Praying toward Pentecost

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

Help us to spread the word!

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Approximate 2002 AD Global Mission Statistics

(IN PROCESS 07-17-'02)

(1) World Population: 6.204 BILLION PEOPLE

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

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

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

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

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

(4) Missionaries

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

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

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

(6) Annual Global Church Finance in US Dollars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Main Sources:

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

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

Bryan College short term missions trip

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

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

Luther Rice University

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

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

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

Colorado Christian University

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




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

Liberty University

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

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

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

13 statistics on child slavery

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

be the change!

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

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

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

Ministry Hilight: INTERNSHIPS

What are you doing this summer?

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

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

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

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

In the Windy City

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

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

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

OM Ships Presentation Team

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

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

Mission Trip to Mexico

Ministry Highlight: OM SportsLink

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

@ Toccoa Falls College

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

Biola-lah-lah

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

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

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

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

Traveling in S. California

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

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

DanceLink

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

University of the Ozarks - Alpha & Omega

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

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

JBU World Awareness Week

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

Passion07

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