OPERATION MOBILISATION MAGAZINE LIVING OUT GOD’S MISSION TO HIS WORLD no.1 2021
Living out God’s mission to His world
“ 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)
IN THIS ISSUE
JOHN 1:5
DEAR FRIENDS,
no.1 2021 On the cover:
A shepherd in the Near East. Photo Credit: Jordan Armstrong
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WORLD NEWS
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UNITED KINGDOM
Equipped to live missionally
Mind the mission gap
7 INTERNATIONAL Designing for the Kingdom of God
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NEAR EAST
Demonstrating and proclaiming His love
10 MOLDOVA
Why the pandemic has not put us off
11 MADAGASCAR
Do you remember Deborah?
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SHIPS MINISTRY
God at the helm
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UNITED KINGDOM
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
“THE LIGHT IS SHINING IN THE DARKNESS, THROUGH THE ‘WINTER OF DESPAIR’ AND OUR EYES REMAIN FIXED UPON THE ONE WHO IS SEATED ON THE THRONE.”
People have often asked me over this last year what it is like leading a mission organisation through the pandemic. I am reminded of the words of Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” The restrictions of the past year have had a huge impact on our work as OM in the UK – bringing challenges and opportunity in equal measure. It is a difficult time for churches to consider sending out cross-cultural mission workers and we’ve seen a decline in British Christians going long and short-term to share God’s love where He is not known. Workers already serving in least reached countries have had to cope with complexities around travel, visas and insurance. Financially, we have continued to experience the grace and provision of God through the generosity of faithful partners, but we recognise that these are difficult times. And yet, through it all, we have seen God working and even opening new doors of opportunity. We have been encouraged to see the Lord work powerfully through evangelistic, training and discipleship programmes online, as teams respond with innovative creativity. Whilst we long to be able to return to face to face ministry, one of our biggest problems in recent months, is the practicality of how to baptise large numbers of new believers from least reached people groups who are now coming to faith in their dozens. We praise God for this sort of problem!
“Send me!”
15 BLOG
Five ways to prepare for short-term outreach in 2021
In the midst of the ‘worst times’, as followers of Jesus, we have a certain hope. The light is shining in the darkness, through the ‘winter of despair’ and our eyes remain fixed upon the One who is seated on the throne.
Operation Mobilisation Registered office The Quinta, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7LT.
Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we, together, lift our eyes and our prayers to the Lord.
t: 01691 773388 e: hello.uk@om.org w: www.uk.om.org Editor: Jane Knoop Stories and images: OM International © Global magazine 2021. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced in any form without written approval from the publishers. Country file information taken from Operation World, 21st Century edition.
Matthew Skirton, UK Chief Executive, OM
Bible references are from the New International Version unless stated otherwise.
Panoramic shots and pressing prayer updates, keep up to date and in touch via social media. facebook.com/OMUnitedKingdom
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WORLD NEWS
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9
EQUIPPED TO LIVE MISSIONALLY Last year, 1,200 Latino Jesus followers discovered how they could participate in God’s global purpose – no matter their location or vocation – through OM’s Xplore course.
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At the start of 2020, our vision was to mobilise 1,000 Christians with little or no mission involvement and guide them to discover their place in the Great Commission,” says Markus Leder, Director of OM in Argentina. Praise God, this vision is being realised! Feedback gathered by the team revealed that many Argentinian Jesus followers had little to no idea about Christian mission. To what extent is this to do with our Christian jargon; using words many Jesus followers simply don’t connect with? Leder expects this to be the case; “so first of all, we do not have ‘missions’ written all over the course! We describe the Xplore course as being about ‘God’s Word, God’s world, and God’s work’, which certainly has attracted more interest.”
In 2020 the Xplore course was conducted online twice – once attracting 550 participants, the second time attracting 650 participants – demonstrating a genuine thirst among Latino believers to engage with God’s vision for His world and discover how to share His love in any and every context. Hosted online in partnership with other OM teams and mission agencies, the course was available to believers from across Latin America and captured the attention and inspiration of youth workers and young people, as well as adults. “The course is dedicated to practical ways of being involved in God’s mission, rather than a lot of theory and theology,” Leder explains. “Throughout, we give examples of what OM is doing and of how people can get involved right now.” Participants are clearly inspired to put in to practice and pass on what they’ve discovered through the course. Nearly 100 individuals have since signed up to become mobilisers with OM in Argentina; encouraging others in their spheres of influences to live out the love of Jesus, no matter their location or vocation.
