INTERNATIONAL UPDATE FEBRUARY 2012OM InternationalDownload as PDF (296kb)Dear partners in prayer,Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus. In recent weeks, it was my privilege to be at our semi-annual conference for new recruits held in Germany. 128 new people joined us from China, Georgia, Ecuador, Argentina, Namibia and around the world. The enthusiasm as people prepare to move out in mission around the world was infectious! I moved on from there to Moldova for a team retreat for those working in Romania and Moldova, thrilled by what I saw: hundreds every year going on short-term mission; around 70 national and international students completing a 10-week practical missions training programme; Moldovans serving in North Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe and it was great to see help being given to churches to run education and feeding projects for the poorest children. I visited one centre and was deeply impressed and moved by what I saw. OM also reaches out to the elderly with fuel for heating, canteen projects and material help of various kinds. There has been real progress in micro-business investment and Business for Transformation, sports ministry, literature and the list goes on. I commend it to you for your prayers and support. The International Leaders Meetings (ILM) will be held this month in Bangkok. We particularly appreciate your prayers, as we have some very sensitive issues to deal with. europeGermany: The second-ever European Mission-Net Congress took place in Erfurt from 28 December–2 January. More than 2,500 participants from 40 nations around Europe and beyond were hosted by the European Evangelical Alliance, encouraging 16–30-year-old Europeans to live a missional lifestyle. 110 mission organisations, including OM, participated. Various speakers, including OM Founder George Verwer, shared each evening. Praise God for this opportunity for young people in Europe to gather to worship God and learn more about missions. Please pray that participants will seek God for a clear understanding of His plan for their lives. Moldova: During the Bus4Life’s visit to Glodeni, a town of 10,000 in the northeast, the OM team felt welcome. Upon arrival, the town mayor personally saw that they had everything they needed and gave them a good spot in the centre of town to park the bus. A reporter and cameraman from the local TV station also paid the team a visit. That evening, the report aired on local television and featured online. “We were amazed at the positive report,” commented OMer Esther. “The reporter invited people to visit the Bus4Life, and a boy he interviewed said that he was reading one of the books so that he could know something about God. The link between the Bus4Life and the local evangelical church was clearly stated.” A day later, the local pastor called the team to report on the positive turnout at church: many people were interested in knowing more about God through the Bus4Life ministry. Praise God for the good connections between the team, evangelical church, local media and authorities. Please pray for continued impact. www.bus4life.org Albania: May (Hong Kong) spent her first Christmas and New Year with OM. Three special events were hosted by the Emmanuel Centre, led by local believer Mona and other OM workers. On 17 December, 19 street children from a Roma community packed into the meeting room, located next to their shanty dwellings. She and the team sang, prayed and shared the Christmas story and the gospel, and passed out presents to the children. “Their mothers have really tough lives,” May said, “so on 22 December we staged a party for them also.” Twenty-five women and 15 kids joined this party. Again they shared the good news of God’s love, sang songs, prayed and gave gifts. Six days later, May and Mona delivered New Year food packages to 15 families. Though working with street children is challenging, she is inspired by the love of Jesus: “All these kids are just like you and me, needing the love of Father God!” muslim peoplesNorth Africa: “Just a little off the ends,” Rebecca* said to the hair stylist on behalf of the foreign short-term participant sitting in the chair. With one eye glued to her brave participant and the carefree hair stylist, Rebecca began to converse with the other women, who showed interest in them. “Where are you from?” they asked. “How do you like our country? Do you read the Quran?” “That was it!” said Rebecca. “Our entry into a conversation about our Book and what we believe.” The women asked questions, and a few nodded approval while others were wary. The girls prayed that the women would read the New Testaments and Books of Luke they had given them, and thanked God for this unexpected opportunity. More than 1,000 OM workers share God’s love and truth with their Muslim neighbours across the globe. Please pray for these workers and for open doors to befriend those they come in contact with every day. Syria: As the political situation remains unstable, God is working in people’s hearts. The team recently showed the film Damascus, the story of Paul’s life, in the local technical college and welcomed 200 young people to watch the film. The guard handed them the key and left, which allowed the group more freedom. Most visitors took a New Testament after the film and many stayed afterward to ask questions about the gospel. In this area there are no Christians, but many are looking for answers. Please pray that in these desperate situations, the people of Syria will cry out to God. Pray that those seeking Truth will find Him. Turkey: While walking down a small back street in Istanbul, David handed a church Christmas invitation to a man who asked in English, “Do you believe in destiny?” He explained that he’d been a member of a Protestant church in Istanbul 10 years ago, but just the night before had a dream in which he saw his old church friends hugging him. Reports David, “When I told him that this church was only blocks away, he said that sadly he now lives far away, naming the very district where our own church is—a highly unlikely coincidence with well over 30 districts and 13 million people in Istanbul. When I offered him an invitation to our church’s Christmas programme, his jaw dropped. Tears came to my eyes as I said, ‘Like your friends in the dream, let me hug you as well; God hasn’t forgotten you!’” Praise God for arranging this conversation. Pray that this man will get involved in David’s church and grow in relationship with God. United Kingdom: Participants from Singapore, South Korea, North America and UK joined Turning Point’s two-week Christmas outreach. Whether passing out portions of gospel literature, giving cups of cocoa or participating in a children’s programme, team members experienced unique encounters with Muslim neighbours across London.
