INTERNATIONAL UPDATE AUGUST 2010OM InternationalDownload as PDF (316 kb)Dear partners in prayer,As I begin this update, the intensity of the spiritual battle is very real for me. We are grappling with huge issues in our family and have the real sense that Satan is out to destroy. It’s encouraging to know that the final victory cannot be his. Sometimes, salvation/deliverance seems to come very late in the day…but we know it will come. John Stott writes, “It is hard for us to grasp, let alone to feel, how completely the verdict seemed to have gone against Jesus when He died, and how in consequence the apostles’ past hopes had been extinguished. Jesus had been condemned in a Jewish court for blasphemy by duly authorised legal procedures. He was then sentenced and executed for sedition by the Romans. Worse, He had been hanged on a tree and therefore, according to Deuteronomy 21, 22 and 23, had died under the curse of God. After that He was taken down from the cross and buried, which was the final touch in disposing of Him. The public rejection of Jesus could not have been more thorough. At every dimension He was finished—judicial, political, spiritual and physical. Religion, law, God, man and death had all conspired to wipe Him off the face of the earth. It was all over now. The verdict was as decisive as it could possibly have been. No power on earth could ever rescue or reinstate Him. But the apostles had left out of account the resurrection power of God. Small wonder that their earliest proclamation could be summarised in the words, ‘You killed Him, but God raised Him.’ And in raising Him, God reversed the verdict which had been passed on Him. In other words, by raising Jesus God was making a declaration about Him and in particular was turning all human opinions about Him upside down. Condemned for blasphemy, He was now designated Son of God by the resurrection. Executed for sedition, proclaiming to be a king, God made Him both Lord and Christ. Hanging on a tree under the curse of God, He was vindicated as the Saviour of sinners; the curse He bore being due to us and not to Him.” Please be mindful in your prayers for us of the reality of the spiritual battle which our teams are involved in around the world. Pray for protection, for courage, for undying hope when situations seem impossible. Transform 2010 (Italy)
pioneering initiativesCanada: With the theme ‘building bridges into our community and into the nations’, OM partnered with three unique Toronto churches in July. Fifty-two participants aged 16–71 from Canada, UK, Trinidad, USA and South Africa shared God’s love through word and deed. The first team visited immigrant communities to build relationships and share their faith. The second team focused on a South East Asian community through a kids’ camp that also connected with their parents. The third team promoted a soccer camp taking place after the outreach, and shared their faith with families in downtown Toronto. Pray that the many dozens of contacts established will be nurtured by the three churches and result in greater connectivity with the larger communities. emerging mission movementsChile: “What are those foreigners doing?”, is often asked of people gathered for English courses. OM has taught English for seven years, and the courses have served as a great ministry. “Many people are curious and interested,” says Sandy Henson. OM offers classes to prepare future Christian workers for international service, but they are open to residents and employees in the apartment building where they are held. “It gives us an opportunity to share God’s love and meet a need,” says Sandy. One student started English classes to help her in her job, but has become interested in preparing for missions. Though at present OM only has only one full-time English teacher, demand is great and they would like to expand the programme as more teachers are recruited. Praise God for the ministry these classes have become. Costa Rica: 28 June was much anticipated by five OM staff: Marcony, Gerardo, Yamilett, Mariana and Yajaira. The day finally arrived for them to leave on a one-month exposure programme to India—a first for all. Their work is with children in the lowest castes, and volunteering in HIV/AIDS clinics. The five joined with a team of Mexicans. Pray that this experience will lead to a wave of Latin Americans being sent to the uttermost parts. Hong Kong: The growing number of ethnic minorities has prompted OM to move its office to one of the city’s poorest districts, where most of its 340,000 inhabitants are Muslim. One level of the building is for the home office; a second level will be used as a centre for training and development in local cross-cultural ministry. Pray for a significant impact both on new immigrants and as an example to local churches. next generationAustralia: Dan and Suzie Potter joined 72 teenagers for an amazing week of TeenStreet in Queensland. One teen commented, “Before camp, God was like my Facebook friend. He was on my list, but I wouldn’t really talk to Him. This camp has made me realise that He wants me to build a strong relationship with Him.” Another teen added, “God is running my life now. Before He was just on the side, but now He is on the inside and I am living for Jesus.” Pray that these teens will remain strong in faith during their daily life. Pray for teens participating in TeenStreet Germany from 29 July–4 August. relief & developmentPeru: OM hosted a medical mission from 23–30 July in Trujillo, 500 km north of Lima. Three of the seven Peruvian team members with medical backgrounds operated the medical clinic. The other team members hosted training seminars with the local church about children-focused Bible studies, working with youth, and evangelism techniques. Please pray for the leaders, their mission team and the local