“THE COURSE IS DEDICATED TO PRACTICAL WAYS OF BEING INVOLVED IN GOD’S MISSION, RATHER THAN A LOT OF THEORY AND THEOLOGY” - MARKUS LEDER, OM DIRECTOR IN ARGENTINA
YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN MISSION THROUGH OM GAP YEAR This September, OM launched the first Gap Year Challenge hosted in the UK. A group of six young people formed a safe, social bubble and together deepened in faith as they engaged in local mission, whilst growing in knowledge and awareness of global needs through teaching and discipleship. Inspired and equipped, all six are now venturing out in a variety of contexts to share the love of God in communities where He is not known. Do you know a young person who loves Jesus and has a heart to make Him known? Tell them about the Gap Year Challenge starting in April 2021! Visit uk.om.org/gap-year-challenge to find out more.
Praise God that ordinary Jesus followers around the world are being empowered and inspired to share His love!
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UNITED KINGDOM
by Matthew Skirton
MIND THE MISSION GAP:
WILL COVID BE THE CATALYST THE CHURCH NEEDS TO RE-ENGAGE IN MISSION? Matthew Skirton, UK Chief Executive, OM, explores why there has been a decline in cross-cultural mission engagement and whether we are on the cusp of significant change.
In recent years at Operation Mobilisation (OM) we, along with other mission agencies, have noticed a decline in the number of British Christians engaging in cross-cultural, overseas mission. The urgency to go out and reach the 2.1 billion people in our world with no Gospel witness, no church to show God’s love through Christ, has significantly dwindled. Less than 1% of Christians around the world are actively involved in global missions, something we have termed the ‘Mission Gap’.
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Explore how you can get involved in local and global mission at uk.om.org
“ WE’VE FOUND THE PANDEMIC IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-ENGAGE WITH MISSION IN A FRESH NEW WAY, BOTH WITHIN OUR OWN BORDERS AND BEYOND.”
“…lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest.” John 4:35 ESV
“LESS THAN 1% OF CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN GLOBAL MISSIONS, SOMETHING WE HAVE TERMED THE ‘MISSION GAP’.” In some senses no - the pandemic has highlighted this as churches rally to engage in local mission - but there are noticeably fewer followers of Christ willing to forsake life as they know it and take the leap abroad into places where there is little chance of people hearing the Gospel. Why is that?
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE
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as the Church - in some quarters moved away from the core belief that as followers of Christ we are all called to go to the ends of the earth, to every people group, to witness and make disciples?
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ‘MISSION’? A lot depends on your definition of mission. Mission can be the local mums and tots groups, the food banks, the Alpha groups and inviting people to online services. During lockdown the move to online church has seen a surge in people connecting with the message of Jesus and His Church. All of this is good outreach. So, are people really less engaged in mission?
Is it a question of the depth of discipleship in our churches? Has it perhaps become all too comfortable to be a Christian in the Western Church – to tick the box, but have no depth of commitment, as seen in the declining church numbers and meetings? Is a lack of depth in our commitment to Jesus and His Great Commission and the ease in which we all (myself included) can fall into self-centered Christianity behind why people are not queuing up for mission in foreign countries, saying along with Isaiah: ‘Here I am, send me!’?
NEW OPPORTUNITIES We’ve found the pandemic is an opportunity to re-engage with mission in a fresh new way, both within our own borders and beyond. For instance, one of our mission partners who hails from Bulgaria, is a Turkish-speaking pastor in north London, whose services attracted 50 people before`lockdown. Four weeks later, in the height of the UK’s first lockdown, more than 1,600 Turkishspeakers tuned in for a live-streamed service from this same church. The word mission comes from the Latin missio, meaning to be sent. We’ve traditionally thought of sent ones as missionaries going to foreign lands, but whether we are crossing continents or just crossing the road, we’re all sent if we are followers of Jesus. Perhaps what we need is for more people to embrace this reality, and recognise the extraordinary need to witness for Jesus in our local communities
Then again, in our politically correct climate, it is not acceptable to say Jesus is the only way to salvation. If we begin to doubt that He is the only hope, what is the point of telling others? Or do we fear if we do tell others, we will be rejected and face persecution? This year we’ve had to contend with the reality of COVID-19, including declined resident permits and visas alongside travel restrictions. The result has been a dropoff in enquiries for short and long-term mission. Like churches, we’ve had to adapt how we operate as a missional movement during lockdown.
