INTERNATIONAL UPDATE JULY 2007

OM International

OM International Update, July 2007

By Peter Maiden, International Coordinator

Dear partners in prayer,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Logos II will continue service until early September when she will finally berth in Bremerhaven, Germany. After a short public programme, about 120 people will transfer from Logos II to Logos Hope. The transition event is more than a few steps between ships' gangways! The leadership of both ships are now planning and actively supporting an effective transition of personnel to Logos Hope.

The shipyard management has sent a letter to us to advise that they expect to re-deliver the vessel within the next few weeks. All indications are that the shipyard conversion works will soon be complete. The priority in these days is to get a crew onboard to prepare the vessel for sailing and to obtain a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.

Europe

Please continue to pray for final preparations and the launch of the new ministry. Praise God for funds raised for this (and a driver!); pray for needed funds to complete the vehicle (8,300 Euros).

Russia: 22 teenagers have applied to TeenStreet in Germany in July. There has been huge interest from teenagers in Habarovsk in the Far East, Ulan-Ude near Lake Baikal, Tyumen in Siberia and in St. Petersburg.

Unfortunately, travelling to Europe demands difficult visas and high costs, disqualifying many and inspiring the OM team to consider a TeenStreet in Russia. Yet these 22 teenagers are pressing on toward their dream.

Pray that passports and visas arrive on time, along with visas. Fourteen applicants from Siberia may have to travel to the German Embassy in Moscow-a two-day train journey!

UK: Edinburgh. 700 people attended a Freedom Concert in Edinburgh, Scotland organised by OM and Origin Scotland on May 20. As well as music on the theme of freedom, the audience heard presentations marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade before Joseph D'Souza shared about the plight of the Dalit people in India today.

Sufficient funds were raised to cover a quarter of the cost of constructing a new Dalit Education Centre; 90 people expressed interest in sponsoring the education of a Dalit child at the new school. Many church leaders were shocked by what they heard and recognised the need to take seriously the struggle for Dalit freedom. Please pray for a lasting impact on church leaders and their churches as a result.

As each person left, they were given a clay cup to remind them of the Dalit people. These cups (made in India) are provided for Dalits to use in public eating places. They are cheap and are destroyed after use so that no customer from a higher caste will be 'contaminated' by what is seen as Dalit uncleanness.

Italy: Five professional coaches led by the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) of Atlanta (USA) have joined the OM team and local churches to reach out to young students in Turin and the surrounding area this month. Another six team members are making contact with families and children using puppets, balloons and face painting.

This week, members of a church in Atlanta are equipping the leadership team of a local church through special teaching, a women-only day of ministry and encouragement and practical work helping drug addicts in the local community.

"This is the fist step in a long-term partnership that will enrich both churches in their vision of ministry and of the body of Christ at work," the project coordinator shared.  Please pray for the OM team during a busy summer of ministry alongside local churches.

Austria: The Greater Europe team in Vienna has for many years spearheaded the production of Christian literature throughout Eastern Europe, which has proved to be an invaluable resource and encouragement. The team reports that they now have the text for Josh's McDowell's More Than a Carpenter in Kazan Tatar (spoken in Tatarstan, Russia and different from Crimean Tatar spoken in the Ukraine). Just this week, they sent Ken Taylor's My First Bible to press in the Ukraine for the Crimean Tatars. They plan to go to the Ukraine in August for distribution to missions and churches.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Annelea Blignaut leads our work and writes, "We have wanted to proclaim 2008 as a year of prayer for Bosnia Herzegovina, both outside and inside the country. Others outside of BiH involved churches to pray and send teams to BiH throughout the year to pray onsite. During a monthly pastors' meeting, all agreed that we should do this. The Pentecostal church, together with OM, will organise this interdenominational year of prayer. Please pray for the practical aspects of gathering information and creating a prayer guide for 2008 by the end of September, available at least in Bosnian, English, German, Portuguese and Estonian. Pray for finances to print the prayer guides, promotional material and prayer conferences (three events in three major cities in BiH)."

World faiths

All over the world there are opportunities for people to work as English teachers with OM and partner agencies. Pray that God will raise up teachers (especially those with a TEFL or TESL qualification). Teaching English provides opportunities to build relationships with local people and to demonstrate and share the Gospel message through regular contact. Pray especially for English teachers to join ministries in Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.

Uzebekistan: We have made the sad decision to close down our ministry. Over the last two years, the government has expelled most foreign organizations. All expatriate OMers have had to leave.

However, there is a lot to give thanks for during the last 16 years of ministry! Working in partnership with others, we have trained and empowered many locals. Thousands of Uzbeks have found salvation and new life in Jesus Christ.

