OM Global Magazine 2022 #3

ON THE COVER: Bangladeshi man

PICTURE BY: Justin Lovett

WORLD NEWS

New ministries emerging amidst crisis in Sri Lanka

TEENSTREET

Inspired to live out love

SHIP MINISTRY

Where are Christians in the chaos?

REACH

You have a place in His unfolding story

PROFESSION IN MISSION

Trusting God's movement

EUROPE

We must not stop praying

CENTRAL NORTH AFRICA

Nothing compares with knowing Him

BLOG

Three things we've discovered since saying 'yes' to God's call

OPERATION MOBILISATION

Registered office: The Quinta, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7LT.

Registered as a company limited by guarantee no. 2564320 and charity no.1008196 (England and Wales).

tel: 01691 773388

email: hello.uk@om.org

w: www.uk.om.org

EDITOR: Jane Knoop

STORIES AND IMAGES:

OM International

© Global magazine 2022. 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.

Dear Friends,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled, [you] trust in God, trust also in me.” (John 14:1)

Wars, pandemics, economic crises, hunger, climate related disasters, suffering, loneliness, desperation, hopelessness… How can we not be troubled when we look around and see what is happening in our world today? But in the midst of it all, we hear Jesus urging His first disciples to not let their hearts be troubled; to trust Him, just as they were trusting in God (John 14:1).

What follows in John 14 is a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus reminds His friends of the work He is about to do in preparing a way to the Father. They are confused and ask for clarity as to where He is going and how they can follow Him; and then He makes this incredible claim…

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

We hold to this truth, that Jesus is the only solution. There is no other Way! Amid all the troubling situations around the world, we as followers of Jesus have hope because we know and trust the One who is the Way, who is ultimate Truth and who brings Life.

A highlight for me this past summer was seeing young people growing in their faith through our first ever TeenStreet UK event (pages 4-5). I’m also excited to see the continued development of OM’s Ship Ministry which will enable more people in many locations hear about and experience Jesus (pages 6-8). And we’re so encouraged in this edition of Global to include stories of how people all around the world, even in seemingly difficult to reach places, continue to come to Jesus and experience transformed lives. We have hope as we glimpse the ways God is at work, building His Church, establishing His Kingdom, and we are humbled as we understand how we are invited to play a part in His work to His world.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we together proclaim Jesus as the solution to troubled hearts.

Serving together, MATTHEW SKIRTON, UK CHIEF EXECUTIVE, OM

New ministries emerging amidst crisis in Sri Lanka

Fifty years have passed since OM’s ship, Logos, first visited Sri Lanka in 1972, kickstarting a relationship with churches and ministries in the country which have flourished over the decades.

Within the next year, amidst a backdrop of mounting crisis and desperate need, a new, fledgling OM office is being formed to support local Jesus followers to share God’s love.

The history of this beautiful country has been marked by a deluge of tragedies. The devastating tsunami of 2004 and terrorist attacks during Easter in 2019 challenged a country already suffering from decades of civil unrest. When COVID-19 led to numerous lockdowns in 2020-2021, Sri Lanka’s delicate economy was pushed to breaking point.

Today, the livelihoods of people across the island nation have been impacted by economic collapse, with food and fuel becoming unaffordable for many. Deep, prolonged frustration is leading to uprisings and protests. Here is a nation in great need of God’s presence.

Workers in Sri Lanka are proactively sharing God’s love, partnering with local churches to provide food relief for those who are most vulnerable, whilst building lasting connections.

For many years, Kingdom growth has been slow in this predominantly Buddhist nation. But more recently, local believers have noticed a new openness to talk about Christ. As the OM team continues to become more established, their vision is to work alongside emerging leaders. By discipling and equipping others to be effective witnesses in their communities or workplaces, the prayer is that many more may hear of, and be transformed by, God’s love.

Join with us in continuing to pray for Sri Lanka.

OM's Ship Ministry is expanding!

In May 2022, OM expanded its geographical reach by welcoming a new ship, Doulos Hope (Servant of Hope), to the fleet! Following a few months of renovation, she is expected to join Logos Hope in sharing knowledge, help and hope in 2023.

With a capacity for around 150 crew, Doulos Hope has a shallower draught than her sister ship, Logos Hope, allowing her to visit previously difficult to reach ports. As we look to go further, stay longer and engage more deeply in communities, Doulos Hope will be a key part in achieving this vision.