church—that this will result in continued ministry to the neighbourhood. Montenegro: While distributing food aid to Bar’s six poorest families, team leader Tom recalls the great need of one particular family. “The mother, Zlatka*, was dying of cancer, there were four kids at home between 9-16, and the alcoholic father Ivan* was often absent. So much depended on Mira*, the elderly grandmother who held everything together.” The relationship between OM and the family flourished; the team was with Zlatka when she died in March, having given her life to Jesus two days earlier. “We wanted to do more to ease this family’s burden, as they were struggling to cope,” says Tom. “Their small shack was filthy and needed repair. A youth team from my home church in Germany plastered walls, tiled the kitchen and bathroom and some passing Canadians laminated the floor. The shack was transformed within the week!” El Salvador: OM workers offer the ‘Life at the crossroads’ programme in El Rosario teaching standards, values and awareness that God that cares to students in the sixth to ninth grades. Surrounded by violence and pain, the loss of loved ones, family breakdowns, the pressures of gangs and low self-esteem, the students themselves are hopeful and grateful. “With this class I feel safe; I feel I’m worth a lot. The classes have given me the confidence I need to meet the challenges of life.” (Javier) “Thanks for giving us this opportunity. God will repay you someday.” (Joel) Please pray for this project, and that each young person can experience God’s care. europeBelgium: While Andrew, an OM leader, has been inducted as the ‘club priestly presence’ since joining a squash club nearby, new doors open as parents and members of the local church get more involved with a Kids Club at their home. “Even our cat has taken the concept of relational mission to heart,” says Andrew, “making firm friends of neighbourhood couples, inviting herself for dinner and seeking to bless where possible.” Of the three kittens born to her this month, one is destined to fill the loss of another cat with two neighbourhood friends. “As a result of our cat’s multiplicative ministry,” Karen continues, “we have had some wonderful conversations with these people, who have asked that we get together to talk issues of faith and the Bible. God is amazing in how he manages to open doors and the tools he can use. All it takes is willingness to seize opportunities when presented (and to have a mission-minded cat).” Sweden: At the request of city officials, OM has run a successful Saturday night youth ministry, Underground, for two years. Peter Magnusson also gives free private driving lessons to some teens. “This creates great personal relationships, keeps them from driving illegally and helps those from poor backgrounds who can’t pay for driving school. We are also looking into helping with schoolwork, finding them part-time work, and meeting other needs. We hope that Social Services will employ some of our staff for several hours per week to meet with individual teens in need. My wife and I are already doing this for kids from a Middle Eastern background.” OM plans a training programme for youth workers later this year, combining course and practical work for youth from about 60 nationalities. The team welcomes prayer for these initiatives. Romania: Although 98.8 percent belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church, Romania has more evangelical churches than the rest of Eastern Europe together. Yet of 450 Christian organisations, Bibles schools and missions in Romania, only four are mobilising churches for world missions. Last year, OM brought together 80 local church/NGO leaders, including heads of the Baptist, Brethren and Pentecostal Unions, to discuss national and international missions for Romanians. Pray for concrete action to begin soon as a result. Finland: Shaun Rossi (USA) began pastoring UCC, an international church near Helsinki, a few years ago and has been amazed at its growth. Heidi explains that the good atmosphere, international flair and sense of community attracts and surprises many Finns. “Christianity has been here for centuries,” she continues, “and then along comes an African or Asian excited about God, the Bible and church! Finns are more willing to listen to foreigners talking about God because it’s so unexpected, so different.” Shaun explains, “We simply invite people from different religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds together. Multi-ethnic churches are those that are growing in Europe—growth that is really needed. Now is the time to act!” http://vimeo.com/13120758UCC world faithsNepal: With questionable roads, inaccurate maps, and unpredictable weather, we are never sure where trekking will take us. Planning to go where no other teams had been, our route instead retraced another team’s trek weeks earlier. As we waited an hour-and-a-half for a shop to prepare a meal, I felt we should speak to the nearly one hundred men gathered. I told them that we did not come to give them rules, but to explain what they had been missing. After sharing my testimony, I asked if they had questions. I then realised why we had taken the same path: these men had bought Scripture portions from the other team and had been reading and thinking through its message. We had come to care for seeds already sown. The faces of these strangers beamed with joy and surprise as we explained the things they had not understood. By the time we finished, our porters had already moved on towards the next village. My friend had to chase them for an hour to bring back Bibles and other literature for the men. We sold almost 150 books that afternoon and left the village praising God for being bigger than our plans. muslim peoplesPakistan: Brother N* consolidates existing efforts at