Monday 27 September 2010

Taking time to hear from God

Dear Friends,

We live in an information crammed world today. We are bombarded with electronic messages every day. In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus talked about going into it a secret place to meet our Father in prayer. When he spoke to the churches in the book of Revelations he repeated an important word for the church today: "he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches"(REV 2:11).

It is important to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church today. We have many other voices seeking our attention and crowding out that still quite voice of God. I have a habit of going for regular walks in the bushland near to our home. This is my personal opportunity to tune in to the voice of God and to reflect specifically on his word for us. In these times, I pray for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit in our lives. What is the Holy Spirit is saying to you today?

We want to be aligned to his word as we follow Christ's agenda. As we give leadership and serve people in Asia, we have six guiding questions:

1. How can we magnify Christ?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to the church about God's agenda?
3. How can we help multiply disciples of Christ?
4. How can we make a difference among the poor and oppressed in Asia?
5. What does God wants us to do to invest in the lives of others?
6. How can we best use the resources that he has given to us for his agenda?

We recently participated in a church camp with the theme of listening to God. We reflected on the truth that God has so much more to give. When we approach God we do not find a reluctant benefactor but a liberal, gracious and loving Father who is passionate about pouring his Holy Spirit into our lives so we can participate in His purpose. We pray that you will joyfully embrace what the Spirit is saying to his church today. You will discover his word as you take time to listen and to seek his face. Do not allow the demands of life to squeeze out your priority of being centred in the life of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Statements about OM

What We Believe

Operation Mobilisation works in over 110 countries, motivating and equipping people to share God’s love with people all over the world. OM seeks to help plant and strengthen churches, especially in areas of the world where Christ is least known.

Core Values

  • Knowing and glorifying God
  • Living in submission to God's Word
  • Being people of grace & integrity
  • Serving sacrificially
  • Loving & valuing people
  • Evangelising the world
  • Reflecting the diversity of the body of Christ
  • Global intercession
  • Esteeming the church

    Statement of Faith

    • We believe that the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments in their original texts, are fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, without error, and are the final authority for the Church.
    • We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
    • We believe in the absolute deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    • We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, the authenticity of His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection and His present mediatorial work in heaven.
    • We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit. We believe He gives life, He sanctifies, He empowers and comforts all believers.
    • We believe that man was originally created sinless. Tempted by Satan, man fell and thereby brought the whole race under the condemnation of eternal separation from God.
    • We believe that man is saved through repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ. Justification is through grace alone.
    • We believe that the Church is the body of Jesus Christ composed of all true believers. The present work of the Church is the worship of God, the perfecting of the saints and the evangelisation of the world.
    • We believe in the personal and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate our salvation and establish His glorious Kingdom

    Country Profile: Malaysia

    Country Profile: Malaysia

    RISE UP MALAYSIA

    April, 2010 - Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is one of the most pleasant countries to visit in Southeast Asia. The culture is multi-faceted, with Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous peoples. Their various customs enthrall the visitor. Malaysia's population is estimated at 28.3 million people. Christians comprise approximately 9% of the population.

    OM has been influential in Malaysia for over 30 years. From the early days of sending recruits to the Ships Ministry, taking the gospel throughout the country through Logos Media Outreach and mentoring many church leaders through the cross-cultural training programs.

    OM Malaysia partners with local churches through literature, training and mission exposure programs throughout the year. OM Malaysia also organises short-term mission exposure programs like like Out of the Comfort Zone - Asia which has seen more than 600 particpants since its inception.

    OM Malaysia believes in investing in the Next Generation. Through TeenStreet we've mentored many teens to reflect Jesus for the past 4 years. We've also initiated Teens-in-Missions which gives the opportunity for teens to personally experience working with the indigenous, poor, marginalised and destitute.

    It is an extremely exciting time for the Malaysian church as God is calling her to Rise Up. The Malaysian church is underperfoming in sending workers. However, in the past 10 years, we've seen the Malaysian churches becoming increasingly evangelistic locally and in South East Asia. God has also brought unreached people groups to the door-step and the Malaysian church can no longer live in their comfort zone. Based on exponential discipleship growth of 250 disciple making Christians, it would just take 36 years to reach out to 50 million people - the projected population of Malaysia a generation from now. How long would they take to reach the whole world? Slightly less than two generations. In 52 years, they would have reached 12 billion people. Remember that the world's current population is only 6 billion plus.

    It is OM's prayer that Malaysians will Rise Up to fulfil the Great Commission in Asia, South America, Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and remote places of the world.

    We are really excited to see how God will bring about Transformation in Malaysia as the Church Rises Up. If you would like to partner with us in Malaysia, do email us at info@my.om.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

    COUNTRY FACTS
    Full name: Federation of Malaysia
    Area: 329,750 sq km
    Estimated Population in Malaysia for 2009 - 28.3 million (93% citizens; 7%
    non-citizens)
    Malaysian citizens comprise:
    Bumiputera - 55.7%
    Chinese - 25%
    Indians - 7.5%
    Others - 11.8%
    + Source: Wikipedia

    Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)
    Government: constitutional monarchy
    Major Industries: Tin, rubber, palm oil, timber, oil, textiles, electronics

    Source: OM Malaysia.

    For more information please contact: info@my.om.org

    Comments

    In the coming weeks we hope to share perspective about the work of OM in East Asia-Pacific and around the world. We thank God for the 5500 workers from 110 countries serving to make a difference in the lives of people in need of good news.

    Our purpose statement in Operation Mobilisation is:

    OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.

    We are based in Adelaide and serve the leaders of OM's ministries in East Asia Pacific

    OM Ministries in East Asia Pacific - Profile Hong Kong

    Country Profile: Hong Kong and Macau

    Hong Kong is the first Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy of July 1, 1997. The work of OM Hong Kong is two-fold: It is a home office sending out recruits from Hong Kong churches to many OM fields, and we also have an outreach ministry to New Arrivals (NA) coming into Hong Kong from Mainland China. Every day a set quota of 150 people emigrates from Mainland China to HK. Family reunion is a condition for obtaining a residence permit and most are looking for manual jobs. The NA-ministry works in cooperation with several local churches, combining evangelism and social work. Activities include visitation, English tuition, counseling, etc. There are great needs among the new arrivals in Hong Kong.

    In September 2000, OMHK started a Global Action Team in nearby Macau. (This former Portuguese colony became the second SAR of China on December 20, 1999, and OM was registered here in December 98.) Macau is known for idol worshipping, gambling and light industries. There are 63 churches and approximately 0.5% of the population are evangelical Christians. The Global Action team stays in Macau for six months doing evangelism and encouraging local churches, followed by three months in another OM field and concluding with three months in Hong Kong working with the New Arrivals-team.

    If you are interested in China and Chinese culture, Hong Kong and Macau are good places for you to learn the culture and minister to the Chinese.

    Places on the team in Hong Kong or Macau are limited to nationalities who can come for six months without visa problems (e.g. overseas Chinese with residence rights in Hong Kong or those who can get a work permit).

    OMHK email address: info@omhk.org