Our Story

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

Luke 4:18

The Y family, serving in sensitive regions
From a Prison Cell to the Nations

Freedom that had to be lived before it could be multiplied.

Freedom Multiplied 4:18 began with a man who was set free. Joshua Y.’s own life was transformed by faith while he was imprisoned, and the freedom he found there became the mission he has carried ever since.

Alongside his wife, a neonatal nurse with a heart for the unreached, and their children, the Y family has given their lives to the hardest places: India, the Middle East, and the prisons of Texas. Wherever they go, the pattern is the same: make disciples, plant churches, raise up leaders, and send them out.

The Journey

One family, following the call across borders

The story drifts by on its own — rest your cursor on it to pause and scroll back and forth; it continues when you move away.

2009–2012
Freed. Discipled. Sent.

Joshua Y. serves as a disciple-maker, evangelist, and church planter after completing the Denton Freedom House program — and begins going back into Texas prisons to share the Gospel.

2013
Sent to India

Denton Freedom House sends the Y family and other missionary partners to India for church planting and disciple-making. Work begins at the Gaya train station with A. Kumar.

2015
A home opens — and a door closes

The India children's home opens its doors. That same year, the Y family and their missionary partners are forced to leave India.

2016
On to Northern Iraq

After an unexpected season back in the U.S., the Y family moves to Northern Iraq, training indigenous leaders and distributing Bibles.

2017
Bibles cross closed borders

Bibles begin moving into Iran and other parts of the Middle East. A partnership begins with brother Nassr.

2018
Governance for the children's home

The Children's Home Committee is formed to create ownership and governance over Freedom Life Children's Home.

2021
A prayer for 31 provinces

The Y family begins praying that there would be churches in all 31 provinces of Iran.

2024
FM 4:18 stands on its own

Every ministry pillar moves to its own 501(c)(3) under the FM 4:18 banner, the FM 4:18 Board is established to provide oversight, and the Freedom Multiplied Academy home opens.

2025
Churches in all 31 provinces

The prayer is answered — churches established in every one of Iran's 31 provinces.

2026
The new home is finished

The new India children's home property is finished, and the children move in.

Today
19 nations. 13,500 churches.

FM 4:18 spans 5 prisons, 19 nations, and more than 13,500 underground house churches, from Texas to North India and the MECANA region.

Governing Board
  • Greg Burns
  • Chris Walden
  • Trey Vick
  • Mont Wilkes
  • Joshua Y.
Freedom Life Children’s Home Advisory Board
  • Matthew & Mindy Merrit
  • Nathan & Melinda Bell
  • Mont & Emrie Wilkes
  • Dustin Sharpe
  • Joshua Christian
  • Shane Brandt
  • Alex & Darlene Kurian
  • Joshua & Donna Y.
FM 4:18 Advisory Board
  • Ray V.
  • David D.
  • Randy M.
  • Sean Smith
  • Dan Denui
  • Terri Denui
  • Ron Johnson
  • Chris Scanlan
  • Doug Allen
  • Damon Thames

Become part of the story

The mission only multiplies through partners who give and pray. There is room in this story for you.

Give to the MissionBecome a Prayer Partner