OPERATION MOBILISATION MAGAZINE no.2 2016
“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.” LUKE 4:18 (NLT)
DAILY BREAD IN IRAQ OM relief projects offering discipleship and hope!
Operation Mobilisation transforming lives and communities
NEWS.OM.ORG
WORLD NEWS Ecuador Earthquake OM teams are working with local churches to bring relief and counselling to people in two earthquake-devastated communities of Ecuador. On April 16, 2016 just before 7pm, as the sun was setting into the Pacific Ocean, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck along the mid and upper coast of Ecuador. More than 640 people died with hundreds trapped under the rubble. Close to 130 were reported missing, and thousands more injured and left homeless making them vulnerable to dirty drinking water, disease and the aftershocks of the earthquake.
OM Ecuador has existing partnerships with churches in many of the affected places and immediately mobilised a number of small teams to begin working with them to distribute relief aid to families in need. OM continues to work alongside churches in two of the most devastated areas, BahĂa de CarĂĄquez and Perdernales, to meet the practical needs of the community. Over the next year OM will continue to serve alongside local fellowships in the recovery and rebuilding of their communities. Please pray that OM workers and volunteers can be a light in this difficult time. You can also support this project financially, visit www.uk.om.org/ecuadorearthquake-appeal
CHURCH PLANTING WITHIN THE CONFLICT ZONE - UKRAINE Pastor Sergei Saenko could not just flee his hometown of Donesk, in Eastern Ukraine, and sit idly by while people suffered. Together with a small group of pastors, he began training church planting teams, to plant churches in towns on the front lines of the conflict. OM Ukraine has been
privileged to support the first group of students as well as helping to finance the first three church plants, which are now beginning to flourish. The need is still great, especially in areas where the fighting continues. These missionary teams are still being sent out and already 13 more churches have
been planted. They are supporting the local population spiritually and with humanitarian aid, where possible. Pray for the churches in these towns to grow as more people look to Christ for truth and peace. Pray that God would continue to use the conflict for His glory to draw people into relationship with Himself.
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OM INDONESIA
by Simon Song
FINDING FREEDOM Merdeka is an Indonesian and Malay word meaning independence or freedom. It’s with little surprise that this was the word that came to mind when OM Indonesia first organised an outreach to Pondok Gerasa in Bali shortly before Christmas 2014.
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ondok Gerasa is a rehabilitation centre for young offenders. The youth in this centre come from varied and often difficult backgrounds. This will often include young people with HIV and AIDS or formerly of the sex workers industry and those with addictions to drugs or alcohol. Among them is a 13-year old girl who has been rescued from the red light district of Bali. During the first outreach in 2014, the team noticed a dry, dying tree planted in the corner of the meeting room. As they gathered, one person likened the plain, undecorated tree to many of the young people who end up at the rehab centre – without hope, without a future and without life. Partnering with a local NGO, OM Indonesia would like these young offenders and underprivileged youths to realise that there is a Hope. They too can be set free from their current life of mourning and be transformed in to the life of joy and praise, so they will one day “be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour.” (Isaiah 61:1-3) The outreach programme allows participants to minister to these often-vulnerable children not only within the centre, but also to the surrounding community.
go www.uk.om.org/shorts
“We distributed hygiene packs and clothes for all 20 families, taught some subjects to the kids, and helped the villagers building the road in Pekarangan village up in the mountains.” shares Eva, an Indonesian national who joined the Merdeka Outreach in 2015. “They don’t have proper school – some 4th grade children don’t know how to read, they don’t have proper access to doctor or hospital, they just had access to water and electricity not so long ago.” “My heart broke even more when we didn’t have enough clothes packages for each family, they actually opened their packages to share! They also invited us to their simple homes and gave very generously to us. I saw their unity in building the road. Everyone, young and old, women and children, all of them took part in it. This scene reminded me of Acts 2:44-47 about the Early Church. I felt ashamed because we’re trying to introduce Christ to these beloved people but sometimes we fail to be the best example. I hope these excellent values won’t change once they accept Jesus in their hearts.”
