May – Aug 2013
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Missional Biscuits Silaa Farms Coffee
Biblword The Story-Teller
A Support Masterclass Being Here: Helping There
The Art of Communication
Bringing hope to hard places
We serve the church and seek to bring the gospel to all the peoples of East Asia. We help place Christians with professional skills in China and other Asian countries, and share the love of Christ with East Asians worldwide. Through God’s grace we aim to see an indigenous, biblical church planting movement in each people group of East Asia, evangelising their own people and reaching out in mission to other peoples.
From The Editor ‘God has communicated to man, the infinite to the finite. The One who made man capable of language in the first place has communicated to man in language about both spiritual reality and physical reality, about the nature of God and the nature of man.’ Francis Schaeffer The pressure might be off a little, as we don’t need to ‘create’ communication, but we do need to use communication for God’s glory. We may have to learn what ways work best in different circumstances; storytelling, the language of trade or listening. We may need to hone our communication skills like craftsmen, but we have a God who is an expert at explaining the infinite to the finite and who is passionate about his message of salvation reaching the ends of the earth. Tony Waghorn Editor – twaghorn@omf.org.uk
UK NATIONAL OFFICE OMF International (UK) Station Approach, Borough Green Kent TN15 8BG 01732 887299 omf@omf.org.uk www.omf.org.uk DIRECTORS National: Peter & Christine Rowan Finance: Darren Wall Mobilisation: Nick Cole Candidates: Louise Barker Member Care: Beverlea Parkhill AREA MOBILISERS London Guido & Linda Braschi 07561 558 857 london@omf.org.uk Colchester Mark Sinclair 07583 551 610 msinclair@omf.org.uk Cambridge Tim Jenkins 07557 237 039 tjenkins@omf.org.uk Hampshire Andy & Jenni Stevens 01865 600 024 astevens@omf.org.uk Bristol & Wales Charles & Liz Chalmers 0117 946 6211 cchalmers@omf.org.uk Glasgow Phil & Cathy Steed 0141 959 4180 scotland@omf.org.uk Belfast Nathaniel & Donna Jennings 028 9073 1266 ireland@omf.org.uk DIASPORA MINISTRIES Keith Wood 07971 418019 ask.diaspora@omfmail.com Registered Charity England and Wales: 1123973 Scotland: SC039645 Company limited by guarantee England and Wales: 6541911 International Headquarters, 2 Cluny Road , Singapore 259570
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News 4 Arrivals 6 Departures 8
Biblword 18 The Word on Facebook
A Support Masterclass Useful Tips
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The Story-Teller 20 Central Mindanao, Philippines
Being Here: Helping There Support Opportunities
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Missional Biscuits Mission at Work Silaa Farms Coffee Rien and Maaike de Bel
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Events 22 Directions 24
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Not So Secret 26 A New Book From Graham Orr Finances 27
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News See God at work in the unusual and usual aspects of life in Asia.
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The Extra Mile It was an ordinary working day in Phnom Penh when Alastair Curry received a bizarre request from OMF US colleague Kevin Olson, a church planter working 600kms away in the north of Cambodia. Kevin had helped a Christian man from the Krung tribe, the only believer in his village, by taking him to hospital in Phnom Penh following a serious accident. He had received news that the man had died of his injuries and his animist relatives wanted the body returned that same day. Here was a dilemma: the return journey would take Kevin at least 20 hours. If only someone could meet him halfway! Alastair Curry took up the challenge, collected the body from the surprised staff at the morgue and drove to the meeting-point with the man’s shrouded head resting against his arm. The man’s family had at first blamed his accident on his Christian faith but they were grateful for the kindness and support they had received from Christians, especially fellow Krung believers. Since then, the man’s wife, daughter and son-in-law have become followers of Christ, and were among 30 Krung people who completed a Creation-to-Christ Bible study and were baptised.
Student Work in Taiwan At a three-day character building camp for vocational college students, the morning began outdoors with an energetic dance exercise session followed by small group discussion time looking at a Bible story. Afterwards, students and Campus Evangelical Fellowship team led various creative interactive games and activities designed to address important life issues. Throughout the day Melanie Bister was aware of a buzz of conversation and laughter as small group leaders took time to talk more deeply with each student. In the evening session, a Christian teacher gave their testimony and the difference that following Jesus makes in their life. On the final day, one student shared that before she came to the camp she didn’t believe God existed but now she did and was interested to find out more about who this God was.
Project 2015 2015 is a special year for OMF International when we celebrate the 150th anniversary since the founding of the China Inland Mission by James Hudson Taylor. Project 2015 Coordinator, Glenys Goulstone, and her team are already busy planning events. Project 2015 is not only about celebration and thanksgiving but also about communicating our passion to reach people for Christ. Publications, videos, and social media will all play a part in sharing this message. Coinciding with the project is the production of a new movie-theatre released film on the life of Hudson Taylor. Thanks to generous gifts, the script has been commissioned but much remains to be done before the movie is ready for screening.
Storytelling ‘I really enjoyed that sermon.’ ‘I understood that so clearly.’ These are some comments heard by Brian Powell after a sermon using a storytelling style. In contrast, a traditional three-point sermon is usually received with a few polite ‘thank yous’. Brian has been researching storytelling in preaching, or ‘narrative preaching’ and would like to encourage some of the pastors in the Southern Philippines to learn this method as an occasional alternative to their usual preaching style. Brian is writing a book in Cebuano on the subject with the aim to help local pastors to communicate God’s word more effectively.