Billy, from Singapore, gave out gift packets containing a Jesus DVD, Gospel of John and an invitation to a Christmas service to those on the street. A lady across the road stopped and came over for a closer look. Billy gave her a gift and then introduced her to team member Mel. “Straightaway, they started a conversation about the Bible and other spiritual issues,” said Billy. “She was so eager and hungry to know everything.” The woman found new life in Jesus that day, and joined the church service later, staying to chat afterwards. 2012 Year of Prayer4Muslim Peoples (www.pray4mp.org) shipsPhilippines: Logos Hope’s first port of call in 2012 is Cebu. During previous visits by her sister ship Doulos, crewmembers were moved by the incredible plight of homeless street children. What began as a small initiative to bring help continues 10 years later as Cebu Children’s Ministries. The Logos Hope crew is thrilled to make this first visit to Cebu and continue long-standing relationships to reach men, women and children for the Gospel. Over the course of six months, the ship is scheduled to visit four ports in the nation. Pray that God will prepare unique opportunities for the ship community to challenge Christians in their mission involvement and local people in their understanding of God’s love. Logos Hope faces the additional financial challenge of an extended dry dock and lay up period from mid-April to mid-June in Subic Bay. A key need is for welders, mechanics, plumbers, pipe-fitters and carpenters to volunteer on board for at least two weeks. Annual maintenance work will take place, as well critical preparation for the Power Up Logos Hope project which will be implemented in early 2013. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . pioneering initiativesKenya: After five days of strenuous hiking to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Freedom Climbers made their downward trek and arrived safely in Loitokitok on 16 January. Forty-four climbers reached Gillman’s Point (18,647 feet/5683m); 28 summitted Uhuru (freedom) Peak at 19,336 feet/5893m, trekking through the dark, early hours of 15 January. Holly Harris was struck by what the symbolism of the journey represented for millions of women and children in the world. “For women involved in sexual slavery, the worst time is night. And the worst part of the climb was the summit; I just wanted to get through the night.” Throughout the climb, porters and guides carried the heavier equipment and led the way. When they returned, the team held a celebration to express their gratitude by washing the feet of the porters. “[It] was a really cool opportunity after they had served us all week,” said Holly. The effort of the Freedom Climb does not end here. Funds raised will go to impact women and children worldwide through rescue and rehabilitation. www.thefreedomclimb.net Brazil: In commemoration of World AIDS Day on 1 December, an AIDSLink Brazil* team held an AIDS awareness workshop at rehabilitation centre for drug users and sex workers in São Paulo. It was very timely, as the previous day health workers had tested everyone at the centre for HIV; amazingly, everyone tested negative. One resident told how much she appreciated getting correct information and being able to ask questions. She had thought that because she had had surgery to prevent having more children, she was no longer at risk of contracting HIV. Others asked questions about the treatment and lifespan of someone living with HIV. One team member shared his story about living with HIV, how he got his HIV-positive diagnosis, how it affected his life, and how his faith has helped him turn the situation around. The latest statistics show that in spite of Brazilian government’s pro-active response to AIDS, every day in São Paulo nine people die and another six give up on treatment. Please pray that the team will reach more with the message of hope Jesus offers to those living with HIV and AIDS. *AIDSLink International and OM Brazil work in partnership to make a positive change in the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Russia: “Does my life have to end now that I have HIV?” This question was answered with a resounding “NO!” at a recent conference organised by OM in partnership with the charity ACET. Forty Christians from eight Siberian cities gathered at OM’s base in Novosibirsk to train and share ideas on responding to the HIV epidemic. The majority of those gathered were involved in drug abuse before becoming Christians; several are HIV positive. Seminars discussed how to give school lectures about the dangers of HIV and AIDS, how to counsel those with HIV and how to form Christian youth clubs. “If Christians are going to shape the behaviour of the young generation, then society will surely change!” exclaimed Jenya, the organiser of the conference. “Our guys start youth clubs where they can have a closer contact with young people, some of which might have never heard about Christ. In many cities there is work among people with HIV. Those people can get consulting, understanding and support from believers who have the same diagnosis.” emerging mission movementsPanama: Three years after hosting the last International Intensive School of Missions, OM opened its doors to six new students from Panama and Ecuador. Please pray that these students will be ready for what God has for them during this three-month programme. OM is also hosting Mission Extreme, with participants from Switzerland, Norway and the UK, an intense two-month exposure trip primarily in indigenous areas. Please pray that this also will be a life-changing time for participants as they experience God in new and exciting ways. Colombia: Inside the San Diego Women’s Jail in Cartagena, inmates celebrated a joy-filled Christmas. OM leader Martha Ardila and members of the Bolivar Prison Fellowship organised the event. The air was heavy with anticipation as the women opened packages filled with necessities and treats: toothpaste, bath soap, detergent, juice, chocolates, lollypops and