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UNITED KINGDOM
by Matthew Skirton
and to see more mobilised to be crosscultural witnesses, sent ones, to those who have never had the opportunity of hearing.
LIFTING UP OUR EYES My wife and I spent 20 years pioneering OM’s work in Moldova. Our vision was to be sending out Moldovan missionaries to the Muslim countries of Central Asia. This is now happening, and we have many Moldovan workers around the world, but it all started with prayer. If the Church is not praying for the world, they will not have a vision to go. First comes prayer, then vision, then going. As a Church in the UK we are called to look after our flock, but also to be looking out beyond our own boundaries. When the pandemic started, Mark 4:35 came to mind: ‘Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!’
“LET US TOGETHER LIFT UP OUR EYES AND SEE THAT THE FIELDS ARE RIPE FOR HARVEST, NOT JUST LOCALLY BUT BEYOND OUR OWN SHORES.”
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The phrase ‘lift up your eyes’ has stayed with me. Could this time of uncertainty be an open door for the UK Church to step out, look up to the Lord of the harvest and ask Him to send out His workers? The number of people in the world who don’t know Jesus - and have little opportunity hearing about Him - is staggering and growing by 55,000 a day. If faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ, are we prepared to share that message at any cost?
We at OM seek to help, encourage and inspire. We believe that Jesus can use the pandemic as a catalyst for His Church to share God’s love and truth with those who need it most. Together with many churches in the UK and around the world, we are praying for a move of God that would revive us as disciplemakers. Let us together lift up our eyes and see that the fields are ripe for harvest, not just locally but beyond our own shores.
INTERNATIONAL
“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
by Christine Lemaire
YOUR PROFESSION IN MISSION
DESIGNING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD He worked for great brands and got to make beautiful things. But it didn’t give him satisfaction. Seven years ago, Meindert Kramer (36) from the Netherlands made a drastic decision: he gave up his job as a graphic designer with a design agency, and joined the communications department of OM. Now he’s designing more beautiful things – for the Kingdom of God. becoming a designer at a design agency. And yet, after finding his theoretically ideal job, Meindert soon began to wonder, “Is this it?” He offered himself afresh to God, “Here I am. I want to do something different and be available for what You want me to do.”
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I am not under the impression that someone will come to faith directly through my work,” says Meindert, “but it can contribute to the effectiveness of OM’s work to get people involved in the global work of sharing God’s love! ” Meindert studied Communication and Multimedia Design, aimed at
An opportunity to serve at the OM office in the Netherlands in general communications, caught his attention. “I got in touch with OM but was very hesitant about the financial picture. We had two children at the time and a mortgage. I would lose a lot of income. That was really a moment of doubt.” But God was persistent and through several poignant sermons and the council of
people around him, Meindert received confirmation that this position really was where God wanted him to be. He became part of OM’s communications department in the Dutch office for more than six years, before switching to an international role in graphic design a year ago. “I have developed a lot personally during these years,” he shares. “It’s inspiring to work together as a team with one goal: to support the work of OM and make the Gospel known to the world.”
education and experience, the money and energy that is put into communication yields the best results.” “It’s precious to be in a place where you can put your profession into practice and where you can do it with passion, for the kingdom of God,” shares Meindert, who is thankful to do his job. “Partly through the work of me and my team, people are motivated to share the Gospel with others or contribute financially to ministries around the
“IT’S INSPIRING TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM WITH ONE GOAL: TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF OM AND MAKE THE GOSPEL KNOWN TO THE WORLD.” Meindert is convinced that professionals can play an important role in taking God’s love to the least reached. “God asks us to be responsible with the resources we have,” he states. “By working with people who have a professional
Do you know someone who could use their professional skills among the least reached?
world. Knowing that is hugely satisfying.”
YOUR SKILLS ARE NEEDED IN MAKING GOD’S LOVE KNOWN Graphic design? Teaching? Nursing? Whatever your expertise you don’t need to set them aside to serve God among the least reached. Find out more about using your profession in mission. Contact us at, personnel.uk@om.org
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NEAR EAST
by Ava Moore
DEMONSTRATING AND PROCLAIMING HIS LOVE Every year, the Mercy Appeal enables OM to respond to the urgent needs of suffering people around the world. Sarah* is one of many workers you have supported. Through your compassion and generosity, Sarah and her team are able to share the love of Jesus with Muslim refugees in the Near East by providing crucial medical care.
