Logos Hope sails from Guyana to Netherlands Antilles

The crew of Logos Hope continues its Caribbean tour this week in Netherlands Antilles. You can follow their voyage from Guyana on the Logos Hope dashboard.

Guest of Honor, The Honorable Samuel Hinds, Prime Minister and

Acting President of Guyana, followed by Logos Hope Director Gian Walser
of Switzerland, leads a procession up the gangway.

Upon the crew's arrival in Guyana, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds expressed his gratitude for the ongoing ministry of OM Ships. “We admire the wide range of aid and relief projects over the years,” he said. “May other organizations follow this excellent example.” That example included crews sent to several communities to distribute help packs, perform dental and medical clinics, and lend a hand on building projects. One team brought a message of AIDS awareness through drama. Logos Hope partnered with both Youth With a Mission (YWAM) and Habitat for Humanity in this port. Learn more about the ship's travels at the Logos Hope website. And pray for smooth sailing through arrival at the next port on Thursday.

Algeria: a terrorist has a dream

Adel was a Muslim terrorist in the late 80's and was selected to go to Afghanistan and work with Osama bin Laden. But he could not get a passport so he stayed in Algeria. He soon saw a list of people Al Qaeda wanted to kill and found that his brother, a Christian, was one of them.

Disappointed with fundamentalism, Adel decided to leave and went back to his hometown. He talked with a friend from school who was suffering because of her Christian faith. She had heard about the Lord through Christian radio. She had no Bible, no books, only the radio for discipleship. Adel told her, "I can help you; my brother is a Christian."

However, Adel still was not a believer himself. So one night he had a dream in which he saw four doors. He opened the first and it was completely dark. He thought to himself, "I won't go in there". Behind the second door were people drinking and dancing. "No," he thought. Opening the third, he saw an imam preaching holy war and decided, "I have had enough of that." When he opened the fourth door, he saw an incredible light and a man in beauty and glory. The man was holding Adel's friend from school and saying, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Adel had never heard this verse before, nor did he know it was from the Bible.

The next day he told the dream to his brother who explained "the Lord is asking you to give Him your life". Adel soon proposed to his Christian friend from school. She said no, she could only marry a Christian, and that was the first time he confessed his new faith. He is in full-time ministry now.

Early on, the local police followed Adel and eventually brought him in for questioning. He was no longer wearing Muslim clothing or a full beard, so the police asked what happened. Adel told the story of how God had taken his heart of anger and vengeance and given him a heart of love and forgiveness. The policeman was amazed and said, "Go and preach and if anyone stops you, come and tell me".

Please pray for Adel's continued favor in the country as he is planting churches and following up with new believers.

worship song inspired by Isaiah 58

Beautiful song by OM member Shirley Booth, who writes, "Do I fail to stoop down because my hands are raised too high?" Meditate on this over the weekend:

December International Update

Look over the past month and year with OM International Director Peter Maiden:

start training for Run 4 The World 2010

Lace up your shoes and hit the road. It's time to start training for OM Sportslink's Run 4 The World, Saturday, May 8. Participants raise money and awareness for mission projects worldwide. The 2010 race will benefit OM ministries AIDSlink, Artslink, and Sportslink.

See photos from last year's race and get more info on the OM USA website. Join the R4TW Facebook group to meet other runners (and walkers) from around the world.

"Caste is worse than racism"

Dr. Joseph D'Souza, leader of OM India, explains how "Caste is worse than racism" in this overview of the plight of the Dalits of India. You can partner with the Dalit Freedom Network and help break caste slavery forever.

join us in prayer today

We here in OM's US office will be observing a corporate day of prayer for needs and concerns around the OM world. Please join us. Ask the Lord to lead you to specific Scriptures and feel free to post them here. Thanks for your partnership with Operation Mobilization.

VOTE for photo of the year

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

Sponsor a Dalit Pastor in India

OM plants a church of at least 25 people every other day among the Dalit people of India, considered lowest in the caste system. These churches need trained pastors and leaders. You can help equip these leaders through sponsorship. Learn more about sponsoring one of these pioneer church leaders. And pray for the Dalits. Pray that we will see the end of the caste system in our lifetime.

rough seas in the Caribbean

Crew members ready their media devices while being ferried to shore.