cookies. Eighty inmates also received a copy of The Calvary Road by Roy Hession, a gift from OM Founder George Verwer. The book was also given to 20 staff members and 10 members of the Bolivar Prison Fellowship. Later, everyone enjoyed ice cream and cakes, along with a drama of the Lord’s Prayer. Please pray that the message and books will have an eternal impact on the women. next generationBosnia: Although the teenage years are a critical time in a person’s development, there are few affordable activities available to young people in Dobrinja. Knowing this, the OM team recently launched a place for teens in the area called The House, a comfortable space complete with a PlayStation 2, sound system, books, guitars, snacks and a projector. During the first week, only several teens showed up, but now about 10–15 young people, mainly guys, come to The House. One evening, a teenager walked over to the book collection and started reading a book by Nicky Gumbel titled Izazovni Zivotni Stil (Challenging Lifestyle). Despite being invited to participate in playing games, the teenager continued reading. The team was encouraged to also see him take the book Vise Nego Tesar (More Than a Carpenter) by Josh McDowell home that night. Small incidences like this remind them of the impact they are making in the lives of teens. Please pray for the OM team and the teens they minister to. Once again, on behalf of over 6100 workers from over 100 countries working in over 110 countries, I thank you for your prayers and support. Your brother in Christ, * names changed for security reasons Think again: Looking like a leader• D A V I D G R E E N L E E • What should a leader look like? In this American election year, political handlers are aware that ‘looking presidential’ is vitally important to becoming President. Being tall doesn’t count for everything, but American presidents are almost always above average height and in only one of three elections in over 200 years has the shorter candidate carried the popular vote. (My non-scientific analysis of global despots of recent decades, however, suggests that movie-star good looks are not a requirement for being a dictator!) So what should an OM leader look like? Fortunately, spiritual leadership is not about electoral popularity. Few of us need to be reminded that “man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). With ‘future leadership’ a vital theme in our global OM family, I contacted recent Joshua Journey participants, especially interested in the views of these younger OM leaders. Their comments provide the framework and much of the content of this and several upcoming columns. Whatever else we say about our leaders, three underlying characteristics are basic. They may be lived out in different ways and demonstrated in different personal or cultural styles, but leaders must have three key characteristics: spiritual life, a servant attitude, and a shepherd heart. Spiritual lifeGodliness counts. A leader must “have a close relationship with God and be able to provide spiritual food and direction for the team” (a Korean in East Asia). How can tough decisions be made? They must be “born out of a closeness to God” (Iris, OM Ships). “If as an organisation we are all about people knowing Jesus Christ and helping others know him, then we can expect nothing less than our international leader walking daily with God. This will shape a future of staff, priorities, and finances going toward these priorities. Conflicts will be resolved differently. Leadership meetings run differently. Emails and phone calls conducted differently. The work of prayer will flow from a vibrant, active relationship with our Creator.” (Michael, OM USA) Servant attitude‘Servant leadership’ is a term often used, but what does it mean? One Asian was amazed as a new OMer that ship leaders were willing to get their hands dirty. He wrote that “Servant leadership is when the leader does not lord it over his/her team but actually serves the team—is down to earth, does not require special titles and treatment, takes the time to find out what is going on in the people’s lives and participates with the team and demonstrates that no job is beneath them.” But it is more than being willing to do menial jobs. It is “not so much physically doing things but serving through leading well,” (Seelan, on Logos Hope), an “empowering leadership” with the “interests of the team at heart” (Tseliso of South Africa and Hugo of Switzerland). “It looks like a round-table style and diversity…Let me be part of the process, the discussion, and don’t only listen to me but hear me. Diversity is key, [otherwise] those who think differently will be left out and probably leave the team altogether. This is what servant leadership is, as opposed to a dictatorship” (Marnus, South Africa). Shepherd heartWith the danger that the concept of servant leadership has been devalued by overuse, the image of the leader as a shepherd helps provide a more complete picture. “Shepherd incorporates the idea of being an under-shepherd to the Great Shepherd, caring for and guarding the flock, giving direction, and correction. Servant leadership in Central Asia is rare in the secular context and sadly within many of the new churches. Leaders are expected to be authoritarian and dominant. So, Christian leaders who ask questions, respond to their flock’s needs and do not exploit their church financially stand out like lights” (a worker in Central Asia). A look in the mirrorSo, what does the leader look like whom you are looking for? Before you answer that, take a look in the mirror. Whatever our leaders should look like, each of us should to some extent be a ‘spiritual servant shepherd’, and all the more so those who set our pace. Dr. David Greenlee is OM’s Director of International Ministry Services and chair of the International Coordinator Nomination Group. OM’s Joshua Journey is a process to help identify and develop the potential of younger OM leaders. Comments are welcome care of
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