ON THE COVER:
A local woman in a mountainous region of South
PICTURE BY: Jonathan Lait
IN THIS ISSUE:
WORLD NEWS
A legacy for the next generation
SOUTH ASIA
No mountain too high
BLOG
God is moving among Muslims, so why aren’t we celebrating?
EUROPE
Tangible hope in Turkey
UNITED KINGDOM
The only Jesus follower they may ever meet
SHIP MINISTRY
Let go and let God
TEENSTREET
The next generation of disciple-makers
TRIBUTES
'History will honour you, and we celebrate you'
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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.
I first came across George Verwer, the founder of OM, when he was the main speaker at an OM Love Europe event in the early 1990s. Until then, I had never heard anyone speak with such passion, enthusiasm and commitment for the cause of reaching the world for Christ. Could anyone really be that sold-out to this cause?
Over the following three decades I had the privilege of getting to know George personally and saw that the answer was yes. George truly practised what he preached. It wasn’t just his authenticity and passion for reaching the lost that profoundly impacted me, but also his humility and transparency when sharing his struggles.
Hearing George’s testimony of coming to faith, his early journeys to Mexico, getting arrested in the Soviet Union or sleeping and ministering out of the back of book trucks in India, inspired and challenged me – but it has been the personal phone calls, prayer walks and coffee shop meetings with George in recent years that I especially treasure.
I’ll miss George. I’ll miss his short, to the point, encouraging emails. I’ll miss the unexpected packages sent through the post, full of articles or books he feels I should read. I’ll miss the walks, listening to him speak and then suddenly he is weeping and praying for someone or a global situation on his heart. I’ll miss his seven-point messages that would always cover so many more. I’ll miss the book reviews and book tables, the high-octane prayer meetings, where he would grab an inflatable globe and lead us all in a global prayer journey. I’ll miss George’s global passion and dedication to the cause of world evangelism.
We are so aware of the incredible needs that still exist for the gospel to be shared. We also know our Great Commission to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). As we reflect upon George Verwer’s passion and dedication to that commission, may we respond as George did; "Lord, here am I, send me!”
Yours in Christ,
He is a risk-taker…” Dale Rhoton said, describing his friend and co-founder of OM, George Verwer, in his foreword to Out of the Comfort Zone. “He loves to live on the edge. You might say that his comfort zone is breaking out of his comfort zone. He only really feels secure when he’s risking it all.”
On 14 April 2023, at the age of 84, George Verwer entered into Heaven. He was ready. Ready to meet his Saviour face to face and stand in the fullness of His glory. “Bless me to go home to our Father,” he asked those praying for him in the months leading up to his passing.
George’s gaze was firmly heavenward. He exuded God’s transformational love and was uncompromising in his willingness to risk everything for the sake of the gospel. But in his steady pursuit of God’s Kingdom, he didn’t lose sight of the realities of life on earth. Quite the opposite. He was rooted and responsive, both to the Spirit
and the needs of the world. George saw the big picture – the billions of people who have yet to hear or respond to the truth of Jesus – yet he also saw the individual standing before him, often weeping or rejoicing with their situation.
George was a conduit of God’s love, on both a vast and deeply personal level. But "[his] global impact did not go to his head,” theologian John Piper assures us. “He was radical down
On 5 May a commissioning event in Singapore marked Doulos Hope becoming a vessel for sharing knowledge, help and hope in port communities in South Asia, beginning in Malaysia.
“We’re excited for what this new chapter holds,” Seelan Govender, CEO of OM’s Ship Ministry, said. “Not only are we launching a new ship, but this also marks the commencement of a new phase of our ministry. Doulos Hope will increase our ability to invest in disciple-making, leadership training and holistic community engagement worldwide.”
Read more about the vision for Doulos Hope in an interview with Ashley Tee, area leader for East Asia, on pg. 12.
to his toes.” His Spirit-filled passion was authentic, real and honest; he had a deep and profound theological understanding, yet a simplicity to his message. He invited anyone who would listen to be part of a revolution; “A revolution motivated by love; a revolution executed by love; and a revolution culminating in love,” to use his own words. This revolution George spoke of would seek to reach every corner of the earth with the gospel and would be underscored by grace and fuelled by prayer.
