VIDEO: George on The 700 Club

OM Founder George Verwer is interviewed on The 700 Club.

Norway: Be anxious for nothing

An OM team member in Norway writes: 

"On July 22, Norway was shocked by a terrorist attack in the capital city of Oslo, where 77 people were killed. Slowly we have understood the extent of this catastrophe, and there have been strong reactions. Fear, anger, disbelief and shock are some of the expressions we see in the face of this unspeakable tragedy. In these difficult times, many are visiting churches and congregations to be closer to God, for fellowship and comfort. Many people have questions about life and death.

"The reactions of the Norwegian people in the days after the disaster show that the terror attack had a completely different effect than was intended. The terrorist failed in his attempt. When thousands of people go into the streets and stand united for peace and reconciliation, it shows clearly that good is much stronger than the evil that tries to destroy. The disaster has not only united our nation, but has put souls on fire. Never before have entire streets in Oslo been closed because of flowers. About 40,000 were expected to join the parade in memory of the victims, but close to 200,000 came. When so many stand together, we show the world that we are not afraid and we are not angry. "Sickness and death, terror and pain are a part of life. But for all those who follow Jesus, we are not alone.

Philippians 4:6 says, 'Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' (NKJV). "We do not respond evil for evil, but we fight evil with good. And this is also our prayer for the church, that with this love that God has shown us, we will win. Our thoughts go to all those affected and those who have lost someone in this tragedy. We pray for the Norwegian people and want to stand with them in every way."

Please join OM in prayer for the people of Norway.

"You people look like magicians"

Rebuilding continues in Pakistan after widespread flooding last year.  Mission Network News recently wrote about the efforts of groups committed to the rebuilding, including OM.  After a critical school building was spared, the principal was amazed at the speed with which the teams worked.  He said, "I am so impressed by the way these people are working. I cannot believe how they finished a few months' job in few days. If you had not been able to finish this, our army planned to occupy this in a few days' time. You people look like magicians; now you have a boundary wall, and the land is enclosed once more."  You can read the entire article at mnnonline.org.

Learn more about giving to relief work in Pakistan.

partnership gets team to Haiti

The team packs at OM USA.

The search and rescue team that left for Haiti yesterday spent some time at OM USA before they left. They met members of New Hope Baptist, an Atlanta-area church who partners with the same orphanages this team will be serving. New Hope member Rhodena Buck was able to show pictures from the area and brief the team on who they would meet and what they could expect. During the briefing, the team was treated to lunch by a local Chick-fil-a, with plenty left over to take with them.

Former OM member Rusty Garrison put this 6-man team together and watched as the Lord provided everything they needed. First, each man on this team is certified in search and rescue, a must at this stage in Haiti's earthquake recovery. To get there, a local businessman offered the use of his corporate jet, saving the team $6,000 in last-minute airfare. Another business leader is offering his jet for the return trip, possibly bringing a fresh team with him. A local branch of the NAACP was hosting a parade and rally for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and half of the funds they raised will go toward OM's relief work in Haiti.

Thanks for your continued support of this team. As you pray and give, you are joining with them.

team en route to Haitian orphanage

Kids before the earthquake, at the orphanage where OM is sending a team.

OM USA is sending out a six-member emergency response team to serve several orphanages in Haiti. Each team member is certified in search and rescue. The group will first search the rubble of a school just outside Port au Prince for possible survivors. As many as 2,000 children may be buried there beneath the rubble. No rescue teams have yet been in the area where they are going.

Water is the greatest need for an orphanage that was miraculously spared. The kids are sleeping outside since it is unknown how safe their building is, but praise God for protecting these children. The town around this orphanage was completely destroyed so the orphanage is providing aid to the neighborhood survivors. Pray for this team as they go, that the Lord will protect them and that they will be able to find anyone still alive. Subscribe to this blog for more updates. And click here to give to OM relief work in Haiti.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress.
James 1:27

OM anticipates long-term involvement in Haiti earthquake relief

OM staff continue to investigate the best ways to help with earthquake relief in Haiti. Contact has been made with the two orphanages we have assisted in the past. They have minimal structural damage but are cut off from food and water supplies. We are investigating all possibilities of getting relief supplies into Haiti.

