OM Global Magazine 2023 #1

ON THE COVER: A young man in Heidelberg

PICTURE BY: Achim Schneider

Dear Friends,

WORLD NEWS

The body of Christ in times of crisis

UNITED KINGDOM

Providing a safe space

EUROPE

Take every opportunity

BLOG

Four reasons cities matter for mission

PAKISTAN

Reaching out to six cities in Pakistan

SHIP MINISTRY

A ripple effect through the Mediterranean

TEENSTREET

How can we revitalise our Christian youth?

SOUTH ASIA

The business of transformation

OPERATION MOBILISATION

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EDITOR: Jane Knoop

STORIES AND IMAGES: OM International

© Global magazine 2023. 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.

Bible references are from the New International Version unless stated otherwise.

When we look around the world today it is easy to become discouraged. Wars, conflicts, natural disasters, economic instability and a global food crisis are all contributing to suffering on a global scale. And as we consider the persecution of many Christians around the world and the recent census revealing the decline of the Church in our country, we can feel shaken.

“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” Hebrews 10:39

The writer to the Hebrews reminds and calls us, as followers of Jesus, to persevere. We read in chapter 10 that we can ‘draw near to God’, ‘have confidence’, and ‘hold unswervingly to the hope we profess’, whilst also encouraging one another to do the same. This is my prayer for each of us as we read and pray through this latest edition of Global. May these testimonies and articles highlighting the impact of ministries in cities around the world, inspire and encourage us to persevere.

We do not need to ‘shrink back’; instead, we can be encouraged when we hear of a diverse array of people in cities experiencing God’s love through OM ministries, and urban churches serving in unity and growing in number, even in the midst of war and conflict. We hear of the impact Logos Hope and her crew had in port cities throughout the Mediterranean, and look forward to the launch of Doulos Hope in the next months. Here in the UK, new churches are being established and young people are coming to Jesus and being emboldened in their faith through TeenStreet UK.

We have faith and we can look at the world with eyes of faith, thanking God for His work in our lives. And as we experience God’s love ourselves, we long and pray for others to also experience the transforming reality of knowing Jesus.

Thank you for reading, praying and partnering with us as we together work to reach those who are yet to know the love of God.

Together in Christ,

MATTHEW SKIRTON, UK CHIEF EXECUTIVE, OM

P.S. Do you know someone you could pass this copy of Global on to?

WORDS JANE KNOOP

The body of Christ in times of crisis

"

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

1 Corinthians 12:12

We read this beautiful imagery from the Apostle Paul and see the Church as God designed it to be; Jesus followers, united in their diversity. In the midst of a broken world, the local Church is a beacon of unity and the embodiment of a love that has the power to transform even the most tragic of circumstances.

This February marks a year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A country, still recovering from the effects of conflict over the Crimean

Peninsula in 2014, has been further devastated by the consequences of war. But through these challenging circumstances, there has been a shift within the local Church in Ukraine. “As the suffering continued, something began to change inside the Church,” Oleg, a chaplain in Ukraine explained. “Not one church has stayed indifferent. Everyone has got involved… The Church has profoundly mobilised. It is truly an inspired time.”

Workers in Ukraine have been supporting local churches as they’ve instinctively responded to those who are internally displaced or suffering due to the war with physical, spiritual and emotional support. “As people who carry the hope of Christ within us during this difficult time in Ukraine, we often act as agents

of hope,” says Stefan, Crisis Manager for OM in Ukraine. “And for us, it is a privilege to be with them in their time of need. We know that the body of Christ is not going to run away. It’s going to serve each other. And we will continue to do so.”

Oleg looks at the Church in Ukraine and sees, “…a wonderful time of unity.” His beautiful statement feels almost surreal when surrounded by devastation and conflict, but it is a testament to our extraordinary God, who is working powerfully through His church to bring redemption and unity.

New Turkishspeaking church plant

A Turkish-speaking church in north London has seen phenomenal growth in recent years, with a surge of interest in the gospel during the pandemic.

In response to this move of God's Spirit within the Turkish community, OM worker, Dennis, is preparing to plant a new Turkishspeaking church in north London this spring.

Praise God for all He is doing among the Turkish community in London!

For more guidance on how to pray for the Church's response in Ukraine, visit uk.om.org/ pray-for-ukraine

Providing a safe space

Andrew Harwood works among refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham and the Black Country. OM writer, Nicky Andrews, asked him about the ministry he is a part of – revealing the joys and challenges he faces each week, and the steadfast calling which keeps him going.

HOW DID GOD LEAD YOU INTO WORKING AMONG REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS?