The Uzbek church is continuing to grow. When one OM family left their city, their local Christian friends mentioned how they wanted to follow their example saying, "If they kick the foreigners out, then we will have to be the foreigners!"

Praise God for the growing Uzbek church; pray that it would flourish and endure. Pray too for the handful of Uzbek OMers who continue to minister in their homeland.

Emerging mission movements

Angola: Please pray for the release from prison of Rosa, the right-hand man of Wessel van der Merwe, our country leader. On 6 June, the Department of Foreign Affairs uncovered fraudulent work permits. Rosa had been helping Paul, a visiting international friend who is part of the team's cell group, with his papers. Since Paul's permit was amongst the offending ones, he and Rosa were imprisoned (and falsely charged).

Paul was released after a couple of days having been locked up with 300 others, a number of whom were under the age of thirteen. He experienced care from his fellow inmates, one of whom offered him a pano (piece of cloth) to sleep on. Another shared his for both of them to sleep under, while a third gave his up to be used as a pillow. Paul was reminded of Jesus' words: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (Mt 25:45)

Rosa, however, was transferred to a notorious prison full of tough criminals. Yet God is very much at work in the midst of the difficulties. One man, already serving his fifth year, shed tears when Wessel prayed during a visit. Pray for a just solution to be found.

Pray also for Rosa's wife, Thereza, as she awaits his release and cares for their children alone.

South Africa: Peter Tarantal plans to step down as National Director by the end of 2007 to give more time to leading the national missions movement called World Evangelisation Network of South Africa (WENSA). Peter has led OM South Africa since 1996 and looks forward to remaining closely involved with OM in the future.

OM South Africa is launching its own TeenStreet in December 2007 and expects more than 300 teens and staff members to be involved.

Uruguay: In May 2006 OM purchased a 15 hectare (37 acre) farm for a Christian conference and training project called Eagles' Wings. The farm has hundreds of fruit-bearing trees that have already yielded good income; production has improved through the free advice of a Christian agronomist. The first three accommodations for staff are nearly completed. An existing structure is being re-purposed as a bakery and fruit processing plant. Future development includes a multi-purpose gymnasium, kitchen and dining room, conference facilities and camping area.

This May at EXPOLIT, the Spanish language book and music exposition held in Miami, participants donated over US$8000 for the Eagles' Wings Centre. Project Manager

Siegfried Klassen said, "We are now working hard on getting the property ready to host its first TeenStreet in January. The centre will also be used for pastoral retreats, leadership conferences and camps for local churches. Please stand with us in prayer and, if a church group would like to be part of a work project, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it "

Papua  New Guinea: Over the last month, four young people have been sent to serve with OM around the world: one with OM Ships, one with OM India and two with OM South Africa. A couple is preparing to join MV Logos Hope.

Kini Kila shares, "We thank God for all these young people taking a step of faith to join OM fields. Pray that they will adjust well into their new ministries. Pray also for God's strength, wisdom and provision as we serve Him here."

India

OM International Associate Coordinator Joseph D'Souza requests prayer for the heightened intensity of attacks against Christian workers. On 8 June, a mob of Hindu extremists beat a pastor and tried to set him on fire before parading him naked in the suburbs of Bangalore, capital of Karnataka. Laxmi Narayan Gowda, an independent pastor and representative of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), was recovering in a hospital with swelling and numerous bruises. Extremists of the Bajrang Dal, youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council), allegedly led the mob.

One assailant threw kerosene on the pastor, and others started burning Bibles. Someone tossed a burning Bible onto Pastor Gowda but, miraculously, he did not catch fire. They stripped the pastor naked and hung a board around his neck that said, "I am the one who was converting people" before parading him through the area. Local police arrived about an hour later. Police had not registered a case against the attackers, since the victim did not want to file a complaint.

Before Pastor Gowda accepted Christ 15 years ago, he was a member of the parent organization of numerous Hindu extremist groups. The attackers wanted to punish him for converting to Christianity from their Hindu nationalistic ideology, and to warn others against doing so.

Sam Paul, AICC's public affairs secretary, said that although Karnataka was known for anti-Christian attacks, the situation has become more volatile recently. Paul also stressed the need to educate Indians about true conversion, in particular that it does not mean that one becomes anti-national.

Pioneering initiatives

From New Zealand to Guatemala, Run For The World/R4TW took place May 26-27. Raising awareness and financial support for key projects around the world, R4TW united people from every continent, running or walking together on the same day. Twenty-five cities in 20 nations across 15 time zones each held a two-kilometre run or walk, with the fittest participants able to run as many laps as they could in one hour.

Three dogs took part in Moldova, Australia and the UK. It looks like Jasper the dog has raised the most money for an individual (200 pounds sterling)!

After setting an impressive 10km in Brisbane, Mike's distance was surpassed by Darren in Bundaberg running an astonishing 11.5 km in one hour.