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Meeting the medical needs of the community opens so many doors to meet their emotional and spiritual needs,” Sarah shares. “They want to know more about Jesus when they see us honestly and compassionately serving and loving them.” Sarah is part of a team of medical professionals who have been running a health-clinic since 2016 in the Muslimmajority country in which she grew up. Through clinic days, hosted in local churches, to home visits, Sarah and her
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team have many opportunities to give medical assistance, provide health education and have spiritual conversations through the relationships they build. Many of the individuals the team serve are Muslim refugees. Sarah expresses that while many Muslims feel ashamed to enter a church building, the medical clinic gives them a reason to come into a church. They receive help and also have an opportunity to hear the Gospel.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE HIS LOVE When a new believer heard that the medical team were coming to her area, she introduced them to her Muslim father, the leader of the community. He granted permission to conduct a clinic, and the team were able to serve 144 people, ministering to them through prayer and sharing the Word as well as providing practical medical attention.
During follow-up home visits, the team would start by going over the medical needs and prognosis, but would soon find that the conversation naturally progressed to the patient’s other concerns and worries. “With each issue that comes up, we share a Bible story to encourage them and see how they respond,” Sarah explains. “We always offer to pray for them before we leave and follow up with those who express interest.”
Thank you for your generous gifts to the Mercy Appeal which enable workers to share God’s love among the least reached.
“If we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12
One man who visited the clinic was overcome with gratitude for how the medical team had treated him for his lung condition, and for the love and support they had shown him. Always seeking to point their loving actions to the love they’ve received in Jesus, the team shared the Gospel with him; he is now on a journey of discovering the truth of Jesus for himself.
MOBILISING THE CHURCH
“THEY REALISED THAT THE CLINIC WAS A GREAT PLATFORM THAT GOD WAS USING, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CULTURE”
“I want to see more believers have a burden to reach out to their Muslim neighbours, be exposed to believers from a Muslim background and learn how to share God’s love with those who don’t know it”, Sarah shares. The health-clinic team encourage the local church to take ownership of reaching the community, but Sarah explains that many believers are fearful of reaching out to the community or lack the knowledge about how to do it. “A lot of Christians here have never seen people sharing the Gospel so they don’t know how to share. Also, they never really hear stories of people coming to Christ and there is a huge gap between the church and Muslim background believers.” But Sarah has been encouraged by an increase
in church involvement in the community since lockdown last year. When restrictions forced the clinic to temporarily close, the church was then left with the responsibility of distributing medication under Sarah’s guidance. Through this, the church became more interested and present as they saw how much the clinic is a bridge to meet new people and impacts the community. “Being in lockdown during COVID gave [local believers] time to reflect on what was actually making a difference in the community. They realised that the clinic was a great platform that God was using, especially in this culture where medical professionals are trusted more by the community.”
HOW WILL THEY HEAR? WHEN WE PROCLAIM AND DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE There are billions of people in our world today who have no idea about the life-changing love of God found in Jesus. In supporting OM, you are joining a movement of people who want to change this reality. …a movement of people who believe God is and will change this reality. …a movement of people who believe that it’s through
us – ordinary individuals like Sarah – that God is bringing real change. In supporting the Mercy Appeal, you enable people living through suffering and crisis to experience and hear of the love of Jesus. You can give to the mercy appeal at uk.om.org/mercy
* Names changed
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MOLDOVA
by Jane Knoop
WHY THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT PUT US OFF Was 2020 the year to delay a vision, or press on? Hear from Debbie and Peter Turtle (Northern Ireland) as to why they’ve decided to pursue moving to a least reached country through such a time as this.
