OM UK's Long-Term Missions Information brochure

LONG-TERM MISSIONS

OPERATION MOBILISATION MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES

Bring Good News!

Operation Mobilisation transforming lives and communities

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“ THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS…” MATTHEW 28:19

Image: An unreached area in Central Asia.

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DO YOU WANT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE SERVING GOD? Do you want to share your life and faith with people from another culture? We look forward to guiding you in the process of finding your place in world missions, where God can use you, with your unique gifts and talents.

TRAINING If you don’t have prior experience on the mission field, you can start with one of our training programmes. These programmes will change your life and deepen your relationship with God. You will learn about other religions, grow spiritually, and discover what it’s like to live in another culture. In many of these training programmes, you will participate in an outreach. Growing in your faith and practicing sharing that faith with others go hand in hand.

MAKE USE OF YOUR PROFESSION Do you have work experience?

The knowledge and skills you’ve gained through education and work can be

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used in missions around the world.

We always need skilled professionals in the different countries where OM serves – teachers, technicians, IT people, artists and aid workers.

Together, we will find a suitable place for you within OM and prepare you for your assignment. We will help you with practical preparation and keep in touch with the church congregation that sends you out.

It is important that your local church family comes alongside you on this journey and supports your vision.

Contact OM UK today!

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EUROPE Europe was once the continent that sent missionaries to all parts of the world. Now Europe is the only part of the world where the Church is declining. Yet more doors are opening to share the Gospel with Europeans and the continent’s growing number of migrants.

Since 1960, OM has worked with European churches to change lives and communities. In more than 30 countries, OM teams have been serving longer-term, from France to Russia, and from Ireland to Albania.

MISSIONS DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING (MDT) Through Bible teaching, practical experience, language learning and cultural training, you will be equipped for missions in Eastern Europe. You may stay with host families, and in an international team you will learn to be a disciple of Jesus. Help OM organise kids’ camps, distribute literature and give out wood and warm clothing to those in need.

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1-2 YEARS

ROMANIA AND MOLDOVA

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WORK WITH MIGRANTS IN PARIS Many migrants from countries opposed to the Gospel live in Paris. In France, there is freedom to talk with them about Jesus, and they are often open to new relationships and spiritual discussions. Are you willing to learn French and get to know them? Join the mentoring and discipleship programme and share your life with these people.

2+ YEARS

FRANCE

RELATE TO OTHERS THROUGH SPORTS The delightfully situated, student-filled city of Bihac is largely Muslim and suffers from unemployment. Many students live without hope of a future. Do you have a heart for sports and young people? Do you want to put your passion into action? Form new relationships through sports and share the Gospel, bringing hope to the hopeless.

2+ YEARS

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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

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THE MIDDLE EAST

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GO TO THE LIMIT WITH GOD In small teams you will complete tasks that are too dangerous for the settled workers in this region. Along with Arabic-language lessons, you will receive training in the culture, biblical leadership and living in an Arab country. Do you want to step out of your comfort zone? Grow in your journey with God and travel to places where the Gospel has yet to be spread!

1-2 YEARS

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

“ EVERY WEEK I WENT TO A REFUGEE CAMP TO LEAD A KIDS’ CLUB. IT WAS A SPECIAL AND INTENSE TIME. DURING THAT PERIOD, I EXPERIENCED THE NEARNESS AND HELP OF THE LORD.” MARIAN

USE YOUR CREATIVE TALENTS Professional performers in drama, dance, music, theatre, mime and other expressive arts gather in Turkey. With more than 25 years of experience, OM performs shows in the Middle East and Central Asia, while keeping the Gospel as the central message. Are you a creative person or a sound technician? You might be just the person we’re looking for!

2+ YEARS

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TURKEY

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LOGOS HOPE OM’s ship Logos Hope brings knowledge, help and hope to people in port cities around the world. Since 1971, OM ships have visited over 500 ports in more than 150 countries, and at least 45 million people have been warmly welcomed on board.

In every port, the crew works with local churches and joins in with outreach activities, distributes literature and initiates relief projects.

