Pray for elections in Afghanistan

Forty-one candidates are on the presidential ballot tomorrow in Afghanistan. Pray for the security of election proceedings, and pray for a leader to emerge who will fight corruption and help ensure that aid money will get to those who need it.

Stories of Hope: The Park

Another story from the crew of Logos Hope: The Park.

Urbana 09: An American in Italy

Anna Lyman tells how she learned about OM at Urbana.

Dog Days: Week 2

One of the hottest days of the summer so far provided clear skies for some outdoor projects. Helping in Harmony House were handymen from Northside Baptist Church along with a regular volunteer from Southside church in Peachtree City. Harmony House is a guest house here on the OM campus which has been in need of repair. The men found even more projects there and have signed on for additional Saturdays! Thanks, guys.

Also helping out were some first-time volunteers painting the parking lot. They, too are coming back for more. And finally, OM staffers cleared in and around the retention pond. Whew! (It was hot.)

Take a look at our day of fun, then bring your own group out tomorrow from 9-3. Forecast is partly cloudy.

[Title pictures below are of the retention pond, before and after.]

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

31 Days of Prayer

Logos Hope Sails; Doulos Stays in Cambodia

Continuing its Caribbean tour, Logos Hope sails for St. Georges, Granada today. While in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the crew visited an infant hospital, helped a church with a children's programme, and given thousands of ship visitors an experience with God. In one hour on a Sunday evening 1,789 people came through the ship. This was a record for Logos Hope. Pray for the Logos Hope crew and for the people they will be meeting in Granada.

[above] Francois Vosloo (South Africa) serving juice and cold water at a Special Reception on the Boat Deck.

[below] Cambodian crewmember Solita Tan thrilled the local crowd as she welcomed them to International Night aboard the Doulos.

OM ship Doulos remains in Cambodia where team members have delivered gift-filled shoeboxes for Christmas distribution, ministered to families by providing groceries, and entertained a crowd on international night. Continue to pray for the Doulos crew and the people of Cambodia who will be visiting the ship.

TeenStreet Germany 2009

"This was a great week

and it changed my life,"

said 15-year-old Lilija from the Faroe Islands.
"I learned about trusting God and giving Him everything on my heart."
In the closing hours of TeenSteet 2009 there were
similar enthusiastic responses from hundreds of teens,
group leaders, volunteers and even staff.

From August 1-8 , teens from 17 countries came together in Offenburg, Germany. The city's Messe conference site became a self-contained village, complete with a coffee shop, book store, café, exhibit hall, dining hall, two stages, cocktail bar, sports fields, ArtZone and sleeping accommodation with facilities for more than 3,600 people who attended TeenSteet Germany 2009.

"Our biggest heart for TeenSteet is that the young people know that God is walking with them," said Debs and Josh Walker, the main stage speakers. "This week was about practically living out their faith with the Lord."

The programme was rooted in Hebrews 11:6, which says that "without faith it is impossible to please God." The theme, "Impossible," challenged the teens to seek God earnestly. The teens also took part in an afternoon outreach in Offenburg and nearby cities collecting glass and praying for "Impossible" situations in people's lives.

Josh and Debs know that it can be difficult for teens to sustain the depth of relationship with Jesus they experienced at TeenSteet.

"My heart for teenagers when they go home is that when they wake up every morning they have an expectancy that God can do something wonderful that day, even if there are things that seem impossible to them," said Josh.

Debs added, "And what is so exciting is that God will continue to be with the teens when they go home as well."

Story by Janet Goreham

Stories of Hope: Lifeboat 7

OM Ships has a new feature: Stories of Hope, a podcast featuring short inspirational stories from OM's newest ship, Logos Hope. You can subscribe via iTunes. Here's an entry called Lifeboat 7.

Atlanta readers: JOIN US this weekend!

You have four chances to fellowship with us this weekend:

• tonight, Saturday, and Sunday from 6-9 pm, join us for worship and prayer as we seek God for the great people of our local community. More information on August prayer.
  
• Saturday morning from 9am-3pm is Week 2 of Dog Days, our time in the sun sprucing up the OM campus. More information on Dog Days.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Verwer asks for publishing partners

George Verwer's Special Projects is working to get Randy Alcorn's Why Pro Life? published in many other languages. Most pro-life materials are in English. If you would like more information on this project, including how to get free sample copies, read George's blog post on it.