God lit a fire in George’s heart in 1955 at a gospel meeting in New York City, at which Billy Graham was the speaker. He was sixteen at the time, a charismatic, passionate teenager, who instinctively responded to God’s love by telling others. George preached in meetings at his high school, with 200 people choosing to follow Jesus. His own father was among them.
This set the tone for what was to come, as George boldly shared the gospel, his creative flair leading to seemingly crazy escapades, motivated by an urgency to share God’s love. In 1957, when at college in Tennessee, George and two friends sold some belongings and went to Mexico in a battered old van, with 20,000 Spanish language tracts and 10,000 Gospel booklets, unhindered and effective in their quest to place God’s truth in the hands of those they met.
From the start, George was reckless in his faith. This didn’t mean he was unthinking, “…quite the reverse,” he explained in his book No Turning Back, “to be reckless in faith is to be… concentrated, single-minded in your concern that souls should be won.”
God worked through George’s single-minded focus, exuberant
leadership and innovative ideas, to establish Operation Mobilisation. Fuelled by the passion of believers from many nations, the movement grew through the 60s, 70s and 80s: first across Europe and into the Middle East, then with volunteers crewing ocean-going ships, Logos, the first of five vessels, being launched in 1971.
George became well-known in Christian circles, but this didn’t limit his service to the stage. While George
God worked through George’s contagious enthusiasm and grace-filled theology to bring missions to the masses
was confident leading large prayer meetings and speaking to thousands at conferences, he was equally at home dressed in a boiler suit, mucking in with emptying a broken sewage tank on an OM ship, or washing buses in Belgium, ready to head out overland to India on outreach. George was influential, a ‘big name’, but he was also grounded, sacrificial and real.
It’s hard not to look back and marvel at this man – his gumption, his fervour, his unwavering passion for the gospel that began in an instant and lasted for a lifetime. Yet George never saw himself as a spiritual giant. It seems that such a suggestion honestly baffled him; “A spiritual giant – some people have actually called me that. They don’t know me.” George always pointed beyond himself.
George was transparent and became renowned for encompassing the messiness of life in his theology, coining the term ‘messiology’. Ironically, perhaps it was the acknowledgement of inevitable mess in our lives that was so motivating for people who heard George speak.
George embodied God’s grace, demonstrating that we all have a place in His mission to His world, in spite of – perhaps even because of – our messiness; such is His redemptive grace.
God worked through George’s contagious enthusiasm and grace-
filled theology to bring missions to the masses. When George, along with other believers, pioneered the work of OM in Europe in the 60s, hundreds of young believers were inspired to step out in short- and long-term mission. Many of these individuals may have previously considered themselves disqualified – or felt disqualified by others –due to their past, their choices, even the colour of their skin, but in OM they had a place and an opportunity to embark on an adventure of a lifetime for God.
Today, the movement of OM has grown to over 3,300 workers, representing 134 nationalities, serving in over 147 countries. But for George, it was never about growing OM, but simply doing whatever he could to see God’s truth reach people groups who may never otherwise hear the gospel. Countless other Christian leaders trace their passion for mission back to God inspiring, prompting or teaching them through George. Greg Livingstone, the founder of Frontiers, half-heartedly attended an all-night prayer event for the
nations led by George at Moody Bible Institute in 1959. He left a changed man and went on to establish the largest mission agency focusing on inviting Muslim peoples to follow Jesus. Who knows how many lives God has reached indirectly through George’s faithful, impassioned response to the gospel.
“Our lives are quieter now, but oh, the noise in heaven! We can only imagine...” Katherine Porter, Associate International Director, OM, reflects. “For us who remain, the memories loom large and the loss is aching – but the legacy is immense.”