Link with the past
Mr ‘Say no’ says ‘Yes’! Last year we told the story of Mr Seino (pronounced ‘Say no’), the elderly gentleman who turned up one Sunday at Hokuei church in Japan. Miriam Davis and church member Mr Chiba, patiently took Mr Seino through introductory Bible studies. It was difficult. Mr Seino has diabetes, struggled to read the Bible, study a Bible text or remember what he had learned. Before Miriam left for home assignment they had worked through everything he needed to know about the principles of faith and baptism, but Miriam was doubtful that he would ever be ready to take that step. So it was a great joy to hear that Mr Seino had said ‘Yes’ and was baptised 23 December, saying in his testimony, ‘When I trusted that God would accept me just as I am, suddenly everything around me seemed brighter and I felt at peace in my heart’.
It is a big step for a local church to send out missionaries, especially if they have never done it before. Candidates Paul and Abbie Brooks were in this situation as their church looked forward to sending them to Taiwan. Then, someone noticed a small plaque in their church in memory of Emily Whitchurch, with the date of her death and the fact that she died as a martyr in China. Who was she? OMF’s archivist discovered that Emily went to China with the China Inland Mission and was martyred along with 57 other CIM missionaries in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. Several paragraphs about her life and how God had used her ministry appear in the book, ‘Martyred Missionaries of the China Inland Mission’ – an encouraging and inspiring link with the past for Paul, Abbie and their church. You can read or download the book here http://go.omf.org/emilywcim
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Arrivals If you’d like to connect with OMFers on home assignment or if you know of an opportunity for them to share their work and experience, please contact your nearest Area Mobiliser. You can find their details inside the front cover.
Moira Smith
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From Ministry Arrival Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand Third Culture Kids Care June 2013 Westhill, Aberdeenshire
I will be visiting prayer groups and individual supporters, participating in OMF conferences, and contributing to my home church where I can. I would like to develop training modules for Third Culture Kids workers (those who work with missionary children in boarding homes, conferences, schools and support for families), updating skills in the area of children’s ministry, sharing about opportunities to serve families and Third Culture Kids in Asia.
Prayer • For wisdom in scheduling visits and training opportunities. • For many God appointed connections with those who may be interested in working with OMF children in East Asia.
Peter & Renate Yonge From Ministry Arrival Location
London Japanese Diaspora Ministry April 2013 London
We are not exactly arriving back, as we have been in the UK all this time... but we are starting home assignment. We will be on deputation in the UK between May and July, then in Germany mainly in October and November. We are leaving Diaspora Ministries Team to return to Japan in about February 2014.
Prayer • Thank God for our faithful team of prayer supporters over many years. • Please pray that we’ll be able to connect with new supporters before our return to Japan. • Pray for our second son, he is starting university in September (first time living alone) so has a lot of changes coming up.
Simon & Joanna From Ministry Arrival Location
East Asia Education Projects and Teaching July 2013 Glasgow
After working in Asia for quite a long time, we are looking forward to an extended time back in the UK, this time to be based in Glasgow, instead of our hometown in South East England. During our Home Assignment we are hoping to start building connections with the ‘returning’ Chinese community in the South East and across Glasgow. We hope to start using some time to connect and invest into church’s outreach to these ‘returning’ students/scholars.
Prayer • For a good transition into the Diaspora Ministries Team at the end of Home Assignment, and for the right opening up of opportunities. • Good closure and handing over of roles here before we leave Asia in the summer. • For the right schools in the West End to work out for our daughters, and that they will transition well into their new culture.
Tim & Miho Walker (with Kent, Naomi & George) From Ministry Arrival Location
Nanae in Hokkaido, Japan Youth and Children's ministry April 2013 Cambridge
On home assignment we are looking forward both to strengthening existing relationships with family, friends and churches, and to meeting and sharing with many new people. We will be serving in our home church in Cambridge, engaging in mobilisation, taking some time to study and enjoying some holiday.
Prayer • A positive experience of life in the UK for our children. • Refreshment and renewal. • Opportunities to learn and grow.
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Departures Joelle Kenny
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Desination Cambodia Ministry Student Ministry Departed 17 February 2013 Sending Churches St Helen’s Church, Bishopsgate Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon
I remember as little girl poring over my Children’s Picture Atlas Book fascinated by all the funny looking food and clothing in other parts of the world. I decided when I grew up I would throw on a backpack and travel East. In 1998 I went to India to teach art at a Christian school and in 2006 I went to Cambodia. In Cambodia, I started an outreach Bible study with some Cambodian friends. We’d not had any formal Bible training and most of the time we felt very inadequate, but we opened the Bible and read it, and God’s word was powerful enough to save and change people. Seeing God’s word at work helped me decide that teaching the Bible full-time would be the best use of the rest of my life. I’ve been back in the UK for three years doing Bible training, and will return to Cambodia in March where I will join an OMF team doing Student Ministry. There are many things that excite me, but what excites me the most is that students will come to university from places all over Cambodia that are still unreached by the gospel. How wonderful if they became believers at university and then took the gospel back with them to their hometowns!