Logos Hope is currently in Guyana, after two recent stops in the Caribbean. While in Bridgetown, Barbados, the Logos Hope crew faced new challenges, such as having to berth the ship at two different locations. For one of the locations, the Visitor Experience area had to be reconfigured to allow for port side entry, a first for the new ship. The crew was welcomed by the Honorable Mr. Patrick Todd, Minister of State who said, “Logos Hope represents a micro-community and is a clear picture of what a larger community should and can be.”

That community got to work together through another challenge in port: rough seas. Captain Dirk Colenbrander and other leaders on board decided to take Logos Hope out to anchor in Carlisle Bay to avoid damage. So the ship's on board rescue boat was used to ferry crewmembers to shore. "The swell was very high,” said Coxswain Adam Gosen of Australia, "but I really believe that God’s hand was holding us steady there.”

Although closed to the public, Logos Hope was able to welcome 14 new crew members from around the world as part of OM Ships' Short Term Exposure Programme (STEP). The program is designed to give a taste of ship life for around three months, though some participants stay longer or come back to take part in the two year program. “I’m loving it," said Alena Kortiakova of Slovakia, "I think it’s going to be a very rewarding experience.”

November International Update

OM Director Peter Maiden offers a glimpse around the OM world in under 7 minutes. Please pray with us through these stories.

George Verwer at Biblica warehouse with FREE books!

OM founder George Verwer visits the Georgia book warehouse of the newly formed Biblica organization and makes a discovery.

transition

Almost nine months to the day after the maiden voyage of Logos Hope, the decision was made for Doulos to retire early. Although saddened and surprised, the crew on Logos Hope have an overall sense that God is doing something. After unexpected challenges in Barbados, including rough seas, the Logos Hope crew entered their annual week of rest during which they learned the fate of their sister ship. These experiences have caused them to face the reality of serving on a ship, bringing them to a deeper appreciation of doing so as they head toward Guyana. Logos Hope Director Gian Walser summed up the week saying, “I believe Guyana will be a fantastic ministry port; at the same time our hearts go out to the Doulos community.”

Live at Eddie's Attic: All the Things You Are

OM Arts song leader Jon Simpson took his music to an open mic night in Atlanta. Learn how you can use your own art to reach others.

Saying Goodbye to Doulos

Peter Nicoll, CEO of OM Ships International, talks about the sudden end of OM's ship Doulos.

Decommisioning Doulos: Questions & Answers

Doulos in Singapore drydock

What has happened?

While Doulos has been undergoing her annual period of dry dock and maintenance in Singapore, the ship’s classification society (RINA) has been conducting a ‘special survey’ of the ship’s structure, machinery and systems, which takes place every five years. This survey has identified a significant number of additional works to be completed. No extension of time has been given to do this work while the ship continues to operate.

What does this mean?

The additional work would have to start right away, since the surveyors have confirmed that they will not issue new certificates for the ship until this work has been completed. The present certificates run out on Dec 31, 2009.

How much work would have to be done, how long would it take, and how much would it cost?

Quite a number of work projects have been identified, but the primary one is replacing sections of steel on the main deck. An initial quote has been received from the shipyard in Singapore where Doulos has been in dry dock. This, together with other additional costs, would be well over fourteen million dollars. The work would take at least five months and, because of other commitments, this yard could not even start the work until September 2010.

Why can you not do the works needed?

The OM Ships executive leadership team and board believes that it is not appropriate to invest resources of this scale into the ship, since Doulos would have a limited ministry future.

Is this a surprise or did you see this coming?

Yes, this is a surprise. We expected that the ship would be able to sail until at least September 2010, with the hope for longer. Out technical team has been working towards this five-year ‘special survey’ for some time. The ship has passed many such inspections, but work to keep the ship compliant with marine regulations is continual. Additionally, a new set of ‘Safety of Life at Sea’ (SOLAS) regulations applying to all passenger ships with more than 36 passengers is due to come into effect in October 2010. Meeting these new requirements would have meant huge investment in the ship to remove all remaining non-fireproof construction materials.