After joining OM in 1995, I served in India and Pakistan for five years, initially in India amongst Afghan refugees. From 2004 I was based back in the UK, working from the office in Halesowen managing programmes equipping workers for outreach. Then in 2017, I began strongly sensing God drawing me back into frontline outreach myself; during a time of prayer and fasting, He spoke clearly to me about serving refugees again. I knew the work would be demanding and draining, but I was confident it was what He wanted me to do.

DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE.

One day a week I teach English – mostly to Afghan refugees, so God’s using my earliest OM experience again, to good effect! But the majority of my time is spent managing a drop-in centre purely for asylum seekers and refugees, which I’ve been overseeing for the past five years. The centre opens on Mondays, staffed by local volunteers and other OM workers. We can get up to 70 people visiting, coming to the centre from the urban expanse west of Birmingham.

I spend the rest of the week following up with as many as possible – we provide practical, social and emotional support, not immigration advice, though we’ve learnt a lot about the system along the way. Many visitors suffer from

depression and anxiety, exacerbated by their experience of the asylum system. We’re providing a safe space for deeply hurting people to experience God’s love and care.

IS BIRMINGHAM THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THIS FORM OF SERVICE?

Absolutely. There are so many migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers on our doorstep, in Birmingham and the four neighbouring Black Country boroughs. We meet dozens of nationalities from across the world, which is hugely enriching.

Many individuals are from people groups where there are fewer Jesus followers and less access to the gospel, and through OM, I have built up stocks of literature in lots of languages which I give out to people. In some of their home countries there would be very little opportunity to hear about Jesus. As these individuals come into the orbit of a Christian-based organisation, they’re able to experience God’s love through us. It’s a huge privilege.

WHAT SORT OF CHARACTER IS NEEDED FOR THIS MINISTRY?

Mature people with a real heart not just for the marginalised, but refugees and asylum seekers in particular; someone non-judgmental with a very solid faith in Jesus, so as not to be overwhelmed by the stories you hear and the desperate emotions that are poured out. It’s been as demanding and draining as the Lord told me it would be.

Our motivation mustn’t be: ‘let’s make them Christians.’ We need to build up trust and relationships; try to meet some of their felt needs so that they trust us, assured that we care about them. And when people who feel so battered by life come to trust us, they tell their friends to come to us too. Sometimes it’s easy to doubt that enough impact is being made when the needs feel endless and complex. But it’s in the midst of these doubts that I have to stand on my very clear sense of calling and trust that God is always working.

IS IT JUST BIG CITIES WHERE WE CAN SERVE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS?

The government’s dispersal policy is changing so that in the future there are likely to be communities of asylum seekers and refugees even in smaller towns, though they will still tend to be poorer, more deprived areas because of housing costs. But just look a little closer in many suburbs, and with a little effort, you'll discover communities of refugees and asylum seekers. Needs are the same everywhere –a place and people to feel safe with.

Could God be prompting you to reach out to asylum seekers and refugees in your community?

Find opportunities to serve through your church, or explore options for cross-cultural ministry with OM in the UK at uk.om.org/serve-in-the-uk

Take every opportunity

The street is empty; there are just a few shopkeepers about, raising their shutters or refreshing their stalls in the hazy morning sun. Two hours from now this street will be bustling with people, stocking up on supplies and bartering for goods.

I open my shop with anticipation at what the day has in store for me, the people I’ll meet and the conversations I’ll have. I have a renewed purpose these days; a pressing motivation to share the hope that I’ve found with everyone I meet. There was a time when my shop was just a shop, but now it’s a place of encounter.

THE OPEN BOOK

I can’t quite remember what it was that made me want to click on the online advert I saw for a Discovery Bible Course (DBC). My inherited faith is Islam; I’d grown up familiar with the Qur’an and Muslim practices, but for some reason on that day two years ago, something in me wanted to find out more about the Bible.

I started off reading the Bible with people in an online group, and then in person. We followed the simple DBC method: reflecting on a passage together and then responding in action. The experience was life changing.

In the pages of the Bible I discovered a God who loved me enough to die for me. I knew I would never be the same.

found. People know me as the one who loves and lives Jesus.

THE OPEN DOOR

My whole life has been reoriented. And it’s not just a private thing, I can’t help but share the love I’ve

The shop door creaks open. My first customer of the day. It’s my dear friend, Emir*. We embrace and greet each other, like long lost friends, even though we saw each other yesterday! I’ve often spoken to Emir about Jesus, but he remains unconvinced. Though today he’s come to tell me that his son wants to join a DBC I host. What a start to the day! God is at work in my community - so many people are joining me to read the Bible. For Emir, and others who remain unsure, I continue to pray and share God’s love – my door is open and so is His.