Read tributes or add your own George had a phenomenal capacity for connecting with people on a genuine, personal level; since his death tributes and memories abound from countless individuals who had a friendship or meaningful encounter with George. To read tributes or add your own, please visit uk.om.org/george. A selection of tributes is published on pages 16-19.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”
Sharing Christ’s love in rural mountainous regions can be an almost impossible task. Houses dot the ridge lines, and only small clusters of homes sit in the valleys, isolated from others by a lack of roads.
For many churches in South Asia, physical and spiritual challenges prevent Jesus followers from sharing their faith with people from their wider communities. In one country, OM teams have identified districts where there are hardly any Jesus followers and plan to reach every household with the gospel.
The initial strategy includes distributing individually packed Christian literature to each home and sending follow-up teams, who are regionally based, to have conversations with people who are interested in knowing more about Jesus. One OM leader in a mountainous area, Saajan*, is passionate about Jesus and feels compelled to share His love with others in his home country.
The district where Saajan serves is home to around 144,000 people.
Over 77 per cent of the district’s terrain is above 2,000 metres (6,400 feet), isolating the population by making it hard to reach. The rugged mountains mean pastors often walk one or two days to get to church members’ homes to spend time with them. Discipleship and deep community building within this context are incredibly hard. Saajan is familiar with the challenges local churches face and believes the solution is equipping every Jesus follower to get involved.
“There was a group of pastors meeting together, and when the pastor who was organising this fellowship left for another city, he handed the leadership of the group over to Saajan,” explained Saajan’s leader, Won*. “Saajan began sharing about OM’s vision to reach those who did not have access to hearing about God’s love.” Over time, Saajan established deeper relationships and trust with this group of pastors.
They prayed together, shared their struggles and began encouraging one another to involve their small churches in the enormous effort of taking God’s Word to every household within their district. Each pastor took responsibility for a part of the district, and together the group developed a plan to share the message of hope.
Over the course of around four years, Saajan’s team partnered with local Jesus followers to distribute Christian literature to every household in the district. As they travelled and served together, opportunities arose for discipleship and further training.
“Through this wide literature distribution, Saajan’s teams formed approximately six or seven small fellowships of people interested in knowing more about Jesus,” Won shared. “Then, after a few months, we looked for individuals within
that fellowship who we could raise up as a leader and invest in training more.”
Through these efforts, many seeds have been sown. Pastors have been strengthened in their missional vision, local Jesus followers have been discipled in their faith and people who had never heard of Jesus have a portion of Scripture in their homes and an opportunity to meet their Saviour. “We cannot guarantee the timeline,” Won said, “but we know that this is God’s vision for all people to hear about Him.”
“Without cooperation with local churches, OM cannot achieve the vision to see every household reached. Local churches are the key,” Won explained. “OM also supports these churches with training and resources, and we listen to them and their vision and look for ways to partner with them. This approach takes time to build trust.”
The result is a beautiful collaborative effort to carry God’s Word into hard-to-reach places and to people who may otherwise never have the opportunity to know God's life-changing love for themselves.
Praise God for all He is doing through ordinary Jesus followers to enable His love to reach the ends of the earth. For guidance on how to pray for this area of the world, visit uk.om.org/prayfor-the-nations.
"...there are tens of millions who have never read a single Christian book, or even a portion of Scripture, for that matter. We can, and must, do something about this."“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” ISAIAH 52:7 GEORGE VERWER
Alan Hallmart*, who has worked among Muslims for over 40 years, encourages us to engage with our Muslim neighbours with thanksgiving, acknowledging all we have to celebrate.
My friend of many years, Dr David Garrison, author of A Wind in the House of Islam, notes that there is a slow but steady movement of people with Muslim backgrounds coming to Christ. In fact, more Muslims have willingly decided to follow Christ in the last three decades than in all the previous 1,400 years of Christian/ Muslim interaction put together! This coincides with 30 years of more intentional prayer… prayer changes things!
But knowing how to pray for our Muslim neighbours can feel like a difficult proposition, and we have not been helped by ill-informed narratives that influence how we feel about Islamic culture. Sadly, these narratives have often overlooked all that there is to admire and learn from our Muslim neighbours, leaving us unable to connect with their culture and religious perspectives. What a shame this is, as there is so much to celebrate!
