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4) Any Christian group seriously interested in doing great work for The Lord is likely to have similar problems. . . especially with performance oriented people.

I've found that performance oriented Christians have the hardest time understanding and allowing Grace to work in their lives. Particularly in the Bible Belt where you have religion and performance orientation mixed - what a recipe for dullness and legalism.

I did a YWAM DTS in Amsterdam, outreach in Greece. I also spent a few days at the Belize base mentioned, helping to fix the suspension bridge that crosses the river that runs past the base.

I saw some kooky stuff during my time in YWAM, but I would consider it par for my course through the many manifestations of evangelical Christianity. You have to remember that YWAM is a huge organization, with surprisingly little centralized control. Any given person's experience is going to be heavily dependent on the local leadership at the base where they serve. My overall impression is that YWAM grew a little too fast and brought some people into leadership who probably should not have been there.

Is it a cult? Not by a long shot. I have been involved in pentacostal/charistmatic ministries that I would consider borderline cultish, but not YWAM.

But my central point is that these bases scattered around the world can be rather idiosyncratic, based on local leadership.

Cults live in fear of Grace because it takes away their power. They sell salvation. One of the larger Christian cults tells its members not to listen to any Christian music (besides their's) because it pushes the doctrine of a believer's direct line to God.