Read more about why Ship Ministry is expanding on page 6.

Inspired to live out love

This summer, the first ever TeenStreet was hosted in the UK. Over 70 teenagers gathered together for a week of discipleship. Internal growth and deeper personal connection with Jesus inspired many of the teens to step out in faith, willing and ready to take His love to those who don’t know Him.

MORE THAN A MOMENT

“We were invited to kneel,” Abigail (17) says, recalling a moment in worship at TeenStreet. “I’ve followed Jesus since I was little, but since moving from Malaysia to London with my family ten months ago, I’ve been listless and felt a distance growing between me and God.

I knew I needed to surrender everything to Him again. So, I knelt…”

A leader drew alongside her to pray and Abigail felt overwhelmed by God’s love and presence. “Most of the time when I experience the Holy Spirit I’m too shy to do anything about it. But I felt God saying that in this moment I shouldn’t feel afraid of what others think.” Tears flowing and hands upturned, Abigail knelt there with God, long after

other teenagers left. “I couldn’t hear anything around me,” she explains. “It was just me and God.”

Abigail knows that God met with her for a purpose. “There will be moments, like this one, when God draws so close,” she shares, “but it can’t just be about the moments, it has to be something that is

You can’t just rely on these moments of encounter; you must let them change you.

consistent. You can’t just rely on these moments of encounter; you must let them change you.”

“I have a dream to tell people about God’s love in really hard places. If our purpose is to make disciples, then we must be willing to go anywhere. I learnt from my family that you shouldn’t be afraid. Because it’s not about me, it’s about God.”

CO-CREATING WITH GOD

Sixteen-year-old Hope is most often found with a paint brush in hand. Sat cross-legged on the floor in the corner of the Art Zone, her wrist moves steadily in time with the worship music playing, as she adds colour to the blank canvas.

“For me, art is about spending time with God,” Hope explains. “It’s about abiding in His presence and every part of the painting is about cocreating with God. When I spend time with Him it flows out of me.”

Hope usually sits alone as she paints, but at TeenStreet the Art Zone is in the Throne Room – the

main meeting space – and she is surrounded by a community of other young worshippers. This setting is so unique and inspiring for Hope. “I don’t get to meet many other teenagers who love Jesus,” she shares. “Most of my friends at school are atheists and in to really bad things, so I find it really hard to share my faith journey with them. It’s amazing that at TeenStreet I can worship alongside so many others my age.”

Art is a means of worship for Hope, but more than that, she wants it to enable others to connect with God. “My prayer is that my art will touch others too; that they will see God in my art. Maybe my pictures will lead to conversations and be a way of sharing my faith with my friends.”

PRAYING FOR BOLDNESS

Ben (15) is covered in powder-paint following the TeenStreet fundraising run. He’s loved the high-energy games and activities, but when asked what he’s enjoying most he says, without hesitation, that it’s

been the opportunities he’s had to go deeper with God.

“It’s been amazing to have time to learn more about God and draw close to Him,” Ben shares. “I’ve heard God speak so clearly to me about the things in my life that I need to surrender.” Ben identifies the small group times as being really significant. “Our NET group has been really cool,” he enthuses, “it’s so good to have the opportunity to chat about the Bible together and have leaders there to explain what things mean.”

“I really want to be able to spread God’s love when I’m back home, and show my friends how much God means to me,” Ben shares, acknowledging the challenges he might face when he returns home. “I’ve prayed and asked that God will give me boldness.”

Does a youth leader at your church know about TeenStreet UK? Find out more about how to get involved with TeenStreet 2023 at uk.om.org/teenstreet

“The unfolding of your words gives light…”

Where are Christians in the chaos?

As OM’s Ship Ministry launches out on a new phase of expansion, chief executive officer, Seelan Govender, shares the motivation and inspiration behind the vision.

From the government’s collapse in the UK and political upheaval in Sri Lanka to skyrocketing food and fuel prices and a growing global food crisis, the world seems to be in chaos. Many of us feel anxious and afraid of what the future will hold. The temptation to just switch off the news has never felt stronger.

Amid all the chaos, how would you say the world characterises Christians? Think about it for a moment. Do they think of Christians as a people of hope? A people reflecting love and light to the rest of the world?

