Doulos enters one-month drydock, Logos Hope arrives in St. Lucia

After time in two separate ports in Malaysia, OM ship Doulos began a month-long dry dock in Singapore. Please pray for those working on the ship during this time as they make yearly repairs and updates.

Kota Kinabalu, the crew's first Malaysian stop, was the ship's 600th port. While there, 67 new team members came from all over the world to join the Doulos crew. The crew got out into the community, working with local pastor Brandon Chin to host a painting competition.This was the second one held by Doulos in Kota Kinabalu. Winning paintings lined the walls of the ship's International Cafe.

[above:] The Doulos Taekwondo team learns new skills at a Taekwondo studio in Kota Kinabalu.

From there, Doulos sailed to Pasir Gudang, where ship managers received leadership training and the book store welcomed a local chapter of the internationally known BookCrossing Book Club. A French BookCrossing member said, “The idea of bringing knowledge through affordable books on a ship is brilliant! More charities should educate the world through the medium of a ship.”

While Doulos moved to drydock, Logos Hope sailed to St. Lucia in the Caribbean. Work continues there on the Help Store, a place to store donations of materials to be used in help projects; things like soaps, shoes and t-shirts. Help Ministries Manager Marian Thompson of Scotland explained, “we want to really get alongside other projects working in the different ports that we visit and show the people that they are valued and loved”.

[above:] Jonathan “Jono” Smith of New Zealand and Andrew Bandara from Sri Lanka have been working to get the Help Store ready to open on Logos Hope.

Free Gospels of John from Living Water Project

OM founder George Verwer visits The Living Water Project, which supplies Gospels of John to those willing to distribute them. George tells his own story of how the Gospel of John ultimately led to his conversion.

Filipino flood victim: "Thank you for coming to us"

On Tuesday the team from OM Philippines packed and delivered 500 relief packages with the help of a Chinese church. Instead of asking people to come to them, the team walked in knee-deep stagnant flood water block by block to waiting families.

“Thank you for coming to us” said an elderly man who was partially paralyzed and confined to the second floor of his house. For him, as well as a number of other families, it was the first time food relief had been brought to them in the ten days since the flood hit. Many families had tried getting to centralized relief stations but found large crowds and short supplies by the time they arrived, and were unable to get aid. So these deliveries were quite a blessing. Pray that the teams will be able to continue finding and giving help to those with the greatest needs.

The small OM team has more packs ready for this weekend. They will be going to a different area and working alongside three local churches to distribute food to over 300 families. Please pray that predicted storms will stay at sea.

Give online to OM Philippines Typhoon Relief.

Stories of Hope: A 25-year-old Memory

Brief story of a man who was able to return to an OM ship.

Sports Camp in Italy

Here's an overview of the Val Pellice Sports Camp in Italy. Want to be a part of sports mission? Check out OM Sportslink.

George Verwer receives Lifetime of Service Award from The Mission Exchange

OM Founder George Verwer was recently honored in St. Louis as only the third recipient of the Lifetime of Service Award. This award is given by The Mission Exchange, a meta-mission group that facilitates partnership and professional training among mission leaders. OM USA VP Grant Blair said of the event, "It was inspiring to me to hear – both formally and informally – from participants in the audience how George had impacted their lives and/or their ministries in significant ways."

Along with the award, Verwer was given a commissioned portrait painted by Jim Meyer, a missionary with Greater Europe Mission. The two previous Lifetime of Service portraits were done in the traditional boardroom style but that just could not capture the essence of George the communicator. So this painting shows George holding a globe and wearing a globe jacket with a mic in his hand. The entire evening was a fitting tribute to a passionate mission innovator.

Do you want to hear where George is speaking next? Follow his travels and pray through the news items on his website.

[above, l-r:] Rick Hicks, OM North American Area Director,
looks on as George Verwer accepts the Lifetime of Service Award
from Steve Moore, President and CEO of The Mission Exchange.

[below:] Several OM USA leaders were with George
at the award ceremony, including (l-r)
Andrew Scott, Brian Mount, Rick Hicks, and Grant Blair.

