LOCATION

YWAM Cross Wind in Hesston, Kansas USA

Hesston is a quintessential small town where Midwestern values meet a deep commitment to global outreach. Located just over thirty miles north of Wichita, Hesston offers a peaceful, supportive environment while providing easy access to the resources and amenities of a larger city.

The town is steeped in rich Mennonite heritage, which contributes to its strong focus on community, education, and service. With a current population of around 3,700, Hesston maintains a safe, tight-knit atmosphere. It is home to Hesston College, which brings a youthful energy and diverse student body to the community.

Local Schools/College: Hesston Public Schools not only send out volunteer student groups, they allow YWAM Cross Wind to be one of their recommended sites for seniors to gain workplace experience. We have also collaborated with Elyria Christian School in doing school retreats and work days with us, along with Hesston College groups.
Grief and Recovery Programs- we host these with a considerable ministry discount.

Our location allows us to focus on local outreach and community impact—our crucial starting point for sending and supporting global mission efforts. Our goal remains: to reach out locally in order to reach out globally.

Within Hesston and the surrounding region, there is a strong foundation of faith and a genuine passion for missions. As YWAM Cross Wind, we actively cultivate this spirit through hands-on local outreach and strategic collaboration:

Homeless Ministry: We partner with New Jerusalem, a homeless shelter in nearby Newton run by YWAM alumna Penny Dugan. We share food and resources, host their volunteers and anticipate futher outreach collaboration as YWAM Cross Wind grows.
Equine Therapy: Our on-site horse therapy program is a vital ministry where we serve foster children and facilitate crucial grief recovery sessions.
Conference Ministry: We serve and host groups in our conference center, welcoming college groups, youth groups, and retreat groups throughout the year.
Summer Camps: We host seven weeks of camp during June and July specifically for at-risk children in Kansas. These weeks also serve as the home for our Mission Adventures program.
Local Churches: We are honored to collaborate with many local churches that send service teams—including youth groups of up to 80 young adults—during the spring and fall.
Schools & Colleges: Hesston Public Schools recommends us as a premier site for seniors to gain workplace experience. We also partner with Elyria Christian School and Hesston College for retreats, work days, and volunteer mobilization.
Grief & Recovery: We provide a home for these essential programs, offering our facilities at a significant ministry discount to ensure support is accessible to all.

From Local Roots to Global Reach

Things of Interest Nearby

Click on the photos below to learn more about what our community has to offer!

Lincoln Perk- Coffee Shop

Amazing drinks and food! Just 1.4 miles from the base

Hesston Golf Course

18 hole golf course with driving range. 2 miles from base.

Hesston Bakery & Cafe

Bakes goods, salads, soups and sandwiches, plus drinks and coffee. 2.8 miles from base

El Cerrito

Mexican restaurant with a kid-friendly atmosphere. Just 1 mile from base!

Dyck Arboretum of the Plains

13 acre botanical garden. 3 miles from base.

The Hub Brick Oven

Casual eatery for wood-fired pissa and calzones. 8.5 miles from base

Pickleball at Heritage Park

2 miles from base

Walmart- Newton

Nice size Walmart, well stocked. 13 miles from base.

Wichita Airport

Regional airport offering a host of domestic flights to and from the largest city in Kansas. 40 miles from the base.

Our Property

Our YWAM Cross Wind campus is located on a beautiful 61-acre property. Unlike an urban base, our setting provides a peaceful, dedicated atmosphere for training and ministry, while the property itself houses all the necessary facilities for a thriving mission community.

Our operations primarily utilize the following key areas:

The Conference Center (Main Hub): This serves as our central gathering area. It is where group meals are served, and we host our main worship times, classes, and large group meetings for the Discipleship Training School (DTS) and visiting groups. We have 30 hotel rooms, and several lodges which gives us a total capacity of approximately 150 guests.
Lodges: We have 3 lodges which sleep 27 each. Our DTS students stay in Meredith Lodge, which has a guys wing, a girls wing, and a staff wing. There is a living room area with a fireplace, and a kitchen, so weekend meals and breakfasts will be taken here.
IMPACT Center: location of Camp David Kansas, where we run summer camps for children at risk. We also host large group meetings and banquets here, as well as host youth groups.
The Rock'n-H Ranch: This dedicated facility includes the stalls, a tack room, and an indoor arena necessary to operate our on-site equine therapy program which ministers to foster children and those in grief.
Office Space: The Conference Center and IMPACT Center both have office areas for our administrative offices, communications hub, and potential café/hangout spaces for social activities.
Prayer Room: We love to have guests from the community come out to our Prayer Room and do art, play music or have a small group intercession.
Recreational Grounds: Our campus offers extensive outdoor space for community building and relaxation, including walking paths, campfire areas, and a professionally designed 10-hole Disc Golf course. We also feature a large pavilion with basketball hoops, an outdoor amphitheater, and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool.

While we are a quiet, rural campus, our property is fully equipped to serve as a supportive home base for ministry, training, and outreach.

Map of YWAM Cross Wind