What events led up to this point?

Earlier this year, we reached agreement with the Malta Maritime Authority that we could add our ‘staff’ to the official ‘crew list’, and change the ship’s ‘class’ to that of a passenger ship with fewer than 36 passengers. This would have allowed the ship to continue to sail beyond October 2010. Our technical personnel then commissioned a comprehensive assessment of the ship’s construction to see what work would be needed to sail the ship beyond that date. This revealed significant work needing to be done in a number of areas, including replacement of steel in sections of the ship’s main deck. The surveys in Singapore have confirmed this, and early indications were that the ship would be able to sail until the end of September 2010, as long as conditions would be met. It is only in the last week that it has become clear what these conditions are.

Does OM Ships have a contingency plan for this?

Work had been going on for many months to identify the issues and establish the options for the ship not being able to sail beyond September 2010. Things have moved very quickly now and we are responding to the reality that the ship will need to be decommissioned much sooner than anyone expected. Initial plans are coming together and these will continue to be developed and implemented over the coming days and weeks.

What are the next steps?

The people on board are our top priority and our personnel team is already responding to manage the issues and help people work out their next steps.

We want to communicate as clearly as possible and provide regular communication updates as new information becomes available.

Our technical team is working with the marine authorities and making plans to decommission the vessel.

We are looking at the possibility of chartering a ship in the interim.

What will happen to Doulos now?

The ship will remain in Singapore, alongside and/or at anchor until the end of December. Meanwhile, a group will investigate possible options for the vessel, including discussion with ship preservation groups, since Doulos is unique and registered in the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship’.

What will happen to the ship after Dec 31?

Options include changing the vessel class and obtaining a single voyage certificate for a smaller group of essential crew to sail the ship to a port for handover to a new owner.

What about all those on board and how many are they?

There are around 300 people on board at this point, including singles, couples and families. Our Personnel team on board intends to interview every individual on board over the next weeks, and look together with them at the best options for them. We are also appointing pastoral support to deal with the emotional issues that many of them will be facing. At this stage the future options could include a number of different scenarios such as relocating to a chartered vessel as an interim replacement for Doulos, relocating to another OM field, or returning home.

Who should family members and representatives of sending churches be in touch with?

First and foremost with their relative or church member on board directly, but also with the OM office in their country.

What about the future ports on the schedule?

All future ports on the schedule will have to be cancelled. The team responsible for schedule planning and port preparations will be in communication with government authorities and other partners in these ports. Line-up teams already in place will bring their work to a close and leave.

What about friends, family who were planning to visit the ship in one of those ports?

Planned visits to the ship in these ports will no longer be possible and we regret these visits will have to be cancelled. Due to the uncertainty of the ship’s location and whether access for visitors will be possible, we would advise against making plans to travel to the ship in Singapore. Staying on board will not be possible.

Where can I get regular updates and information about next steps?

Detailed information will be available at www.omships.org/doulosupdates and we encourage you to visit this special section of the site frequently. Please also contact your local OM office for help and advice.

How can I/we help you financially?

You can give to the Doulos Replacement Ministry fund. Thank you for your generosity and partnership.

Will OM replace Doulos?

The board has expressed their commitment to continuing to operate two ships. Initial work was already under way to consider options for replacing Doulos, believing that the ship would not be able to sail for many more years. The executive leadership team and the board are considering all interim and longer-term options to continue as a two-ship ministry into the future, in close cooperation with our OM partners around the world.

Who should I ask if I have a question?

There are many unanswered questions right now. For parents, crew and staff, home offices, sending churches, partners, supporters etc, we have set up a special email account for questions and to ask for advice.

Where is our faith in all of this?

Although the sudden end of the Doulos ministry has come as a surprise to us, we know that God is in control. We would ask our partners around the world to pray with us as we seek His plan for the future. We are confident of the Lord’s sovereignty and grace at this time.

