Billions Sept 2013 online

Sept – Dec 2013

PEOPLE

PLACES

PARTICIPATE

Close Scrutiny People or Profit?

Glimpses of Unity Lessons from a slum

Facing a Task Unfinished Vietnamese Iced Coffee

구출 작전

International Rescue

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.

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: Lenore Gerschwitz (Interim) Candidates: Louise Barker Member Care: Beverlea Parkhill AREA MOBILISERS London Guido & Linda Braschi 07561 558 857 london@omf.org.uk

From The Editor Very early on in the life of CIM it became a multinational mission, so why is demonstrating Christ's love as a community of international believers so important?

Through this issue, we will see how unity across cultural divides demonstrates the gospel in a very special way. Missional Businesses can bring cultures together. International teams can show God's love and be a foretaste of Paul's Vision of those 'from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues.'

We don't always get it right, it's a tough challenge, but worth it for the rescue effort.

Tony Waghorn Editor – twaghorn@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 Manchester Paul Robinson 0778 626 4597 paul.robinson@omfmail.com 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

PEOPLE

PLACES

News 4 Departures 6 Arrivals 8

Glimpses of Unity In places like North Korea

Close Scrutiny A cafĂŠ with love on the menu

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People or Profit?

Choosing the right business

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PARTICIPATE 10

Facing a Task Unfinished 18 A study based on Houghton's hymn

Lessons from a slum 16 Six things I learnt living in a slum

Vietnamese Iced Coffee 20 A taste of Asia to share with friends Events 22 Financial Overview for 2012 24 Directions 26

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p12

p20

p10 p26

PEOPLE

News

The Tiny Seed Effect

Selected snippets from OMF's work with East Asians around the world.

Christian Prayer

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John and Sian Newton Webb were attending the monthly international event at Kitami Engineering University near where they live in Japan.

A Malaysian girl came up to John and said, ‘I’ve been told you work at a church. I’m not a Christian but I want to pray for my friend, can we pray together after the event?’ Miss S explained that she had a Christian friend in Malaysia who prayed for her and she was so impressed by ‘Christian prayer’ that she wanted to pray for her friend. John and Sian were able to explain briefly about God, how Jesus opens the way to him and what prayer is. Then they prayed for her and her friend. She was in tears by the end.

John and Sian’s prayer is that Miss S will come to know God as her heavenly Father, whose throne she can confidently approach in prayer.

Sleep Well

Imagine running a house with more than 24 bedrooms. If you have good organisational skills, a measure of wisdom and discernment, AND a sense of humour, you too, like me, Ruth Gould can manage an OMF Guest Home!

'Many guests comment on the peacefulness of this place. I delight to hear that, because then I know that all is running smoothly – the bookings are made, rooms ready, meals prepared, laundry done, questions answered, and the domestic team are working well.

Over the years here I have learnt to trust God for all the details of managing the Guest Home – and He has never failed.'

A young Indonesian man called Matthew once attended a course under the leadership of John Stott; his life was transformed and redirected. Years later, he asked if it was possible for Langham Preaching Seminars to come to Indonesia. In response, Jonathan Lamb set in motion a programme for the training of preachers, which has now snow-balled into a country-wide ministry of training pastors and lay preachers to engage in serious Bible exposition and systematic preaching.

Now a team of about 30 local trainers are travelling in small teams all over the country, responding to invitations from many of the huge denominations which represent the majority of Indonesian churches. It is amazing how a tiny seed, planted in the heart of a young man years ago, has grown into a huge national movement that is impacting hundreds of preachers and their congregations.

‘I really appreciate you’

Nathanael Ayling wanted to find a way into the local university. He discovered that the library was open to the public so started to go there every day to do some reading. He noticed a poster for an English speaking club and went to see the Professor in charge who was very excited to meet a native English speaker.

That same day Nathanael went to the group for the first time. During the session the professor popped his head in to check on things and as he left the room said, ‘I really appreciate you’, to Nathanael. That day, one of the English club members invited Nathanael to join the university futsal club (indoor football) which he went to two days later.

‘I really appreciate you’

The Woman in the White T-Shirt

J had recently moved to Ayutthaya in Thailand to open a health food shop.

