Missionary

Jared + Carissa Koopman

The More You Know

Hey, we are Jared and Carissa! Our mission is to be a pioneering couple that labors to see the lost saved, discipled, and released into the harvest through investing locally and globally. We have been a part of YWAM Lancaster since September 2021, and joined staff July 2022. We are currently serving YWAM Lancaster through various skill and passion areas, while also actively pursuing working amongst unreached people and making disciples locally in Lancaster County. We are working towards moving long-term in the nations amongst the unreached. Thank you for your prayers and partnership!

Carrisa

The book of Psalms is my favorite book of the Bible. It is significant to me because of my heart + passion for worship. The book does not just give examples of praising God in the great things, it shares things from the depths of hearts of despair, discouragement, fear, etc. There’s always something to be found in the Psalms. And when I don’t know what to sing or pray I can always turn to them.

Jared

Joshua. It is such a significant story of God’s intentionality to set apart land, and take it for His purposes to be fulfilled. God really cares about land! It holds significance to me because in a lot of ways I believe Carissa and I’s call reminds me of that of Joshua, in the way of “taking back the land” for the Kingdom of God through intercession and worship and seeing disciples made, seeing the Kingdom come to new places where it has not yet fully been expressed.

Carrisa

I prefer to use ESV or NASB. They are more word for word translations verses thought for thought. I find I have more confidence when I am using these translations because it’s what I personally use to read and study. Therefore, I am able to teach and preach from this place with ease.

Jared

I primarily use ESV, I believe it is a really solid in the translation methods used. It is also pretty easy to understand because of the modern language used, similar to translations like NIV, NASB, NKJV, or NLT.

Carrisa

It’s a difficult choice between the Himalayas and the Middle East. Two very different places. They were both really memorable to me because of the people and culture as well as significant things God spoke to me while in those places.

Jared

Nepal was a very memorable nation to work in, it was so memorable because I believe that was where a lot of the clarity for my “yes” to God for giving my life to missions came.

Carrisa

Yes! My first missions trip was to the Himalayas. It was there that God marked me for missions and revealed His heart to stop for the one.

Jared

When I recommitted my life to Jesus, I was in a place of repentance and told God that I was tired of making my own plans for my life, and knew His purposes for my life would be way better and asked God to use my life for His glory, whatever it looked like. I believe that was a very significant commitment I made to God, and He has been faithfully leading me giving my life for God’s Kingdom advancement since.

Carrisa

My DTS was January – June 2017. It was during my DTS that I went to the Middle East for my outreach. It was my first experience in a Muslim culture. It wasn’t glamorous. It was really hard. It shifted my perspective by crushing the romantic idea of missions and showed the reality of the cost of giving your life for missions.

Jared

I did my DTS in 2018, it was very transformative for me. I believe God solidified things during my DTS that He had already started working out in me before it started. It was a season of diving deep in prayer and personally ministering to the Lord, I look back at that season as one of “digging a well” of intimacy with God.

Carrisa

Circuit Riders, F+F Nepal, YWAM Kona, YWAM Lancaster, YWAM Jordan, YWAM Japan. I have always loved connected with the YWAM bases while traveling. Not all locations I have been have had bases exactly, more like groups of YWAMers that are planted in a location. In each location I learned and grew and was able to serve those who were committed there.

Jared

I have been with YWAM Kona, HI; YWAM Fire and Fragrance Nepal; YWAM Fire and Fragrance Albania; and four YWAM bases throughout Japan including Tokyo, Yokohama, Niseko, and Oita. I have also worked with other ministries including Youth For Christ; Cru; and Nations which is the First Nations America (Native American) ministry of Cru in Montana.

Carrisa

I just recently got back from Japan. This was a location that I would say I never had a desire to go to but I was challenged with the question “would I really go anywhere and do anything if God asked me to?”. I went from the place of obedience, not my own feelings or desires and it was one of the most difficult things that I have ever done. But the pleasure that I feel over my obedience makes it all worth it. It wasn’t about the experiences that I gained but more of the deepening of my heart for obedience to Jesus.

Jared

What has impacted me the most is seeing people who have come to personally know God in unreached nations Worshiping Jesus in their Heart Language and in songs they wrote themselves. When I have interacted with sometimes a small amount of people who had received the revelation of Jesus, and because of that are living out their life entirely devoted to Him and His kingdom, it is incredibly encouraging. It is an important reminder of God’s consistent pursuit for his people throughout the earth. His heart really is for every Nation, tribe, and tongue. Everyone.

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