Welcome aboard!

“ THROUGH EXPERIENCING THINGS CLOSE UP, I HAVE GROWN CLOSER TO GOD. I LEARNT TO HAVE A DAILY QUIET TIME. THE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND CHURCH BACKGROUNDS ARE ENRICHING.” FORMER CREW MEMBER

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SAIL AS A MEMBER OF THE CREW Join us for two years on Logos Hope. You will live on the ship, alongside 400 people from different nationalities. As part of the crew, you will work five days a week in one of the ship’s departments.

You will also participate in the study programme and the evangelistic and relief projects that happen on board and on shore.

2 YEARS

WORLDWIDE

SERVE IN YOUR PROFESSION Do you have maritime experience or technical knowledge? Help keep Logos Hope sailing.

Depending on your level of experience, you will lead a team of international volunteers. Invest in training and equipping young people. There are regular opportunities to join activities in the different ports.

2+ YEARS

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WORLDWIDE

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AFRICA Africa has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. The Church in SubSaharan Africa has grown immensely and is preparing to send out many missionaries in the coming years. North Africa, however, has many unreached people groups.

Existing partnerships between OM teams and local churches offer a unique platform for spreading the Gospel. Come with a flexible attitude and be eager to learn. Let Africa speak to your heart.

GIVE HOPE TO STREET CHILDREN Search for driftwood with street children and make sculptures to sell. During this project, the children learn painting, wood-working skills and mosaic making, and they receive a meal. Do you have a heart for the Muslim world, and are you willing to learn Arabic? Join us to help reveal God’s Kingdom through this project.

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2+ YEARS

EGYPT

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MISSIONS DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING (MDT) Alongside Christians from around the world you will learn to better understand God, His will, His character and His Word. Through practical application, this training will give you a stronger foundation as a believer and will prepare you for further work in Africa, for example with the AIDS Hope team.

6-12 MONTHS

SOUTH AFRICA

SHARE THE GOSPEL IN ARABIC Become part of a practical training programme.

Discover the culture while learning the local Arabic language. Help local workers teach English, develop business initiatives and reach out to the poor and disadvantaged. Experience how you can make a difference by sharing the Good News!

2-3 YEARS

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MOROCCO

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WORK TOGETHER TO BEAR FRUIT As a missionary, you aren’t alone.

Your church, family and friends are all part of your commissioning. They pray for you, support you in practical ways and support you financially.

At the same time, OM can have a positive impact on your church and the people who support you.

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YOU AND YOUR CHURCH Both during the preparation period and during your time on the mission field, good communication with your church is important. The church sends you into missions, prays for you and supports you. While on the field, you can share what you have learnt from the church. And likewise, the congregation can grow in faith as they hear what God is doing on the mission field.

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YOUR HOME SUPPORT GROUP

YOU AND OM

A home support group is a group of about five people who are your back-up team after you have left for the mission field. For instance, these people help look after your finances, facilitate communication with your supporters and ensure that people pray for you regularly. You report back to them about what is happening in your life on the mission field – both the challenges and encouragements. Your home support group is an essential part of your commissioning.

We guide you through the process of starting your home support group and raising financial support. Before your departure, we will assist you in organising logistical support for travel. OM is an international organisation, and we have good links with the mission field. Thus, we can respond quickly to questions you may have. Once you have been sent out, we keep in touch with your church, your home support group and you via email or Skype.

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ASIA This massive region encompasses two of the most densely populated countries in the world: China and India.

Hinduism and Buddhism originate here. The world’s biggest Muslim country, Indonesia, is also in this area.

The region stretches from countries bordering Europe to as far as Japan in the east and Indonesia in the south.

In these Asian countries, where religion is often central to life, the Gospel is sorely needed!

SUMMIT IN NEPAL Are you passionate about bringing Biblical transformation to some of the least reached people in the world? Learn Nepalese language and culture, be discipled and learn how to disciple others.

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2 YEARS

NEPAL

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VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE Many Khmer youth do not have adequate education to qualify for one of the few jobs in Phnom Penh. Our partner organisation, Mercy Teams International, trains young people in employment-focused technical skills. Use your technical expertise to give the next generation a better future.

