FOUNDER OF OPERATION MOBILISATION PASSES DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CHURCH AND SLAVERY GETS NOMINATION NOD

After The Flood, the documentary which explores the role the Church of England played in upholding slavery and which provides actions people can take to redress those wrongs, has been shortlisted in the Sandford St Martin Awards.

The documentary, the brainchild of Dr Robert Beckford who also serves as narrator, was commissioned by UK charity, Movement for Justice and Reconciliation. The launch was held in 2022 at Bloomsbury Baptist Church in central London – the church where civil rights activist, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, gave a speech when he visited the UK capital in 1961.

and the Lambeth Conference. It has also been screened at a number of charities, including Christian Aid as well as the I Will Tell International Film Festival.

Rev Alton Bell, Chair of MJR, told Keep The Faith: “MJR is super excited. All the trustees of the charity and producers of the film are thrilled to be nominated for this award.”

He continued: “After The Flood has really served to raise awareness of the CoE’s extensive involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade and has given all who have seen it the tools to start the process of reconciliation.”

The worldwide Christian community is mourning the passing of George Verwer, founder of global missions organisation, Operation Mobilisation (OM).

George Verwer, 84, was born in 1938, got saved at a Billy Graham meeting aged 17 in 1955, and started doing missionary work in 1957 when he travelled to Mexico with two other students to distribute the Gospel and Christian literature.

With a passion to share the Gospel throughout the world, George started OM in 1961. It now has over 5,000 workers –representing more than 100 nationalities – serving in the OM family of ministries. OM has reached millions with the Gospel and has inspired people of all ages to do missions work.

George led the organisation for 45 years before stepping down in 2003, when he continued to speak at worldwide gatherings and focus on special projects.

He has been described as “the most outstanding North American missionary statesman of the last 60 years.”

“George changed the face of missions in his generation,” said Andrew Scott, president of OM USA. “When the mission agencies of the late fifties were looking for highly trained individuals with seminary degrees who would commit to going for a lifetime, George invited young people who simply loved Jesus to come for a summer. This was new. This was different. Thousands came.”

Matthew Skirton, CEO of OM in the UK, said: “George truly practised what he preached. His authenticity and passion for reaching the lost – but also his humility and transparency when sharing about his struggles – have profoundly impacted me in my life, and I know have touched, encouraged and challenged so many others as well.”

He is survived by his wife and their three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Since the launch 30 screenings have taken place in churches and at Christian events in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Canterbury, at the Church of England Synod

Award winners will be announced in May 2023.

Visit www.mjr-uk.com