Matt & Jude Tindale with Caleb and Anna Destination Japan Ministry Church planting Departed 17 February arriving Japan 18 March Sending Churches Central, Edinburgh St Mark’s Gabalfa, Cardiff Ebenezer Church, Talbot Green All Saints Church, Belton Matt and Jude’s interest in cross-cultural mission began during time overseas after leaving school. For Jude it was Romans 10 Bible study in Africa. For Matt it was in the experience of living with some wonderfully kind Hindus and discovering that the gospel was such a foolish message to their ears. Jude’s first interaction with Japan was helping her father send out the prayer letters of some OMFers in Japan, though she doesn’t remember ever reading one! Later on Japan came back into view after she met Matt who had got to know and care for a number of Japanese at university. Jude was taught about God’s plan for the whole world from an early age through family times and church, hearing stories from missionaries and later reading inspirational biographies. Wanting to experience Asia, Jude went to the Philippines for a 3 month Serve Asia trip. This was an encouraging time of seeing God at work among the urban poor, and seeking God’s direction for the future. A vision trip for Matt and Jude to Japan in October 2011 was a helpful time of enjoying Japan and discerning that it would be a good ‘fit’ for the family. Since then, friendships with Japanese mums at playgroups in Edinburgh have given an exciting cultural taste and start on the lessons to come. ‘Our main desire is to welcome people into our family life, we long for the love of Jesus we know in our lives to shine through, even when it gets a bit messy!’ One interesting fact that you may not know is that Jude was a county shot-putt champion in her youth. Future female Sumo supremo?
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A Mission Support Masterclass There are many ways you can support missionaries. People feel comfortable with different ways of doing it. Here's a grab bag of ideas you might like to consider.
Keep them informed and included 10
Let them know they are remembered Missionaries love to know that they’re remembered. And because they aren’t with you, it is hard for them to know unless they’re told or shown. • Emails and Facebook messages are great but what about real letters and postcards*? • Phone calls or Skype calls might be more difficult with busy lives, but they can be especially encouraging. • Tell them what you prayed for them. Paul models this in 1 Thessalonians, telling the church, not only that he was praying for them, but what he was praying for them. * If your friend is working in a creative-access country, check with them about safe communication.
• Keep missionaries informed of significant changes within the church, like changes in leadership, or direction. • Don’t assume they know about changes in contact details. When sending out prayer letters each month, it can be a pain to find many emails returned. • Include the missionaries in the church directory and ensure they get a copy. • Let them know what is happening in church: events like church camps, baptisms, births, deaths, and marriages. These things may also make it less of a shock to transitioning into the church when they’re home. • Ask your missionaries for photos or a PowerPoint presentation to show at church during a missionary spot or prayer time. • Ask them for advice and ideas for Bible studies or home-group study ideas via email.
Wendy & David Marshall, Callum, Douglas and Jamie (Australia) OMF Japan
Population 126.4m OMF Workers 133 % Christian 0.6 % Wendy writes almost daily on her life in Japan: www.mmuser.blogspot.com
Care for them with gifts Love can come in care packages too, especially ones that have been thoughtfully put together. A surprise is good, but a care package is even better if it contains items that your missionary especially wants, so it is good to ask them what they’d like.
Show loving concern for their wider family Caring for missionaries’ families at home can be a way that churches can show their love and support. We have a colleague whose father became a Christian after their home church showed care for him and drew him into their church fellowship.
When they are back in your country Missionaries appreciate practical care when they’re transitioning in and out of the country. A full pantry speaks volumes when you’ve just landed back in your home country and cannot face grocery shopping yet!
Visit them Would they enjoy a visit? Send one or more members of your church or leadership team to visit them. Here are some tips: • Do consult with them first! People have different coping thresholds when it comes to houseguests. It can be easy to become overwhelmed with visitors. • Be aware that they have busy ministries to attend to, as well as potential limitations in providing you with accommodation. • Ask them when a good time would be for you to visit. • Be sensitive about the length of your visit. • Be considerate about their finances too. (Don’t be a burden by cleaning out their pantry without helping out with the expense.) • Travel light so you can take goodies from home to them. Maybe take things back from Asia for them, for supporters at home. • Babysit the kids so a couple can have a night out.
It's over to you There are many ways to go about supporting missionaries and it’s okay to feel comfortable with supporting them in different ways. However, we've found that it really helps to come from the top. If the leadership of a church is mission-minded, it is easier for the church to be mission-minded. You may never know until heaven the difference your care might make to someone having a tough time. It is easy for missionaries to feel that they’re out of sight, out of mind. But missionaries are still a part of the body of Christ – they’re the hands that are overseas. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:25 "There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other" (NIV).
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Missional Biscuits Anita worked for a pharmaceuticals company. She and her fellow scientists would come to work each morning and shuffle off to their individual cubicles to carry out important research. And then in the evening they would shuffle out again and go home.