Please be in prayer with us that we can arrange the right logistics to provide some immediate help to these orphanages and surrounding areas. A member of OM USA who has local connections in Haiti will be in the country on the weekend and will further assess the situation and how OM can help. We anticipate having long-term involvement with some local churches once the crisis transitions to a rebuilding phase.

Give to Haiti Earthquake Relief.

VOTE for photo of the year

You can tell us which picture deserves to be Photo of the Year on the OM Photo Blog. Simply browse the archives and rate each photo from 1-5 stars. Your results will be automatically calculated and we will post the results here at year's end. Thanks for voting!

Doulos Ministry Coming to an End

The ministry of OM’s ship Doulos will come to an end on December 31, 2009.

Doulos is the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship, now 95 years old, with the hull built in 1914, just two years after Titanic. In spite of the year-round maintenance that has taken place, the amount of steel replacement and other repairs needed for her to continue sailing are overwhelming. The ship is presently in Singapore and has been undergoing the annual period of drydock and surveys.

Chief Executive Officer of OM Ships International, Peter Nicoll, said, “The outcome of this is that Doulos will not be able to continue in ministry. This is not what any of us wanted and has serious consequences for everyone on board, those about to join, and ports we planned to visit. We have been praying that God would use this five-year ‘special survey’ to give us a clear picture of the way forward for Doulos, and He has done that.”

The well-being of the 280 crew and staff onboard is of paramount importance. Each person will receive the guidance and support they need to decide what their next steps should be.

CEO Peter Nicoll stated, “We recognize God’s faithfulness through these 32 years of wonderful service of the ‘servant’—Doulos—as an outstanding OM ministry, through more than 600 port visits in over 100 countries. Many lives have been transformed, both visitors and those who have served on board.

We are also deeply grateful to our partners around the world who have supported the ship in ministry through the years. Please continue to pray with us as we work on present challenges and seek the Lord for the future.

OM offering relief in the Philippines

An OM team member is seen here delivering food to waiting families. Read more about relief efforts here. Please pray for the people of the Philippines this weekend as they are expected to be hit again, this time by a "super typhoon". Pray for the Lord to miraculously intervene.

[above:] OM teams prepare food packs for residents.

[below:] Filipino families move to higher ground

September International Update

OM Director Peter Maiden shares recent stories of both great sorrow and great joy in this month's International Update. Thanks for praying through these news items.

Mission Network News: the Thiessens in Slovakia

Karla and Brad Thiessen serve in Slovakia through a language school called Word Art and a trade school called Life Art. Read more about their work and learn their prayer needs in this recent article by Mission Network News. You can also hear the story in audio there.

TeenStreet

OUR PURPOSE

...is to work with the church to motivate and equip Christian teens to have a real friendship with Jesus to reflect Him daily in their world.

The first TeenStreet Germany teen congress happened in 1993 and attracted just 56 people. Today, the congress attracts over three thousand teenagers, as well as leaders and volunteers from across Europe.

But the congress is just the beginning. TeenStreet 365 is our vision to invest in the lives of European young people all year round, empowering them to walk with Jesus each day and reach their full potential as people created by God!

Have you checked out pictures and videos from TeenStreet happening right now in Germany?? You can find pictures here and videos here.

Alltop adds OM USA

The OM USA blog is now part of alltop.com, an "online magazine rack" covering all the top news in countless categories. OM USA appears on the Alltop Christianity page, and there's a great widget which pulls from all the feeds on that page. Add the code to your own site and your readers will get a wealth of Christian news updated hourly. You can find us under the title "Mission News from OM USA". And don't forget to hit the share links at the top of the page -- tell your friends and followers online!