As she began her day in prayer, she felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to wear her Christian T-shirt that day. She had never had this sense of direction before, and she didn't really like the white colour, but she put it on and went out on business. OMF worker Brian Farber (US) was on his way home when he saw J with the message on the shirt. Compelled to stop, he pulled over to ask if she was a Christian. ‘Yes.’ ‘Where do you go to church?’ ‘I don't know where there is one.’ Brian was able to invite J to the local church, where she immediately began attending, eager to meet a group of believers. That same week, a middle-aged man had a dream in which a woman in white told him about this same local church. He followed the prompting and attended the church.

Start them young

In training students for world mission at Oak Hill Theological College in London, Ray Porter has looked for the integration of all aspects of study into practical ministry. Even he was surprised when he heard from a former student who was now teaching Hebrew to primary school children at a Christian training initiative run by a church in China. They believe that by this means the next generation of Chinese Christians will be prepared to be biblical scholars. How’s your Hebrew?

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PEOPLE

Paul & Abbie Brooks

Departures Find out more and pray for those departing for Asia (or Asia and back) to serve East Asians.

Andrew Smith Destination

Designation

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Starting Sending Churches

UK – with Chinese Diaspora Ministries I will continue to be based at Warwick University and will make trips to East Asia to visit students who have returned home.

July 2013 Park Fellowship / Westwood Church in Coventry

After university I worked in India with OM, and went on to All Nations Christian College hoping to work with OMF in Indonesia. When that door closed for me in 1988, I turned my focus to working with International students, mostly Chinese.

I was studying Egyptology and Hieroglyphics, but thought that Mandarin might be more useful. Having put so much hard work into the language, I began to focus more on Mandarin speaking students. I’m especially concerned with helping students who come to faith to continue growing spiritually when they get home.

I am known as Uncle Andrew to many on campus and the most common response I get introducing myself to new students is 'Oh! You’re THAT Andrew!'

Destination Taiwan Designation Maybe Church planting?

Departed July 2013 Sending Churches Downton Baptist Church, Shenley Christian Fellowship & Harnham Free Church

Abbie grew up in a christian family and gave her life to Christ at the age of four. Although she thought that she was headed for mission in Africa, God had different ideas! As she started a degree at Redcliffe College in order to be equipped for cross-cultural service, she just so happened to bump into Paul…

Paul grew up on Reunion Island where his parents were serving as missionaries. When he was fourteen, his family moved to the UK. The trauma of moving disillusioned him, but after walking away from God, he turned back with a deep desire to love and serve Him – which took him to Redcliffe, where he met Abbie!

'Our interest in Taiwan was confirmed on a vision trip to Taiwan in 2012. Although we had often wondered if we were "missionary material", we were excited to discover that OMF Taiwan were looking for people just like us.

We love building relationships and caring for people, as well as sharing with them on a deep level.

We have a particular heart for those who long for hope and for 'something more', but simply don't relate to most current churches.'

Phil & Sally Clements, Daisy 12, George 10 and Holly 4 Destination Faith Academy, Manila Designation Teaching TCK’s Departure July 2013 Sending Churches Ross Baptist Church, Ross-on-Wye Sally had a clear calling into mission in her late teens at a Keswick Convention. Phil has had a desire for mission ‘abroad somewhere’ since he was young.

They both served on short-term teams in Europe and beyond.

Phil went to a ‘seekers day’ at Redcliffe College, at the end of the day he chatted with Derek Foster. Derek asked if Phil liked teaching and having said yes, Derek introduced Faith Academy as an option to explore.

'Over the past 3 years, God has led us toward this and confirmed it. At the start of the process we talked to our Area Mobiliser about Faith Academy and we were told the amount of support we’d have to raise.

At the time, this seemed quite a large amount, but God has been so faithful in supplying our need at the right time.'

Phil enjoys messing around with motorbikes and anything mechanical, electrical or computer based.

Sally likes reading medieval novels and sewing.

Serve Asia Teams This Summer

Destination China Designation Teaching English Names Sylvia, Barbara, David, Robert, Graham, Alejandra, Liz Destination Japan Designation Student Ministry Names Gary, John, Angela

Destination Japan Designation Kid's Gospel Names David, Zoe, Bethany, Kathryn, Levi, Izzie Destination Thailand Designation Football Ministry Names Alex Destination Thailand Designation Student Ministry Names Sam, Elizabeth Destination Indonesia Designation Urban Poor Ministry Names Aileen, Rachel, Alison Destination Taiwan Names Sandy Destination Singapore Designation Kidzone Names Helena

Destination Vietnam Names Kristi, Daniel, Chloe, James, Sam, Tamsyn Destination Diaspora Names Lynda

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PLACES

화합의 희망이 비치다

Glimpses of Unity 10

How do you share your faith in a country where Christian activity is not allowed?