World Premiere: George Verwer Tribute

Recently OM founder George Verwer was honored by The Mission Exchange with their Lifetime of Service Award. This video was created for that event, to introduce the audience to our beloved George. Thanks, George, for all you do and all you are.


George Verwer Tribute from OM USA Video on Vimeo.

George Verwer in the USA

OM founder George Verwer is currently touring the US. Here he speaks humbly of a recent conference he attended held by The Mission Exchange. He mentions how they gave "a special tribute to the ministry of Operation Mobilization". In a broad sense that's true, but the real honoree was George himself. The Mission Exchange awarded him their Lifetime of Service Award. We look forward to sharing more about this award, including the tribute video that was shown that evening. For now we leave you with George himself, encouraging as always and offering free books! Pray for George as he travels the US.

George's Verwer's workstation

Here is OM founder George Verwer at home in Idaho, offering free DVD's and books!

new recruits experience Outbound

The OM USA office just hosted another Outbound, a week-long introduction to OM for those seeking to go long-term. Potential OM members get to meet with prayer partners [above] and enjoy special events such as a dinner off-campus [below]. Many in this group are headed to OM Ships.

Are you interested in serving long-term? See our current opportunities. Then fill out the inquire page to find out more. The next Outbound is in February 2010. We would love to see you there!

Stories of Hope: The Hungry Crew Member

Let us interrupt your day with a story about...interruptions.

OM offering relief in the Philippines

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

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

[below:] Filipino families move to higher ground

Dancelink team heads to India today

Dancelink, an OM ministry, is flying a team to India today for almost two weeks. Wherever the team goes they use dance to share the love and message of God. The group leaving today will be ministering to the Lord and to the people of India through October 14. Dancelink founder Linda Wells asks prayer for travel today and on the 14th; the flights those days are 15 hours each. Pray for great relationships to be built there in India.

Back in May, Linda Wells was featured in a local magazine which has just become available again online. You can read more about Linda's ministry in this Fayette Woman article.

And learn more about this summer's Dancelink trip to Hungary here.

Travel Grants for Urbana 09

Planning to go to Urbana 09?
It's December 27-31 in
St. Louis, Missouri.

Need funds to get there?
Mission Network News
has a great article about
travel grants being provided
by the Christian Reformed
World Relief Committee (CRRC),
with links to Urbana registration
and the travel grant application.

Look for OM at Urbana 09.
And check out this video
about Anna Lyman,
an OM member who found
the right match for
her gifts at Urbana.

Stories of Hope: Reconciliation

A powerful podcast about a brother who heard of a reconciling God.

September International Update

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

OM speaker Richard Sharp

"If you want to know what I do,
I'm jumper cables."

Motivational speaker Richard Sharp loves igniting God's people with a passion for the world. Here he shares a bit about his family and background. You can learn more about Richard on his website or request him as a speaker from the OM Speaker's bureau.

OM USA staff celebrates the city of Tyrone

Tyrone, Georgia is home to OM's US office. The town observes a Founder's Day weekend once a year but this year's was a particularly wet one. Friday was mostly dry but Saturday's parade was held under heavy rain. Thankfully, Tyrone was spared the severe flooding that several Georgia cities endured, but please continue to pray for our Georgia neighbors who are still recovering from the floods.

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.

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.

Stories of Hope: Iceland's Prisoner

Hear about a miraculous find as host Randy Grebe tells his own story of a conversation with a visitor on Logos Hope.

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.

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".

OM news: Afghanistan needs & Hungary team

Check out the latest stories on omUSA.org: read about positions available in Afghanistan and hear what the Lord did through a dance team in Hungary this summer. Browse the site and find your niche in God's kingdom as you pray, go, and give.

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

Stories of Hope: Trouble Makers

Quick story of how one crew member made a difference in the lives of some young visitors to Logos Hope.

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.

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".

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".

Stories of Hope: Would you marry me?

Listen to this quick story of an on board proposal.

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.

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!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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.

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.

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.

Stories of Hope: After Closing Time

Hear a story from OM ship Logos Hope called "After Closing Time".

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:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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

August prayer continues nightly

Come to our
worship center any night
between 6-9 pm and
join us for singing
and focused prayer.

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!

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

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.