of that same church.  I’m excited to be a part of what God is doing in Los Angeles.  I get to see lives changed through meaningful and tangible ways as we love people!  I am passionate about sharing God’s love and seeing people come to know their worth in Christ!

Stanley Harris

WUZZUP!!!  

I am from the island, Barbados, in the Caribbean.  I did my Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Amsterdam in 2005. After my DTS, I travelled to Canada to be part of a team of world changers who would pioneer a new base in Mississauga, ON.  In March 2009, I travelled to Los Angeles to do the School of Ministry Development (SOMD). While doing the school, I got to serve with the Urban Department, and fell in love with the work they were doing in the city.  After the SOMD, I returned on staff with the Urban Dept. I am PASSIONATE about seeing people come into their true identity in Jesus Christ and having a right perspective about who God truly is and how He sees them, as well as Transformational Discipleship and Healthy Relationships. I love soccer/football (depends on where you are from).

I am married to the gorgeous Kimberly Harris and together we parent God’s gift to us, our daughter Szyan – age 2 (pronounced ZION)