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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Stories of Hope: Speakers Corner


Brief story about Logos Hope crew members meeting a group of people at Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

transformers wanted

Gary Witherall tells the story behind Transform 2010, the Mediterranean outreach happening next summer. It starts in Rome with a conference then teams fan out across the region. Pray about going!

Transform 2010 from OM USA Video on Vimeo.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Monday, September 21, 2009

OM USA has a sabbath week

Staff here at the OM USA office recently observed Spiritual Emphasis Week, a time to get out of the office and into the lives of others. It was a week of worshiping God, serving the community, and just enjoying each other's company. This video is from a work day during that week where team members participated in work projects throughout the city.

Friday, September 18, 2009

OM photo blog starts today


OM photographers take beautiful pictures every day. We thought you should see a few of them. Subscribe to our new blog, OM Photos and enjoy "your daily glimpse around God's globe".

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

In Jerusalem, Judea, and New York

OM Israel has decided to expand its ministry to native Israelis worldwide. An initial team of 3-10 people will be trained and sent out from Israel to locations such as South Asia, South America, Thailand, India, Amsterdam, London, and New York. Launch date for this team is 2010.

Please pray for:
  • the team leader, as he travels and prepares for the team
  • new workers to join in this vision
  • direction -- ask the Lord if He would have you be one member of this exciting new team.
To learn more about this opportunity with OM Israel, send us an inquiry and refer to this article.

Pictured: "Follow Jesus" in the languages of Israel

Monday, September 14, 2009

Logos Hope sails from Tobago to Trinidad

Logos Hope is scheduled to leave the island of Tobago today for the nation's capital, Port of Spain, on the island of Trinidad. You can watch the short voyage on the Logos Hope dashboard.

While in Scarborough, Tobago, crew members helped build a youth center at a local church. They also passed out coffee and juice to early morning commuters at the local ferry terminal. Passengers there heard a brief message and many were touched by the words on forgiveness.

Crew member Liz Bannister [above, draped in her country's flag] is from Trinidad and Tobago. She was thrilled to see a glimpse of home, and spent time greeting visitors in the International Cafe.

The crew said goodbye to several key members at this port. The ship's Managing Director Mike Hey and his wife Ann will be handing over leadership to Gian and Eveline Walser. And two long-term electricians, David Underwood of Australia and Chris Govey of the UK, are both moving on after this port. They have been working as volunteer project workers, a position you can read about here.

Partings like these go with life on the ship. As soon as old friends leave, new ones step aboard. In Scarborough, Logos Hope added over 90 fresh crew members from all over the world. See highlights of their Pre-Ship Training (PST) here.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Asia Challenge Teams 2010

60% of the world's people live in Asia. Would you like to meet them? You can spend a year ministering in the area with Asia Challenge Teams (ACT). The next ACT year starts January 2010 from Thailand. Learn more here under "Team Member".

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Enlarge the place of your tent...

Earlier this summer, Operation Mobilization met and ministered to hundreds of mission-minded youth at the South Asian Global Convention (SAGC) in Singapore. Several denominations partnered together on this event to help mobilize the next generation into mission. This year's theme was "Beyond Boundaries", from Isaiah 54:2:
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
You can read more about what happened at the conference in this article by Assist News or visit the SAGC website by clicking on the picture here.

OM offers several opportunities to serve throughout Asia. Please pray about getting involved. If you would like to get an overview of OM's ministry in Asia, consider joining one of our year-long immersion groups called Asia Challenge Teams. The next is due to start in January 2010 in Thailand. Information on Asia Challenge is here, under "Team Member".

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Chris Short, Pastor of Paris

OM Founder George Verwer interviews Chris Short, pastor of the only evangelical church for 80,000 people. There are many long-term opportunities in France. Pray about serving the people of Pastor Short's city.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Dog Days: week 5-oh!

Our five Saturdays of on-site outdoor work has finished. But our youngest crew members still want to come back! Demolition, as it turns out, is pretty gratifying. Here's a look at our last week, followed by an overview of the entire August Dog Days project. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out. The Lord hand-picked you to really be a blessing to us this month. The work done on Harmony House (our OM guest house) was an unexpected and much-needed gift from Northside Baptist Church. And everyone else who participated has been equally appreciated. We love our volunteers!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Stories of Hope: The Lost Daughter

Enjoy another episode of the Stories of Hope podcast, "The Lost Daughter".

Please remember to pray for the crew of Logos Hope which recently arrived in Trinidad and Tobago, and for the Doulos crew, starting their time in Malaysia.

Friday, August 28, 2009

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.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Last week of evening prayer


Our time of prayer and worship is winding down.
We would love to pray with you any night in August
from 6-9 pm in our worship center.
Click here for directions.


Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Dog Days: Week 4 - one left - DON'T MISS OUT!

One week left! The last Saturday in August will be your last chance to have fun and help out with some projects on the OM campus. Join us Saturday from 9am-3pm on the OM Campus. Lunch is on us! For details call Cindy Battles 678.674.1441 or email her: volunteer@usa.om.org

Here's last week's crew, demolishing an abandoned farmhouse on the property:

Monday, August 24, 2009

Doulos Sails today, Logos Hope tomorrow


[above] The OM ship Doulos is scheduled to leave Thailand today for Malaysia. While in Bangkok, Thai crew member Max Phichai Opaskiatikul was interviewed by a popular TV star.


[right] One evening, the Doulos crew was honored to attend a birthday celebration for the Queen of Malaysia.

[below] Crew members from Logos Hope visited Christian Grand Bacolet Evangelical Church while in St. Georges, Grenada. Seen here are Tony Fourie (from South Africa), Sigrid Rodriguez (Mexico), Pastor Ashley Church and Pauline Scott (Scotland).

Logos Hope leaves for Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow. Please pray as both ships travel this week.



top photo: Jay Lee
middle photo: Andrea Choi
bottom
photo: by Thomas Brouwer
© 2009 OM Ships International

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Dog Days: week 3: neighborhood

Dog Days continue every Saturday in August from 9am-3pm. These are days for you to volunteer and help us get some projects done around the OM campus. The work has been varied and fun. Week three offered fairly cool weather and a relaxed schedule. What kind of projects will be tackled next week? Come be our neighbor and find out!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

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.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Friday, August 14, 2009

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.]

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

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.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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

Monday, August 10, 2009

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.

Friday, August 07, 2009

Atlanta readers: JOIN US this weekend!

You have four chances to fellowship with us this weekend: We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Thursday, August 06, 2009

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.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

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.)

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

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!

Monday, August 03, 2009

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.

Friday, July 31, 2009

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.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

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.

Monday, July 27, 2009

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!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

July International Update

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

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

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.

Friday, July 17, 2009

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."

Thursday, July 16, 2009

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!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

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.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

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.

Friday, July 10, 2009

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.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

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.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

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.

Monday, July 06, 2009

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.

Friday, July 03, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

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.