RESPONSE The Merdeka Outreach welcomes national and international participants to join their ministry on a short-term outreach. However, many Indonesians struggle to raise the support to participate – please pray that they will have the finances they require.
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OM NEAR EAST
by Nicole James
DAILY BREAD IN IRAQ
On the outside, it’s not much—a tiny metal container with a white door and small sliding window, perched on a slab of concrete behind a fence set back from the rows of white tents stretching to the horizon.
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nside, however, four women smile as they bake traditional Iraqi flatbread—5,400 loaves daily—their quick movements make for a well-oiled assembly line. Two stand in the corner, plunging their hands into a silver dough bucket and deftly forming balls, which line a shelf along the back wall. The other women work in front of the open industrial oven, mirrored in the shiny steel, flattening each loaf pizza-style before smoothing it over a hard pillow and sending it for a spin on the oven’s black grill. After the loaves begin to brown, one of the women stacks them on the oven’s lip, away from the flame. A man, baker’s hat perched on his head, transfers the loaves to the counter below the window. As soon as he slides open the glass pane, several children wave white slips of paper inside the window, hands hovering dangerously close to but never quite touching the fresh loaves. Within seconds, the baker returns to the oven and another man, the bakery manager, takes the voucher from the first boy and hands him a pile of bread, a single piece for each family
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*names changed
member. One by one, the papers pass through the window, bare hands receiving the still-warm sustenance to carry back to their tents. In this camp, where around 23,000 internally displaced people (IDP) live, each family picks up bread once a week. Not only does the fresh bread allow the IDPs to enjoy an Iraqi staple in their diets, it also frees up some of their limited money to invest in other needs. Through a local pastor, OM supports production costs for this bakery and its twin, located at another camp about half an hour away. Together, the bakeries produce around 10,800 loaves a day, six days a week, and provide jobs for eight women from the camps, along with a baker and manager.
AMIRA’S STORY At the second bakery, 20-year-old Amira* steps aside to chat for a moment. She lives in the camp with her parents and six siblings. Smiling widely, she explains through a translator why she loves the job she’s had since the bakery opened five months prior.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
“God gave us the mercy to work here and help our family,” she says. Trained in all the production stations, she and the other women begin working at 4:00 in the morning, finishing around 14:00. “Before I started working here in the bakery, I just sat in the camp and did nothing. But inside my heart I wanted to help [my] people. I think God gave me this job so I can help my people.” Lucas*, who works with the church sponsoring the bakeries, explained that usually the women living in the IDP camps never leave their tents. “If the woman leaves the tent alone, people will ask her questions: Where did you go? What did you do? It’s very hard for them,” he says.
A PASTOR’S DREAM For Lucas and a local pastor, the bakeries provide a tangible way for them to help the people God has laid on their hearts. Even before the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invaded Mosul in June 2014, Lucas had visited the area a handful of times, praying about
how he could help this particular people group. “When ISIS came, God said, ‘You cannot go there, but I will bring the people to you,’” Lucas remembered. Once the IDPs arrived in their area, he and the pastor asked a camp manager how they could help. “If you want to help them, build a bakery,” the manager replied. In fact, they built two. When the first bakery opened, the pastor offered the job to women in one of his discipleship groups, composed of several families who prayed with him to receive new life after hearing him explain the story of Jesus. Now, twice a week, these four women continue their discipleship journey.
“ GOD GAVE US THE MERCY TO WORK HERE AND HELP OUR FAMILY.”