The aim was to raise finances for four specific projects (see www.r4tw.org for more details). The organisers were hoping to raise at least $5000; this has already been achieved with more money coming in!

 "We see R4TW as a way for people to get fit, enjoy life, raise awareness for mission projects, and also raise money," said Martin Bateman, SportsLink director. The hope is to see this continue annually. April 2008 is pencilled in for the next run. See you next year?

The universal 'language' of sport is opening doors for OM workers all over the world, enabling people to use their gifts to share and demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. OM Sportslink helps to support and co-ordinate sports ministry. Please pray for an administrative assistant for the International Sportslink Co-ordinator and for someone to co-ordinate OM's response to major sporting events. Pray that God will raise up athletes and skilled sportsmen and women to join OM ministries.

Relief & development

Angola: An ongoing prayer has been the documentation concerning visas, work permits and pending registration of the organisation. On 25 May the government recognized us legally as an NGO under the name Operação Espererança (OM Hope). We have hoped and prayed for four years for this and we are very grateful.

People to pray for:

I have just heard from Gordon and Grace Magney who have laboured for decades in the 10/40 Window. They are presently on a six-month home leave in the USA, where Gordon was hospitalized in Omaha as his liver was not functioning properly. Further testing revealed that Gordon has had hemochromatosis all his life, inherited through his parents who were only carriers. Gordon’s liver has been allowing too much iron into his body, which is responsible for his dark ‘tan’ even in winter. Now his liver is in the advanced stage of cirrhosis and a transplant seems to be the only solution. Omaha happens to be the best place in the nation for liver transplants. However, we have yet to find out if Gordon can be a candidate. He needs a miracle from the Lord. We are grateful for your intersession on his behalf.

My sincere thanks to you all for your prayers and support during the last month. We appreciate your fellowship with us greatly.

Your brother in Christ,

Peter Maiden

Think Again

Touching the daughters of India

My feeling of ecstasy was indescribable at the thought of returning home to my family after a brief visit abroad. Knowing my husband could not meet me (and not expecting my teenage son to await his mother's arrival) I was delighted to see my daughter of ten years standing on the visitors' lounge railing, straining her neck to catch my attention. She embraced me tightly and shoved into my hands a bouquet of roses. Joy unspeakable filled my heart at this open display of love!

That night, as I was rejoicing over my precious little gift, it struck me that it will not always be possible for me to protect her from the world outside. I will soon be required to enter her world of fairy tales and make her aware of the dangers and disappointments she may encounter in life.

With age, experience and exposure, my appreciation for our Indian culture and some of our traditions increases. Yet my daughter will grow up in a culture that denies girls their rightful place in society.

Untouchables, yet touched by Jesus

Women in India are oppressed-the majority have suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Most desperate are the 'twice oppressed' Dalit women, 'untouchables' who suffer discrimination on the basis of both caste and gender. Is there a way out? In a society that terminates the lives of countless females in the womb simply because they are female, it is heartening to note that Jesus spared no effort or opportunity to restore equality and human dignity of women. I am particularly touched by the story of the bleeding woman who touched Jesus' clothes (Mark 5).

This nameless woman had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. In the eyes of society, she was not only sick, but unclean and 'untouchable'. Many Indian women of our times, Dalits in particular, are 'bleeding' from within-women whose lives are shadowed with grief and for whom life has many cares, problems and heartaches.

The physicians of Jesus' time and the emancipation laws of ours seem equally unable to relieve women's 'bleeding'. But where human effort fails, touching Jesus brings healing.

Touching in the name of Jesus

Through the Arpana Women's Training Institute, OM is involved in the transformation of women, influencing the way a woman views her self-worth and confidence in using her talents to the fullest. These efforts have brought about positive changes in the lives of women. But social services alone cannot bring true transformation; only the truth and wholeness that come from touching Jesus, the Truth, will set them free into wholeness.

Arise, daughters!

God is at work in the lives of women in India. Just as he called the bleeding woman  'daughter', women who reach out to the Saviour are being made whole and receiving the honour of becoming 'daughters of the Most High'! Arise, dare to be made whole! "The Lord will be a shield around you; He will bestow glory on your head. When you cry aloud, He will answer you from the holy hill." (Psalm 3: 3, 4)

May we, both women and men, who have experienced the truth not stand by and watch the least of our community, the marginalized women, slip into lives of misery as their fate. May we help them to reach out to Jesus who is willing to touch and be touched by all, even those whom society considers as untouchable. n

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Jeevaline Kumar is chairperson of OM India's Women's Ministries and is actively involved with organisations running homes for abandoned children. She and her husband, Rev. Kumar Swamy (also a senior leader within OM India) have two children. Comments are welcome care of research[at]om.org

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