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Over 5,400 people working in more than 110 countries are serving with Operation Mobilization to
bring a message of hope to the peoples of the world. We have one thing
in common - we love Jesus and we want others to have the opportunity to
hear about Him.
Working in every continent and on every ocean (via two ocean-going ships), OM seeks to demonstrate and proclaim the love of God. In every
situation OM teams adapt to the local culture and situation, finding
the best ways to share Jesus.
Through literature, the creative arts, friendship, Bible studies, videos and cassette tapes,
correspondence courses, relief and development work, and much, much
more... by all means possible we will tell people how our lives have
been changed... and how they can meet Jesus.
Wherever possible, OM works in partnership with the local church, encouraging and supporting
local believers. Where there is no church... we seek to plant churches.
The Roots of Operation Mobilization
Operation Mobilization traces its roots to the prayers of ordinary Christians. Such persistent
prayer by a suburban housewife, Dorothy Clapp, led to a small revival
in a high school in New Jersey, USA in the mid-1950s. Her visionary
prayer was that God would not only redeem the lives of those students
but also raise up a globe-spanning missionary force from among them.
She supplemented her prayers with simple literature evangelism.
God responded to such faith. George Verwer was one of those students
who dedicated his life to Jesus Christ as a result of reading a gospel
of John given to him by the Clapp family. In Christmas 1957, George
went to Mexico with two other college students in an ancient truck
filled with Spanish Gospel literature. Behind them stood faithful
supporters who prayed, financially supported and shared their vision.
Lack of a precedent, ample resources or experience was more than
compensated for by a radical faith in God's Word and a hunger for
spiritual reality and practical discipleship.
Simple beginnings have shaped OM ever since. Today over 5,400 OMers are
working in more than 110 countries bringing God's unchanging truth to
literally millions every year. Today it is easier than ever to begin or
continue your journey of obedience and discovery with us. The great
secret in missions today is that though God uses ordinary people,
missions needs many more of them right now.
As we approach 2010, we recognize that we have just experienced a decade of massive
change, and OM seeks to use every new challenge in the world to bring
it the Gospel. Though OM has just celebrated its 50th birthday, and
decades of pioneer experience are evident in its leadership, OM's
heartbeat will always belong to youth. In other words, there will
always be a need for people of every age and talent in OM. But since
the leaders of God's church in the 21st century are the students of
today, OM's emphasis is on equipping young people to reach their peers
all over the world. A summer, a year or two (we hope longer!) on an OM
team can be an excellent investment in determining God's will for your
life. Local churches with a vision for their young people often send
them, individually or in groups, for training in OM.
Today it is easier than ever to experience and serve in missions.
Whatever your abilities or availability, there is a place for you in
OM. Creative new methods for evangelism and new areas of ministry are
developing constantly. As new technologies increase in value within OM,
so does the need for skilled personnel. But above all, we need people
willing to learn and serve wherever the needs are greatest.
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