Please pray that these women deepen their faith in Jesus. Pray that those working in the second bakery will also come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour, bringing not only daily bread but also the Bread of Life to their neighbours and friends.
watch a video about this relief ministry: www.vimeo.com/165881309
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OM SHIPS INTERNATIONAL
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
by Steve Chedgzoy
HOPE FOR AFRICA: UPDATE Since arriving in Mauritius in late 2015, smartphones, even in Africa. We also offer free parent resources Logos Hope has already visited eight ports that can be downloaded from the website to help guide children in six countries around Southern Africa. through the Bible stories – so it reaches further into families.” This equates to more than quarter of a BRINGING HELP million Africans who have received the For Logos Hope crew, practical opportunity to hear about the Good News! help is one of the most effective
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hrough a multitude of projects, crewmembers of Logos Hope continue their vision to mobilise 1,000 African people into mission during their maiden tour of the nations across Southern Africa. Here are some things they’ve gotten up to so far:
BIBLE APP FOR KIDS
OM continues to pioneer new initiatives and technologies as Logos Hope provides the platform for a South African launch of a Bible resource for children: a free smartphone application, The Bible App for Kids. Developed by OneHope, in partnership with YouVersion, the world’s biggest smartphone Bible provider, this app already has over 10 million downloads worldwide. The man in charge of OneHope in Southern Africa is no stranger to the Ships Ministry. “I served for over seven years with OM
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Ships,” says Brian Esterhuizen. “The ship is like a magnet for children and families, who are so excited to come on board. I love the fact that they get exposed to the Gospel during their visit and, as they leave, every child receives something in their hands that they can take home, which has the potential to impact their lives.” For the Logos Hope tour of South Africa, OneHope is providing 100,000 copies of The Bible App for Kids Book of Hope (a 32-page Gospel presentation for kids based on the app). Around 40,000 copies were already put into children’s hands in Durban, so additional supplies will need to be considered in order to meet the demand for the next four ports. “It’s a good problem to have!” Brian laughs. “The Bible App for Kids is such an amazing Gospel tool,” he continues. “It helps that more and more people have access to
ways to show God’s love. Showing people that you do love them helps make explaining why you love them that much easier. From digging wells to eyeglass outreaches, practical projects allow unique opportunities for crewmembers to work with churches and help them to develop relationships within their communities.
Thanks to generous gifts from UK partners, crewmembers expect to distribute ‘Shoes That Grow’ to 6,000 children across Africa. These high quality shoes can change five sizes and last up to five years, helping children avoid diseases and parasites from walking barefoot. Logos Hope teams are also providing essential filters to facilitate clean drinking water to at least 1,000 schools, churches and community centres. Thank you for your generous support of these projects.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE SHIPS MINISTRY WWW.OMSHIPS.ORG
OM NEPAL
by Grace Beattie
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE ONE YEAR ON 25th April was the anniversary of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook Nepal last year. For the Nepalese people affected, it has been a tumultuous year; loss of loved ones, homes and livelihoods was, and still is, the reality for millions.
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ver 100 OM workers were immediately mobilised into action to minister to those in need. In the months following the earthquake, OM teams distributed essential aid to over 50,000 people in the hardest hit areas, and assessed the most prominent needs of those who had been displaced. Vocational training and child trauma camps were also provided as part of rehabilitating people back to some kind of ‘normality’. Training in plumbing and electricity, and classes in jewellery making and English speaking, invested many men and women with the skills to provide for their families’ needs in the future. As part of OM’s winterisation programme, the team distributed stoves and warm blankets to 116 families in Langtang, a remote part of the Nepalese Himalayas, and one of the areas worst hit by the earthquake. These items were gratefully received as the cold months drew near.
REDEVELOPMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION Prior to the earthquake, the team had built strong relationships with local people in the Langtang area.
“ THE OM TEAM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BREAK GROUND AND ARE NOW HELPING PEOPLE REBUILD THEIR HOMES.”