I have found art a powerful way of connecting with my Muslim neighbours. After living in Alexandria, Egypt for 15 years where I taught industrial art, I became fascinated with Islamic art styles. When an artist friend gave me a piece of Mahogany driftwood, I decided to carve it with Christian and Muslim symbols. Muslims believe your good deeds will be weighed against your bad deeds on the day of judgement. So, I took the balance and played with its shape, creating a cross within it and carving two of Allah’s 99 names into each side of the scales - El Adel, the Just and El Rahman, the Merciful.
This sculpture sits in my home and has generated a lot of interest with my Muslim
neighbours, sparking priceless conversations. Some have been quizzical or confused, others have been moved to tears as they contemplate it’s meaning; the cross being where God’s justice and mercy meet.
God is Love. This is the door. Art, for many people, reaches places that words cannot penetrate, but it is not the only method of doing so. Understanding Muslim culture – and genuinely celebrating it! – is key to unlocking natural conversations; conversations that lead to connection, and opportunities to speak of God’s love.
Can we take the time to learn about, pray for and reach out to our Muslim neighbours, thanking God for how He is already moving amongst them?
Within hours of the first earthquake on the morning of 6th February, churches had mobilised and were on site, ready to help. Where official aid had not been able to reach, churches were the first to arrive with mobile kitchens, tents, and tangible hope.
There are churches and fellowships in eight of the ten affected provinces. Alongside believers who travelled across the country to the earthquake region, they have been able to serve their neighbours who have lost family and friends, homes and businesses.
In the first week, 40 volunteers from OM partners arrived to help, that has quickly increased to more than 300. Many are working 12- or 15hour shifts every day, for weeks at a time, serving meals or distributing aid. The overwhelming impression is the same: despair, sorrow, poverty and frustration permeate the atmosphere... It is clear that the effects of the earthquake will not disappear in an instant.
“But we are confident that even in this catastrophe our God will show His good works and pour out His miracles and grace on our people,” Shares the Board Chair, Churches Together across Turkey, a voice of hope amidst the despair. “Our greatest prayer is that God's mercy and love will be seen in action in this land.”
I announce my arrival, tentatively peeking into the tent through a canvas door hooked open. Burca*,
a fellow Jesus follower who is part of the local church, welcomes me warmly, taking the food parcel with heartfelt gratitude. She introduces me to her husband, Ahmet*, who is Muslim.
We sit and talk, and I gauge a little of their extensive grief and trauma. But amidst the heaviness Burca naturally injects the conversation with hope, as she speaks of the support she’s had from her church. Unexpectedly, Ahmet echoes his appreciation, “I have never seen so much love between people,” he shares, “there is truly a brotherly love that is in Christ that you can’t find anywhere else.”
Your gifts have…
1800 given shelter to more than
7000 fed
2200 clothed
people people people
Thank you for your prayers and financial support, which are bringing tangible hope to people in both Turkey and Syria. To find out more about our Mercy Appeal please visit uk.om.org/mercy.
England’s old industrial heartland has many inner-city areas where most families speak Urdu or Punjabi, and mosques dot the skyline. In one such area, OM writer Nicky Andrews spent the day at the Welcome Place Hub* (WPH) a Christian community project led by OM workers Stefan* and Louise*, blessing Muslim residents through service and friendship.
A small shopfront in a rundown Victorian parade announces the Welcome Place Hub, a former disused barbershop rescued by a group of city churches. Volunteer Alice* gives me a tour. The rear lounge is a homely place where above childrens’ toys some Bibles sit discreetly on an upper shelf. I wait for Stefan in the front office, the point of welcome for residents of this deprived area. A poster displays the weekly timetable - English classes, advice sessions, sewing lessons, mums and toddlers groups, computer skills, homework club, coffee mornings.