establishing studies in three specific towns, and strengthens current groups in two other towns. We need new workers to help start new groups. The men’s summer camp took place from 11–24 June with 62 men from all four provinces participating. After training, they went to 13 cities to share the good news of Jesus. They shared their experiences: “Thirty of us waited at a railway station for two hours at midnight. Someone picked up his guitar and started to play. Our eyes brightened; we sat in a circle and started worshipping. This attracted many passengers also waiting, to whom we gave out literature.” Every Tuesday and Thursday we reach people through films and literature. On our prayer walk and distribution day, 36 people joined us and thanked us for the opportunity to connect with more than 600 people. Think of us on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as we are out in the community. Turkey: A well-known businessman from one village came in with a friend and said, “First we are going to have coffee, and then I want to talk with you.” He showed me his identification card; in the space which signifies religion, it read ‘Christian’ instead of ‘Muslim.’ After watching me for two years, running my tiny shop, he had noted my honesty and business ethics. Then he changed his religion. He told me not to tell anyone because they would not understand, but asked if I could help him and his friend start a church where he now lives. I asked if his friend was also a Christian. He said no, but that he was working on him! Pray for the many Turkish cities which still have no church. Azerbaijan: Steve and Mary moved in with a local family to learn the Azeri language and culture. Early in the relationship, Steve shared his love for God through sign language. A real bonding has resulted as the two families have shared life together. Sibel, the married daughter, had mother-in-law problems; Mary prayed and encouraged her to read the New Testament. Soon the mother in the house was borrowing it and also reading. She recently announced that she would no longer be going to Muslim holy shrines but would pray to God herself. Sibel told Mary that all her friends want to read ‘this book’ but she needs it right now so she can’t let them have it. There is a great sense that the Lord has prepared the way for new team members. Prayer is the key to seeing God work. * name changed Once again, on behalf of over 5500 workers from over 95 countries working in over 110 countries, I thank you for your prayers and support. Your brother in Christ, Think again - Knowing and glorifying Godby Markus Chacko, India This article is the first in a series by various OMers from around the world, offering personal reflections on our core values. From the very beginning, Operation Mobilisation has attracted young Christians for discipleship and to impact the nations with God’s Good News. The motto of this Christian volunteer movement, started in the late 1950s, was first and foremost to know God personally and to make Him known. This knowledge of God was not meant to be mere head knowledge, but a realisation of God’s person through an intimate relationship with the Lord. This guiding principle has become a core value of every young man and woman who has joined OM. Their desire is to maintain a close walk with God and do His will. The New Testament—especially the four Gospels—clearly shows forth this principle as a key factor in Jesus’ life and ministry. Our Master and Lord needed an intimate relationship with His father. It was only because of his intimate knowledge of and progressive and consistent fellowship with the Father God that he was able to maintain His earthly life and ministry (even though He never ceased to be the Son of God). The emphases in OM from the beginning were that all those joining this fellowship would have a regular quiet time with God in reading, studying and meditating on the Word of God, as well as spending time in personal and group prayer. These spiritual exercises/disciplines were meant to enable each person to have a personal knowledge of God by drawing upon the example of Jesus Christ. OM’s leadership recognised the genuine danger of losing touch with God through excessive involvement in Christian mission activity as a pitfall; allowing work to become worship leads to falling away from the will of God. Our personal walk with God, the hallmark of saints of God in history, must never lose its place as first priority. The Scriptures give insight into many individuals who kept their relationship with God first. They were able to do so because they had a personal knowledge of God, who revealed to them His plan and purpose for them and their generation. The Apostle Paul, talking about his ambition in life and ministry says, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Phil.3:10). This was his motto. No wonder he became what he was and did so many great things for God and His Kingdom. Therefore we in OM today, even in the 21st century with its changing culture and ‘flat world’, need to have such a genuine passion and zeal to know God and glorify Him in and through our life and ministry. It must be our first priority, our A-1 task, the first thing we want to do every single day. Comments are welcome at research@om.org
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Reaching Muslim Peoples Fund
Muslims—it’s a word that triggers emotion today. For some, it can be fear of the unknown or a knee-jerk reaction to the media. Christians can choose to see great opportunities for the Gospel in the midst of the upheavals aff ecting one-fifth of humanity. Today, more than ever before, together we can demonstrate the love of God and our confidence in His power to transform the lives of millions of Muslims... read more .
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