Day 5: remembering

It's Memorial Day here in the States, a day to honor those who have gone before us to give us our freedom. Let us also remember the heroes of the faith who brought the word of God to us and shared with us His sacrificial love.

Day 4: rest

Enjoy this day of worship wherever you are. We offer you this song of praise from South Africa called "I Sikulu", or "God Is Great".



See more international praise music on OM's Heartsounds YouTube channel.

Day 3: confession

We are praying through the Sermon on the Mount during our 10 days of 24/7 prayer. So today, let's read these words of Jesus in Matthew 5:21-48. Then we can ask the Lord to search our hearts and show us where we may have put our own "holiness" over His love for the people around us. Let's confess what He reveals and continue to pray through Matthew 5-7.

That's DOCTOR George Verwer

OM founder George Verwer will be receiving an Honorary Doctor of Divinity tonight and tomorrow from Biola University. You can watch the commencement services live at Biola's site. Tonight's ceremony is for those earning graduate degrees (6pm PDT), tomorrow morning's is for undergrads (9am PDT). George will be the commencement speaker at both ceremonies.

Biola announced they are honoring George Verwer "for his work as a leader in global missions". Honorary degrees at Biola "are awarded by formal action of the Board of Trustees on recommendation by the university president to recognize individuals who have a clear evangelical Christian testimony and have demonstrated significant service and achievement over an extended period of time, which is national or international in nature and is relevant to the mission of Biola University".

That certainly defines our founder's legacy, and we are thrilled to see him honored in this way. However, we're positive that the newly titled Dr. Verwer will still insist you call him George.

Day 2: start with praise

As you enter the 10 days of 24/7 prayer with us, begin by focusing on the Lord and your relationship with Him. Toward that purpose we'd like to share this devotional video which we saw in our Thursday chapel. It's a song called "Awaken Me" from Misty Edwards of the International House of Prayer (IHOP). In the video, she is creating the song spontaneously while leading worship in the IHOP prayer room. It is a beautiful prayer of preparation.

Dr. Ralph Winter

Missiologist Ralph Winter passed away on Wednesday. Dr. Winter was known as an enterprising visionary who began the US Center for World Mission, a campus of sending agencies in Pasadena, California. The Center produces many valuable resources including Mission Frontiers magazine and the International Journal of Frontier Missions. Dr. Winter frequently contributed his insights to both publications, posing great questions for the mission community to answer with their actions. He also started the Perspectives course, an intensive training program that has mobilized many for missions worldwide.

Like OM founder George Verwer, Dr. Winter has always had a heart for mobilization. He often compared the cause of world evangelization to a burning building. Dr. Winter would ask, "which would you rather do -- pour a bucket of water on the fire, or wake up 100 sleeping firemen?" He knew how to wake up firemen. He knew how to mentor and challenge and motivate believers to become global disciple-makers. The kingdom is richer for his life, both here and in eternity.



above: Dr. Ralph Winter talks about the kingdom in a video for the Lausanne Movement.

below:OM founder George Verwer met with Ralph Winter in 2007 and posted this brief interview on his blog.

Day 1: opening prayer walk

This morning we launched our ten days of 24/7 prayer, a time of focusing on the Lord leading up to Pentecost and the Global Day of Prayer on May 31. In today's chapel, musicians, dancers, and worshipers gathered and spent some time praising the Lord together before leaving on a corporate prayer walk.



Ten prayer stations have been set up along the OM USA walking trail for anyone who wants to visit and pray along with us.

Graham Wells, head of OM USA's Global Prayer Ministries, offered a few challenges for this 10-day season of prayer:

• Read Matthew 5-7 daily and pray through it. This is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and it will be our focus. Look for the kingdom principles Jesus gives.
  
• Tithe your time. There are 210 hours in these 10 days. Graham asks if we can "extravagantly give...a portion of our time to seek Him?"
• Pray daily for 5 nations, 5 cities, and 5 missionaries. Choose any the Lord lays on your heart and commit to those during this prayer time. You may pray through these at the stations on the prayer walk or from your home if you are not here locally.
  

And please tell us how you are praying in the comments section below. What are your 5? Or what insights has the Lord given you in His Word (wherever you are reading). How did it go when you tithed your time? Let us know.