Stefan arrives, fresh from teaching English to minors who came unaccompanied from Afghanistan and are struggling educationally at
a local school. He and Louise have served here since 2018. With a rich background in English teaching and ministry with foreign students, they share God’s calling to serve Muslim peoples, and a fascination for other cultures. “Especially the food!” laughs Stefan.
We long to build bridges of friendship between Christians and Muslims so we can share the gospel in a meaningful way
“We long to build bridges of friendship between Christians and Muslims so we can share the gospel in a meaningful way,” he continues. “Our vision’s based on 1 Peter 3:15, about answering everyone who asks us why we hope in Christ, in a gentle respectful way. This locality is 90% Muslim and almost all our friends live within a half-mile radius. It’s a real privilege to be the only Christians most of them ever meet,” he says.
Advice-seekers might come just the once, but up to 20 ladies come regularly for English lessons; relaxing in the rear lounge, removing their veils, they soak up an atmosphere of care and respect. One time Stefan opened the front door to a group of them, with the greeting ‘salam Alaikum’. This shocked another female visitor. “She said, ‘I can’t believe you’re treating them with such respect and not letting differences stop you providing them with a service’”, Stefan recalls.
A long conversation ensued, the woman even joining the team for their midday devotions, and asking all sorts of questions. Louise’s own story, of finding faith from a nonChristian background, has often gently challenged ladies’ assumptions about being born into a religion.
The team often encounter rigid preconceptions about Christianity which people learn from childhood, in madrassas and mosques. “Most seem closed to any spiritual dialogue,” Stefan comments. But sometimes when a man shares his heartaches during an advice session, he’ll accept Stefan’s offer of prayer for his situation.
“Prayer is key,” says Stefan. “While remembering it’s God’s work to save people, we need to keep strong spiritually as individuals, plus each day at noon we put aside an hour to pray, worship and study God’s Word together. We feel weakened if we don’t do that, because you can really
sense a deep spiritual heaviness over this whole area.”
During our chat, women have been arriving for their English conversation session run by Alice in the rear lounge. I’m really curious to attend: today’s discussion starter is ‘beauty’ and after a lively half hour chatting as a group, we sit in pairs for further practice. Aaminah* tells me in hesitant English, with a hint of pride, that she has an English friend, who encouraged her to start language learning; she’s persisting, even though her British-born children cringe at her efforts. “And now you’re my friend too,” Aaminah whispers shyly, touching my arm. “Are you coming back tomorrow?” asks her friend Lamisa* with hopeful eyes and I feel awkward explaining that I’m only visiting today.
Soon the ladies rise to depart, carefully re-attaching cloths over their faces to make the niqab, but I see their eyes smiling through the slits. It’s a blustery March day and Aaminah and Lamisa battle to control their voluminous cloaks against the bitter wind as they head off down the street. They are soon lost to sight amongst other blackcloaked women, beyond the Asian supermarkets and the travel agents advertising flights for the Hajj.
There are communities of people near you who may never have the opportunity to hear that they are loved by God. Discover how you can serve with OM in the UK at uk.om.org/serve-in-the-uk.
As Doulos Hope launches into ministry in Southeast Asia, OM writer Sarah Atsu spoke to Ashley Tee, area leader for OM in East Asia, about the possibilities for Kingdom growth through investing in local Jesus followers.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS AND POSSIBILITIES YOU SEE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AT THE MOMENT?
Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse areas in the world; in culture, language and mix of religions. Many people are Muslim or Buddhist. There are a lot of people in this part of the world who have never heard the gospel. We need to reach people with the love of God, however hard this may be – especially in countries where Jesus followers face persecution.
Historically, there have been very few local people from Southeast Asia leading the movement to make the gospel known to all people. We need to be intentional in changing this, starting with our national leadership development initiative.
I see great opportunity and possibility in raising up national leaders. From a missiological perspective, we want to have ministry sustainability and continuity. When there is a crisis, we need people here to understand, and
to stay and be committed to continue the work they are doing. There is also great value in training leaders who can serve cross-culturally – first learning from others, and then supporting and equipping them to share the love of God in their own nation.