Could you pray for 30 days for your Muslim neighbours?

Join us in prayer through the Muslim festival of Ramadan, from 22nd March to 21st April. Visit uk.om.org/prayer-reach-app to access resources.

God is at work in my communityso many people are joining me to read the Bible

In a thriving metropolitan city in Eastern Europe Murat* opens his shop ready for another day of taking every opportunity to share God’s love.

Four reasons cities matter for mission

Cities are vitally important for the future of world mission. If we want to see all people have an opportunity to encounter God’s love, we must invest in cities as key places of impact and strategic mobilisation.

According to the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation, in cities we are most likely to find: unreached people (those who are yet to hear the gospel) who have migrated, the poorest of the poor, the next generation of young people and those who are culture shapers. Might cities offer us the opportunity to meet the world on our doorsteps?

1. UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS MIGRATE INTO CITIES

Cities are places where cultures come together – places of diversity in belief and background. In London there are hundreds of languages spoken every day, including Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Somali, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu and Nepali. Many of these languages are spoken by people from nations where there is little or no access to the gospel. In response, OM is reaching out in cities like London and Birmingham by serving communities, building relationships, and contextualising the gospel.

2. THOSE EXPERIENCING DESTITUTION OFTEN LIVE IN CITIES

Rural to urban migration occurs for a variety of reasons, but for the poorest, push factors include a decline in income from agriculture, poor living conditions and lack of access to services.

Hope of employment and educational opportunities draw people to cities – but they aren’t always met with the better standard of living they expected.

Into this context, OM responds to people in crisis situations through the Mercy Appeal. For example, in 2020 this fund supported subsistence workers in South Asia who were left without employment due to coronavirus lockdowns.

3. CITIES ARE HOME TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE

It is estimated by UN Habitat that as many as 60% of all urban dwellers will be under the age of 18 by 2030.

What an opportunity this presents to equip the next generation of Jesus followers to live out God’s love!

In a recent opinion piece, Matthew Skirton, UK CEO of OM, described how "we need to inspire [youth] with the knowledge that God is moving... and that they have been gifted with the unique skills and abilities to help reach the millions who have not yet heard the gospel.” (Read more on pages 12-14).

4. CITIES DRAW PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SHAPE CULTURE

Universities are places of learning, research, and new ideas – and they are often found in or near cities. Students have the potential to go on to become people who shape the culture of a city or even an entire nation – as politicians, writers, artists and activists.

God has given all of us gifts that He longs for us to use as tools to live out His love. Reaching future culture shapers in cities now could empower them to live missionally, impacting the world around them by doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly in whatever context they might find themselves.

Reaching out to six cities in Pakistan

Many households in Pakistan make their living from livestock. They not only use the animals for food, but also for collateral for loans to purchase seed for the following year’s crop. What would happen to a community if a farmer’s entire herd died?

For many families, this dreadful possibility became a reality last summer. Pakistan weathered extreme flooding over the summer months. Since mid-June, persistent monsoons flooded the lowlands of Sindh and Baluchistan, Pakistan’s two southern provinces. OM teams had the opportunity to respond in six critical cities. One of these cities, home to more than 120,000 people, was completely submerged underwater.

Because of the flooding, millions of people across Pakistan have been displaced, some living in relief camps, others sleeping wherever they can find a dry place. Destruction of regular amenities such as toilets has caused the rate of disease to rise dramatically.

Thousands of hospitals and medical facilities have been left in ruins, which has led to many people needing immediate help in accessing

medical supplies as well as food and shelter. Thanks to your care and generous response to the Mercy Appeal, OM in Pakistan have been able to provide food packs, medical kits and shelter for many people impacted by this disaster.

MEETING IMMEDIATE NEEDS

The OM team in Pakistan have been working hard to provide shelter for those in need, partnering with local authorities and churches to respond swiftly and effectively. Perm* and his family were living on the roadside in

a basic shelter, and even after two months the water stood three feet high around their home. Before the monsoon, Perm had worked as a market labourer, but he had no work for over a month when the market closed during the monsoon. His income had drastically dropped, giving him few options to provide for his family.

OM workers found him and his family and gave them much-needed supplies. “Your help in the shape of a tent and food packs, not only provided food for us but the tent has provided us security too,” Perm said. The team have been able to share God’s love with those like Perm who are in desperate need of support and immediate provision.

Please join us in prayer for individuals like Perm who need immediate support and long-term solutions, and Jesus followers in Pakistan as they reach out in love to those who are affected.