31 Days of Prayer continues

OM USA began 31 Days of Prayer this weekend, nightly in August from 6-9 pm. These evenings are a time of worshiping the Lord in song and prayer. We will be praying for each church that is represented and for unity among believers in the area. We want to lift up personal issues as well, for health and for family members, however the Lord leads. Please join us for as many evenings as you are able, as we seek transformation in our community. (Click picture for directions.)

Dog Days Week 1: Junkyard Dog Days

Dog Days 2009 started off with a moving day. Old furniture was removed from a farm house on the campus to make way for the structure's demolition. Pieces had to be flattened to fit in the super-sized rental dumpster. Can you say sledgehammer?! Join us any Saturday this August for more adventures -- and bring your yard tools!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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.

31 Days of Worship & Prayer starts tomorrow

au- gust (adj.): inspiring awe or admiration; majestic

Starting Saturday in our worship center are 31 days of worship and prayer that are open to the community. Please join us as we come together from all different backgrounds and churches to pray as one for the community, nation and world, as well as for personal breakthroughs. Come and bring friends or your small group any August evening from 6-9pm on the Tyrone campus. Get directions.

OM Prayer Ministries leader Graham Wells says about the event, "We look forward to seeing what God will do. There is a real sense from many that as His people we are facing many issues within society that we need to see God breakthrough in – this is His method to do so. We are excited to host this event that has come out of a small gathering of people from different churches who are concerned about the times and the need for unity and personal transformation and healing."

Please join us in prayer to our august God.
If you are not local, please pray from where you are. Thanks.

praying for the school year

OM USA team members kicked off the school year with prayer and interactive worship in our regular prayer time today. We celebrated 91 missionary kids from infant to college age. Here, three "volunteers" from the audience (OMers whose names were drawn from a basket) demonstrate the motions for kids' Bible songs to a room of OM team members and their families. Remember to pray for missionary kids worldwide who are starting school.

volunteering at OM

Don't forget Dog Days: come by our Tyrone campus any Saturday in August to help us finish some projects. Or check out these volunteer opportunities. We look forward to meeting you!

Volunteers from OM USA Video on Vimeo.

Calling all US volunteers...

Looking for something meaningful to do on your next road trip? Come down to Tyrone, Georgia and volunteer a few hours. Every Saturday in August, OM USA is hosting Dog Days, a chance to work outside on the OM campus and really experience the dog days of summer.

Dates: August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
Times: 9am - 3pm each Saturday
Lunch provided!

Please let us know you're coming
so we can make your lunch!

We would love to see you visit with your church to help us with some yard work and other projects. We have flyers and posters available if you can help us promote this event. If you're coming to Dog Days please bring line trimmers, brush cutters, chain saws, saws, hedge clippers, work gloves -- anything you need to work outside. We have limited tools on hand.

Click here for directions to OM USA. To RSVP, or to get posters or bulletin inserts/flyers, email us: volunteer@usa.om.org
Thanks for your help!

New video on OMUSA.org

Check out the front page of OMUSA.org for a new video overview of OM's ministry. Also read about an exciting short-term outreach in the Mediterranean next summer.

July International Update

OM Director Peter Maiden delivers news from around the OM world in the July International Update.

The Philosopher's Story

He is known to the Asia Challenge team as The Philosopher because of his desire to study, debate and understand. In a recent meeting, The Philosopher suddenly said, "I had evidence of Jesus on Monday." The team asked him to explain. He said he was alone upstairs, wrapped in a blanket because he had a cold, while his elderly mother was downstairs. He decided he should pray and ask Jesus to heal him of his cold. As he began to pray, he felt an urgency to go downstairs. He knew he should listen, so he went.

Once there he found a pan on fire on the stove, with a gas cylinder to one side of it and a petrol-driven generator on the other. His mother stood chatting at the front door, oblivious to the fire. Our friend extinguished it before the situation became much, much worse.

As he shared this story he very calmly looked at the team and said, "I believe Jesus told me to go downstairs. After all, I was praying to him at the time." One team member continues the story:

We asked him: "Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah?" He very directly and assuredly said, "Yes." Our Philosopher friend went on: "But there is one exception." He said if officials were to press him, he would say, "No." I told him I appreciated his honesty.

A few weeks passed and the Philosopher didn't show up at our Sunday Study. His father explained his son was in the hospital with aches and pains that didn't go away. He had been diagnosed with a fungal infection of the brain; a kind of encephalitis. Over the next three weeks we visited but his condition deteriorated. On our last visit The Philosopher was barely alert and hardly able to communicate. We did pray for him, and sat talking while he held one of our hands. It was disheartening to see him in this condition. He had his Bible with him, so we read some passages to him. When he first went into the hospital, his father excitedly told us how he was reading the Bible avidly, and never forgot Jesus.