This is a tough question both for local and international believers working in countries like North Korea.

Jesus said, ‘By your love for one another all will know that you are my disciples.’ John 13:34–35.

It sounds simple – our love for fellow believers demonstrates the power of the gospel to those watching, even without using words. Why then, does it sometimes feel easier to love the local non-Christians than fellow brothers and sisters? Why do workers struggle with misunderstandings, divisions and factions?

Being part of an international team in any country is never easy – each person comes with a different language, backgrounds and expectations – even in terms of how to worship or witness. However, working in creative access nations like North Korea reveals clearly the challenges and blessings of serving together as the multi-cultural body of Christ.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, in a place where verbal witness is restricted, it is this visible witness of mutual love that so

often comes under attack.

Living in an intense environment, closely watched by the locals and with little outlet for sharing with anyone beyond the team itself, little differences can rapidly escalate.

In addition, workers in this region have confessed to an ongoing struggle with unhealthy competitiveness and jealousy between and within teams. Instead of rejoicing when others’ work prospers, feelings of resentment, inadequacy or bitterness can lead to anything but loving and united behaviour. How must God feel when the locals ask themselves ‘is this what it means to be a follower of Christ?’

The 1907 Pyongyang Revival started as ‘believers

North Korea (DPRK)

Pyongyang

Population 24 Million % Christian 1.4 (estimate) Opportunities To help the country in areas of development and to raise a global prayer movement.

A monument dedicated to reunification and peace, part of the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

let the world know that you sent me and have loved them’ John 17:23.

Let us pray for unity among international workers in North Korea, that the power of the gospel demonstrated through unity would turn many hearts to the Father.

confessed their sins to each other – sins of racial prejudice, hate, anger, and jealousy ’ – and looked to God to bring forgiveness and reconciliation. Lasting unity and love for one another will never be produced through sheer willpower; it will only truly come through repentance and prayer.

Small glimpses of this have been seen already as workers, realising the urgency of this matter, meet to pray together; locals too, who take pride in their nation’s cultural uniqueness and independence, are intrigued by the diversity of international workers.

We long however for more; may Jesus’ own prayer be answered: ‘May they be brought to complete unity to

Ways to engage

Subscribe to the bi-monthly Pray for North Korea diary and article: omf@omf.org.uk Get the Hope for Tomorrow 30 day prayer guide for North Korea: £2 + p&p – http://ukshop.omf.org or 01732 887299

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Look out for the North Korea Prayer Calendar coming out later this year: Buy from http://ukshop.omf.org or call 01732 887 299

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PEOPLE

12

嚴密審 查

Close Scrutiny ‘When I was at my last job, I had to take my son to kindergarten so I was late for work. I stayed later over lunch-time to make up for this but their accountant still docked my pay.

I left. Mai yisi “Meaningless”’.

Edith had been working with us at our Missional Business for a year before she told us this. We had known her and her prominent family members for years, but no one had ever mentioned that she had once worked for another Missional Business.

What we had suspected was right! Edith and other locals, both believers and non-believers, had been scrutinising us (and our business) to see if we were worth working for. Three years later, we MAY have passed the first test because Edith and two others of the original team are still with us. Getting to know one another however, was and continues to be a process of second-guessing and stumbling in the dark.

We run a café in an ancient watering hole along the Old Silk Road. Our staff and customers come from proudly different cultural and religious backgrounds. Conflict in the community is on the rise, so our stand and our witness has been strategically based on the Lord’s command from John 13:35; ‘…by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

Yet after years of working in cross-cultural teams, the Lord’s simple promise still seems

All men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. out of reach. Disobedience would mean failure in our witness here. It could even mean our message of the Good News becomes a self-deceiving, hypocritical lie.

How do we deal with cultural and value differences? Are ethics immutable? We believe that Paul gave the answer in 1 Corinthians 2:2; ‘For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.’ While we are here, we give up our right to be right.