HOW WILL THE PRESENCE OF DOULOS HOPE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL LEADERS?
Doulos Hope is one of many ministries working towards this vision of training leaders in Southeast Asia. To impact each local community, we need a variety of activities so that each segment of society is reached with God’s love. All ministries complement each other, and Doulos Hope is unique because she is neutral ground, bringing people together for the sake of the gospel.
Doulos Hope will provide great opportunities to train local leaders and expose them to practical ways of serving God and others. In his book
Grace-Awakened Leadership, George Vewer explained that, “on-the-field mentoring, the method used by Jesus, has proved to be one of the very best ways to produce long-term church leaders…” Doulos Hope will be a place where young people can be coached, make mistakes and grow, all while in a cross-cultural environment.
DO YOU HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH OM’S SHIP MINISTRY?
I spent two years on board OM's ship Doulos, from 1997-99. I had been working in an architecture company but felt God calling me to serve Him cross-culturally.
If you know such a person, you should tell them to consider it!
HOW DO YOU SEE GOD MOVING THROUGH THE SHIP MINISTRY?
WAYS WILL DOULOS HOPE ENCOURAGE KINGDOM GROWTH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA?
The ship is a platform and a channel through which we can cast visions to the local church and build a different level of partnership with them to see more churches planted. The presence of Doulos Hope also helps with pioneering new initiatives. If the ship goes somewhere where we don’t have work, it brings together the Church and other mission entities, and something can birth out of that. We have seen this happen in the past, in places where we don’t have significant connections.
While on board, I learnt how to serve and how to trust God and depend on Him for all my needs, including my finances. I went shortterm to the ship but God showed me that this would be my long-term ministry. That was 26 years ago.
WHO SHOULD JOIN DOULOS HOPE ?
People who have a passion to reach out to their own communities, and also to see God’s love reach people on a global level should join the ship. They need to have a heart for other nations and a desire to grow spiritually. A young person who is faithful, available and teachable, will do well on board Doulos Hope
It’s remarkable how the Ship Ministry has continued over so many decades. I have always been inspired by George Verwer’s vision for the Ship Ministry, it encourages me and reminds me that nothing is too crazy in God’s sovereign plan!
It is no coincidence that Doulos Hope is here in Southeast Asia. We need discernment to hear and the courage to step out and then let God show us what He has for us. We are looking forward to achieving God’s purposes, not our plans but what He has prepared for us.
To support Doulos Hope as she begins ministry in Southeast Asia visit uk.om.org/launch-doulos-hope.
"Serving on the ship is one of the greatest educational, transformational, geographical and spiritual growth experiences that anyone can ever have."
GEORGE VERWER
As was his way, George Verwer put it so well; discipleship is central in God’s mission to His world. George was compelled by Jesus’ words in the Great Commission, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19. The mandate to make disciples drives OM ministries around the world today, including TeenStreet UK (TS), which launched last summer.
Madalin, a volunteer youth worker from north London, shares how the TS movement is enabling the youth he serves to become strong disciples of Jesus.
“We are so encouraged,” shares Madalin. “We are seeing our young people chose a more righteous way, a way where they pursue love, both towards God and other people.”
Madalin wasn’t sure what to expect when he agreed to accompany a group of teenagers to a week-long
TS event last summer; he had no idea it would be such a turning point. “We saw more fruit in one week than in the whole of the six months leading up to the camp,” he enthuses, amazed that the teenagers’ fledgling faith and lukewarm responses to the gospel have been replaced by genuine hunger.
TS is all about discipling young people to be disciple-makers, inspiring them to have a heart to share God’s love with people who don’t know Him. Studying the Bible together in small groups, where young people can question, grapple and grow in a safe environment, is an essential part of the daily rhythm during a TS event.
“The morning small group sessions were straight to the heart; noncompromising and honest,” Madalin shares. “The Bible can be challenging and complicated, but the youth appreciated us being real and we saw the truth
of the gospel transforming their lives. Our youth are now reading their Bibles of their own accord –actually wanting to go deeper into the Scriptures and getting excited when they discover things.”