Thanks for praying with us. We are lifting you up as well.

Praying toward Pentecost

Will you pray with us? Tomorrow OM USA is starting 10 days of 24/7 prayer. Our prayer room will be open around the clock through Pentecost, May 31. Come pray for OM, pray for your church or the nations, or just draw nearer to the Lord. We welcome you to join us for chapel Thursday morning from 8:30 - 10:30 for the opening of our 10 day focus, ending in a prayer walk around the campus.

Help us to spread the word!

By adding a simple link to OM USA from your personal blog, your church or organization’s website, you can provide your students, your church members, your friends and family with a direct opportunity to get involved in what God is doing around the globe through OM. Also, by linking to our web page, you are helping us to reach even more Christians and challenging them to participate in the Greatest Commission.

Choose the area that fits best with your organization: short-term missions, long-term opportunities, prayer and more. We've given you the code, below. Thank you for helping us by linking to our site!


<a href="http://omusa.org/go/short-term/">Short term mission trips: OM USA</a>
This code will display:
Short term mission trips: OM USA

<a href="http://omusa.org/go/long-term/">Long term missions: OM USA</a>
This code will display:
Long term missions: OM USA

<a href="http://omusa.org/volunteer/">Christian volunteer opportunities: OM USA</a>
This code will display:
Christian volunteer opportunities: OM USA

<a href="http://omusa.org/pray/">Pray for the world: OM USA</a>
This code will display:
Pray for the world: OM USA

<a href="http://omusa.org/give/">Give to world missions: OM USA</a>
This code will display:
Give to world missions: OM USA

<a href="http://omusa.org/go/custom-trips/">Christian internships: OM USA</a>
This code will display:
Christian internships: OM USA

<a href="http://omusa.org/">Operation Mobilization: OM USA</a>
This code will display:
Operation Mobilization: OM USA

Approximate 2002 AD Global Mission Statistics

(IN PROCESS 07-17-'02)

(1) World Population: 6.204 BILLION PEOPLE

33% of earth's people include Christians of all kinds.
40% of earth's people are reached (or evangelized) non-Christians.
27% of earth's people are unreached (i.e.unevangelized) non-Christians.

(2) Population of Major Religions Plus Subgroups of Special Interest to Christians

2.05 BILLION - Christians of all kinds
1.24 BILLION - Muslims
932 million - Nonreligious and Atheists
837 million - Hindus
368 million - Buddhists
234 million - Tribals
340 million - Chinese Folk Religionists
259 million - 0ther Religions
104 million - New Religionists

(3) World Population Growth, 1.22%, Compared with Muslims & Christian Subgroups

Muslims 2.11%, All "Christians" 1.27%, Roman Catholics 1.24%, Evangelicals 1.72%, Protestants 1.36%, "Gt.Com. Christians" 1.44%, Pentecostals and Charismatics 1.87%.

(4) Missionaries

429,000 Missionaries from all branches of Christendom
(Only between 2 and 3% of those missionaries work among unreached peoples.)
140,000 Protestant Missionaries
64,000 Protestant Missionaries From USA

(5) Distribution of Protestant Missionary Funds for Support of Both Foreign Missionaries and the Home Staff who Support the Field Missionaries in the Major Religious Blocks

74% Among Nominal Christians
8% Among Tribal Peoples
6% Among Muslims
4% Among Non-Religious/Atheists
3% Among Buddihists
2% Among Hindus
2% Among Chinese Folk Religions
1% Among Jewish Peoples

(6) Annual Global Church Finance in US Dollars

15,500 Billion - Total Annual Income
300 Billion - Giving to Christian Causes (1.8% of total income)
17 Billion - To Foreign Missions (5.7% of Giving to all Christian causes)
18 Billion - Eccliastical Crime

Target Groups Where Foreign Mission Funds are Spent
~87% goes for work among those already Christian, World C.
~12% for work among already Evangelized but Non-Christian, World B.
~1% for work among still Unevangelized and Unreached people groups, World C.
(or less than 1 penny of every $1,000 earned.)