We offer as a sacrifice our cultural values, as well as the need to vindicate, or prove ourselves right to those who disagree with us. Very often, an ethical value that we held sacred and quarrelled over with others, has proved to be much more of a problem than we could have humanly conceived. So we have learnt to be humble and to trust nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified.

This approach has had its high points. Old and new customers have told us that the café is their home away from home. Some have mentioned that there is a presence of warmth and welcome when they enter; others say that they can see that our food has been prepared with love.

The next step now, is how and when to share verbally about the source of this love.

Please pray for us.

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PEOPLE

經 濟 效 益 或叫 人 得 益 ?

Investing in People or Profit?

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We had a choice, right from the very outset: let market forces and profit or a strategy of enabling evangelism, discipleship and churchplanting dictate how our missional business ran.

This is how it played out for us: The government was keen for us to open a boutique hotel in a major tourist town. A great business opportunity in a key location, but we realised we’d be spending the majority of our time with foreign tourists in a business that operated 24/7 and without having many opportunities to reach the local community.

We settled on an educational business project, because a school where we could teach various international trade languages and computer skills to adults would help build regular involvement with local people.

As we’ve grown, it’s been our privilege to train many involved in the leadership of our city.

To name a few examples, we’ve taught senior government officials, directors of hospitals, and high ranking police officers. Currently, an air traffic controller sits along side a midwife who is studying in the same class with business people and some college teachers.

The only criticism we have received has been from visiting Christian business people who claim our missional business is not a ‘real business.’

If they mean that we’re not out and out capitalists, they’re right. However, our business is genuine.

We teach, we pay wages and taxes and we make a profit commensurate with the economy of the community.

Mekong River Hanoi

Bangkok Phnom Penh

Location A city along the Mekong River Business Sector Adult Education Reaching Local government officials, company directors, teachers, business people, medics

企業宣教

Missional Business Missional Business is an opportunity to re-think the world of work. Our world often gets divided into the sacred and secular – Missional Business takes a look at that divide and re-thinks it from a biblical perspective.

Open for Business

We could make more money if we operated 6 or 7 days a week, but our business is driven by missional approach, not the bottom line. This means our expatriate teachers only offer classes three evenings a week, which allows them time for language learning and the opportunities to build relationships with people outside class.

On the rare occasions we have been questioned about why we take such a gentle approach to business and education, our reply is that we are in the business of building people, not running an education factory.

This explanation has had a very positive response.

And yes, we are fulfilling the mission that we set at the start. The kingdom of God is advancing and we are delighted to be a part in this greatest of enterprises.

Our focus on Missional Business for 2013 may be nearly over, but the need for creative, entrepreneurial workers isn't.

You could start or join a Missional Business and let local people see the difference the Gospel makes. They will watch how you do business, your employment practices and how you serve your customers.

We are also building a team of specialists in marketing, logistics, international law and accountancy to remotely support Missional Business owners and help guide OMF's Missional Business team.

If you are interested in exploring the opportunities here or in East Asia, visit: omf.org/work or email missionalbusiness@omfmail.com

PLACES

Mga aral sa aking pagtira sa pook ng mga mahihirap.

Six Things I Learnt Living in a Slum I'm Rosie, I'm 18 and for five and a half months I lived in a medium-sized squatter community on the edge of a 7-lane Highway in Quezon City, Philippines. It was called Manggahan.Amongst many things, I learned to call it home.

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1.

Always survey the area before stepping into a room. This means that you are less likely to have a heart attack if a cockroach or a rat suddenly shoots out from behind the door. However, after doing this every day for the past five months, I began to see the benefits of a ‘look before you leap’ mind-set also applied to everyday life. Before agreeing wholeheartedly to a task, assess how capable you are. There is not much good that comes from a project started enthusiastically, if you are to freeze, realising your fear and limitation, and then drop it later on.

2.

Play in the rain and go with the flow.

Being a Brit, I was used to complaining about the weather, and I have never been especially fond of rain. However, I have never lived in a place with quite so many leaks; neither had I lived in a country with such heavy downpours. The best way to deal with rain you cannot escape from, is to go out and dance in it. It’s no good to be the only one staying dry if you’re the only one not having fun.

3.