It was devastating for OM workers to hear that, as featured by the BBC1, the entire village was wiped out by a landslide as a result of the earthquake. Yet, the existing relationship provided an opportunity to show God’s love in an unexpected way, through providing support and relief. Following initial emergency relief, the reconstruction of people’s homes has been the focus of OM Nepal’s long-term redevelopment strategy. Now, almost one year on, having had to wait for the end of the monsoon season, the OM team have been able to break ground and are now helping people rebuild their homes. One model home has already been built, to showcase the strength and quality of the proposed new houses and give locals the skills to build their own homes in the same way. Most of the building material is being carried by 20 local porters and 22 mules, walking the two-day journey from the closest village to Langtang. Although the materials could be carried by helicopter, using local porters allows OM to help them earn income, rebuild their homes, livelihoods and self-esteem. Amazingly, finances raised through the generosity of OM partners will enable the whole Langtang village to be rebuilt. This means that 116 families will be re-housed in purpose-built homes better able to withstand natural disasters in the future. Thank you for your partnership and praise God for His provision!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32595883
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OM EUROPE
by Grace Beattie
HOPE ON THE REFUGEE ROAD Thanks to your on-going partnership, OM teams continue to bring essential aid and hope to Syrian, North African and Middle Eastern refugees across Europe.
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n recent months, the situation for the thousands of refugees reaching and journeying through Europe, desperate for a better life, changed once again. Border closures, along with the deal struck between Turkey and the EU has left many feeling frustrated, depleted and less hopeful that their efforts to flee their war-torn homelands will have been worth it. Yet, without a doubt, God has not changed and continues to use this desperate time to reveal Himself and show His love for these families. Our teams, including short-term participants from the UK, have been working
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around the clock to make sure as many men; women and children as possible receive food, shelter and hope. The Idomeni camp on the Greek side of the Macedonian border was once full but in recent weeks the numbers have decreased due to the Macedonian border closure. The gaps between tents is ever widening as more and more people are leaving but with nowhere to go. Thankfully, our team there continues to befriend those who have decided to remain for the time being. Recently, they were invited by one of
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
the families into their tent for some coffee after several attempts at getting to know them. One team member shared: “We felt very honoured and thankful for the fellowship with these lovely people.” Another moment of seeing God move was when one of the school teachers (the Idomeni camp now has an education centre) invited Jacek, our team leader, to drink mate: a popular drink in Syria. They talked, laughed and taught one another English and Arabic. His three Kurdish neighbours joined them and Jacek took this opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with them, finishing by praying for them. He also gave them copies of the Bible on memory cards. Across the border, the flow of refugees to the two main camps in Macedonia has almost stopped. The bigger one in the north, Tabanovce, has just over 1,000 people camped there. Recently the government took control of the camp which meant that many other relief
“ IT IS CLEAR THAT GOD WANTS US TO CONTINUE OUR PRESENCE THERE AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE IN NEED.”
organisations had to leave. However, our team has been allowed to stay, presumably because of the Café they have established. No-one knows why exactly – maybe the government is reluctant to start something like this from scratch, or maybe they need our equipment. Whatever the reason, it is clear that God wants us to continue OM’s presence there as long as people are in need. The Café has been hugely popular among the refugees; it would seem that tea is a much-loved necessity! Unlike the other remaining NGO’s, our team has been granted permission to continue serving people until 10pm each night, which is three hours more than anyone else. These small but significant ‘graces’ are all assurances that God still has a work to do and is using our OM team to be instruments in His hands. Thank you so much for your partnership in bringing Good News to refugees in Europe.
GIVE TO THE MERCY APPEAL For many years now, the Mercy Appeal has been a vital fund held in the UK for OM teams to access at short notice, allowing them to respond to urgent cries for help. Thanks to you we have been able to bring God’s Mercy to families all over the world who are suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters and during times of conflict, slavery and extreme poverty. If you would like to help OM to respond quickly in a crisis, you can make a gift using the enclosed response slip.
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go www.uk.om.org/refugees
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OM MEXICO
by Lety Cruz
LIFE AFTER TRAFFICKING OM Mexico team member Lety has worked with the Dreams ministry for abused women for some time now, but she still clearly remembers the first time she met a victim of human trafficking several years ago.