(7) Of the World's 24,000 Unimax (#)People Groups 10,000 are Still Unreached

3700 Muslim 2700 Hindu 2000 Tribal 1000 Buddhist
400 Other 150 Chinese Folk Religions 50 Non-Religious/Atheist
(1600 have each more than 10,000 persons; 8,400 fewer than 10,000 persons each.)
(A large number of these Unreached Groups live in so called closed countries.)

(8) Average Ministry Cost in U.S. Dollars for Each Convert's Baptism

Mozambique - $1400 (least)
Ethiopia - $2700 (2nd)
Nepal - $3700 (5th)
Cambodia - $4300 (8th)
Average cost for World A - $32,000
for World B ............. $48,000
for World C ............. $490,000
Africa ................... $14,000
Asia ..................... $61,000
Lat. Amer ............... $145,000
Oceania .................. $634,000
Europe ................... $993,000
USA ...................... $1.5 Million!

# A Unimax People is a largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers to understanding or acceptance.

Main Sources:

World Christian Encyclopedia, 2001 and World Evangelization Resource Center, 2002.

—Prepared by Mobilization Division, U.S. Center for World Mission, Pasadena, CA.—

Bryan College short term missions trip

At OM USA we coordinate short term college groups that want to go on a missions trip. One of the groups was a team from Bryan College (Dayton, TN). Over Spring Break they went to Birmingham (UK). OM has a ministry there called LifeHope.
The team served with different churches in the city and worked with children and the elderly. They also visited 1000 homes door-to-door, inviting people for local Easter events.

It is encouraging to read the report from the team and see some of the pictures.

Luther Rice University

This week is the missions conference at Luther Rice Seminary, just outside Atlanta. I have been here before and it is a very special university/seminary. The speakers at their conference are quite often graduates. They are pastors of mission minded churches or are serving on the mission field.

I had the opportunity to speak at a class this morning. It was the Greek class (6 students + 1 prof). I shared stories of what God is doing around the world. The students and the professor asked questions about the work of OM and missions in general.

For the lunch we were invited for a Taste of the Nations. Students and faculty brought home made dishes in to share with everyone. There was food from The South (of the USA), Romania, Nigeria, Japan, Haiti, Scotland and India. Here a look at my plate before I got a Taste of the Nations.

Colorado Christian University

The campus of CCU is not huge, but they've got great energy. I attended CCU's missions week. I also hung out in the Student Union and talked with students. 2 conversations of note: I met a girl who came up to me and asked, "How do you know you are called?" We then talked for 20 minutes on calling, fears, and missions in general. I talked with another guy about miracles. He asked, "Why don't we as Americans see or perform miracles on a more regular basis." Very interesting conversations. I told some of my stories of my time overseas, and it is true that in general, miracles are not common in our American Christianity.




I attended a midnight bowling turnament to raise money for the CCU summer mission trips, then I was invited to tag along with a group going skiing at Copper Mountain. Yippee!

Liberty University

Nat and I visited America's largest Christian University - Liberty. 10,000 students attend. The academic center is huge. Thus far they only use part of the 3rd floor and none of the 4th yet. Nat and I had a good time. My highlights were meeting a Malaysian girl who visited the Doulos as a girl and even had a team come to her 11th birthday party. Her brother was also a STEPer. It's not often that I meet knows all about our ships, is excited about them, yet never served on board. OM Ships just are not well known in the USA.

I also shared in a dorm one night. I shared my testimony and some devotional thoughts. They seemed to be paying attention to me quite well. Even the dorm chaplain said so.

Also I discovered some of the IDAHOANS at Liberty. In fact there are 6 students who graduated from my High School. One had my mom as a teacher and I had his dad as a teacher.

