OM International

When Amir, a member of OM’s Xenos team in Germany and Iranian by birth, heard that an Iranian family had moved into the home for asylum seekers nearby, he decided to visit them. He was soon introduced to Babek*, a tall man, Schirin*, his timid wife, and their beautiful four-year old son. The couple was very polite and made a noble impression, but Amir wondered what state their hearts were in. He invited them to attend Xenos meetings and an Iranian church. Schirin and Babek had neither met Christians nor read the Bible before, but they accepted his invitation. It was during their fourth or fifth visit to the church that Schirin decided to embrace Jesus. “What I was looking for, I have found,” said Schirin.

Until that moment, Schirin had suffered from homesickness and depression, but she no longer feels sad now. Amir continues to visit the home for asylum seekers, and to study the Bible with Schirin and Babek weekly.

Babek has not chosen to follow Jesus yet, but is happy to look up references during Bible study. They have now been recognised by German law as refugees. OM’s Xenos team is helping them find an apartment and learn German as phase two of their integration programme. Pray that Schirin would continue to follow Jesus as she meets other Iranians, and that their integration would go smoothly.

Adapting to local culture  is vital

This is one among many stories of OM in Europe and in other parts of the world. OM currently has more than 5.400 people working in more than 110 countries around the world, seeking to "demonstrate and proclaim the love of God." In every situation OM teams attempt to adapt to the local culture and situation, endeavouring to find the best ways to share the Gospel using literature, the creative arts, friendship, Bible studies, video and cassette tapes, correspondence courses, relief and development work as well as other methods. The people working for Operation Mobilisation tell people how their lives have been changed and how others can also come to "personal faith in God through Christ." Wherever possible, Operation Mobilisation works in partnership with the local church, encouraging and supporting local communities. Where there is no church they seek to establish one.

Today the face of missions is changing, according to OM. Until 1980 most mission workers came from the Western World. But as the church exploded in Latin America, Southern Africa and parts of Asia, countries that once received missionaries are catching the vision.

From the beginning, OM was committed to mobilising Christians from all nations to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. The historic change in the world missions’ movement gave even greater momentum to OM’s efforts to reflect the diversity of the body of Christ.

By 2000 South Korea and India joined the USA and the UK as the largest missionary sending nations in the world. Today 62 percent of all OM workers are from new sending nations. We are empowering and supporting churches in these regions as they reach their own nations and encouraging them in their participation in world missions.