It is good to wash dishes. When I arrived in Manggahan, I wanted to build schools and revolutionise political systems. At first, without realising that my solution at the time wouldn't have been very helpful at all, I threw my frustration into soapy water and scrubbed furiously at dishes. I learned to wash up Pinoy-style; three big tubs on the floor for rinse, wash and then rinse for cups, spoons and plates. I could never have imagined how much delight it brought people to see a missionary washing determinedly. How funny, I thought to myself weeks later, when I had become a different girl, since Jesus also was a servant.

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4.

Always have something to do, but at the same time, don’t be afraid of not doing much. It became clear to me that God’s purpose for me in Manggahan was just to make friends. This seemed to me to be a very strange thing; to send me across an ocean to make friends.

However, God is extravagant, and He does things like this. So I tried my best to always be around people, and if they didn’t want to speak English, I’d sit next to them and read a book. If I didn’t have a book, I’d often end up making a fool of myself trying to find some way to communicate, usually by dancing!

5.

Share-share na lang. We had two fridges on our street, and almost every house had something stored in one of them.

The strength of community amongst the urban poor is fierce. There is little need to pop over to your neighbour and ask to borrow a cup of sugar, most likely because they’ve borrowed all your cups and you’ve used all their sugar.

It is something I admired greatly at the beginning of my stay and something I hardly noticed towards the end, because I became one of them. I even left some sugar in one of the fridges.

6.

You find safety in numbers. The first few times that I walked into Manggahan by myself, I walked fast and looked down.

I was afraid and I had reason to be; there are dark powers at work there.

Yet when I finally returned smiles and waves, I started to make friends. I then felt safe, and I learned that if you are known and loved in your mission field – the people will protect you!

Quezon City

Philippines

PARTICIPATE

未 完的使命

Facing a Task Unfinished An idea for getting a small group, or youth group thinking through aspects of mission.

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You will need

• A copy of the page opposite (photocopy or download from http://omf.org/uk/resources) • Pens • The downloaded video from http://go.omf.org/taskunfinished • A data projector • (Optional) Prayer resources – like OMF’s free How to Pray for Missionaries leaflet or information from www.joshuaproject.net or operationworld.org • A group of people!

What to do

1. Introduce the hymn with The Task Unfinished video.

2. In smaller groups, look up various Bible verses and match the content to particular lines in the hymn.

Some suggestions are on the page – others may come to mind.

3. Discuss the links with the whole group and see what themes emerge. These may include: The need for prayer, unreached people groups still exist, reality of idolatry and Satan's power, reality of hell, joy of knowing God, Great Commission, Christ's love compels us, serving may involve suffering for the gospel 4. Pray for a country and those working there – • For more workers • For the power of other gods to be broken • For the people to thirst for the living God • For Christians to be strengthened in their service, bold in their witness, and concerned for their neighbours.

FACING A TASK UNFINISHED — Facing a task unfinished That drives us to our knees A need that, undiminished Rebukes our slothful ease We, who rejoice to know Thee Renew before Thy throne The solemn pledge we owe Thee To go and make Thee known — Where other lords beside Thee Hold their unhindered sway Where forces that defied Thee Defy Thee still today With none to heed their crying For life, and love, and light Unnumbered souls are dying And pass into the night —

We bear the torch that flaming Fell from the hands of those Who gave their lives proclaiming That Jesus died and rose Ours is the same commission The same glad message ours Fired by the same ambition To Thee we yield our powers — O Father who sustained them O Spirit who inspired Saviour, whose love constrained them To toil with zeal untired From cowardice defend us From lethargy awake!

Forth on Thine errands send us To labour for Thy sake — Words and Music by Frank Houghton © OMF International (UK)

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Task

Look up the verses below and then find lines of the hymn that that they have some connection with.

• • • • • • • • • •

Acts 7:54–60 Isaiah 6:8 John 8:12 Luke 12:4–5 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 Acts 1:8 Matthew 28:19–20 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 Colossians 4:3 Deuteronomy 5:6–10

Discuss

Discuss the themes behind the words of the hymn.

Resources

View the video here – http://go.omf.org/taskunfinished For more Mission resources, go to http://omf.org/uk/resources

PARTICIPATE

Cà phê đá

Vietnamese Iced Coffee Forget your sugary energy drinks and double ristrettos. Get your pick-me-up from this East Asian rocket fuel and share it with your friends. Vietnamese iced coffee, also known as cà phê đá, literally 'ice coffee', is a traditional Vietnamese coffee drink.