We returned a few days later and were told he had died. So we went to his house where quite a number of people were kneeling in the driveway. Four saffron-clad religious officials were seated in chairs in front, leading the visitors in prayers and chants. We quietly sat to one side, and silently prayed and waited. Eventually we were able to talk with The Philosopher's parents who were of course sad, but happy to see us. One of us was able to join them for the funeral that afternoon.

The following week we decided to visit his parents with one of our national friends, who shared the gospel with The Philosopher's three siblings. It was encouraging to hear details of those last days of our beloved friend, who we sense may have become a brother in the Lord. His father had brought some rosary beads to the hospital in the hope that his son might use them, as many Buddhists do. The 108 beads are thumbed one by one as the person recites a chant. The father recalled how his son just passed the beads one by one, repeating "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"

As we look back over this experience of knowing this young man, we realize once more the urgency of the task ahead of us all. Just four weeks ago the Philosopher appeared healthy. He was enjoying life and the Sunday afternoon studies. I still think back to the day he look straight at us and affirmed that Jesus is the Messiah. I hope that is how things stood at the end and trust he was fully reconciled with God.

Please be encouraged to pray all the more earnestly for those who come to these Sunday Studies and for their families; that God would bring them into His Kingdom.

George Verwer on Logos Hope

IBS-STL now Biblica

Send the Light, OM's original literature distribution ministry, became independent then merged with the International Bible Society two years ago, forming IBS-STL. This month, the organization announced their new name and unveiled a new website, Biblica.

"The blending of these organizations is a powerful combination," said Keith Danby, Biblica CEO. "It's not often that two ministries can come together with the potential to have such far-reaching global impact for the cause of Christ and the Bible."

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!

More from the G8 Prayer Summit

Last week while world leaders discussed global warming and economics at the G8 Summit, a team of intercessors met to pray for those leaders during a Prayer Summit.

Graham Wells, prayer minister for OM USA, explained the purpose of the Prayer Summit: "We believe that according to 1 Timothy 2 we are called to pray earnestly for those in authority over us, especially when the decisions made during these days affect not just peoples but nations. So, for the hours of this summit we will be praying into their agenda asking the Sovereign Lord to rule and reign in the affairs of man, executing justice, righteousness and truth."

Summit team leader Ian Cole from World Prayer Center in the UK explained that this prayer team is joined by tens of thousands of intercessors from different nations around the globe who are watching the G8 proceedings closely as well:

"Today as the kings of the earth flew into L'Aquila Italy to begin their meetings, we met to praise and lift up the name of the King of Kings! Tucked away in a corner of Italy we were able to follow via live Internet feed the proceedings and agenda of these leaders, and pray into their discussions. With a table set up in the middle of the prayer room with the flags, pictures and names of each of the leaders in the order they are seated in L'Aquila, we were able to ask God to give us the things to pray for, His heart for the disadvantaged, and to pray His will into the world economic situation and other global issues."

Please continue to join these intercessors in prayer as you pray through the news.

Logos Hope sails today; Doulos in Cambodia

Departure of the Logos Hope was delayed to await the arrival of some spare parts needed before it set sail. The ship is now underway and you can watch its journey to the Caribbean on the Logos Hope Voyage Dashboard. The webcams there display still shots from throughout the ship. Images change at different intervals, depending on the time and available bandwidth. Some days you might see outside the ship, other days you'll get glimpses on board, or both. Bookmark the dashboard, but careful -- you might get addicted.


Doulos got a warm welcome in Cambodia. His Excellency So Mara, Minister of Tourism, greeted the male crew members with a traditional scarf and the female crew members with a flower garland on their head. “Thank you for the return of MV Doulos to the Kingdom of Cambodia!” said His Excellency. “We wish to have you again and again!” was the sincere wish of His Excellency. Here, dancers from Ta Yarm greet the dignitaries and crew with a shower of colorful petals.

They put the OM in Rome...

Want to go? Check out long-term options in Italy!

Looking for someone to fill your pulpit?

OM USA has its own Christian speakers' bureau, filled with motivational and inspirational speakers who could be the keynote at your next event, or give your pastor the day off. These leaders have ministered around the world and will bring their global perspective to your meeting. Read their bios and choose your next speaker at the OM USA website.

Motivational speaker Richard Sharp addressing a group in Latin America.