13 statistics on child slavery

"Lord, you know the hopes of humble people. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort their hearts by helping them. You will be with the orphans and all who are oppressed, so that mere earthly man will terrify them no longer." Psalm 10:17-18


13 statistics on child slavery (compiled by Action International Ministries)

1. 3000 enslaved Albanian children are used for begging, cleaning windows and cars without wages in Italy and Greece

2. an estimated 496,000 children are in slavery in Bangladesh

3. over 10-20 million people are subjected to debt bondage largely in India, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and the Philippines

4. of 20 bonded laborers in Pakistan, 7.5 million are children

5. of 35 million soccer balls stitched in Pakistan, children produce 1/4. most of them are bonded servants

6. nearly 500,000 minors work in virtual slavery conditions in Senegal

7. UNICEF estimates that nearly 30,000 children in Haiti (85% girls) serve as unpaid, domestic labor among the affluent

8. nearly 10,000 children aged 6-14 are enslaved in Sri Lankan brothels

9. as many as 300,000 children in India work as bonded labor, just in the carpet industry alone

10. 15 million children around the world are bonded laborers, the majority of whom are Indian Dalits, whose bondage is passed down from generation to generation

11. 90% of 100,000 women in prostitution in Mombai are indentured slaves

12. many Indian boys, some as young as 4 years old, are riders in camel races in West Asia and the Gulf States. girls and women end up either as domestic or sex workers.

13. it takes up to 15 years for girls in India held in prostitution to purchase their freedom

be the change!

pray!
As Christians, we are always saying "God answers prayer." Do we really believe it? Gather with a group of friends once a week to pray for children and adults around the world caught in slavery, prostitution and traffiking. God can change the world through our prayers!

speak up!
Anti-slavery international is the world's oldest international human rights organization working exclusively against slavery at local, national and international levels. For updates and information on how you can help, go to www.antislavery.org.

You can also sign a petition calling for an end to modern day slavery and learn about other action options at:
www.theamazingchange.com
www.stopthetraffik.org

Ministry Hilight: INTERNSHIPS

What are you doing this summer?

Assisting in a hospital in the Middle East? Providing humanitarian aid in Thailand? Leading worship in England? Playing with children in India?

Help build the Kingdom of God in one of more than a hundred countries on a personally customized internship.

You'll not only gain experience in your field of study, but also valuable life-changing experiences. You're life...your outlook...will be challenged, shaped and molded by your time overseas. No matter where you end up after college - business world or overseas - you will be better equipped for life and its challenges.

Anything, Anywhere. Tell us what you want to do, where you want to go, when you want to go, and we'll work to make it happen.
www.ominternships.org

In the Windy City

Moody Bible Institued has a long history of producing men and women of character who have influenced the world for Christ. Our team is here at Moody this week for their missions week. We are having a great time. We are one of about 50 other agencies. Many students have come by asking questions.

I personally have had some unique experiences in meeting old friends. I know some of the other reps in the other agencies. Also my frined Kervy from the Philippines is attending school here and suprised me. Also my "long lost friend" Josh who was on the Logos 2 is also attending. We've talked on the phone and emailed over the years but only met for the first time this week.

Pray for Moody that their emphasis continues to be sending out students into the world.

OM Ships Presentation Team

Greetings from rainy Arkansas. Our team has been out for the summer, but we hope to post more things here this year.

I have been working hard lining up the schedule for our OM Ships Presentation Team. This year myself, a guy from Canada, and 3 girls from Italy, Ukraine, and Hong Kong will travel to the Chicago, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota area to do presentations in several universities on missions, our ships and the work of our Great God around the world. We will travel for a month in Sept. and Oct.

Mission Trip to Mexico

Ministry Highlight: OM SportsLink

On May 26th, 2007 the first Operation Mobilisation SportsLink "Run For The World" will take place, from Auckland to Guatemala and a number of places in between. Over 500 people running and walking on five continents in 11 time zones to raise awareness of world mission and raise funds for sepcific projects around the world. Check out the website: www.r4tw.org

@ Toccoa Falls College

I am visiting Toccoa Falls College from today until Wednesday. The main speaker for chapel is Chip Kirk. Check out his website and find out more about the main topic of his series of messages: Abide in Christ.
Based on John 15.

Biola-lah-lah

Dorm rooms, cafeteria lunches & dinners, boy/girl talk, blooming faith, big dreams and some fears.
A typical week at a Christian college, this time we've been at Biola in LA.

There is something beautiful about this generation. I find myself talking with people who are dreaming dreams that no one else dreams. They wonder what to do with them. "I all about film production and linguistics, but I don't know how they'll fit together."

