Welcome to Deserea Missions! My name is Deserea Byrd. When I was eleven years old, I gave my heart and life to Jesus Christ. At The age of thirteen, I got the chance to serve on a Summer of Service student mission trip to Reynosa Mexico with Youth With A Mission (YWAM-Tyler, TX). While there, I was involved in ministry through dance, prayer, worship, evangelism and acts of compassionate service.  I knew then that GOD wanted to use my life to reach those He loves around the world with the message of the Gospel and acts of love.

Later, as a teen and young adult, I was privileged to serve on multiple missions to Buff Bay in Portland Jamaica. There, I was able to help  teach children the Word of God  and minister the Gospel through dance and drama.

As I pursued my college degree in dance, I faithfully served the church in my community. I started a praise dance ministry on my college campus, performing dances at campus events that proclaimed Christ. I loved spending summers helping teach Vacation Bible School's across the county.  Joining 24/7 Prayer: South Jersey, I helped catalyzed prayer, mission and justice through leading worship and creating prayer tents with guided prayer stations throughout the county. 

Through it all, God had been drawing me back to the place where this fire for missionary work was first sparked. From September 2017 through March 2018, I completed a 

Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Tyler, Texas. We went to Mexico and, for two months, we ministered to and served the people of many cities. We lead worship, did VBS style children's programs, preached in schools and prisons, shared testimonies and prayed wherever we could. It was a life changing experience. God was so faithful.

From April 2018-August 2018, I completed a School of Evangelism at YWAM Tyler. God taught me about how to make Him know to people around the world. My outreach team went to East Asia to teach English, mentor children, encourage and build relationships with churches and serve alongside many ministries that are spreading the Gospel message. Many lives were changed for the glory of God, including my own. 

From October 2018 to March 2020,  I served as a full time missionary and missions training staff on the YWAM Tyler Texas base .  We lived and worked together,  mentoring  young missionaries on their journey to fulfill the Great Commission. I loved ministering with MCMC Studios, the Arts department of YWAM Tyler, creating videos, songs, dramas and dances that declare the glory of God. It was an honor to be part of the creative team for INSPIRE, YWAM Tyler's annual Worship and Missions conference. I continue to pray for an outpouring of creativity that captures the hearts of people because of God's love . 

From January to March of 2020, I served as staff in our base's first Leadership DTS. The Lord was preparing me for a transition into new ministry so, with trust in God and great love and appreciation for my YWAM family, I made the move to New Jersey, answering a call to pastoral ministry with the youth and young adults at my home church.

B.L.A.Z.E. Youth and Young Adults Ministry is becoming a place for young believers to "Connect, Grow & Go." Connecting with like-minded people of faith, they can have fun, receive encouragement and find spiritual accountability. We grow together in our knowledge and application of the Word, developing spiritual discipline and deepening a vibrant, active relationship with Jesus. Always open to the moving of the Holy Spirit to go into all the world, preaching the Gospel, teaching others to obey His Word and experience full life in Christ. God is always leading me, into a wonderful future where His Kingdom is advanced in the earth. Thank YOU for being a part of this journey!