Praying for the G8 Summit

The G8 Summit in Rome will be finishing up its meetings tomorrow. An OM team has been in Rome praying over the summit this week, asking the Lord for economic breakthrough worldwide. Please join this team in prayer. Remember the world leaders involved and ask that the Lord would work through them to turn the global economy around.


If you would like something more visual to pray over, a site called Gap Minder offers dynamic charts and maps for a variety of indicators. In keeping with the G8 summit, here is the Individual Income map. Click play and see how income has grown over time (and mind the gap between rich and poor, something else to pray about). Use the drop-down list in the top right to find more indicators and categorizations. Thanks for praying.

The Women in Las Tablas

"Thank you for coming. You provide such a wonderful break from our reality. I hope you never get tired of coming," said Candy, a young mother attending OM Costa Rica's women's ministry in Las Tablas. The reality of Las Tablas includes families dealing with poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, commercial sex work and domestic violence against women and children.

So women of the OM Costa Rica team began a new ministry two months ago in partnership with a local church. Fifteen to twenty-five local women, mostly young mothers, meet two afternoons a month. Fellowship begins with ice-breakers and crafts: learning how to make cookies, cards and bookmarks.

But it is the time spent in the Word of God that is truly making a difference for the local women. Through these studies they are receiving truth that is applicable to their reality, and their lives are slowly transforming. The OM Costa Rica women are also being blessed by the relationships they have already formed with these ladies.

Please pray for the time that these women spend together, that God's presence would transform more lives. Pray for the women of OM Costa Rica and for this ongoing ministry in Las Tablas.

Hope from the Ashes: Kids Club Bangladesh

An OM outreach in Bangladesh is rebuilding after a neighborhood-wide fire this April. Over the last five years, a Kid's Club has become increasingly popular among local residents. All 150 children who attend the club live in the same poor neighborhood and all suffered loss in this recent disaster.

The blaze started during lunch when a local lady was cooking over a wood fire, as is the local custom. A gust of wind blew the flames, igniting the wall of a nearby shack. Every building in the area was made of bamboo and wood, so the fire spread quickly. Residents fled for their lives, a few badly hurt, though thankfully no one was killed. More than 200 families lost everything they owned. Even the tin roofs were so warped they could only be used for scrap. Some of these families follow God, and many other families’ children attend the kids’ clubs.

The local OM team is working with two other organizations to form a coordinated response. They have started by offering clothes and money to a number of families for food and essentials, and plan to help some of the families set up home again. Please pray for all the families in this neighborhood as they continue to recover from the fire.

Verwer hails Winter as "a person with one arrow--the unreached peoples of the world"

In a recent article by Mission Network News, Christian leaders share their thoughts on the late Dr. Ralph Winter, founder of the Perspectives class and the US Center for World Mission. Dr. Winter also introduced the idea of unreached people groups and started the magazine Mission Frontiers. One of the leaders interviewed is our own founder George Verwer, who met Dr. Winter over forty years ago.

Independence Day

This weekend as we celebrate our freedom here in the States, we can remember those who are enslaved and persecuted all over the world. The Lord wants us to "let the oppressed go free and break every yoke." (Isaiah 58:6 NLT) Only people who are already free can respond to this call. Will we?



Bill Drake is OM's International Music Minister.

OM's Ship Ministry: Launching Logos Hope

International Night on Doulos

Recent coverage of the Logos Hope may have overshadowed the fact that OM actually has two ships. The more seasoned one, Doulos, is currently in Hong Kong where it hosted International Night on board. Part of the festivities included a performance by the Doulos Taekwondo team.

Studies Show: Short-term Mission Trips Can Change Your Heart

Did you know that The Barna Group...

...pioneered the discipline of faith-related statistics?
...has studied the effects of short-term mission trips?

Did you know that OM...

...pioneered the short-term mission movement?
...would love for you to read the Barna study?
...can customize a short-term mission trip for your small group?

You can be a statistic!

Be one of the few who have shared God's love in another culture. Go, and keep taking friends with you until the next Barna study shows that you are in the majority.

Cyber Sea Voyage

The Logos Hope had a successful launch in London this weekend. The ship is now sailing and you can track its trip online via the Logos Hope Voyage Dashboard. You'll find a GPS map and a Google Earth map, as well as three webcams. The webcams are still images which change at regular intervals. Frequency of uploads depends on what is going on at the time and also how much bandwidth is available to the ship.

Here's a screen shot from the only outside webcam. This is the view from the Port Bridge Wing. The crew is scheduled to land at Cork, Ireland on July 1st. If you are close by, go see them!