I also find myself talking with people whose eyes are just starting to open up to a huge world out there. "I had no idea that they don't do small talk in your country."

There is such innocense, eagerness, resistance to conform and a battle to surrender. As cheezy as it is, the small things count. Most students just need someone who'll listen to them and walk the road.

Traveling in S. California

Heidi and Erik are traveling in Southern California. We are half way through our trip. Frist we drove to San Diego and visited Horizon School of Evangelism, where we shared in their chapel time. Technology is horrible, our videos did not work at first, but eventually did. But regardless, the students really enjoyed our presentation and asked lots of questions afterwards.

From there we visited Azusa Pacific University. We had a booth set up on campus. The big event was the Biola Mission Conference. It's the largest student lead missions conference. There are 93 agencies here this year. WE are having a great time and talking with lots of students. Several students came up to say hi as they have been with OM before on trips. Some even just last summer. They all exclaimed they had great times with OM.

DanceLink

Today OM launced a new ministry called DanceLink. It focuses on using dance as a tool on the mission field and in churches. And building up dancers and train their hearts spiritually for ministry through dance. We saw some great dances. And heard testimonies of the dancers and their willingness to use the gifts God gave them. In July of this year a team of dancers will go to Albania.

University of the Ozarks - Alpha & Omega

Last night I attended the Alpha and Omega group at University of the Ozarks. They were a fun group. I shared the Haystack Story with them. this is a group of about 20+ students that meet each week for fellowship, worship, and prayer. Most of them are going to Guatemala this summer. Very cool.

Afterwards, we all went to "Tasty Freeze", an awesome little burger eatery. Very small town.

JBU World Awareness Week

One year ago, I attended the JBU mission week. Richard Sharp spoke last year. This year, Dr. Yung-Gurl Kim (a former professor of mine) shared about his agency that he is involved with. Basically doing community development for poor communities. This year a newly formed SMF ran the week. They did a great job. All the reps met one night together for coffee with several students for an informal time together.

Passion07

What is your Passion? 20,000 students from all 50 states and 34 nations jammed Philips Arena and The Georgia World Congress Center for Passion07, four days of worship, teaching and prayer focused on God's redemptive work in our lives and His desire to use us to shine His light to the whole world. In a late-night gathering on International Plaza adjdacent to the Georgia Dome, a sea of candlelight shimmered in the cold night air as students and leaders expressed their desire to reflcet the beauty and grace of Jesus on their campuses, in their cities and to all people on earth. -- from 268generation.com
Our team had the privledge to be a part of Passion07. 20,000 students bonded together and took up the challenge to make a difference now. Over $500,000 were raised for various projects around the world: 11 Wells, 20 College Student Sponsorships, translation of the Bible into the Dela language, 6 child surgeries, and a freedom center to be built in Iraq. Way to go guys!

Urbana 2006

This year Urbana left the small town of Urbana, IL to travel to St. Louis, MO. Our team arrived with much excitement for the conference. 20,000 were estimated to be in attendance.






Our team was made up of members of OM USA, a contingent from OM Canada, and as well as a partnership with Cafe 10/40.
We had a great time talking with many students. Some of us even lost our voices in the process. One highlight was our cool button machine. Cool button phrases like "Corn on the Cob, Kitchen Detergents, and American Idol Winner" were greatly sought after.

Free the Dalits

John Brown University recently hosted Kumar Swamy in a Chapel raising awarenes on the Dalits. Kumar is the South India Regional Director for OM. Originally from a Hindu background, he became a Christian and joined OM in 1981. He holds degrees in Psychology and Missiology. In addition to his role with OM, he is a pastor in the Good Shepherd Community Church movement and is involved in the Dalit empowerment movement across India.

Kumar recently attended the Asia-Europe People's Forum in Helsinki, Finland where he presented a paper in a Seminar on Human Rights. click here to read it.

For more information, check out the Dalit Freedom Network.

True Grit

Over the last couple of days I read "True Grit" by Deborah Meroff. She tells the true adventures of nine ordinary women, who are making a difference in such places as Tajikistan, India, Egypt, and Lebanon. Brief fact files between stories highlight global abuses of girls and women, sex trafficking, prostitution, female circumcision, poverty and domestic abuse. This book not only raises awareness of global issues but points out simple ways in which we can help turn the tide for women worldwide. I want to recommend this book. For a free copy of this book, go to the website of George Verwer. Send him an email with your mailing address and he will send you a copy of that book.