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DEBBIE
feel that God has been asking me to do something with my whole life; that everything I do should be encompassed with whatever God would ask of me. Peter and I met later in life. Both of us had painful pasts; it took a lot for God to get our attention and bring us on to His path. But now He has our attention. Our focus is on Him. We have a common goal to make His love known, and we don’t want to squander the years we have left. After much reading, praying, asking “what is it you want us to do, Lord?”, things started happening. Peter went on a vision trip to Moldova in 2019 – testing the waters – and I could see how naturally he
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fitted in. From there it has just fast tracked. Sometimes I do have to pause and say, “hang on a wee minute, how come a matter of months ago we didn’t even think that this would be happening. Moving country. Quitting our jobs. It’s all been fast!” But the important thing to say is that things are just naturally unfolding. The timing feels mad – being in a pandemic and all! – but in reality, we feel we’ve neither delayed, neither pushed on. We’ve realised that this situation is nothing to God. He can make a way. We’re not pushing our own agenda, but waiting to see where God will lead and then walking through doors when they open.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
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MADAGASCAR
PETER
ne morning I had this feeling come over me, “who do you think you are? Why are you doing this?” In that moment I felt disqualified. I watched some videos of ministry in Moldova, where we were sure God was calling us to, and I was reminded to take my eyes off myself. It’s about these people. Sharing God with these people. I realised in that moment that the enemy doesn’t want any of this to happen. He will take little things, so we don’t notice, and cause them to make us doubt God’s calling on our lives. We’ve learnt to prepare for the doubts and worries – they will come, especially in these COVID-days when anxiety can be high. But instead, we keep our focus on the Great Commission; whether it’s Moldova, or next door, it’s for all of us. Someone will go to the person on their street, someone will go across the world. It’s just
about obedience. Obedience to God and allowing Him to take the lead. So when I think about the question, “why me?”, my answer is “why not me?!” He’s called each one of us.
“WE’RE NOT PUSHING OUR OWN AGENDA, BUT WAITING TO SEE WHERE GOD WILL LEAD AND THEN WALKING THROUGH DOORS WHEN THEY OPEN.” Our willing obedience has spoken volumes to people – friends, family, colleagues – more than anything else we’ve ever said or done in our lives. It speaks volumes to people that we’re stepping out for God in such a time as this.
Peter, Debbie and their two girls will leave for Moldova as soon as their visas are approved. Pray for them and consider, could God be asking you to take His love to the least reached for such a time as this?
DO YOU REMEMBER DEBORAH? Her story featured in Issue 3 of Global in 2019; a young girl from Newcastle, spearheading children’s ministry in Madagascar. Perhaps at a glance, this story could look like one among many, as young people take to Africa for a brief interlude in their gap year. But for Deborah this is a long-term commitment and God is using her obedience to achieve extraordinary things for His Kingdom. Last year, Deborah (now 23) traded the hustle and bustle of Madagascar’s capital for the dusty streets of rural Ambovombe, where children’s ministry is a rare phenomenon in the surrounding villages. She lives simply; committed to the local way of life. As coronavirus spread across the world, leaving no place untouched, the Androy region of Madagascar also felt the effects. And yet, “it was in the midst of these hard times that children’s ministry started to grow!” Deborah shares. When restrictions put a stop to group meetings in Ambovombe, Deborah looked on in delight as the young adults she had been training in children’s ministry returned to their villages – where there were fewer restrictions – and started their own children’s clubs, putting all they’d learnt into practice. Amidst restrictions and challenges – or perhaps even because of! – Deborah is discovering that there are new opportunities for Kingdom growth that empower local believers. There are now seven new children’s clubs in the region, and many more young children hearing and accessing the Gospel for themselves.
Be encouraged. God is moving! Join with us in praying for continued Kingdom growth in Moldova and Madagascar.
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SHIP MINISTRY
by Cristina Amato
GOD AT THE HELM
You’ve heard it said, ‘There can be only one captain of a ship.’ In the case of Logos Hope, the current captain is James Berry, whose home is in Nottingham; but the one steering the captain’s life – and the course of Logos Hope – is God Himself.
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Sometimes, what brings you here and what keeps you going are different stories,” James says.
of responsibility and many hard decisions to make that have a big impact on other people’s lives,” he says.
A sense of calling from God, which James felt compelled to be faithful to, first brought him aboard Logos II in 2006 as part of the deck team. An encounter with OM’s founder, George Verwer, one Sunday morning at a church in Cambridge – where James was in his final year studying Maths – started the process. Wondering what to do after graduating, the young man asked George several questions. In time, God led James to a growing conviction that he should commit his life to making God known, and that the Ship Ministry was where he could be used most significantly.
So what keeps him going now, especially amid the challenges and uncertainties posed by the coronavirus pandemic?