Madalin acknowledges that serving for a week at TS is tiring, but he describes himself as feeling “refreshed”. “TeenStreet is a youth camp, but God worked in my heart as well,” he explains. “I had the space I needed to come alive again and be reminded what it’s like to be a child before God.”
“We all need a model for the Kingdom of Heaven – a community, a culture to be a part of. TeenStreet has created that for us all.”
Your practical service, prayers and financial gifts through our Christmas and Easter appeals are seeing the emergence of a new generation of disciple-makers - thank you! To find out more about TS and how you can be involved, visit uk.om.org/teenstreet-uk
"The bottom line in mission work is people work… loving them, serving them and helping them become strong disciples of Jesus."
GEORGE VERWER
Since George Verwer’s passing in April, tributes and memories have poured in, offering moving insight into this unique character and his contribution to world mission. A selection of tributes from people in OM and the wider missions community is featured over the next few pages; they are but a few of many. Visit uk.om.org/george to read more.
‘History will honour you and we celebrate you’
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
“We thank God for this man, who has been such a living example of what it means to be a true servant of God, never feeling he was someone special, frequently expressing surprise that the Lord could use a ‘ragamuffin’ such as him.
We acknowledge the immeasurable contribution of Drena and family, who sacrificed so much to support George. We also recognise the invaluable contribution of Vera, his faithful PA for over 43 years.
The OM UK Board of Trustees thanks God for the man whom He entrusted to be the founder of Operation Mobilisation, who began well…ran well…and finished well.
George, we honour you, giving God all the glory.”
David Ost, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Operation Mobilisation in the UK.
“George was God’s man for the 20th century; the only person I know of who has changed the course of modern mission. He was a man known for his utter commitment to accountability and living a life of integrity. What a standard he set for us in OM!
I have always been inspired by his fine ability to bring human pragmatism and spiritual reality into balance. There will never be another GV.”
Lawrence Tong, International Director, Operation Mobilisation.
I knew if I was in trouble, he would be one of the people in my life I could turn to, and he would do as much as he could to help me, in as many ways as possible. It was a glorious life. With lots of lessons and insights for those who want to pay attention.”
Viv Thomas, Organisational Development, OM.“People felt privileged that this great Christian leader was their friend, knew about their family and kept in touch with them. The thing was, it was genuine! He did pray for them, he did remember them and their family. On one of the rare occasions that I visited George at his home, Drena sent me into the lounge to meet with him. When I opened the door, he was standing there with his Dictaphone, surrounded by hundreds of prayer letters from people all over the world. They were everywhere; on the table, the chairs, even the floor and George was going round praying for each person then dictating a letter to them. George was authentic.”
Tony Kirk, former Director of OM in the UK and former Western Europe Area Coordinator.
“He’s had a catalytic impact in stirring up people around the world to get a vision for mission. So many of the mission movements in the non-Western world have actually got some link with OM. He was so generous: he never tried to build an empire, but he was very happy for people to move on and start other ministries.
I’ve never known anybody who’s been so assiduous in maintaining links and friendships, with writing and visiting and praying for — what a man of God.”
Patrick Johnstone, Missions Researcher and Author, Operation World.“One of the most powerful things about his life was that he made a commitment to people in their strengths and in their weaknesses.
“George and Drena’s life and legacy will long be evaluated, serving as examples of personal and global radical discipleship, of vision and zeal, of a willingness to risk it all. It is reported that some 300 Christian organisations came ‘out of OM.’ George’s capacity and desire to embrace risk and lay it all on the line have impacted all who knew him. His ‘messy missiology’ became legendary.
“In every lifetime, men and women are born who leave an indelible mark on humanity through their influence. George Verwer was one of those people.
George was the real deal, a man of deep integrity, transparent, passionately devoted to Jesus, and humble. We honour him as one whom Christ could entrust with a worldchanging vision and calling, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' We are praying for Drena, your family and the global OM community. Until we all meet again in our forever Home.”
Dr. William Taylor, Director of World Evangelical Alliance’s (WEA) Mission Commission.