John Brown University

I have arrived on the Campus of John Brown University for their Mission Fair. I'll post more later.

It is beautiful here. I love the Fall in Arkansas and on Campus.

Fresh from the Ship

One of the absolutely BEST things I've ever done was joining the OM ship Doulos a few years back. I had an awesome 1,5 yrs traveling to 16 countries, living with 300+ people from 40+ nations. I had to work hard, learn to give in to other ways of doing things and trust God in a new way as I was living outside my comfort zone.

Here's a little clip of some recent Doulos Steppers (Step= Short Term Exposure Program, usually 6 weeks long).

Check it out! Maybe you are the next person to live on the ship and experience the ride!

Last Night at the Cheesecake Factory

The night before we flew back to Atlanta from Palm Beach, we had an fun hang out time talking about movies, dreams and taking over the world.

Keelan, me and JP.

Keelan and Maria.

Danilda and Ben. (The Dominican Republic meets Birmingham, Alabama!)

All of us!

Erik, Danilda and Ben.

Fascination.

This is some of the students at Palm Beach Atlantic watching a video about the OM ships. Some of them are going on Logos II for a week to shoot a video during spring break. Keep them in your prayers!

Finally: Photos! Smile if You're in!

That's me and Erik eating the famous Mexican corn with mayonnaise, cheese and of course: hot sauce!


JP, Christian and Jonathan took us to eat. They knew the way into our hearts was though authentic Mexican food!


And the dish itself here.

Finally: Photos! Smile, if You Recognize the Place!

It does look like southern Florida, doesn't it?

Leaving

Erik and I are sitting at the airport in Palm Beach waiting to board the plane back to Atlanta. We've had an amazing week here at Palm Beach Atlantic. Beautiful place, fantastic people and great shark stories (they've all been in the water with a shark or stepped on a shark and kind of just shrug about it - hello?) .

Last night we had a prayer night with a few hundred students. We showed videos from around the world and prayed over the situations. I love doing prayer nights like that...coz praying for the world has definitely changed my perspective on the world.

Now we're boarding so...adios!

(pictures later....)

La Comida Latina en Florida

The awesome folk here at PBA took us to a taco stand for dinner tonight. You know, the real Mexican taco stand -kind and more. They did not have just tacos, but also corn with mayonnaise, cheese and hot sauce. Definitely not good for you, but fantastically delicious.

Click. Click. Click. Aaaaaargh!!!! Here would go the pictures that I have, if this freakin' thing would work.

Ahem. Maybe later then.

Who Wouldn't Want to Go to School at the Beach?

Palm Beach Atlantic is the name of the college we're at in West Palm Beach, Florida. Apparently most of the students here come from the Northeastern states of America. In the middle of the cold Connecticut winter, who wouldn't want to stroll into class in flip flops and board shorts?

Erik and I flew here yesterday. We had delicious Cuban food last night (they brought me a chicken and a half! hello?) and just a chill time talking about the ships and Erik having visited 63 countries. (No kidding!)

Check this space for stories about what's going on here in Florida this week.

You Can Change the Muslim World

Muslims all over the world are starting a month of fasting, called the Ramadan, on Sunday. During these 30 days they will not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is done as an act of obedience and submission to Allah.

Many Christians around the world are taking these 30 days to pray for the Muslim world. Maybe you don't know what to pray about or even why. Click here and you will find a guide that gives you prayer requests for each day starting September 24th and ending on October 23rd.

Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Psalm 84:8

Let's ask God to move in the hearts of Muslims and show them His love and grace.

Calling

Calling is finding out how God uses you best where the need is the greatest.

-Richard Sharp


What do you think? Is that it?

Uganda

This morning we had a performance of four guys from Uganda at our devotion time at the office. They are part of a band called First Love . On their website you can learn more about their ministry that reaches far from Uganda.

