ILM #5: OM has a medical boat on the border between DRC & Tanzania

Did you know OM South Africa has a boat?
On the border of Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania there is a 15 meter (49’) long boat boat Lake Tanganyika which is in use for medical ministries. Here is the need: in the last 10 years 7-9 million people died from many illnesses. “We have been praying for a medical boat to meet some of these needs,” says a leader in the movement. It is a long God story of his provision. It is worth 2-4 million South African Rand and we purchased it for 12,000 Rand or about $1000. Praise God for this, and please pray for this ministry as we start meeting the physical and spiritual needs of people around Lake Tanganyika. Here is a picture of the lake.

ILM #4: 2 Unreached people groups quickly begin mission involvement after coming to faith

Zimbabwe: All we hear is death and doom. Yes, please pray for this land. Recently we started a work among an unreached people group in Zimbabwe. Many people were reached and came to faith in Jesus. They wanted to Chad to another unreached people group which was about 4600km (2800 miles) away. They desired to go BECAUSE no one else wanted to go. They could not imagine someone not going to tell this Muslim people group about Jesus. The people did not have money and were willing to walk this distance to tell people how God changed their life when they met Jesus. Within two weeks some money came in for plane tickets for this long journey.

A least-reached people group reaching another least-reached group in Africa.
The least reached group in Southern Africa is the Biaya (sp?) people group (bushman). There was no church and no known believers. After 2 years of a missionary couple being there among these people about 80 people came to know Jesus. We went in to meet many and found them between 5-7AM some men were praying with tears for the nations around a World map. (imagine--after just 2 years from coming to faith).

Now, these are very poor people (bushmen). They saved money to participate in what God is doing around the World saying, “We don’t know how to get this money to Tanzania, but God has put this country on our hearts. Can you help us give this money to missionaries there?” This happened again and they sent money to India. This happened again as they gave money to workers in Zimbabwe upon hearing of the lack of food. Then they sent someone to be a missionary because they wanted to be part of what God is doing. What is happening in Southern Africa is like that of the book of Acts!

ILM #3: Pro Christo Mission merges with OM South Africa

Pro Christo Mission (Southern Africa based national mission organization) merged with OM on Jan 1, 2009. This is 100 new workers welcomed into OM. This partnership began with a simillar heart and vision and friendship between the two missions. Welcome Pro Christo we look forward to partnership in the Gospel in the years ahead.

Much of their ministry in Southern Africa is based around a school model much like OM India:
Childrens education in the morning & adult literacy in the afternoon. On Saturdays it is a health clinic. Then it becomes a church and a discipleship center to send out workers.

ILM #2 A closed country with a Global Heart

“When people come from America to serve with us for a short time, we love hosting them! We love to see them grow in the LORD and leave with these things: some great ministry in the country, a chance to grow in their faith, prayer, a vision for the country, and a vision for the whole World.”

I (michael) love this perspective as so many times missionaries have failed to be big hearted because they are focused ONLY on “Church planting” or some other activity. They are just focused on what God has “called” them to . . . or the people group to whom they have deepest on their heart.

This leader repented from this thinking and has just an open-ness to serve anyone around the globe in the name of Jesus Christ. If you would like to know who this is, contact me directly and I can tell you more of this wonderful meal I shared with this brother.

PRAY: for all Christian workers around the globe that we might be concerned the World not JUST our niche. May we be people of prayer, vision, growth, ministry, and with Jesus Christ as the center of who we are.

International Leaders Meetings (Brazil) #1

I’m sitting under a street lamp in a remote resort hotel outside Sao Paulo, Brazil. In the next couple days 300 ministry leaders from 90+ countries gather. They are all serving with Operation Mobilization. Most are not from North America (I was riding on a bus today for 4 hours from Sao Paulo and I was the only American among the 14 people--10 nations were represented in our little bus).

What is their purpose for gathering? Let’s find out together as I write. I hope to go through what I see and talk about. Pray that God guides me in my conversations, observations, and as I talk with others.

Tonight over dinner I sat with a Brazilian brother, named G-------. He spent 2 years in Western and Central Asia. Then a Swiss-German woman who speaks Dahri sat across the table from us. Before I could get a word in they went back and forth in Dahri for 5 minutes. I was confused and just sat there in awkwardness. Then they kindly returned to English. G------ has a deep passion to see Brazil GO to the least reached part of the World.

He said, “Michael, there are obstacles too--we are an emotional and outgoing people. We love relational ministry, but we are also some of the first ones who want to go home when it is hard. And let me tell you, Iran and Afghanistan is hard.”

PRAY: Brazilians would GO to the least reached parts of the World and that my brother G------- is equipped in the work God is calling him to do. What is your call?

Give up your small ambitions; come with me to save the World. -- Francis Xavier

what is your missions cul-de-sac?

A friend of mine was in Singapore recently where a church with 1000 members. 500 went on short-term missions last year. They could not find 1 person who would go for 3 months or even longer. This is a missions cul-de-sac.

What is your missions cul-de-sac?