Youth With A Mission in England and Wales has had the threat of losing hundreds of volunteer workers lifted after an about-turn by the UK Visa and Immigration service (UKVI).
Following an inspection by UKVI officers reviewing the charity's status as a visa sponsor, YWAM was notified in December by another body, the Sponsor Compliance Unit (SCU), that its licence would be suspended for 20 working days and would be revoked if outstanding issues were not addressed.
It faced the prospect of having to send back to their home countries up to 350 missionaries and their families, potentially crippling its work in deprived communities and among marginalised people.
Now it has been told that UKVI, part of the Home Office, has decided to reinstate the licence.
A YWAM statement said: "We are extremely grateful for this positive outcome, but admit that we have had to learn several hard lessons about our internal processes and our approach to record keeping. We are already implementing important changes to these areas and will work with diligence to live up to the high expectation of the UKV&I."
In its statement, YWAM expressed concerns about the process that had led to the suspension and said that it had been offered a meeting with UKVI to discuss its experiences. It stressed that it had "always respected and supported the UKV&I in its legitimate search for unscrupulous and fraudulent organisations who attempt to flout or skirt the UK's generous visa laws".
YWAM is to meet with other Christian organisations under the auspices of the Global Connections network to recount their experiences. It said: "In doing so we hope to reassure and, if necessary, make any repairs to the relationship between our Government and the wealth of Christian organisations operating in the UK."
The statement said: "The consequences for YWAM, should our licence have been revoked, would have been profound. Several hundred volunteer missionaries would have been told that they are no longer entitled to remain in the UK and would either had to leave or find an alternative sponsor. In stark terms, almost half of YWAM's missionaries (approximately 300 people plus spouses and children) would have had to make alternative future plans. It would have affected YWAM's activities, in-house training, social outreach and external ministries.
"We thank God that this situation has been so satisfactorily resolved and wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to all who have given support to us during this trying time. We have felt supported and encouraged and remain wholly committed to our pledge 'to know God and make Him known'."