Just recently I read about Alexander M. Mackay (1849-1890). He was a pioneer engineer-missionary to Uganda. Arrived in Zanzibar in 1876; he reached Uganda in 1878. Built 230 miles of road to Uganda from the coast. Translated Matthew's Gospel into Luganda. Died in 1890 having spent fourteen years in Africa without once returning home to native Scotland.

What are you waiting for?

If you look at the story of the Haystack Prayer Meeting in 1806, you will see a group of ordinary young students. All likeminded, praying for global missions and the involvement of fellow students.

There were just 5 of them. Not a huge group. Their motto was:
"We can do it, if we will"
And they went on in their prayers and got other students involved. Through their prayers, enthousiasm and perseverance a movement started.

If you are convinced that something needs to be done in your generation. You might be the person to start it. A movement starts with a few people; not with hundres at the same time. Find others and start praying. In this Bible verse Jesus gives us the command to ask/pray for more workers.

What are you waiting for?
You can do it, if you will!

What Is Your Legacy?

Many of you have heard the story of the Haystack and how a couple of students prayed for the nations in 1806 and God heard them. As a result, God raised up 100 000 students who committed their lives to missions. Out of that number 20 000 went overseas and the rest supported them from home.

Last week I was in Williamstown, Massachusetts with a bunch of other people celebrating how small prayers have made a huge impact on the world!

Those days missionaries left home thinking that they'd never return. They wanted to give their lives for something that would last beyond their years. Today many Muslims are willing to lay down their lives for what they believe in. And they can't even be certain of Allah accepting them.

I have a strong conviction. I believe God is calling our generation to lay down our lives for His sake. I believe we need to stop talking and thinking about all the good things we should and could do. I think we need to take action.

It could be something simple like starting a prayer group for the unreached on your campus. Or maybe it means getting to know that international student. You want your life to matter, so why not start today?

Urgent need of Marine Engineers

This urgent message came from the MV Doulos:

"We have an urgent Prayer Request for the Doulos and the Ship Ministry in General. We are in urgent need of Engineers. If we don’t get engineers by the end of Sept, the Doulos won’t be able to leave Thailand. So please pray with us that God will provide qualified people. And if you know of people that might be able to help us, ask them to contact the nearest OM office"


For more information about the qualifications visit the website of the Doulos
Pray with us to find these Engineers.

georgeverwer.com

George Verwer(World Missions Advocate) is the founder of Operation Mobilization. He has a very good website with a lot of resources. Links to websites, sermons, articles and books. He just started an online webcommunity:"I hope that soon many people will be online and able to connect with one another for greater networking in missions."
If you want to know more about world missions, you must visit www.georgeverwer.com

Dear Francis

Check out this site about a movie about Swaziland, a country with a HIV-positive-rate of 40%.

HIV/AIDS pandemic

Did you know:
3.1 million people died of AIDS in 2005
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death worldwide among those aged 15-59
Life expectancy in several highly affected countries will drop below 40 in 2010

This website is called the AIDS Clock, it shows the numbers of people getting infected with HIV and dying of AIDS.

Life is...

One Week in Mozambique

"So much of what Christians in the developed world consider mandatory-ostentatious church buildings, big-ticket conferences, respectability and a hermetic subculture—seems not only irrelevant but absurd in southeast Africa. There is no time or place in Mozambique for anything “extra;” the only need is for the transforming power of God. And God is here, as expected, in the unexpected." Read more stories from a Canadian traveling through Mozambique.

Picture Slideshow

Here!!!

Kosmos conference, Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic

Kosmos June 2006 Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic
Originally uploaded by michaellightoftheworld.

check out more photos by clicking on this photo.
navigate it and have fun!
thanks for all who are keeping tabs on the Operation Mobilization Recruiting Team!

We have our sights set on making a difference in this generation for the cause of Christ.

What is your role in reaching the unreached?

Dominican family I stayed with on Saturday night!

Dominican Family in Juan Dolio. I slept in their home on June 24, 2006
Originally uploaded by michaellightoftheworld.

How cool?? My friend Seth (in the middle) met some boys playing basketball in the street. The next day, we were having a meal in their home, we did drama with them, we played games, I learned some Spanish, and then they invited me to sleep there with them.