"Your help in the shape of a tent and food packs, not only provided food for us but the tent has provided us security too"

A ripple effect through the Mediterranean

It is estimated that by 2050, nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. As Logos Hope, Doulos Hope and future ships visit these coastal urban expanses, with hundreds of crewmembers who have been profoundly impacted by God’s love, there emerge frequent, unique opportunities to share knowledge, help and hope in a way that creates a lasting ripple effect.

Crewmembers of Logos Hope have spent the last nine months in the Mediterranean, visiting 13 port cities. At the end of 2022, 141,590 people had come on board to attend the bookfair or an event and 150 local ministries and churches were supported. What remains immeasurable are the number of conversations and demonstrations of God’s love that will have made a profound impact, or the ongoing ministry and service of Jesus followers who were inspired and resourced by the presence of Logos Hope’s community.

COMBINING EFFORTS, A STORY FROM SPAIN

In Ceuta, Logos Hope partnered with the ‘Casa de Alabanza’ (House of Praise) church and other

local believers, to support and encourage them as they serve in this multicultural city. Pastor Javier Santolaria said, “When we received the news about a ship coming back to Ceuta, my heart was filled with joy. In 2006, Logos II was here, so we were very happy to imagine [your] return!” Local believers joined crew for a prayer night as well as a Sunday service on board.

Another day, around 30 crewmembers and over 20 local believers covered the city in prayer, with groups taking different routes and then meeting in the city centre to worship and pray together. At the end of the visit, Pastor Javier said, “Your humility as well as your preparation is outstanding. As a church, we are very grateful for the effort of coming to Ceuta and blessing us in many ways.”

COMPASSION IN ACTION;

A STORY FROM MALTA

Logos Hope supported the work of the ‘Migrants Commission’ in upgrading a shelter, which “through collaboration with state agencies and international and local NGOs, seeks to welcome, protect, promote and integrate all migrants in Malta”. One crewmember explained, “The premises really needed a lot of renovation and so we aimed to help as much as we could. Some of our electricians had to replace lighting points and switches. Others painted doors and handrails. Most of us helped to empty the cubicles for refurbishment into emergency residences, so that the contractors could then start with their work.

“We saw this work as an opportunity to show compassion for those who have to flee their homes, through

practical help and action and to encourage Migrants Commission in the phenomenal work they do every day.” Social worker Mario said, “The encounter with Logos Hope, with what you are doing, with the way you have offered

your voluntary service and help, does touch upon the feeling of the beauty of how humanity can work together across borders–because there are no borders. It's a beautiful experience of just doing something together and it does bring hope!”

your presence is fullness of joy.”

How can we revitalise our Christian youth?

Matthew Skirton, UK Chief Executive and father to five children, is passionate about seeing the next generation of Jesus followers boldly live out their faith.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.” These words must have been extremely challenging to receive for the early Christians in Rome. As followers of Jesus, facing all sorts of trials, temptations and struggles, surely they would have been tempted to compromise, internalise their faith, and play it safe by not sharing their hope and the promise of salvation with others.

Religious statistics made headlines recently when the results of Census 2021 revealed that, for the first time, fewer than half of people in England and Wales describe themselves as Christian. Moreover, the British Social Attitudes Survey reveals that 65% of 18-24-year-olds say they belong to no religion, and only 18% say they are Christians. Apathy to the message of the Bible and its teaching is undoubtedly growing in our country. Young Christians are finding themselves in an increasingly secular society, with many feeling unable to talk about their faith in public.

As I reflect upon the challenges faced in the UK today, especially by young disciples of Jesus, I wonder how we can best help them be confident and unashamed of the gospel. Rather than encouraging them to simply cling to a fledgling

faith, hoping that they’ll keep turning up at church each week, what if we enabled them to look beyond themselves to such an extent that they see Jesus and understand more fully what it means to follow Him and make disciples?

Paul did not urge those early Jesus followers to retreat and focus solely on trying to hold on and survive. Instead, he urged them to boldly, unashamedly proclaim, share and demonstrate the truths of the gospel. The boldness of those early followers came from the working of the Holy Spirit and the fact that they had simply ‘been with Jesus’ (Acts 4v13).

Perhaps our approach to discipling young Jesus followers today should be far bolder, far more radical and, dare I say, more Biblical, as we emphasise that all disciples of

Jesus are called to make disciples. The sharing of our faith and making of disciples is not just an optional extra for a special few, but should be a natural part of every Jesus follower’s life.

This is the purpose behind OM’s TeenStreet events, which started in 1993 with just 53 teenagers and today numbers in the thousands in 15 countries across the world. In the summer of this year, the event launched in the UK for the very first time. The call to live out God’s love boldly permeates the entirety of the programme, which connects UK teens to a global community of young people and brings them hope and boldness through discipleship.

role to play in reaching the world with the gospel, the problem is that often they just don’t know it yet.