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friend of Lety called to ask if she could meet with Rocio*, a woman concerned that her six year old daughter was being sexually abused. “She was 26 years old, but looked a lot older, maybe 40,” Lety said of Rocio. “I also noticed some scars on her arms and face”. Having gained her trust, Lety listened as Rocio shared her harrowing account of abuse and trafficking.
WHERE ARE YOU? Rocio was 15 years old when her father passed away. Her mother then married a man who drank and physically took his aggression out on those at home. One day Rocio went for a walk and met a young man. He was the first man to ever say nice words to her. After being together for only a few days, the young man proposed to Rocio. He asked her to run away with him and get married. This was the opportunity Rocio had been looking for. She said yes and ran away with him to another city, far from home, where they got married.
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*name changed
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
During their wedding night, Rocio was raped by her new husband and his friend. The following night, her husband sent her out to prostitute herself and threatened to kill her if she didn’t obey. For 10 years, Rocio was kept naked during the day and tied up in the backyard at night. She became pregnant and had a baby girl, named Maranatha. One day her husband decided they should go to a Christian church on Sundays. He told Rocio not to talk to anyone. If she did, he’d sell her baby, just like he had her. Rocio couldn’t understand why God allowed this endless suffering. “Where are you?” she asked the Lord often. Finally, she found an escape. One day her husband was so drunk that Rocio got away with her five-year-old daughter. She ran until she found a small town, but nobody there would help them. She started collecting plastic bottles to gain money to feed her child. Rocio decided to find her sister, but her father-in-law found her instead. He offered to help her take care of Maranatha while Rocio collected plastic bottles. Life seemed better until one day Rocio noticed that Maranatha was sad and only wanted to take long showers. And she had started wetting the bed. Rocio asked Maranatha what was wrong. The girl confessed that her grandfather was touching her inappropriately and threatened to take her to her father if she said something to Rocio. Rocio was so angry she took Maranatha to her sister, just in case her father-in-law, or even her husband, tried to take her away.
THE DREAMS MINISTRY
“ WE WANT TO LET THEM KNOW HOW VALUABLE THEY ARE, AND CHANGE THE WRONG IDEA THEY HAVE IN THEIR MINDS ABOUT THEMSELVES.”
want to let them know how valuable they are, and change the wrong idea they have in their minds about themselves. We provide art therapy, individual counselling and sociological screening to identify any factors of abuse or trafficking. We also try to meet their emotional and psychological needs.” The Dreams team meets most of the women by spending time each week interacting with girls in prostitution on the streets. “Thank God Rocio’s husband was caught by the police and is now in prison,” shared Lety. “I was able to give therapy to Rocio and her daughter, and we helped her find a church and psychologist, who could follow up with her. She got married again and has a baby boy. She’s still collecting plastic bottles and selling them to get money. But soon I hope to visit her again in the city where she lives to help her with the next step: to empower her to develop her own small business.”
“The next day, Rocio talked to my friend, who used to buy plastic bottles from her,” shared Lety. “She asked for help, and my friend called me. Since that day, the Dreams ministry has been helping Rocio to build a new life.” Dreams, a ministry of OM, is focused on women and children at risk in Mexico City and Hermosillo. “We want to empower them through education and exercising their human rights,” said Lety. “We
watch a video about the Dreams ministry: www.vimeo.com/165881020
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BEGIN PLANNING YOUR SHORT-TERM MISSION IN 2017 A Short-Term Mission with OM means just one thing bringing Good News. With outreach opportunities for individuals and groups that vary in length from one week to six months, OM hosts 250 outreaches in 50 countries all over the world.
Come along and experience it for yourself in 2017! To find out more or to request a brochure visit our website
Operation Mobilisation transforming lives and communities
WWW.UK.OM.ORG/SHORTS
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