What is the University of the Nations – U of N ?
As already mentioned in the schools list, all of our courses are part of degree programs within the U of N. This is not just a question of an educational system, it is a question of a vision.
In order for you to understand a bit more that kind of vision, we have added an article here which best expresses what we mean by that.
For further information about degrees, simply write to our staff, or visit the U of N’s website.
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How did it all begin?
The Beginning
From the very beginning University of the Nations has grown out of a process of prayer and of seeking the word of the Lord. We want to look back with thankfulness and see how God initiated this unique vision of the U of N.
The birth of a Vision
Early in 1974 a number of YWAM staff were together in Hilo, Hawaii. There was nothing unusual about this, except that fourteen of them were experienced educators. They decided to take advantage of this godly “coincidence” by spending several days seeking God.
After some time of fasting and prayer God revealed that YWAM was to be involved in education. He specifically told them that it was to be education that would be available for people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. It was also to be modular in terms of curriculum development.This was a major revelation. At the time of YWAM’s founding in 1960, most training had revolved around courses lasting no more than a week. The first School of Evangelism had been held in Switzerland in 1969 and in 1974 the first experimental Discipleship Training School was held. So although YWAM had been involved in training for some time before 1974, the concept of being involved more fully in education developed much more quickly after receiving the word of the Lord at this 1974 gathering.
Shortly after this, Loren Cunningham was teaching at a leadership conference in the USA, at which he mentioned the concept of “modular education”. This was the same concept that God had emphasized at the Hilo gathering. The late Dr. Howard Malmstadt, former Provost of the U of N, was at that conference and shared with Loren how God had also been revealing the same concept to him. Indeed, he had already written books about this idea.
The Vision takes shape
From about mid-1977 things really started to take shape. The YWAM international council received confirmation from the Lord that the concept of a YWAM University was right. That very same day, as if to further confirm God’s direction, the bankruptcy judge dealing with the Pacific Empress Hotel (now the site of the Kona Campus) accepted YWAM’s offer to purchase the property. This is explained in fuller detail in Loren Cunningham’s book Is That Really You, Lord?. YWAMers moved onto the property a short time later in 1977. Through prophecy and word of knowledge as well as circumstance, God continued to confirm his word concerning the university.
At about that same time, Howard Malmstadt declined the nomination for position of president of an east coast U.S. university. He did this because God had told him he was to be part of a university which YWAM would be starting. It was no great surprise to him, therefore, when Loren invited him to be part of a development that became Pacific and Asia Christian University (PACU).Earlier in 1975 Loren had received the mind molders concept while in prayer. These were to be the basis of the seven colleges or faculties of PACU.
The Vision becomes reality
In 1978, led by Dr. Malmstadt, work began on developing a campus at Kona and on setting up courses. This was to be a development that would involve over 30 Architects and over 3000 Mission Builders.
By 1980 PACU had been registered in the State of Hawaii and the process of extending university courses throughout the world had begun. By 1988 the courses were developed to the degree that a change of name was inevitable. In the same year, at the YWAM Staff Conference the name “University of the Nations” was chosen, which should express the vision of this ministry more accurately. The vision was to set up a global university which existed in various nations, focusing on different nations, and also accepting students from different nations and cultural backgrounds to its courses. After the International Leaders Retreat in September 1989 in Lausanne, this name was then used worldwide.
And today?
Today the U of N has registered courses in 60 different languages in over 100 nations. Approximately 15’000 students a year take one or more registered courses in the 400 different mini-campuses of the U of N. We want to continue to build “God’s University” while looking back in thankfulness for what God has done said and will faithfully fulfill.
The seven faculties of the University of the Nation