Verwer on praying through mission news

This week, ASSIST news service has been covering preparations for the London launch of Logos Hope. ASSIST stands for Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times. OM founder George Verwer talks about how ASSIST has been a resource for his own prayer life.

Meet the Captain

From the bridge of Logos Hope, Captain Dirk Colenbrander talks about his calling with ASSIST News Reporter Peter Wooding:

Verwer interviewed about Logos Hope launch

ASSIST News Service (ANS) is on hand for the London launch of Logos Hope scheduled tomorrow. ANS reporter Peter Wooding took a few minutes with OM founder George Verwer to talk about plans for the new ship.

Notes from an OM trekker...

The Richness of God in Nepal

I've been in Nepal for just over three months; days rich with experiences of God's goodness.

One of the major ministries in Nepal is trekking, in which we sell books in remote areas where people often have never heard of God's Son. The time is an amazing experience, as you depend on God to provide for all your needs, including food and a place to stay each night.

I went on my second trek a few weeks ago, this time as the leader. I was uncomfortable with that position for many reasons, not the least of which is my still limited Nepali. Continually God assured me He would take care of everything we needed, and I saw this in wonderful ways.

On the top of a mountain in a tiny village, my friend and I were talking with a group of women. They seemed interested, but we had shared everything we could in Nepali. At that time, a man came who told us he was a Nepali believer. He bought one of the books and started sharing its truths with one woman. He suggested she buy the book and read for herself, and when she said she had no money, he gave her his copy and bought another!

Every time, God sent someone to share when we couldn't. Plus, every night, He provided us with a place to stay. Twice we slept outside, and when the storms came, He provided a shelter. God provided exactly what we needed at every moment.

[Would you like to see firsthand the richness of God in Nepal? The next trek starts in November. Get more information.]

"World's Largest Floating Book Fair"

The largest ship in the history of the OM fleet, Logos Hope, will be officially launched in London this weekend. ASSIST News has a great article about the scope of this new ship's ministry, as well as a rare photo of OM founder George Verwer in a suit.

You're invited to the party!

The Logos Hope first set sail on February 19 but its official UK launch is this weekend. London is the home of OM International and founder George Verwer.

Rick Hicks, OM's North American Area Director says, "We're excited about the launch of this ship. We've been praying toward this weekend a long time and rejoice with everyone who has had a part in getting Logos Hope ready to serve the nations." Rick and his wife Kathy will attend the celebration along with the chairman of the OM USA board and his wife, and several pastors. If you are in London this weekend you may also attend! See the invitation and event schedule schedule from OM Ships International.

Another free book from George (!) and a chance to get involved

George Verwer talks about Transform 2010, a short-term mission focus on the Mediterranean, with leader Witherall. At the end he tells you about a special book offer.

World Refuge Sunday

Today we remember in prayer our brothers and sisters left without a home. This video may help you focus your prayers as you listen to the words of the song "Hold On".

Orphan, Widow, and Alien

Sunday is World Refugee Sunday. Let's remember those who are being oppressed and forced from their homelands.

First Dalit Graduation

We rejoice with OM India over the first graduating class from their Dalit Education Centers. Dalit [pronounced Dah-LEET] means "untouchable" and is used to describe those in the lowest part of the Indian caste system. To see an entire class of 17 Dalit children empowered by education is a real kingdom moment. Praise the Lord for those at OM India who made this happen. Read more on this story and continue to pray for the Dalits and for the end of the caste system in our lifetime.

Pray for Hungary short-term mission teams

Please remember the Bill Drake worship team as they leave for Hungary Saturday. And please continue praying for the Dancelink team already there.

OM has many opportunities to serve through the arts, sports, or administration. See our upcoming short-term mission trips and long-term options, keep watching for those in your own area of interest.

Worship with the Tonga of Malawi

OM Heartsounds encourages indigenous praise music worldwide. Here is a worship service among the Tonga people of Malawi. According to the Heartsounds YouTube channel, "The Tonga language is one of 7 primary languages of Malawi and, as is characteristic of each language group, specific dance movements accompany its music. What you view here is just a small segment of a longer worship time, which we were both pleased and honored to experience together with them."

“I now only speak about 300 times a year"

How did OM founder George Verwer meet his wife Drena?

What's the story behind his famed global jacket?

And when does this mission visionary plan to retire?

Find out in this new article by ASSIST News. In it, George candidly recalls moments from his OM story with his usual humor and passion. It's a great read.