Cà phê đá is made with finely ground Vietnamese-grown dark roast coffee. It is individually brewed with a small metal French drip filter (phin) into a cup containing about a quarter to a half as much sweetened condensed milk, stirred and poured over ice.

French colonists introduced coffee into Vietnam in the late 19th century. The limited availability of fresh milk led to the French and Vietnamese using sweetened condensed milk. The highlands of central Vietnam proved to be ideal for growing coffee and the country quickly became a strong exporter of coffee with many plantations. Vietnamese coffee has spread to many other countries in East Asia and is readily available in Thailand and Cambodia.

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Ingredients • • • •

A dark roast coffee * Ice Condensed Milk Water

Equipment

• Kettle • Coffee ‘Phin’ – a cup-top coffee filter • A Glass • Dessert spoon (dsp)

*

Ideally a Vietnamese brand such as Trung Nguyen, which can be bought online.

Instructions

• Heat your water in the kettle. Ideally when making coffee your water should not be boiling so either let your kettle stand for a minute or two after boiling or stop it before it gets there, you're aiming for about 90 degrees.

• Add 2–4 dsp spoons of condensed milk to your glass.

• Add 2 dsp of coffee to your coffee phin. Place your phin on the top of your glass, then pour a very small amount of water on the coffee. Leave for 10–15 seconds, then pour 120–150ml of water into the phin. If you don't have a Phin or want to make larger quantities at a time, make some very strong coffee using a cafetiere, coffee filter or espresso machine.

• Stir well then add the ice. Stir again. When the coffee is cold enjoy!

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By Darren Wall Director for Finance & Corporate Services

Financial Overview for 2012 ‘Joshua fought… Moses held up his hands’ Exodus 17:10–11

I am able to report that during 2012, OMF UK received 105% of its estimated cash requirement for the year. We have received an exceptional level of legacy income added to gifts received for the support of members and the General Fund. As an expression of our gratitude to God for this provision, we shared £125K to help with office developments in Hong Kong and Singapore and support for Diaspora Ministries work – including Africa. We were also able to give to OMF’s New Horizons field, who serve the church in Europe, South America and beyond to help develop new mission sending partnerships.

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Expenditure 2012

Notes Other 0.6% Education 0.5% Retirement 8.1%

Mobilisation 18.7%

Admin Support 7.3%

Mission support 8%

Evangelisation 56.6%

• Support gifts are given for OMF workers and projects. In 2011, a large amount was received for the Japanese earthquake appeal, which accounts for the difference in support gifts between 2011 and 2012.

• Included in the legacies figure is £763K, which relate to funds not received in 2012, but included in our accounts according to statutory requirements as these were notified to us before 31 December 2012.

• In re-structuring our accounts in 2012, we have separated out admin support from mission support. The former relates to finance, IT, and human resources. The latter relates to candidate processing, as well as member care support costs.

We have applied the new structure to the 2011 accounts so that comparisons can be made.

• Our reserves policy requires us to hold cash to cover 6 weeks expenditure. When estimating our financial requirements for the following year, if there are expected deficits, our policy allows us to carry over surplus funds, if available, to meet these.

Our audited income and expenditure for 2012

OMF Financial report 2011

2012 £000s

2011 £000s (re-stated)

£4,320

£4,773

INCOME Support gifts General donations

£675

£684

£2,694

£1,178

Other income

£82

£48

Total income

£7,772

£6,684

Mobilisation

£1,184

£1,003

Evangelisation

£3,584

£3,882

Mission support

£507

£448

Admin Support

£459

£410

Education

£33

£30

Retirement

£514

£416

£38

£33

Total expenditure

£6,322

£6,225

Taken to / from reserves

£1,450

£459

Legacies

EXPENDITURE

Other

Summary

You may be wondering, with an income level of 105% in 2012, why we continue to ask that all OMF workers receive 80% of their estimated needs before joining the teams they will serve with?

Firstly, we have used the surplus to top up the income levels of lower supported members and to give to other projects.

Secondly, taking into account the average legacy income received over the last 8 years, we estimate that we will need an increase of around £400k in 2013 for support gifts to our workers and to the general fund.

