Udom Setthaya

Missionary, YWAM San Francisco

Originally from Thailand, Udom Setthaya followed God’s call to serve in vocational ministry right after graduating from university.

In 2007, he started serving with YWAM Thailand as a volunteer translator for visiting missionary teams and also as a staffer for a prison-based Discipleship Training School. He then served with YWAM in South Africa and Mozambique in healthcare in 2013.

Currently, Udom serves with YWAM San Francisco through the Restoration Initiatives Ministry, which serves, restores, empowers, and disciples residents in the Tenderloin. We asked him some questions about his ministry, and here’s how he responded:

What do you love about serving as a missionary?
“I love how God uses me in different ways. It is very challenging, and often I don’t know what it’s going to be like! But this ministry leads me to learn how to trust and have faith in God, to be patient, and  to lean on Him when I face difficult circumstances. And I love how God uses my ability to serve and impact others!”

Describe something God has shown you during your time serving as a missionary.
“God has shown me so much: how to love and care for anyone in my life (family, friends, colleagues, strangers, etc.) even through small acts of giving. It can make a big difference, just as Jesus says in Mark 12:30-31.”

What has been your most memorable experience serving as a missionary?
“One of my most memorable experiences is having my family in Christ with me everywhere I go. This is a privilege from God. I am so thankful to Him that I have my church and friends — my brothers and sisters — supporting and walking with me on the mission that God has for me. No matter what I have been through, I do know that my family is praying for me.”

If you’d like to connect with Udom, you can email him. And if you’d like to partner with him financially, visit ywamsanfrancisco.org/give, select your payment method, and denote “Udom Setthaya” for the donation.

Meet Our Missionaries

Learn about some of our other Local Missionaries serving in the Bay Area.

Dave Nothhelfer, CHAI

Before serving internationally, Dave worked in marine ecology, biotech, and organic farming. He came to faith in 2001 and is now fundraising to serve the poor in the Philippines with CHAI (Community Hopes Alternatives, Inc.).

Read their story

Steve & Kayla Binnquist, YWAM San Francisco

Steve and Kayla have been working with YWAM San Francisco since 2004 and 2010 respectively, and together they lead Restoration Initiatives, a ministry dedicated to restoring, empowering, and serving residents of San Francisco’s Tenderloin.

Read their story

Caleb & Alexius, Cru

Caleb and Alexius have been working with Cru in San Francisco since 2015 with the mission to empower and equip college students with the skills, tools, and faith they need to make an eternal impact in their communities.

Read their story