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It wasn't long before Anita realised that this way of doing things wasn't good for them and wasn't good for the business either... nobody shared ideas, nobody knew what else was going on that could have been relevant. There was no team work. So Anita decided to try and change things. She performed an experiment to see how many scientists would come out of their cubicles if offered freshly brewed coffee and chocolate biscuits at 11am on a Friday. And she discovered that 97 per cent of scientists would indeed emerge... and they started to talk to each other... and discovered that they could help each other with ideas and techniques. Who would have thought that chocolate biscuits could be an instrument of the Kingdom? But they were for Anita. Through those biscuits and coffee she released relational wellbeing amongst her colleagues, and it was good not only for them but for the business as well. You see, the gospel really is good news not just for our working colleagues but also for our work and workplaces. When we work, we can reflect our working God who created beauty and order, gave us a means of providing for ourselves, our families and others less fortunate, and a way to release the huge potential that lies in people and the world around us. And as we work we can join in with God's bigger mission: to help fix what was broken when we decided to go our own way in that first workplace, Eden. We don't need to leave God at the door when we go to work. We can be those who shape the world on God's behalf as we work and be shaped by him through our work.
Illustrations by Jason Ramasami saamvisual.com
Charles Hippsley Charles is the Director of the LICC Work Forum which provides a range of projects aimed at equipping Christians for their workplace context and helping local churches to support them in their calling. charles.hippsley@licc.org.uk www.licc.org.uk /work-forum/
Sometimes though we need help to see what being a disciple of Christ looks like in a world of work that seems so remote from our church community. Well here's a framework to think about that could help you work it through. We call it ‘7Ms’. Ask yourself these questions:
With God's help, how could I… • Make good work? – doing good work intentionally for the Lord: your best with his help • Model godly character? – how might we manifest the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? • Minister grace and love? – the way we work, the way we set up a meeting, the way we do an appraisal, with the other person’s interests at heart • Make culture? – how are things done in your workplace? Is there anything you could do to help change them for the better? • Make learners of Jesus’ ways? – how could you show others what Jesus is like by what you do or how you do it, so that they see it’s good and join in? • Be a Mouthpiece for truth and justice? – speaking up for what is true and just, or against what is unfair or unhealthy • Be a Mouthpiece for the gospel? – praying and being prepared for the opportunity to share something of what Jesus has done in your life Clearly we can't do all these at once… we need discernment as well. • Ask God for eyes to see what you're already doing… and be encouraged. • Ask God for eyes to see what you might do… and be courageous. Remember this doesn't need to be complicated – eyes to see and a packet of biscuits could be enough!
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Being Here: Helping There
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Coffee Bean Counting
Mobile Marketing
Feeding Fish
Business: Organic coffee bean buying and roasting Owners: Rien and Maike de Bel (Netherlands) Location: North Thailand Need: Accountant Remote supporter: Ray, trained accountant and printing firm owner Tools Required: Email, Skype and visits Result: Spreadsheet accounts transferred to accounting software and fully checked accounts for Rien and Maike, freeing them to concentrate on developing the Business. Website: http://silaa.eu
Business: Software Company Location: West China Need: To assess local business needs and bring an innovative and profitable product to market. Remote Supporter: Wilson, marketing expert Tools Required: Email, Skype and visits Result: A targeted text message based advertising service to offer to local businesses. (Sadly before the new product could be introduced the company had to be sold. We look forward to hearing how progress is made with the new owners.)
Business: Fish farming Location: South East Asia Need: Expert in feedstuff development Remote Supporter: Still needed Potential Result: A sustainable locally-produced feedstuff to supply a fish farming missional business. This will enable local fish farmers to benefit from the latest disease-free growing methods. There may also be opportunities for local farmers to grow crops for this feed.
Andrew Jackman Missional Business Support Unit One way of engaging in mission is to go and take part, but if you can’t do that, have you considered working with a business to help and support them remotely? Your skills could impact a business, a community or maybe a nation.
Healthcare Accreditation
Stop Press
So why not?
Business: Healthcare Location: West China Need: To assist a hospital owner and his senior management team explore the alternatives for gaining international accreditation. Remote Supporter: Andrew, Senior Healthcare Manager Tools: On site visit, followed by ongoing consultancy. Result: The decision was made to concentrate on gaining a recently developed Chinese accreditation status, then seek widely recognised international JCI accreditation.
A really urgent need we have at the moment is for a couple to run a branch restaurant in West China. The first restaurant is successful and premises have been obtained for a second. Restaurant experience would be very helpful but good Mandarin is essential.
Business people often have drive and determination but do not possess all the skills needed to run a business. Accounting, marketing, design, IT and distribution skills are often required, as well as a number that are more industry specific. Why not get your name on our database so we can keep you up to date with what’s going on and what the specific needs are.
Interested? Get in touch missional.business@omfmail.com
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Silaa Farms Coffee 16
I come from a background in electronic engineering, and I worked for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment on the storm surge barrier in the eastern Schelde.
After I had been there for a few years, Maaike and I felt called into ministry by the Lord through a sermon on the life of Jonah during a day from the Dutch Mission Alliance. Romans 10:14–15 has also played an important role in our lives when we sought direction for where to go. In order to have opportunities to share Christ or to build up believers in their faith, you need to have relationships with people. A missional business can be a great help in developing authentic relationships with the people you work with every day, and the people you meet through the business. It gives you a genuine reason to be at a certain place and a good opportunity to live out Christ who lives in us. People will observe you as you lead the business and watch how you deal with life’s problems and difficulties. Colleagues that work with you closely will see your heart; they will see what motivates you and why you do things in a certain way.
