Our Story
Our story is one of passion and grit, surprising turns of events, a few moments that some might call miracles, the significance of one person saying yes, and the power of people coming together with a common vision.
It all started on a farm in country New South Wales, Australia, where the tragic death of a young sheep farmer’s girlfriend nearly cost his own life and happiness.
Ken Mulligan, the descendent of Irish convicts who settled in Australia after their sentence was served, was devastated by a tractor accident that resulted in the death of his beautiful girlfriend. The journey of hope and redemption he walked evolved into one of purpose and commitment.
Knowing what it’s like to journey through the depths of sadness and despair, Ken’s healing turned into a relentless passion to see life to the full for those suffering from poverty, isolation, and desperation.
When he married Robyn in 1984, they left the farm to join Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and eventually settled in Townsville, Australia with the vision of finding the gold in young people in regional North Queensland, and beyond.
Today, they still call Townsville home, and have cultivated a vibrant network of passionate young (and young at heart!) people to serve communities in a range of expressions.
The campus in Townsville is in the heart of the downtown area of the city and is a live-learn environment for hundreds of staff and students who are carrying out the vision to bring life and life to the full in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and beyond.