Paul Childers

Paul Childers was born and raised in New Zealand to an American father and a New Zealand mother. His broader family has been involved in church ministry for over 100 years. For four generations there have been church leaders and preachers in his family line.

When he was eight, Paul had a strong interest in the world and missions and went on his first ministry trip with John Childers, his father. At 14 he went on his first mission trip to Hong Kong and China, and responded to the call to commit his life to full-time Christian service. After completing high school in 1992, he did a DTS with Youth With A Mission at 17. He has been in ministry ever since.

He earned an Associate in Christian Ministry from the University of the Nations and a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Laidlaw College, with a strong emphasis in Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. He is a Master of Arts graduate in Leadership.

Although Paul has had a successful academic career, he learned much from a season of mentorship by Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM. Loren invited Paul to travel with him on his speaking tours. Over three years Paul traveled with Loren through Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, and New Zealand. Being mentored by Loren stoked faith that anything was possible with God. Paul went on to preach the good news in 100 nations on six continents.

In 2002 Paul married Susi Childers from Germany. Together they pioneered photogenX and A Voice for the Voiceless. Later Paul co-founded Word By Heart, which trains people to learn whole books of the Bible by heart. The school has expanded across all continents. For more than twenty years he has also served as a global leader in YWAM in various capacities.

He has authored and published ten books and photographic projects with his wife Susi. These have sold over 100,000 copies globally in multiple languages, always calling people toward transformative action. Their latest book is a 260-page book called GO Change Your World.

Paul lives in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with his wife Susi and their three children. Although they often minister in Africa, Asia, and Europe, Kona remains home base.