Fourteen years on, James continues to serve at sea! In 2019 he became the first British captain of Logos Hope, in charge of a crew numbering around 300 people. “There is a tremendous amount
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KNOWING I CAN TURN TO GOD While he describes himself as an independent person, James loves how God delights in His followers coming to Him for help. A favourite verse of scripture is ‘Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord’ (Lamentations 2:19) and this is exactly what the captain does. “When I struggle with something, I go out on deck and pray about it,” says James.
TAKING JOY IN THOSE AROUND ME “One of my great joys is seeing a team grow and accomplish new things,” James
“…pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.” Lamentations 2:19
“IT’S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SHIP COMMUNITY IS GOING ON IN A HEALTHY WAY, AND TO CARE FOR MY CREWMEMBERS DURING THIS COVID CRISIS”
were reaching out to islanders in the Bahamas who are rebuilding their lives after a devastating hurricane. James looks forward to Logos Hope reopening to the public in due course, so that more people can encounter the love of God on board the unique vessel and through wider interaction with her crew.
KNOWING THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE Whilst having the title of Captain, James is quick to clarify that he is not actually in charge of the ship’s journey, or even of his own life. “One perspective that a lot of seafarers probably get is the sense of not being in control. At sea you are so much at the mercy of the weather and elements, compared to some other professions,” he explains.
explains, “In this season, our marine operations team has had a large number of practical challenges; completely different to normal operations. It has been a joy to watch them overcome these – sometimes in very tricky conditions. It hasn’t been straightforward and yet they made it look routine and easy.”
“There seems to be this idea in our society that humans have conquered nature and that people are in control of their own destiny, but as seafarers, we are much more aware of being in God’s hands – and I think that can be a privilege for all of us.”
OM SHIPS’ 50TH ANNIVERSARY! “We look back at 50 years of Ship Ministry impact on the world and are incredibly humbled and honoured to be used by God. The message of the Gospel is one of transformation, and millions have experienced its power in their life and community through their encounter with one of our ships. This message continues to drive us forward as we consider that millions more need to experience God’s love.” - Seelan Govender, CEO, OM Ships. We extend our deepest gratitude for your faithful partnership. We look ahead expectantly for all God will continue to do as we share knowledge, help and hope. Now, as ever, we need your prayerful and financial support. Serve alongside us as the Lord leads you to participate in His mission. Visit uk.om.org/ships for more throughout our milestone year!
James is clear about his purpose and focus during this season: “It’s my job to make sure that the ship community is going on in a healthy way, and to care for my crewmembers during this COVID crisis.”
KEEPING MY EYES ON THE BIG PICTURE For James, it’s important in times such as these to keep his eyes lifted. He is willing to stick through challenging periods to see lives impacted for God’s Kingdom again. Some onshore ministry has resumed: in recent months crewmembers Find out more about serving on board Logos Hope at www.uk.om.org/logos-hope-ships
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UNITED KINGDOM
by Inger Robb
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8
“SEND ME!” Emilie* had always wondered if God was calling her to India. She recently discovered it was the right people but not yet the right place.
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Since I was a child, it was always my dream to go to India and share the Gospel,” said Emilie. “I think God put this in my heart as I had no connection to India.” The vibrant colours and national dress fascinated her, whereas the knowledge that many had never heard about Jesus stirred a longing to go and tell them. “Four years ago, I read a book about unreached people and I started to cry,” Emilie described. “God broke my heart and I prayed, ‘send me!’”
WILLING BUT NOT READY “But to this day, God closed the door,” Emilie (now in her twenties) stated. Her hopes of going on an outreach trip to India didn’t work out. It wasn’t until she attended OM’s Mission Discipleship Training (MDT) in 2019, that she understood why. “I realised I wasn’t ready!” she declared. It dawned on Emilie that the jump from her quiet European village to densely populated India would have been too great. Moving to metropolitan Birmingham for the UK-based MDT programme, in a Western culture like her own, proved a good steppingstone. While living in community with international participants, Emilie gained experience in a cross-cultural setting. “It showed me it is not so easy,”
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she acknowledged. “I learned how other people think and how to work in a team. It was a time of preparing.”
UNREACHED BUT NOT FAR During a two-month MDT placement, Emilie volunteered with a multicultural church in another city that reaches out to the South Asian community. To her surprise, many of the congregation and those living in the area belonged to the Guajarati people, one of India’s least-reached groups. “I thought going to the unreached meant you needed to go far away,” Emilie expressed. “But in the UK, they are near you!”
decided to join OM in September 2020, returning to serve with the same church (as coronavirus restrictions allow) and has begun learning the Guajarati language. Emilie doesn’t know if she will ever travel to India, however, she knows she is in the right place for the next two years.