To start a business we needed a product and a market. Initially that was a quite a challenge to decide what to choose. We wanted a product that the local people could successfully work with or produce independently. Coffee has been promoted in Thailand for several years, but when we started it was not easy for a lot of farmers to have access to a good marketplace. In hindsight I am happy we went along the route of an agricultural product. Agriculture is still very labour-intensive in much of Asia and because of this it takes more people to produce the product than it would in the western world. The benefit of this is that it brings you in contact with a lot of people! We work very closely with a number of local people and one couple in particular. We've known them for a long time and we share the same vision. I am thrilled to see the hand of the Lord under our company. We have gone through difficult times and we are still in operation. I see our company as an instrument in God’s hand to reach out to those in need, to those with fewer opportunities and to those that seek the truth.
Rein and Maaike de Bel Agriculture and Produce Silaa Farms Company Ltd www.silaa.eu Watch videos of Rein & Maaike's work: www.omf.org/work
North Thailand
Karen People in East Thailand Population 57,000 % Christian 3%
I see our company as an instrument in God’s hand to reach out to those in need Our prayer now is that people will help us by buying our coffee. We could still use a bigger market. We also need more people to join our team long-term to help us work out more of the potential that we have through the company. We need an agriculturist, a sales person and people to lead community development. There is also always place for short-termers who share the same vision. If you are thinking about moving to Asia and setting up or being part of a missional business – pray about this, and come with a calling. Setting up a business in the West is already difficult to do, and in an Asian setting it is even harder. It is important to have trustworthy local partners. To identify these, and learn the local language and culture in order to build relationships with them takes time, but is certainly worthwhile.
Prayer • Pray that Missional Businesses would choose the right kind of business to be involved with. • Pray for more people and churches to import Silaa coffee to help grow the opportunities in North Thailand. • Pray for Rien and Maikke’s need of an agriculturalist and other specialist skills. • Thank God for their local business partners and their heart to reach the Karen people.
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Biblword 18
Getting the Word out on Facebook – ‘I am glad, I am getting most of my answers from this page,’ Anisha from India wrote on the wall of the Facebook page Biblword.
Isaan region Bangkok
Over a billion people all over the world are using Facebook. Many of them use it to be spiritually fed or to get answers to their life questions. OMF missionary Marten Visser was a late-comer to Facebook. ‘When I joined in October 2011, over 600 million people had gone before me.’ Yet he was no stranger to social media. To force himself to be faithful in his quiet time, he had started a Bible account on Twitter. ‘Every day I am reading and studying one chapter from God’s Word, and ask the Lord to give me something to teach, encourage, or exhort. I try to put that in 140 characters. Each entry includes a very short Bible quote, with a thought about what the quote means for us today.’ Over ten thousand people were following his daily mini-messages on Twitter. Yet when Marten started placing them on Facebook, it took off in an unexpected way. His Facebook page Biblword grew to 750,000 subscribers within 18 months. When Marten realised the extent of the audience he could reach on Facebook, he started to place other messages as well – pictures with Bible texts, questions about the Bible, Bible studies, and more. Once a week subscribers to the page get the opportunity to ask their questions about the Bible. A team of volunteers writes articles to answer these questions. Every day one article is placed on the Facebook page, and also on a dedicated webpage. Biblword is reaching people all over the world. Some of the subscribers are evangelical Christians, but many others are not. Cultural Christians, Roman Catholics, and people from other faiths form a large part of the readership. The geographical reach of Biblword is surprising. People from almost every country of the world, including countries hostile to the Gospel, like Afghanistan and Saudi-Arabia, are subscribing. There are large numbers of subscribers with unexpected locations like Medan in Indonesia; Kathmandu in Nepal; and Karachi in Pakistan.
Marten Visser Missionary to the Isaan of North Thailand and to the unreached on Social Media! Twitter users 500m (200m active monthly) Facebook users 1.06bn (618m active daily).
Biblword grew to
As a missionary, Marten is used to thinking cross-culturally and therefore he soon started to think about ministry on Facebook in other languages. ‘Besides English, Biblword now exists in six other languages; Arabic, Dutch, Indonesian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai. Together these pages now have more subscribers than the English one. The largest one is the Indonesia page, with well over 300,000 subscribers. This page grew so large because Facebook started recommending it to people in Indonesia. That is quite something for the largest Muslim country in the world!’ Ideally, online seekers become church members in real life. Marten is experimenting with various methods to make this connection. ‘On the Thai page, I invite all the subscribers to do an evangelistic course online. Every time I place the invitation, we have over 40 people subscribing to the course (though most do not finish it). At the end of the course, the students get the opportunity to be linked to a local church.’ Marten still has many plans to continue to grow the Facebook ministry. ‘I hope to be able to start Bible pages in all major languages. For every language I would like to see a team of volunteers engaging with the subscribers and answering their questions. And I want to continue to find ways to invite the subscribers to take the next step in their walk with the Lord.’ • Are you interested in engaging the subscribers of Biblword, many of whom are not Christians, to answer their questions about faith, the Bible, and God? You could become part of the volunteer team of Biblword. Contact Marten Visser at marten.visser@omfmail.com. • Biblword is an international project of OMF, project number P68120. You or your church may adopt a country or a language version of Biblword.
