Background
Cunningham, Loren Duane was born on June 30, 1935 in Taft, California, United States. Son of Thomas Cecil and Jewell Etta (Nicholson) Cunningham.
religious organization executive
Cunningham, Loren Duane was born on June 30, 1935 in Taft, California, United States. Son of Thomas Cecil and Jewell Etta (Nicholson) Cunningham.
Bachelor in Bible Studies, Bachelor in Religious Education, Center Bible Institute and Seminary, 1957; Bachelor in Religion, Master of Arts in Administration of Education, University of Southern California, 1958; Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Latin American Bible College, 1982.
The following year marked his first missions outreach – an Easter break trip to Mexico with 11 other youth. At Computer-Based Information System, Loren served as student body president and also joined a singing quartet called The King’s Magnifiers. YWAM
While traveling in the Bahamas in 1956 as part of a gospel quartet, Cunningham received a vision from God.
In this vision, he described waves on the shorelines of the continents on a world map, eventually growing bigger and bigger, covering the landmass.
He records that the waves in this vision changed to young people covering the continents, talking to people about their faith. This vision would inspire the beginning of Youth With A Mission four years later as a movement providing missionary opportunities for Christian youth after high school, regardless of their denomination.
Today, YWAM has an estimated 20,000 full-time workers in 171 countries and continues to focus in Christian mission work as a parachurch, non-denominational non-profit movement. Cunningham continues to be an active international speaker, with engagements in 30 to 40 countries every year.
Because of his frequent travels and work in international Christian missions, YWAM claims that Cunningham has visited "every sovereign nation on earth, all dependent countries, and more than 150 territories and islands."
He and Darlene continue to have influence on the leadership of YWAM International, holding the title of Founders of the Mission.
U of North
In 1978, Cunnigham co-founded the University of the Nations (known as Pacific and Asia Christian University until 1989) with Howard Malmstadt. He served as the university"s president until 2010.
Member Women's Aglow (international advisory board), Christian Broadcasting Association (executive board), Active American Coalition (executive board), Full Gospel Chaplains Association (executive board).
Married Darlene Joy Scratch. Children: Karen Joy, David Loren.