The benefits of this approach to teens are multiple. Broadening their understanding of how God is moving internationally can strengthen teens’ faith, help them remember that they are not alone, recontextualise their view of God and also spark their passion to step into their calling and get involved in His transformative

work. Discipling and connecting teens to Christians from a diverse array of UK backgrounds who have taken part in spreading the gospel worldwide is key to achieving this.

One of the teenagers at TeenStreet UK 2022, Abigail, described having a moment of deep connection with God, saying: “I now have a dream to tell people about God’s love in places that are difficult to reach with the gospel. Sometimes people discourage me. But if our purpose as

It's all about disciples becoming disciple makers; not being ashamed of the gospel, and recognising the need and calling that all followers of Jesus have to make disciples. Through TeenStreet we seek to help teens see how God is continuing to move powerfully in people’s lives and bring revival all over the world - and how He can do the same both to and through their lives in the UK. They have a key

Through TeenStreet we seek to help teens see how God is continuing to move powerfully in people’s lives and bring revival all over the world

Christians is to make disciples of all nations then we must be willing to talk about our faith everywhere. I’m open to God calling me anywhere.”

Discipling teens so that they understand their purpose in God’s plan is essential to encouraging them to lift up their eyes, live out their faith and develop a passion to share God’s love. We rejoice that many who have attended TeenStreet in the past have gone on to share the good news with different mission agencies and churches by serving as cross cultural disciple makers around the world.

We cannot just teach our teenagers how to survive in the UK as Christians. We need to inspire them with the knowledge that God is moving and transforming lives everywhere, and that they have been gifted with the unique skills and abilities to help reach the

millions who have not yet heard the gospel, both inside and outside of the UK. By sharing a larger vision of what God is doing in the world, faith becomes less about the individual, and more about a worldwide community of Jesus followers, united in our calling to make disciples of all nations.

I wonder, as parents and youth pastors, are we just trying to shepherd our youth from one event to another, praying and willing them to hold on and show up at church or youth group? Or, are we showing them that they have an important role to play in sharing a glorious gospel that has the power to transform not just their lives but also the lives of people around the world?

Does a youth worker at your church know about TeenStreet UK? Find out more at uk.om.org/teenstreet-uk

We need to inspire them with the knowledge that God is moving and transforming lives

The business of transformation

Beginning with her first business in 1996, Jo (Singapore) committed to using her entrepreneurial skills to further God’s Kingdom. Since then, she’s started five different companies to bring physical and spiritual transformation to both her employees and those impacted by her businesses.

Jo didn’t always understand the connection between business and missions. When she first joined OM in South Asia, she considered abandoning her entrepreneurial dreams for Bible college. “Back then, business as missions was very unheard of,” she explained. Instead, she stayed in South Asia, slowly recognising how her business acumen could serve God and the women she came to love.

Jo began employing single mothers, allowing them to bring their children to work or leave early to pick them up from school. By accommodating their needs as caregivers, Jo provided the women opportunity to get back on their feet. Fifteen years later, she employed nearly 30 women through multiple businesses.

Eventually, Jo relocated to another country in South Asia. There, God again allowed Jo to start a business to serve others.

In her new city, Jo joined a church whose pastor had a heart for vulnerable and trafficked women. Like in many urban contexts, the Red Light district was a place where women desperately needed to experience God’s love. Many women working in the sex industry wanted to leave but were unable

to get out. Their families back home were often too ashamed to allow them to return, and most did not have an education or any skills training to help them find work. One by one, Jo began employing women from the Red Light district, allowing them to choose a new path for their lives.

“When we share about Christ with them, about how He loves them and forgives them, it is a very natural healing process for them,” Jo said. It may take time for them to accept that Jesus is the only God, but “it is quite a natural process for them to hear about Jesus and to then respond to Him.”

Jo’s faith has grown as she has witnessed the transformation that God’s love can bring. “We hope that the business we have built can be passed on—even to the women’s children whom we have also helped,” she said. “That they can grow up to be the next leaders and that we could see more women rescued and redeemed.”

Could you offer your skills to help further God’s Kingdom in a part of the world where His love is not yet known? We’d love to help you find your place in God’s mission to His world. Contact us at uk.om.org/talk-to-amission-coach

COULD YOU JOIN THE UK TEAM?

With many roles taking place behind the scenes - from IT, to marketing, to outreach ministry - you could be part of the bigger picture.

Use your passions and skills to help share the love of God in the UK and around the world.