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Steve & Kayla Binnquists Partnering with YWAM San Francisco |
Missionary Information:
Ministry Focus: Steve first moved to San Francisco in May of 2004 to work with Youth With A Mission San Francisco. Kayla started working with YWAM in 2010, and they married in 2013. They worked with and lead the Discipleship Training School Department, discipling and leading teams overseas for service and evangelism. In January of 2017 Steve and Kayla began to lead Restoration Initiatives, a Ministry dedicated to Restore, Empower and Serve the Tenderloin. We lead bible studies to the community, provide showers, haircuts and bathroom usage to the community. We are working towards developing life and job skills amongst the community. Oliver was born in 2015 and spends his time making the world a better place through laughter and funny noises.
Quarterly Update:
Lessons Learned
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
This is a parable that was told by Jesus in Matthew 25. For lack of a better term, it has been haunting me for the past few months. The times Jesus identifies with the poorest, the most broken and untouchables in the gospels have leaped off the page as I have built deeper relationships with the community around me. What strikes me the most is that my definition of “least of these” changes often. Some days it might be the homeless, or it might be a drug dealer, or someone who is in an office building, or the CEO of a tech company. My humanity likes to make people least in my heart, and the spiritual man likes to think that’s ok as long as I do the right things. Here’s the problem – it seems as Jesus speaks to the heart of humanity in the parable and says, the way you treat/love who you think is least is the way you treat/love me.
One of our values in Restoration Initiatives is to treat every person as we would treat Jesus – with dignity, respect, honor, and love. We are far from perfect but making positive steps in the correct directions. A simple way we have started doing this is by sharing communication information with our community in the drop-in center that is open during the week. From time to time, the schedule has to change for a YWAM event because there is not enough staff to work the room on a specific day. We started not only putting a sign on the door with schedule changes but personally announcing it in the room and individually with each person. It may seem small but it has created a deeper sense of community and respect. Our desire as a ministry is to not just serve the community we live in but be a part of the community.
Living life in the Tenderloin has taught me so many things over the years. Most importantly right now, it’s teaching me the value of people, the importance of listening and that we are all more similar than we are different.
Kayla and I recently celebrated our 4-year anniversary (August 10th) and Oliver’s 2nd birthday (August 23rd)! We love the life God has led us into. We are grateful for the supporters who allow us to live in San Francisco and be a part of seeing God’s Kingdom come into this neighborhood. Kayla and I are about $1500 a month below our budget. We are asking that you would consider partnering with us financially in this season of our lives. We are looking for both monthly donations and special gifts.
There are 3 ways you can give: PayPal, checks mailed to us (357 Ellis Street, San Francisco CA, 94102) but made out to YWAM (for a tax deduction), or automatic withdrawal. If using Paypal or automatic withdrawal, please email steve@ywamsanfrancisco.org so we can track with our finance department.
With Hope,
Steve, Kayla and Oliver
Prayer Request:
- Apartment in SF: We are living in YWAM housing right now, but are desiring to move off the base so we can make room for new staff housing. We would like to move off in the next 6 months
- Oliver: that he keeps growing and for us to have wisdom in raising him
Giving:
To financially partner with the Binnquist’s, click here. You will be directed to the YWAM San Francisco giving page, click the donate button next “one time gift”, be sure the designate “To the Binnquists” in the box that’s says specify which ministry you would like to donate too.
Thank you for your heart to get to know our missionaries!