Scripture tells us to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). All too often our conversation and outlook get caught up in the difficulties and hopelessness of our circumstances and world events. But the truth is we are the only people who can provide the hope that the world is yearning for. The question is, are we?

More than one-third of the world’s 7.7 billion people have never heard the gospel or experienced Christ’s

love through one of His followers. It is a shocking statistic, but it’s when considering each person behind the number that we truly comprehend what that means. There are still entire regions with no church (or a tiny church) and whole communities that have never experienced the transformative love of Jesus.

stay longer and engage more deeply in the communities we visit.

By 2050 it is estimated that nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. These areas, with high densities of people, represent an incredible opportunity to build vibrant communities of Jesus followers sharing the hope they have received with those around them to bring about the flourishing of the Kingdom.

The mobility of OM’s Ship Ministry gives us a unique role as a catalyst to inspire and motivate Jesus followers across the world. To encourage them in the heart they have for their cities and equip them to go beyond the walls of their church, to their neighbourhoods and further with the hope of Christ to bring about transformation.

It is a serious wake-up call. Why is the hope and love of Christ not reaching these people? There are two simple reasons for this: they haven’t experienced deep personal investment and love from followers of Jesus and because we haven’t reached them.

It was this conviction that made us realise if we were going to be part of the solution at OM’s Ship Ministry, if we are ever truly going to reach these people with the hope and good news entrusted to us that brings about transformation, we need a radical new vision. A vision to go further,

Our vision was not just for a new ship, but for a fleet of smaller vessels equipped to travel to places we haven’t been able to reach before. We can then focus on specific strategic regions and truly equip and invest in growing the local grassroots Church.

It is an ambitious vision we took to the Lord in the midst of a global pandemic knowing this could only happen in His strength and with His provision.

God has provided for us in incredible ways. He answered our prayer on a scale and in a way we never expected. The pandemic has brought us into a unique season

Our vision was not just for a new ship, but for a fleet of smaller vessels equipped to travel to places we haven’t been able to reach before.

where many potential smaller vessels have become available, and we recently acquired our first ship in the new fleet, Doulos Hope

Doulos Hope means servant of hope to reflect our sense of servanthood, of acknowledging the other, of paying attention to the marginalised - but more than that - we saw the sense of hopelessness around us and felt called to come as people of hope, the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ, the hope that people are yearning for. But this isn’t a calling that is unique to us, it is a call to every follower of Christ.

I have seen ordinary people create a ripple effect that leads to communities boldly sharing the gospel and I pray that we will see this work continue to grow.

the call to invest in others and show them the hope only Christ can bring may feel completely unrealistic. We feel weak, ill-equipped and completely at capacity. How could we ever spread hope in the face of such despondency? And the truth is, you can’t. Not on your own. It is not a call we take up in our own strength, but in His. And not just in God’s strength, but alongside other Christians.

God’s surprising answer to our prayers has been such a precious reminder that He is still in control despite everything. Jesus proclaimed “…take heart! I have overcome the world”. Through Jesus, we are the deeply loved children of the creator of the universe, and are invited to join Him to bring about the flourishing of His Kingdom. We have been shown radical love. So, in the face of a world in chaos, we can pray ambitious prayers and step out in faith knowing that God will use us to share His hope to a broken world to bring about restoration.

Doulos Hope, is a small vessel enabling her to operate in shallow waters, such as rivers. That means we can access places previously beyond our reach and for the first time, we will be able to reach new ports in South and East Asia. A place home to around 70% of the world’s least-reached people. Doulos Hope’s focus on this region will enable deep, long-term engagement with the community and support of the believers there to see God’s Kingdom come.

I recently heard the testimony of Pastor Emmanuel who came from a community unreached by the gospel, where idol worship and child sacrifice were common. But, through the incredible transformation of the Lord, and the resources provided by OM‘s Ship Ministry, there are now more than 200 local missionaries in a region that previously had only five.

As we navigate the pressures and worries of life in the current chaos,

You can be part of a global community taking God’s love to a broken world. Come on board! Visit uk.om.org/ships and start your next journey.

God’s surprising answer to our prayers has been such a precious reminder that He is still in control despite everything.

*names

You have a place in His unfolding story

God’s Spirit moves us to want to see His kingdom come.

