DAVID JOEL HAMILTON, the son of United Methodist missionares in South America, has served God for more than 30 years in YWAM. Having been raised in a bilingual and bi-cultural context, he developed intuitive cross-cultural sensitivity and a deep desire to see many from developing nations released into leadership.

David studied at Cornell College and received his BA in Political Science. David then attended the first YWAM School of Evangelism in Heidebeek, Holland in May 1977. In January 1979, he married Christine and later moved to Santiago, Chile to help pioneer the work of YWAM and lead the Discipleship Training Schools. In 1987, David pioneered the first School of Biblical Studies in South America. He has received a Masters in Biblical Studies from the University of the Nations.

David served for nearly 20 years in various international leadership roles for the University of the Nations, and is now the Vice President for Strategic Development. David has co-authored the book Courageous Leaders Transforming Their World with Jim Halcomb and Howard Malmstadt. He also co-authored the book Why Not Women? with Loren Cunningham. He served as one of the senior editors for the Christian Growth Study Bible. David is also a contributing author to the just released, His Kingdom Come. He also contributes to a variety of different publications.

In 1998-2002, David, his wife Christine, and their four children traveled to over 130 YWAM/UofN training locations in more than 91 countries and territories to assist in staff and leadership development; course and curriculum development; and campus development, spearheading the UofN Global On-site Development Program. David serves on the International Leadership Team of the UofN and the Global Leadership Team of YWAM.

David serves various other leadership groups in the body of Christ. He is a founder and member of Alliance 2.29 and works on the leadership teams of the OneStory Parternership, the International Orality Network, the Strategy Working Group of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and Call2All. He has contributed to the creation and development of the 4k Framework and the Global Accreditation Association.

Over the past 30+ years with YWAM, David has worked eleven years in Latin America, ten years in Australia and Oceania, three and a half years in North America, two and a half years in Africa, two and a half years in Europe, and a year in Asia. David's ministry has taken him to 178 countries and territories on earth. He currenly resides in Hawaii. David and Christine have four children: Jonathan, who is married to Sarah, Timothy, Sarah and Matthew.