Doulos Ministry Coming to an End

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

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

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

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

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

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

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

In less than 60 days from now a revolution will begin across the U.S. An epidemic of gargantuan proportions will be unleashed across our land. It will be a grass-roots, word-of-mouth outbreak infecting tens of thousands of people.



Beginning in mid January in 170+ locations around the country, thousands of churches and hundreds of campus ministries will team up with the objective of raising up World Changers!

Go to perspectives.org and type in your zip code to find a class near you.

dancing worship: "Mighty Spirit"

OM Arts member Jon Simpson was a guest performer for two Refuge Dance Company concerts called "Stories". Here he performs a song called "Mighty Spirit".

You can use your talent to help expand God's kingdom. Find a short-term dance trip here.

Go to the Passion Conference in January

See what's offered: who will be speaking and leading worship in Atlanta January 2-5:

Future of the Dalits: a featured outreach at 2010 Passion Conference

In January, thousands of college students from all over the world will worship together in Atlanta as part of the 2010 Passion Conference. OM USA will be there to meet with participants as they begin to explore possibilities for ministry and mission. Also, one of the ministries of OM India will be featured as a possible outlet for students to sow into financially. Passion wants 2500 students to give $30 each to get an education center built for the Dalit people in India. Dalit, pronounced "Dah-LEET", actually means "untouchable"; Dalits are considered the lowest part of India's caste system and suffer great oppression and persecution.

But there is hope. Thanks to OM India, the first Dalit high school graduation was held last spring. More centers are needed so more Dalit children can experience the freedom and dignity education allows. Please pray one of these centers will be funded through the efforts of the Passion Conference.

Video: the heart of Mozambique

See what the Lord is doing in Mozambique. Then pray about going to Africa short-term.

Follow OM USA Prayer

OM USA does not have a typical corporate structure. Instead, it is divided into four departments: Pray, Go, Give, and Grow. The latter is where we minister to our own missionaries. The other three are areas through which American believers can get involved in global mission.

The Pray Department has incredible resources for prayer, both within and outside of OM. You can have access to these through the OM USA Prayer pages on both Facebook and Twitter.

We also welcome you to pray for the people and places on the OM photo blog. These represent relationships formed by OM teams throughout the world. Thanks for your ministry of prayer.

New worship music by Jon Simpson: "Offering"

OM Arts song leader Jon Simpson presented his new song "Offering" at a recent concert for Refuge Dance Company called "Stories." Learn more about Jon's music.

a string of divine appointments

An OM team visiting a school in northern Namibia met one of the teachers, Uzhera, who had recently taken over care of her five-year-old niece Kauko. With tears in her eyes, Uzhera told the team that it was difficult to raise Kauko because the girl had been born deaf. When the child would cry, Uzhera had no way to communicate with her and understand her needs.

That same evening, team leader Paul prayed for this desperate need. The next day, God provided. The team learned that Johan, one of the local guides that accompanied the team, knew sign language because his parents were deaf. For two days Johan spent time with Uzhera, teaching her the alphabet in sign language. But he knew his time was short there and that Uzhera would need a reference to fall back on after he left. He noticed another team member carried a flip chart so he asked her to draw the signs on the chart. This was no coincidence. God had clearly told her to buy these specific sheets of paper in the States before she left. She obeyed, not knowing how valuable that decision would be.

The team then learned that another guide had been praying for a young man in his twenties who was also deaf. Now he and young Kauko learn sign language together from Uzhera, who has since surrendered her life to the Lord! Join this team in praising God for his foreknowledge and provision during this outreach. And continue to remember all the people affected by these events.

You can go to Africa as part of Transform 2010. Pray about going.

George Verwer on London TV

Tom Chacko, host of the TalkGod TV show in London, is presented with a globe jacket by his longtime friend (and OM founder) George Verwer. Both men urge us to pray for Christian television worldwide.

A video tour of Greece

OM Greece team members discuss changes in Greek culture. You can go to Greece as part of Transform 2010.