Emilie found joy teaching in Sunday school, working in the church’s charity shop, speaking to individuals in the street and getting to know the Guajarati culture. She
“God wants to use the things He laid in our hearts for His Kingdom,” said Emilie. “I have started to use what God laid in my heart and I can see it is needed here!”
HOW FAR DO I NEED TO GO? Do you have a passion for cross-cultural ministry? People groups unreached with the Gospel are on our doorstep. Emilie discovered that she didn’t need to go far to share God’s love with people who had never heard. Discover opportunities to serve unreached people groups in the UK: uk.om.org/go
Willing but not ready? Apply for Missions Discipleship Training today at uk.om.org/mdt
* Names changed
BLOG
“...because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9
by Kerry Wigglesworth
BLOG.OM.ORG Kerry Wigglesworth, Digital Editor at OM, shares five practical ideas of how you can prepare for and engage in short-term outreach in the months ahead.
FIVE WAYS TO PREPARE FOR SHORT-TERM OUTREACH IN 2021
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ith international travel limited due to coronavirus, where does this leave short-term outreach at the start of 2021? Has the familiar message of ‘stay home’ clashed with the command of the Great Commission to ‘go into all the world’? What options are we left with?
1
PRAY
Maybe short-term outreaches are something you’ve not considered before. Or perhaps you were disappointed when yours was cancelled last year. Either way, hold your plans and ideas lightly and let God speak to you about how and where He wants to use you. Is there a specific city, country or continent where you long to see Christ known? Pray for this people group. Invest in communities spiritually through prayer before you ever meet or serve them practically.
2
READ
Read about the country you hope to go to. Discover the culture and understand their
worldview. Learn about the major religions or ideologies in the region. Read books on mission. Equip yourself in understanding the Biblical basis for mission. Humble yourself under the groundwork that many others have done before you for the sake of the Gospel and be inspired by their testimonies. You can find books to inform and inspire at www.uk.om.org/books
3
GO VIRTUALLY
Get to know the long-term team in the country you hope to serve in by going virtually first. This gives you an opportunity to pray for the work that is already taking place and ask any questions you might have, as well as learn about the culture and hear from local believers. Following the success of our first virtual outreach to Hungary in the autumn of 2020, we’ll be organising more virtual short-term outreaches in 2021. Keep an eye on our website for more opportunities! uk.om.org/go
4
PREPARE PRACTICALLY
Start fundraising for your outreach! Stuck for ideas? See our top five fundraising ideas at uk.om.org/top-five-fundraisingideas. Fundraising is a great way of raising awareness about a people group who don’t know Jesus. If you’ve already been fundraising for your outreach, why not raise a little more for the work and cause of OM? Talk to your home church about your plans to go on outreach and ask them to partner with you in prayer as you prepare to go.
5
SERVE LOCALLY
Crossing borders for the Gospel is an urgent call for Jesus followers. But let’s also open our eyes to the many opportunities for cross-cultural mission in the UK. Are there ways in which your church or local mission agencies are reaching out to least reached people groups in your area? Join in with local outreach to see the Gospel shared with people on your doorstep who don’t know Jesus, as well as those on the other side of the world.
GLOBAL 15
Could you
FUNDRAISE FOR OM?
Be part of a global community of Jesus followers united to share God’s love with those who don’t know it! When you fundraise for OM you raise awareness of the billions of people around the world who do not yet know about God’s love. You also support 5,000 workers in over 115 countries as they seek to make His name known.
Start fundraising in 3 simple steps:
PICK YOUR CHALLENGE! Get creative: organise a bakeathon or sell crafts Give it up: give up your favourite food Go virtual: host a Zoom quiz Get moving: walk/run/cycle! Find more ideas and inspiration on our website!
SET UP YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE It’s simple to set up a fundraising page! Just visit uk.om.org/fundraise and follow the steps.
TELL OTHERS WHAT YOU’RE DOING! Tell people about your fundraiser and share updates via text and social media. Together we can make His name known!
Need help with your fundraising challenge? Contact us at partner.uk@om.org or visit
UK.OM.ORG/FUNDRAISING