Here is the challenge: God may continue to bless us with high levels of legacy income, as he has at crucial

points over the last few years. However, we ask that you will pray with us, so that our increased estimate will be met without relying on exceptional levels of legacy income, which vary year on year.

Just as both ‘Joshua fought the Amalekites’ and ‘Moses held up his hands’ (Exodus 17:10–11), we likewise, need to both continually seek the Lord in prayer and take responsible action in this regard.

We continue to trust God for all we need and rely on ‘moving man, through God, by prayer alone’. However, we also believe he gives us wisdom and skill to be careful stewards of what he entrusts to us and make plans with expectant faith. Please pray with us as we do this.

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By Peter Rowan

Directions OMF places men and women in multicultural mission teams across East Asia. But wouldn’t it be so much simpler and less stressful for team members and their leaders if we simply built teams with people from the same cultural backgrounds? Why can’t we be part of teams made up of Our Kind of People – to use the title of one of Peter Wagner’s books?

GEN

2. Growth in discipleship.

ICS NOM

In the early church, evangelism included the call to become part of a new humanity – God’s new society – that included a diversity of people. It seems clear from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that the breaking down of barriers, which separate people in the world, is to be regarded as an essential aspect of the gospel, not merely as a result of it.

Our intentionality in building multicultural teams says something about the gospel we believe, preach and live: it transcends and breaks down the barriers that separate, including gender, racial, cultural, and socio-economic barriers. It invites all people, everywhere, to become part of a community who find their identity in Christ rather than in ethnicity, education, or social status. In the early church, Christian community across cultural barriers was essential to Christian commitment.

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1. Witness to the gospel.

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The danger with that approach is that if we allow teams to be made up simply of our kind of people, we’ll end up preaching our kind of gospel and planting our kind of churches. Whilst that might be very comfortable, it may not be very biblical.

For me, there are three good reasons for multicultural mission teams.

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In the New Testament the church grew across social and cultural barriers.

The climax of Matthew’s Gospel tells us we are baptised into the community of the Godhead, and brought into the community of the church, which is called to be the dynamic expression of God's character.

The outworking of that calling depends on our discipleship, the relational dimension of which is clear in the New Testament.

I need the company of others to help me grow as a Christian and serve effectively in Christ’s mission. The more diverse that company, the better. Especially when it comes to reading and studying the Bible – something best done, if possible, in the company of people from a different culture and background to my own. The more I do that, the humbler I will be in my interpretation, and the less I do so, the more I should hold my tongue when about to issue a dogmatic judgement in interpretation. Multicultural teams allow a context for growth in discipleship.

3. View of the church.

Multicultural mission teams point towards the kind of churches we want to see planted: intentionally diverse but at the same time celebrating and embracing the cultural and ethnic diversity within them. In the New Testament, the church grew across social

and cultural barriers. Churches were to manifest both the unity and the diversity of the body of Christ.

Context matters in mission. However, in our desire to be contextual, I wonder if at times we forget the need to affirm and demonstrate catholicity. When the church is described as ‘catholic,’ it conveys the idea of a universal church comprising a rich diversity of people ‘from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues’ (Rev. 7:9). So the church’s catholicity is rooted in the gospel’s catholicity. The good news is for all kinds and races of people. It was Ignatius who said, ‘Where Jesus Christ is, there is the whole church.’

Every local congregation should manifest both the unity and diversity of the body of Christ.

OMF's multicultural church-planting teams, are themselves a foretaste of the local church they are praying will be birthed by God’s Spirit. A local church in whatever context it finds itself in, is God’s pilot project for the future: a diverse community which has experienced the reconciliation in Christ that will one day be the experience of the whole universe (Eph. 1:9, 10).

Today, OMF International is a multicultural fellowship whose membership of over 1400 men and women, is approximately forty-two per cent Asian.

Rich in diversity yet united in Christ, OMF recognises that unity, as well as gospel integrity, is an essential dimension to missional effectiveness. It can be hard work, and especially if we suffer from that dreaded disease of ethnocentricity (and all of us do to some degree or another). But serving in a multicultural, diverse fellowship such as OMF, provides an amazing opportunity for us to go beyond simply our kind of people, doing our kind of mission. It is discovering the richness of working with God’s people and preaching his gospel to build his church for the sake of his mission.

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