Hear powerful mission speakers, get a free book for you, and shop for Christmas

The World Mission Conference continues at First Baptist Atlanta, home of Dr. Charles Stanley. OM's largest book table display of the year is set up near the rotunda and is offering select titles for free. Stop by the book tables during these times:

4-9 pm TONIGHT:
(Note: Dr. Stanley is NOT speaking tonight, Wednesday)
Start with dinner at the International Food Bazaar from 5-6:30 pm in Faith Hall. Then hear from two of FBC Atlanta's missionaries and end the evening with international desserts at the mission display tables. Make sure you browse OM books. Inflatable globes and globe jackets will also be available.

8:30 am-1:30 pm Sunday:
Dr. Charles Stanley preaching
Hear Dr. Stanley's message on missions at either 9 or 10:45 am. Hear missionaries in Sunday School classes during either hour. And finish your Christmas shopping early. OM prices are often less than retail and proceeds benefit mission work around the world.

We look forward to seeing you there! Here are directions to the church. For more information on scheduling see the FBC World Mission Conference calendar.

Transform 2010: Get off the couch

Leader of Transform 2010 Gary Witherall has a message for those interested in the Middle East:

a mission heart: it's in the genes

Sheila Slocum came to OM to help women like herself. Women hurt by abuse. Though she was called to missions as a child, Sheila turned from her faith in her twenties. She returned to the Lord later in life and was soon drawn back to missions, through an OM speaker visiting her church.

Almost a decade later, she began her own time with OM as a cook in Belgium. She thought, "I don't like cooking but I'll do anything for Jesus". She served in a couple of different roles before finding her current niche, ministering to hurting women. Sheila travels to OM fields to talk with OM members. She is also an OM speaker, just like the one God used to direct her own life all those years ago. She says of her talks, "I just tell my story," which includes a difficult past of rape and abuse. And then the women begin to tell their own stories, often for the first time. Sheila says that many women keep these hurts secret their whole lives, either out of fear or perceived guilt. But Sheila's openness allows them to speak freely and that's when she gets to step into her favorite part of her job: listening. She knows that talking through these issues allows women to walk in freedom and Sheila says, "When women walk in freedom, they are free to serve".

The joy that Sheila gets from her work is infectious. Not only does it affect the women she ministers to but it has been an inspiration to her granddaughter Bekah as well. Sheila took her aboard the OM ship Doulos when Bekah turned 16 and Bekah fell in love with life on the ship. She is joining the crew next year. Bekah finished school with a degree in psychology so not only is she following in Sheila's footsteps to OM but may also follow her into a counseling ministry, too.

Sheila has since taken Bekah's younger sister to Switzerland on her 16th birthday, and the girls' younger brother will likely go on an OM-related trip when he turns 16. It is becoming a family tradition, one that may wind up impacting the kingdom for generations to come.

Would you like to hear more of Sheila's story? Have her speak to your women's group. Contact the OM Speakers Bureau.

Multitasking with George

Learn about time management and solar-powered Bibles from OM founder George Verwer.

Stories of Hope: Hope for Kids

Hear about a Hope Team's visit to a children's hospital.

Logos Hope berths in Barbados today

Logos Hope has sailed on from St. Lucia, where the crew hosted a youth night in the Hope Theatre. A partnership with Reach 4 Life, the event included a concert featuring local music artists. The ship is now in Barbados and is scheduled to be there through mid-November.

Transform 2010: A Call to Prayer

Join with us in prayer as we cover next summer's outreach to the countries of the Mediterranean: Transform 2010.

George Verwer visits Biblica

In 1957, OM founder George Verwer started Send the Light, a literature distribution ministry which recently merged with the International Bible Society to form Biblica. Here George meets with Biblica President and CEO Doug Lockhart to find out how to pray and of course, to give out free books.

UPDATE: Philippines Relief Fund will help purchase meds locally

Volunteers have been packaging and delivering food to stranded residents since the floods. Soon they will be able to supply much needed medicine as well. Local churches requested medicine because respiratory illness has affected many people in the area. Give to the Philippines Relief Fund to get food and medicine to those who need it.

Stories of Hope: Children's Area

Podcast host Randy Grebe shares about a mother and daughter he visited with on Logos Hope.

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!

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