Know how important this was and how fun it is to do things like this, I said, "let's do it!" Seth and I made our way to one of four rooms in the house and divided the queen size bed.

In the morning we woke with misquito bites and ready for a cup of dominican coffee.

not only did we really enjoy our time (this was the first time an American has spent the night there . . . or had dinner with them.), but we were richley blessed. Check out more photos here.

Kosmos Rocks!

Hey y'all Kosmos folk!

Just wanted to let y'all know that I had an amazing time in the D.R. with y'all. Thanks for hanging out with us and sharing a bit of life.

I'm in Mexico for the next couple of weeks, but want to connect with y'all in mid-July once I get back.

I know from my own experience how hard it can be going home from an amazing experience like Kosmos. Now it's time to put into practice everything we heard and live full on for Jesus at home...which can be the hardest missionfield.

Peace out!

Sun and Football (Soccer to Americans)

We've been in the Dominican Republic for two days now. We're part of a missions conference for students that takes place "on the mission field" as the organizers put it.

Hot air, smiling people and students' lives that are being streched. They went out on ministry for the first time today and everyone seems to be very encouraged. A lot of people even prayed to receive Christ in their lives! How great of a first missin trip can that be!

Michael and I are the OM reps here and have been talking with students about God's plan and purpose. The speakers are doing such a great job in talking about not hoarding the blessings God gives us but passing them on, that we can see the difference in the people we talk with.

The World Cup is going on at the moment and I'm in the Dominican Republic watching Sweden play England... surreal life! With Go nothing's ever boring.

Moldova

In the country of Moldova, a small group of women are selling their crafts and handiwork on the Internet, thanks to an initiative from OM Moldova's relief and development department. Tanea, a Moldovan national working on the ministry team in Paicu, started with a small group of women. Her goal was not only to make the different products, but to teach the women skills and generate a small income for them. In the coming months OM Moldova hopes to develop this program. To see the products made by the Moldovan women, visit their website

Listen

George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization has recently put about 40 of his messages and sermons on the internet. Click here to go to his website; listen and get encouraged and challenged.

First Time

There's a first time for everything.

Dylan (19) has just finished his first year in college and this summer he will go out of the country for the first time. He loves Jesus and wants to serve him. "I know God has called me, so I'm going to go."

Beth and I (the picture) are going with Dylan on his first mission trip to Mexico. We're going film his experience and how God works in his life during those two weeks in July.

In the fall we'll have a film ready for y'all to see! Pray that God would be the director of the film and that we'd get the footage we need. We want this project to bring glory to God and to show how God really uses us, when we offer up our lives.

What Are You Doing This Summer?

Are you still wondering what to do this summer? Maybe interested in missions and fascinated with Islam, but not wanting to leave the country?

Hot Atlanta offers a 10 day opportunity to learn what Islam is all about and how to talk to Muslmis. You will not only sit in an airconditioned classroom, but will have a chance to go out and talk to real Muslims and love them to Christ.

Check out connect for details.

We encourage you to raise support to pay for it. Jesus says that where your money is that's where your heart is also. People who support you financially will actually be there for you also spiritually i.e. with their prayers.

Be quick, application deadline is coming up!

Go Europe!

In our international team, I'm one of the foreigners. I've just spent a month in my home country, Finland. My friends and supporters have been quite keen to finding out what life is like in America and what our ministry is like.

Some concepts are totally foreign to Finns (Finland people). For example we don't have Christian colleges in Finland. People are surprised when I tell them that in America you can become a teacher/nurse/journalist etc. and study in a Christian university. In Finlad there are only a few Bible schools, but they are tiny and you can't go very far in your studies.

This time around I've seen Europe with fresh eyes. Churches and Christians are struggling to even find good Biblical teaching or leaders who would stick to the truth. God has blessed the US and there is so much Americans can give to Finns and other Europeans. Personally all of this has motivated me to talk more about Europe to Americans and I'm excited to fly back to the States and start work again!

Check out europe for some info on Europe.

For Your Information

Just to clarify, we are a mission organization. Please click on the side links for more information about what we do. We also use this space for you to follow what we (college ministries) do. Sometimes we get married. :-) Congratulations Edgar and Christina.

Just Married!

May 12, 2006