Bethel Retreat House

Diane Williams

Diane pioneered and leads Bethel Retreat House in Goa, India. Diane joined Youth With a Mission in 1978 and has lived and worked with world travelers on the Ark in Amsterdam, as a social worker with the United Mission to Kathmandu, Nepal, and with YWAM India in member care and in training member care workers. She has also taught high school English in Hungary.

She has a diploma from California Lutheran Bible School in Los Angeles, a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from North Central University in Minneapolis, and an M.Div from Union Biblical Seminary in Pune, India. She has also studied at Fuller Seminary, The University of the Nations, Overseas Ministries Study Center, and has certificates in member care, counseling, teaching English as a Second Language, and in facilitating adult learning.

Diane was strongly shaped in her youth by her church’s motto – To restore, refresh and shelter God’s people. That motto influenced the kind of Christian work she has done. Diane also realized early on the importance of self-care, such as taking breaks to rest, to honor the Sabbath, to take personal retreat times with God.
Diane was also impacted by her years with Dilaram Houses, a YWAM ministry among hippies, drug users and world travelers. Dilaram embodied small is beautiful, friendship evangelism, and one-on-one discipleship, listening, praying and caring. This background, plus her experience visiting and encouraging church planting teams, helped lay the foundation for Bethel Retreat House.