We draw close to God and the Spirit stirs something in us – a passion for those who are lost, and a restlessness and longing to be part of what God is doing in the world. We are so ready to go to the ends of the earth. But sometimes we get stuck.

It isn’t that we doubt God’s Kingdom will come – is coming – but we wonder how we can be involved, considering the twists and turns life has taken. And if we should count ourselves ready and up for the task – on days when we feel bold – we’re left wondering where should I start? Where do I fit in this great promise of Jesus that there will be witness of the gospel right to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:16-20)?

Could the first step actually be to stop?

When we stop and look at our own stories - the journeys God has taken us on so far - we see that He has been there all along, shaping us into who we are today, preparing us for His mission and already using us for His purposes. Our stories have meaning and our future takes shape when we see that they fit into His story – we are enveloped into a bigger, unfolding story.

I see my story in the unfaithfulness of the Israelites, the uncertainty of Moses, the sorrows of Hannah, the overconfidence of David, the joy of Miriam. I see my story in Martha’s distractions, Thomas’ doubt, Peter’s denial, Mary’s bended knee at the foot of the cross and her joy at the empty tomb. And through it all I see our faithful God, who uses ordinary people to embrace others and draw them in to His Kingdom story.

Knowing our story, in His story, is at the heart of our effectiveness in world mission. As we confidently live in this reality – unperturbed by our doubt and failings – we live out God’s love and invite others in.

The Spirit moves us to want to see His kingdom come. Though our journey at REACH: the City we’re so ready to be a part of God’s mission. We stop, we discover, we pray, reflect, learn and grow, and find ourselves propelled forward.

Arthur and Nicky Magahy lead REACH: the City. Based in one of Europe’s most culturally diverse cities, REACH exists to equip disciples for urban mission through mentoring, training, and hands-on ministry experience.

Join us. Spread the word. Find out more at uk.om.org/reach

will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Trusting God's movement

Jim* and Lena* met while serving in the Middle East—the start of their relationship corresponding with their initial experience of learning how to share God’s love with Muslims. Years later, they embarked as a family on a new adventure in the Arabian Peninsula (AP).

When Jim received a job offer, after three years of sending applications and CVs with no response, “it was clear God had prepared it for us,” Jim explained.

The Gulf country where Jim and Lena moved to has historically been a difficult place to share the gospel. Other foreign Jesus followers living there had told Jim and Lena to expect “a fruit every decade,” referring to the number of local Arabs they saw accept salvation through Christ. Therefore, the couple set simple and low goals for their first year in the AP, focusing on cultural engagement and understanding the social landscape. “We wanted to land and learn,” Lena said.

Despite the challenges, “we have been able to engage with people and walk alongside and share the gospel in ways we never could have imagined,” Jim said. “If it had been a goal, it would have caused anxiety.

I prayed God would do it, not me, and it took the pressure off!”

The couple recognise that it isn’t people who bring the Word of God or the Spirit of God to a place, “The Lord is here, already at work,” Jim acknowledged, “He does what He does, and we are privileged to be a part of that.”

INTENTIONAL RHYTHMS

Prayer, in particular, has been an important part of their time in the AP. “Prayer isn’t just something we do when we need something, but prayer is the work,” Jim shared. “It’s how we maintain connection with God and how we’re able to be aware that God is doing something around us. How we’re able to have the strength and courage to speak up is through that prayer.”

On several occasions, Jim has been invited to a majlis, a gathering of local men at someone’s house. At one of the meetings, the host talked

Trust His movement even if it feels scary, even if it takes longer than you think it should.

where we have more connection and it’s more natural.

“I’m learning to walk in step with Him without overthinking and overstressing, being in tune with His movement.”

THE PEOPLE NOT THE PLACE

Lebanon, that she found herself saying, ‘God I am willing’. “My eyes were opened to the need among Muslims,” she recalls. “I knew I wasn’t called to the place but to the people.”

about a difficult situation he was facing. “I asked if I could pray for him and shared the Old Testament story of Joseph and how God was faithful to him when he was going through hard times,” Jim recalled.

Lena received an unexpected job offer in coaching that gives her a lot of exposure to the local culture. “God puts the pieces of the puzzle together, and my part is to walk faithfully,” she said. “He placed me in the work I have, and it’s beautiful to see Him bringing me people

Neither Jim nor Lena set out to live in the Middle East. Jim studied in Europe and after graduating, he sensed that God had something specific in store for him. “Looking through the options, all the ones resonating with me were in the Middle East! It made no sense for my background or my training or anything,” Jim recalled. Nonetheless, he obeyed.