750,000 subscribers within 18 months
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Ang Tigsaysay
Manilla
Manobo Area
Davao
The Story-Teller Chronological Bible Storying: Communicating the stories of the Bible by telling them aloud to listeners. Traditional oral communities often resolve conflicts and transfer knowledge by story telling. As many aspects of Bible culture are very similar to their own, they can resonate and identify with these stories.
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It was difficult to see exactly how many people had crowded into the tiny wooden room. There were children sitting on the floor and others suspended from the walls as they perched on the flimsy wooden structure surrounding the crowd. There were old people spitting tobacco, clicking their tongues and uttering noises of affirmation as they listened intently. There were women, violently shaking ropes suspended from the rafters attached to blankets containing babies. Apparently it was an attempt to pacify them. The lack of air, combined with the stench of unwashed bodies, stale tobacco and damp dog was nauseating, but that didn’t seem to bother anyone. The story-teller was holding his audience in rapt attention. He was a small man with a big voice, with ill-fitting dirty clothes and big farmer hands. He was telling a story about a man – it could have been someone from any one of the communities around there – who had tricked his brother out of the farm and all the inheritance. The only recourse open to this man now was to flee to another village, to some distant relative who would feed him and let him stay there until his brother’s anger had died down. He would return in time, of course, but only after he had sent someone ahead of him to determine if the brother had forgotten about the past. So much of the story resonated with those listening. The man speaking had only planned to tell one story, but the crowd had nowhere pressing to go and, in the absence of any other entertainment in the village, they urged him to tell another. The storyteller obliged and began another. He told the story of a man called Joseph, sold by his brothers as a slave – because he had clearly thought himself better than they were. They all agreed that this was fitting punishment for such behaviour. The storyteller went on to tell them that years later Joseph actually forgave his brothers and told them so! This was indeed bizarre behaviour. The story goes that the Creator God had spoken to the king (Joseph’s owner) in a dream, telling him that there was going to be a famine. However, in a strange twist the only person who could tell the meaning of the dream was Joseph, the slave! Clearly the Creator God knew him and entrusted him with the interpretation of the dream, he must therefore be trustworthy and so the King had put him in charge of the distribution of all the grain. Naturally, being in that position, he was to be able to provide food for his family and their community in the time of the famine. This was news. Imagine the Creator God warning people about a famine! Their own ancestors had told them that the Creator God had stopped speaking to even their wisest Elders long ago. The noise in the room was deafening, everyone had something to say on this subject: Where did this man Joseph live? Who are his relatives? Do any of them live near here? Imagine if there were some of their relatives who could interpret dreams from the Creator God? Maybe He would tell us about the future – we wouldn’t need to worry about famine, or drought or who was planning to attack us. We could be prepared for anything! 'Will the Creator God speak to us in dreams? ' asked one tiny old man whose face looked like a crumpled up piece of paper. 'How can we know it is not just the spirits trying to deceive us?' chirped another pessimistically. The story-teller was unsure how to answer these questions but assured his listeners that his teacher had a whole book of these stories and promised to teach them more next week. Perhaps they would find the answers to their questions in one of them.
Wilson and Irene McMahon
OMF Philippines
Area Central Mindanao Ministry Tribal Church planting Religion Animism Tribal Pop. 8,977,000 % Christian 6 tribes (0.5% – 7%)
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participate
www.omf.org.uk/events
Events 3 – 5 May
Our Goal – His glory: OMF Scotland Annual Conference Windmill Christian Centre Arbroath, DD11 1QG Contact: Phil and Cathy Steed Email: scotland@omf.org.uk Phone: 0141 9594180 go.omf.org/scotland2013 3 – 6 May
GO2013: Healing a Broken World Bulstrode, Gerrrards Cross Be challenged, inspired, and moved, then GO with a heart that longs to see God glorified through His glorious gospel! Jackie Pullinger, will be one of the key speakers at the mission-focused festival GO2013. You can also hear about OMF’s AIDS Care project from Mogens Pedersen. Register free or book to camp at: www.go2013.org.uk Contact: info@gofestival.info
GO2013
healing a broken world 3-6 MAY Buls trode, Bucks
• Jackie pullinger • Andy Hawthorne • Elliott Tepper
You can make a difference!