We just knew we were teamed up with an apostle and we were going to do something significant — even though we didn’t have any good reason to believe that.”
“He was a pioneer missionary but also someone who found an astonishingly fruitful niche as the creator and leader of an organisation. He was a passionate radical but without the criticism so often associated with radicalism. He was a man who always looked heavenward in prayer but at the same time was intensely focused on what was happening on earth. Although he took his role as OM’s figurehead seriously, he had a compelling and sometimes outrageous honesty.”
Rev. Canon J. John, International speaker and author, Founder, Philo Trust.
Greg Livingstone, Former OMer, founder of Frontiers. “Hundreds of thousands have been involved in missions directly or indirectly because of George. That means millions will have heard the gospel directly or indirectly because of George. To many of us, George was a hero. Of course, he was no superhero. He was far too real for that. And he was definitely a little bit quirky and unique, too.
I know there will be many around the globe who are sad at George’s passing, yet thrilled at George’s promotion. Maybe one of his crowns could be a global jacket like he so often wore. He will be thrilled to cast that down before his Lord!”
Peter Mead, OM associate, Christian teacher and author.
“In Hebrews chapter 11, we get a glimpse of heroes of our faith throughout history. They were not perfect people and they made mistakes; yet something about how they lived inspires us to draw close to God and want to do our best in the kingdom.
I think for many around the world, George Verwer would be on our list of modern-day heroes of faith. He too was imperfect and would admit that he made mistakes along the journey. But there are few human beings who have inspired and catalysed so many people around the globe to participate in God’s mission. I think only when we get to heaven will we understand the full scope of his influence and impact!”
Mary T. Lederleitner, Chair, OM Global Board.
“George was a trailblazer, a mentor to many and an evangelistic giant in his day. He will be hugely missed but his legacy will live on in the lives of so many globally. I am honoured to have known him.”
Gavin Calver, CEO, Evangelical Alliance.
“We should have thought he was a nutcase, but because of the Holy Spirit, we just knew that this was a man you could follow to the ends of the earth, and had real confidence that he was getting the mind of the Lord.
“George was one of the first white mission leaders to fully empower nationals to lead the efforts he initiated in the majority world. George was not only incapable of racism; he never treated anyone different to himself as less than himself.”
Bishop Joseph d’Souza, Former OMer, Moderator, Good Shepherd Church, India.
“A lot of people think he was highenergy, bionic, high-activity, and they didn’t see that underneath was a very strategic, creative brain, who spawned all kinds of mission-related ministry because of his creative thinking. Because he also spoke positively, never negatively about other mission agencies in public, I would say he was a very rare
breed and from my perspective, he was the most outstanding missionary leader in the world over the last 60 years, without a shadow of a doubt.
People were attracted to this guy because he didn’t take himself too seriously — he recognised his own fragility and weaknesses or fallenness, but that God can work through such a person. I’m sure that’s a major reason why God continued to use him, and that shapes the whole movement as well, because when the leaders acknowledge their weakness and need of repentance, then everybody else recognises the need themselves. That comes right through OM with all the emphasis on humility and brokenness and hunger for reality.”
“In every lifetime, men and women are born who leave an indelible mark on humanity through their influence. George Verwer was one of those people.
The true measure of a man is not evaluated in what he leaves for others but also what he leaves in them. You tick both boxes, George. Thank you for an awesome legacy left us; we will not squander it. History will honour you and we celebrate you. As the people of Ghana say, ‘Nanti yie Owura George, wayebi, mo’. Well done, sir.”
Rev. Celia Apeagyei-Collins, Founder and President, Lindsay Brown, Former International Director, International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Do you want to have fun, go deep in your relationship with God and be bold in living out your faith?
Come and join Christian teens from around the UK for an action-packed week of teaching, small group time, worship, workshops, sport and more!
WHO: 13–17 year olds
WHEN: 27 July - 2 August 2023
WHERE: The Poplars, Ledbury, Herefordshire HAVE FUN BE BOLD GO DEEP