For Lena, it was while she was serving on board OM’s ship Logos II that she felt God’s call to the Middle East. There was a particular moment, when Lena sat listening to another worker share their moving testimony of serving in

“The best place to be is where God wants you to be. Trust His movement even if it feels scary, even if it takes longer than you think it should,” Lena emphasised. “Be available to Him and trust that He will prepare the way.”

God can use your gifts and training to reach people who may never otherwise hear about His lifechanging love.

Could you take your profession overseas to a country where there is limited access to the gospel?

Visit uk.om.org/using-yourprofession to explore your options.

“This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

We must not stop praying

Recently, we spoke to British national Sam Hughes, a children’s worker from the Isle of Wight who has been living in Odessa, Ukraine, for the past 5 years. He thanks us for our prayers and support and urges us to keep remembering those affected and not stop praying.

We, the Church, must remember and persist in prayer for Ukraine, and for other nations.

DESCRIBE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR YOU AND THE OM TEAM IN ODESSA AT THE MOMENT?

The country continues to quake with the ongoing horror of war, but we as a team are feeling calm. We know God is with us, and we experience His peace.

Initially, the explosions were intimidating. I remember the first night we heard the sirens. We rushed for the basements –afraid and overwhelmed. Since then, we’ve become more used to the noise, like we became so used to masks during COVID.

Odessa has remained fairly safe, but we took precautions at the start of the war and based ourselves with the OM team in Vinnytsia, which has been a strategic location for serving Ukrainians fleeing into neighbouring countries. Yet despite adapting to the situation and having some physical distance from the initial danger, we still live amidst such uncertainty and grief. We have a heightened sense of dependency on the Lord. Prayer and praise are more readily on our lips than ever before.

In the summer, our team returned to Odessa, and many of my fellow OM workers were relieved to go home. It’s a sobering reality to think that such a homecoming is now impossible for so many Ukrainians.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY AMIDST ALL THE UNCERTAINTIES?

You consider the needs of the community more than individual needs in this culture. I took my cues

from the rest of the team, deciding to stay with them and taking appropriate precautions to stay safe.

This is a time for the gospel; a time for the Church to be a light amidst the darkness. There are such specific needs the Church can respond to, and many opportunities to point to Jesus. Of course, God will do all this without me – it’s His mission! – but I wanted to be a part of it. I’m comfortable here with the culture and the language, it’s become my home and I felt I could be more of a blessing if I stayed.

HOW HAS MINISTRY CHANGED IN RECENT MONTHS?

Over the last few months we’ve entered a transitional phase, moving from being reactive to thinking strategically and prayerfully about what’s ahead.

For a long time, our ministry was responding to the needs around us; considering our resources and figuring out how we could use them to serve.

We redistributed food we had in storage ready for summer camps that never happened, and put our camping gear we use for outreaches to good use. Our OM bases became places of shelter for those fleeing to neighbouring countries and resembled warehouses as we partnered with local churches to create food parcels and distribute essential aid.

This new phase is about taking stock and planning for the near future. For some of the team this means taking necessary rest, for others it’s about adapting existing programmes or prayerfully considering how to develop new ministries. This

summer we’re grateful to have been able to run camps for children in Vinnytsia, even amidst the increasing security challenges in the area.

IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU SEEN GOD AT WORK?

We are so aware of God’s protection over our team – bringing us to safety and freeing us to serve.

So many Ukrainians who may otherwise never have encountered God’s love through a Jesus follower, have passed through our OM bases. God has worked through us to have healing conversations and be a witness to the gospel through our lives. One elderly woman, Inna, who has been living in the OM base in Vinnytsia since the start of the war, recently gave her life to Jesus!

And amidst all that is going on, we were able to send 25 Ukrainian teenagers to attend TeenStreet in the Netherlands back in August! Praise God!

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Keep praying! When the news dwindles, ongoing tragedy can leave the forefront of our minds – Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria... We, the Church, must remember and persist in prayer for Ukraine, and for other nations.

Knowing we are held by the prayers of Jesus followers across the world brings so much hope – not an arbitrary hope, but a certain hope of God’s healing and restoration that will come.

Thank you for standing with us.