Hungary has opportunities for athletes

Local church planters in Hungary are looking for baseball, softball, and (American) football players interested in short-term outreach. Anyone who’s at least 18 years old and willing to commit 6 months – 2 years is welcome to apply. For more information, see the Sportslink page.

Verwer in Lebanon

George Verwer gives us a view of Lebanon in this recent post on his site:

We love volunteers!

Looking for a stateside ministry with worldwide impact? Consider volunteering at our corporate office in Tyrone, Georgia. Many positions have just been posted to the OM site.

Christian bookstore in Thailand

Thanks to the efforts of the OM team in Northeast Thailand, a well-stocked Christian bookstore has now opened—the only one of its kind within 100 miles in any direction! The shop is in a good downtown location and offers literature in both Thai and Lao. Recently, a volunteer team came from a church in New Mexico, USA, bringing hundreds of books, Christian t-shirts, bookmarks, and other items for the new bookstore. The group also visited orphanages and worked alongside small rural churches, performing puppet skits, dancing, and singing Gospel songs in rural schools, shopping centers, and orphanages. One team member provided a year's supply of nutritional supplements for the children in a small Christian orphanage that was in much need of that kind of help.

Praise God that these visitors were able to share the Gospel with hundreds, leaving an eternal mark of encouragement on the lives of so many local believers simply by working alongside them. Pray for other international groups that are coming to leave their mark, and for the permanent team to be able to follow up new opportunities.

Dancers headed to Hungary

A team from OM's DanceLink will be in Budapest this summer for a two-week outreach. Please be in prayer for them as they make their preparations. Pray for travel safety and for favor among the local people. We believe the Lord is doing something new through this ministry and trust He will draw many to Him during this time. Praise God that the team found a local photographer who will be capturing some of their performances on film. Watch for updates here!

Free book download

George Verwer's new book is available in PDF format.

Download your copy here!

URGENT prayer for Europe this week

Today we turn from joyful prayers to more serious intercession. OM USA's prayer leader Graham Wells would like us to join the 24/7 prayer movement in praying for Europe over the next few days. Here is 24/7's co-founder Pete Greig with the specifics -- thanks for praying:

Click here to
learn more about
the needs in Europe.

"It increases your prayer life!"

Something fun for the weekend: OM founder George Verwer on a roller coaster in Copenhagen (with subtitles):

OM USA news

Have you read the latest on the OM USA website? New additions include a link to a virtual ship tour, and a story about the impact of God's Word in Thailand. Check it out!

GOING: on foot...

Run for the World (R4TW) is an annual event to raise funds for OM projects worldwide. This year, R4TW events in 10 countries were held on May 9. Money was raised for three projects:

• AidsLink in Nepal
• Tariro Day Care Centre in Zimbabwe and
  
• SportsLink camps worldwide.

Can't wait 'til next year's event? Take your passion for the road...on the road. Go on a winter trek in Nepal. This is a short-term ministry outreach to various villages in the country. Pray and see if God would have you join us there!

GOING: by bus

How do you adapt the ships' literature ministry to reach those father inland? In Europe, it's being done by bus. Bus4Life is a ministry of OM Central Europe whose goal is to equip and serve local churches. You can read more about their current outreaches on their blog. In Baja (Hungary) over Easter, participants were thrilled with Bus4Life:

Matt: To hear that this was the first time that the local youth had proclaimed the gospel on the streets of their city was a real encouragement and I definitely got the sense that this was the beginning of something great in Baja.

Beth: The Bus4Life helped provide a focal point in the local community for people to gather together to hear the gospel...

If Paul had had a bus,
he would surely have used it!

Ireland has its own traveling ministry called The Big Red Bus. Their bus is less library, more meet-n-greet. Team members take their double-decker event center to all types of gatherings, using the bus as everything from a puppet stage to a coffeehouse. See them in action below, as founder Mike Mullins gives you a tour. And read how this ministry started at the OM Ireland website.

GOING: by ship

Nothing says OM like the iconic ships ministry. The ships Doulos and Logos Hope sail to ports around the globe offering reading materials, relief services, and most importantly, relationships. Currently, the ships have several openings for accountants. Would you consider using your finance skills in this vital role? Read more about this niche opportunity.

Dan Lagasse: Hero of Hope

Career OMer Dan Lagasse was recognized earlier this year as one of the Heroes of Hope Living with CF. This is an honor given by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to individuals living positively with a CF diagnosis. Most recently, Dan and his wife Deanna have been representing OM on the west coast. You can read more of Dan's inspiring story at the Heroes of Hope site.