Hear about God’s work in the world Dis cover God’s heart for the nations Explore how God has uniquely gifted you GO do s omething about it
go2013.org.uk
bring your friends
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*camping fees apply; book online
8 June
6.30 – 9.30pm Holy Trinity Brompton, Brompton Road, London SW7 1JA Freed to Serve is an evening sponsored by: AWM, CLC, Frontiers, Latin Link, OM, OMF, International Needs, ReachAcross, SIM, Samaritan’s Purse, and WEC International.Worship This is a ticketed free event. book at: www.globalconnections.co.uk/ freetoserve
10.30am – 3.30pm St Philip & St James Church. Larkhay Road, Hucclecote. Gloucester, GL3 3NS Speakers: Martin Goldsmith, Miriam Davis, Gerard, Heather Simmons Charles & Liz Chalmers Phone: 0117 9466211 Email: cchalmers@omf.org.uk www.hucclecotechurch.org
Worldchangers: Freed to Serve
A Heart 4 Asia – Gloucester Day Conference
13 July 14 May
Changing China – Changing Church
10:30am – 3pm 174 Redland Rd, BS6 6YG Contact Charles & Liz Phone: 0117 9466211 Email: cchalmers@omf.org.uk
10.45am – 5pm Chinese Church in London, Soho, 66A Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JB The last 50 years have seen tectonic changes in China and in her global impact – this day will include explanations, and analysis of that change, and of what God is doing in it all. A multi-agency event with an excellent line up of speakers. £5 cost includes lunch and afternoon refreshments. Info and booking: go.omf.org/gcchina
Bristol Day of Prayer
18 May
Bangor China Day North Wales 10.30pm – 3.30pm Venue: TBA Contact Charles & Liz Phone: 0117 9466211 Email: cchalmers@omf.org.uk
20 July
free
ADMissiOn & pArkinG
everyone
welcome
bulstrode, oxford rd, bucks, s19 8sz
challenge ce find your pla
7 May
camp on site *
s upported by
7 June
Bristol Day of Prayer
7.30 – 9.30pm St Philip & St James Church Larkhay Road, Hucclecote Gloucester, GL3 3NS
10:30am – 3pm 174 Redland Rd, BS6 6YG, Contact Charles & Liz Phone: 0117 9466211 Email: cchalmers@omf.org.uk
Evening of Prayer for the World
OMF will also be at:
Keswick 2013: Bringing the Word alive 13–19 July, 20–26 July, 27 July–2 August www.keswickministries.org 20 – 26 July
New Horizon University of Ulster, Coleraine www.newhorizon.org.uk 3 – 10 August
‘Keswick’ in Buckie www.keswickinbuckie.org.uk 10 – 17 August
EMW Aberystwyth Conference 2013
An update from the London Mission Cell This time we met at a place in Oval. There’s a lot to give thanks to God for; we had a good attendance, 8 including myself. In Exodus 19 we looked at the awesomeness of God's holiness. This led us to give thanks for the access to the Father that we have gained through Christ, and to repent of having put God's awesome Holy character in box. We had a country focus on Malaysia and a report back from a former member, now going out long term. Lunch was baked potatoes and chocolate cake! We gave the Next Generation conference a big push.
Interested in joining a Mission Cell? email: joel.dungate@omfmail.com
go.omf.org/emwconf
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6 – 11 August
‘Imagine’ Scotland, Inverurie www.imaginescotland.co.uk 23 – 27 August
Soul Survivor – Momentum 2013 Bath & West Showground, Somerset momentum.co.uk 23 – 31 August
Bangor Worldwide www.worldwidemission.org 29 September – 4 October
Scottish Northern Convention Castle Street Church of Scotland, Dingwall go.omf.org/scotconv
Prayer • Thank God for a good attendance and for our host. • Pray that we show God the respect and reverence he deserves as the king of the universe and centre of our lives. • Pray for one member who is just about to go for his orientation training and another about to hand in his notice at work to train for cross-cultural work. • Pray for one of our group who recently lost her job and needs a new one quickly. • Pray for the upcoming elections in Malaysia, that they would be fair and lead to more religious freedom.
Directions Trade and the Transmission of Faith
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What can history teach us about the relationship between trade and the transmission of faith? Quite a lot it would seem. The answers to the two following questions may help unpack some key lessons for missional business in 21st century Asia.
How did Islam arrive in East Asia? Ans: Muslim Traders. Exactly how Islam came to East Asian communities is not known but scholars agree that a ‘direct relationship between trade and the spread of Islam is undeniable.’ The maritime history of the Indian Ocean suggests that there were Muslim sailors working on ships plying the trade routes around the archipelago as early as the eighth century. In their book, Spice Journeys: Taste and Trade in the Islamic World, de Guise and Sutarwala write that ‘Islam and hospitality go together like coffee and cardamom. Islam and trade have also been inextricably bound since the time of the Prophet Muhammad.’ It’s fair to say that Islam was embraced in South-East Asia not least because of the significant commercial benefits it offered. It was Indian Muslims, especially those from Gujarat, who had been influential in Malacca – a key city – from the thirteenth century onwards. They played a pivotal role in Malacca’s emergence not just as an important trading centre, but in its eventual
rise to become what historians have described as ‘the greatest Islamic empire of South-East Asia’ and a conduit for Muslim influence throughout the archipelago. From the 13th century onwards it was Indian Muslims, especially those from Gujarat, who were influential in the emergence of the key city of Malacca, not just as a trading centre, but eventually as what historians described as ‘the greatest Islamic empire of South-East Asia’ – a conduit for Muslim influence throughout the region. So what? Well, this historical sketch provides an example of how key trading routes and relationships are highly influential in the transmission of a faith – in this case Islam. And notice too that it was linked with a key trading location – the city of Malacca. In the 21st century we should be looking at where the key trading networks, routes, relationships and locations are, and thinking strategically and missionally about how these can be used for the glory of God.
We should be looking at where the key trading networks, routes, relationships and locations are.