*names changed

Nothing compares with knowing Him

Nearly every day

Moussa* makes the 30-minute journey from his home in town to the garden plot. He’s not the only one. Men from the surrounding villages make the trek as well. The field has fruit trees, a well and vegetables depending on the season.

Some men go to the garden for work when the season calls for it; some go to collect water, but most go for the conversation. The plot has become a gathering place for men to sit and talk with one another, and the most popular topic: faith.

“Before, it was very difficult to share the gospel among a group of non-believers. But now in the garden project, we share the gospel openly,” Moussa said.

Islam is the most common religion in their North African country, but as Moussa explained: “People in the villages inherited it. They grew up in a Muslim family, but they didn’t really study Islam for themselves.” During discussions, references are made to both the Qur’an and Bible, surprising people at what each book says.

Sometimes those gathered number around five, while other days, more than 20 attend. In the two years since Moussa began going to the garden plot, 20 men gave Christ their lives. The impact goes beyond the garden. As the new believers seek Jesus and how to be more like Him, their lives are radically changed.

ADAM’S STORY

Adam* learnt about the garden from his cousin, who owns a nearby farm and suggested he look there for work.

He quickly noticed that the work environment was completely different than he had experienced elsewhere.

“At the garden, all the people were

friendly and respectful, and they treated us like their own family,” said Adam. “That really touched me, and I felt like there is something different in these people in the way they treat and love people.”

Adam began asking Moussa questions about what he believed, and Moussa shared about the love Christ has for the world and gave him an AudioBible. At night, Adam listened to Scripture and the following day asked Moussa questions about what he had heard. “He explained it to me until I came to total conviction that Christianity is the religion of God and Jesus died for me!” shared Adam.

When someone gives, and another prays, a worker like Moussa will be resourced and empowered to share God’s love. And the lives of individuals like Adam are changed forever.

Thank you for all you do to enable the knowledge and love of God to reach all people in all places.

*names changed

Three things we’ve discovered since saying yes to God’s call

Steve and Sandie joined OM in 1985. Their ministry with OM has led them to many corners of the world, including Belgium, India, Bangladesh, the UK, and numerous port cities on board OM’s ship, Doulos

times when emotional and physical health disrupted plans. But through it all God was faithful, continually providing, often through the people He placed around them, who became precious, lifelong friends.

2. FRUITFULNESS IN TIME

were previously no believers and no church.

“It’s encouraging to look back and think, that’s fruit of something we set up together 20 years ago,” Steve shared, adding, “It’s God’s work. He even works in spite of us sometimes.”

3. FLOURISHING IN THE UNEXPECTED

Learning to flourish in different settings and contexts was another significant lesson. Sandie remembers being in Bangladesh “as a single, observing the other families and thinking, it is possible to raise children in another culture.”

“I never imagined that one day God would bring me back to Bangladesh with my own family. But He did, 12 years later,” she shared.

1. FAITHFULNESS IN ALL THINGS

“We've experienced God's steadfast faithfulness to us,” Sandie shares. “It's not been easy, but from when we first stepped out in faith to now, God has been faithful.”

Following four years serving on board Doulos, Sandie and Steve moved to Bangladesh in 1999 with their young family. “God placed the Muslim world on my heart,” Steve recalls; Sandie similarly felt this call to share God’s love among Muslims. In faith they went, and Bangladesh became home for the next 8 years.

Amidst the joys of ministry there were profound challenges: language barriers, cultural differences, and

One of these friends was Ahmed*, a Bangladeshi Muslim-background believer, who worked alongside Steve to launch a programme resourcing schools with essentials (from books to clean water) in an unreached area of Bangladesh.

Steve recalls Ahmed’s gift for coming alongside people through this project: “He would speak to people one to one and they would come to faith.”

20 years on, 216 people have come to faith and seven fellowships have been set up in an area where there

Reflecting on his time with OM, Steve describes: “You learn who you are and how God can use you, in terms of your gifts and abilities. In all these different settings I’ve always been a coordinator; managing evangelism teams, training programmes and development projects.”

Now, Steve and Sandie work in the personnel team and as mission coaches in the UK, where they’re able to use their experience to help others starting their own journey into cross-cultural mission.

Considering saying 'yes' to God's call? Speak to a mission coach; visit uk.om.org/talk-to-a-mission-coach

who promised