Operation Mobilisation traces its roots to the prayers of an American housewife. In the 1950s, Dorothea Clapp began to pray faithfully for the students in her local high school. She asked God to touch the world through the lives of the young people. And God answered her prayers.

Mrs. Clapp's son gave the Gospel of John to one of the students, who later gave his life to the Lord at a Billy Graham meeting. That young man was George Verwer, the founder and former International Director of Operation Mobilisation.

At college, George and two friends met regularly to pray. They became burdened by the spiritual needs of Mexico. In 1957 the three friends sold some of their possessions to raise money and gave up their summer holiday to distribute Gospels and other Christian literature in Mexico. The friends returned to Mexico the following summer and the next.

When they graduated in 1960, George and his friends traveled to Europe. They began work in Spain, sharing the Gospel and distributing literature. But the task of reaching the whole of Europe seemed overwhelming.

George and his small team realised that God's plan was to mobilise His Church to reach the nations. As they began to share their vision, hundreds of Christians responded. So Operation Mobilisation was born.

By 1963, 2,000 Christians had joined summer outreach teams in Europe. At the same time, teams moved into the Indian sub-continent and the Muslim world. Their commitment was to reach those who had never heard the Gospel.

Such simple beginnings have shaped OM since. Today over 3,300 workers in OM's family of ministries, representing over 100 nationalities, are bringing God's unchanging truth to literally millions every year.

Milestones

• 1955 - One woman prays
• 1957 - Trip to Mexico
• 1958 - First Christmas outreach in Mexico City
• 1960 - Work begins in Spain as SEND THE LIGHT
• 1962 - First European Summer Outreach; long-term teams reach Middle East and North Africa
• 1963 - Teams go to Israel and India
• 1966 - Work begins in Communist Eastern Europe; Teams begin distributing literature in Iraq, Syria and Kuwait
• 1968 - Work begins in Afghanistan and Nepal
• 1970 - M.V. Logos ship is purchased
• 1977 - M.V. Doulos ship is purchased
• 1980 - Work begins in Pakistan
• 1981 - Name changed to OPERATION MOBILISATION
• 1982 - M.V. Logos visits China; Afghan refugee ministry begins
• 1988 - M.V. Logos shipwrecked in S. America; M.V. Logos II purchased
• 1989 - LOVE EUROPE Summer Outreach begins with over 7,000 people. Hundreds join long-term.
• 1991 - In response to Gulf War, started relief and development work
• 2003 - Peter Maiden becomes new OM International Director
• 2004 - M.V. Logos Hope purchased
• 2007 - OM celebrates 50 years!
• 2013 - OM appoints first Asian International Director, Lawrence Tong
• 2017 - OM celebrates 60 years!
• 2020 - OM celebrates 50 years of Ships Ministry
• Today - OM is working in around 150 countries to see vibrant communities of Jesus followers among the least reached