Why did Islam expand in East Asia? Ans: European Christian Traders A key factor in the expansion of Islam across SouthEast Asia was the coming of Western European Christian powers. Seeking access to the lucrative spice trade and the other natural resources, and with the aim of controlling the trade routes, the first of those powers arrived in the early sixteenth century, when the Portuguese captured Malacca in 1511. Then came the Spanish, conquering the port of Manila in 1571. The Dutch secured a trade agreement in 1600 with the chief of Ambonia, and then took Malacca from the Portuguese. The Dutch ultimately lost control of the spice trade to the British who took control of Penang in 1786, Singapore in 1819, and then the Malay Peninsula. With these successive waves of colonial power dominating South-East Asia it might be thought that Islam’s expansion would have been halted, its influence curbed. The reality, however, was quite the reverse: ‘Islam was actually motivated and aided in its spread and penetration by the arrival of Western Christian powers from Europe.’ Any thought that those European powers might have encouraged the growth of Christianity needs to reckon with this stark summary of the Portuguese: The Portuguese have been described... as swarming into Asia in a spirit of open brigandage. And although priests and monks multiplied in their dominions, they were ineffectual missionaries because of the misdeeds of traders and freebooters.
By Peter Rowan Not all the European traders had such a dismal record and there is evidence of positive Christian witness by Christian merchants who reached East Asia in the early 16th century. For instance, a Frenchman, Lois of Varheme, met two Nestorian merchants en-route to Java, Borneo and the Molluccan islands in 1506 in Burma. But the majority of European traders were not a good witness for the gospel. The historical record gives pause for thought on how we engage in missional business in 21st century East Asia. If, as with so many of the Christian traders of the 16th and 17th centuries, there is nothing distinctively Christian about our lifestyle, conduct and business practice, then the watching world is right to wonder if the gospel is worth considering at all and if it really makes the difference we say it does. Whether we are in missional business or not, the world around us needs to see as well as hear the gospel from our lives. That is as true today as it was in 16th century Malacca. For those prepared to put radical discipleship into the heart of business, the doors are open all over East Asia.
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By Graham Orr
Not So Secret Do you understand what is going on in other peoples’ hearts? In your friends’, neighbours’ and colleagues’ hearts?
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I have worked in Japan for twenty years, trying to understand Japanese hearts and God’s work in them. For one year in five I return home and struggle to readjust to reading hearts here in the UK. While I have been away attitudes towards money, debt, sex and the Church have shifted. I have to recalibrate how I relate to people; otherwise I quickly come across as oafish or arrogant, out-dated or aggressive. I tell stories of God at work in Japanese hearts to groups of Christians across the UK. Many in their post-modern settings have been helped as I pass on the lessons I have (often reluctantly) learned about how God uses us to reach out to others. In Japan, accompanying someone on their journey to faith in Christ takes a while. There are many cultural barriers and spiritual obstacles to overcome. In post-Christian UK, we also find leading people to see the uniqueness of Christ takes much longer than it used to. It requires long-term application of patience, sensitivity and love. But how? Not So Secret helps any Christian to be more aware of a three-way uniqueness. Not only are you and I unique, each person we meet who is not yet a Christian is also unique. It is the nature of each relationship that provides the context for God’s unique, dynamic activity: mission. In each chapter, there are plenty of real life episodes, from blocked toilets to dropped shopping lists, with insight from the gospel stories of Jesus and his learners and practical suggestions. Not So Secret will encourage and guide you as you see God at work in the hearts of your friends, neighbours and colleagues.
Billions reader offer £ 6.50 (rrp £8.99) with the code SECRET13 http://ukshop.omf.org or Call 01732 887200
By Darren Wall
Financial Report ‘There were no needy persons among them…’
In 2012, OMF UK received 105% of its estimated financial requirement (unaudited income figures below). We praise the Acts 4:34 Lord for this provision, which enabled all OMF UK members to be fully supported financially in their life and ministry. I will outline how this income was spent in the next Billions. One of our core values is that of being a fellowship. Although that value covers many areas of our life and ministry together, from a financial perspective it means that we are a community that cares for each other, praying for one another’s financial needs and sharing what we have. As you share with us prayerfully, financially, and in many other ways, you are part of the fellowship. Without these contributions from you, OMF would not be able to serve God’s purposes. We know the Lord always provides what is required to accomplish his purposes, but this is only achieved as we commit to sharing what he has provided. I have personally seen how sharing has enabled Asian members from developing countries to serve in OMF (something we desire to see increasing), blessing many including me as I have observed and learnt from them. In addition, sharing has enabled many lower supported members from countries including the UK to stay on their fields of service, again resulting in very fruitful ministries. Please pray that the Lord would provide for all of us, however he chooses, and that we would be faithful in sharing that provision so that ‘there are no needy persons among them’ (Acts 4:34). www.omf.org.uk/giving Actual income Target income
£6634K £6302K
Member Support Gifts (£4116K) 62% Legacies (£1917K) 29% General Donations/ Other Income (£601K) 9%
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SHOP
The Missional Entrepreneur Mark L. Russell The globalization of business has provided Christians opportunities like never before – if our principles and practices are sound. Dr Mark L. Russell examines the biblical basis for business as mission, including an in-depth analysis of the Apostle Paul’s work, and then presents fresh, practical insights for business leaders based on his extensive research overseas. He takes a thorough, holistic approach to the many issues involved in business as mission, and aspiring practitioners and veteran entrepreneurs will be encouraged and challenged by Russell’s stories, examples and applications. £15 Website http://ukshop.omf.org Phone 01732887299
…has gospel impact.
Missional Business Your bean counting… …means their bean counting…
Engage, Support, Invest, Pray omf.org/work