2+ YEARS

CAMBODIA

EXPLORING AND PIONEERING This training for adventurers is a first step in missions. Learn a local language like Urdu, Dari or Burmese, and be part of a multicultural team. You will be taught about the cultures and religions in this area. Visit different countries and, as a team, give English lessons, organise treks into hard-to-reach areas and work with children in orphanages.

1-2 YEARS

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SOUTH EAST ASIA

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CENTRAL ASIA

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SEEKING EXPERTS Do you want to be part of a team that shares the Gospel and aims to plant indigenous churches among the unreached people groups of Central Asia? Work professionally as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, relief worker or agriculturist and spread the Gospel in word and deed.

2+ YEARS

CENTRAL ASIA

OM is active in areas that are less

INVESTING IN KIDS

accessible. In Central Asia, we aim

Are you a primary or secondary school

to develop a large network of church

teacher and fluent in English? Use your

Central Asia

communities among people of other faiths. Along with planting churches, we look for opportunities to serve the

professional skills to invest in the lives of children of missionaries serving in Central Asia. In doing this, you enable the parents to continue their work there. From behind the

population through relief projects and

scenes, you will play an important role in the

educational programmes.

growth of the local church.

2+ YEARS

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CENTRAL ASIA

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SOUTH AMERICA In the past decade, the number of Christians has increased enormously in this part of the world. South American Christians have a vision and passion to share the Gospel, especially in the Middle East.

OM wants to mobilise the South American Church for world missions, but also continues to actively support the local church with evangelism in Latin American countries.

There are various opportunities for short- and long-term evangelistic projects, working in teams reaching out to the poor, children, drug addicts and other groups of people.

PROJECT LIVE TALAMANCA The indigenous Cabecar community has roots in occultism. By fostering long-term relationships with the people, we bring the presence of Jesus to this community.

The OM team supports the local church with activities and running Bible studies and children’s programmes.

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2 YEARS

COSTA RICA

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INTENSIVE MISSIONS TRAINING Live and work with young adults from different countries and invest in new relationships. An interactive curriculum and the Bible studies will prepare you to enter the mission field. During this training, you will receive personal support, learn Spanish, visit the marginalised and share about what God is doing in local churches.

6-9 MONTHS

CHILE

INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION Be part of what God is doing among neglected children in Argentina for six-months or longer.

If you’re passionate about sharing God’s love with children, be part of this team and see God transform lives of children with BIG needs.

6-12 MONTHS+

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ARGENTINA

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Make use of your profession Do you have work experience? The knowledge and skills you’ve gained through education and work can be used in missions around the world. We always need skilled professionals in the different countries OM

RESPONSIBLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP Are you an entrepreneur who wants to focus on social, economic, sustainable and spiritual change in developing countries? Through Business4Transformation (B4T) you can

serves – teachers, technicians, IT people,

help local entrepreneurs by coaching them

artists and aid workers.

and developing ideas, products, facilities and investments. We focus on viable and profitable enterprises with good business plans. B4T is looking for entrepreneurs who can become part of a consultation team and develop projects.

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COMMUNICATE CREATIVELY Truth well told. Can you creatively tell OM’s story for His glory? If you’re a copywriter, photographer, videographer or sound technician – why not use your skills in missions? Create videos to motivate churches and stories to inform prayer.

RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT Where some look at the needs and pain in the world with despair or disinterest, OM sees opportunity and privilege to serve the poor, marginalised and forgotten. We do this through community building projects and humanitarian aid in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. We are looking for qualified agriculturalists and engineers, project managers, community support workers and healthcare workers.

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10 STEPS TO JOINING MISSIONS 1

Submit an enquiry with OM and discuss a possible vision trip

2

Have a conversation with your church leaders

3

Start the application process, get your references and have an interview

4

Be accepted to an OM field and begin preparations

5

Participate in OM UK’s training weekend, GiG

6

Form your home support group

7

Hold presentations, write a newsletter and raise funds

8

Get insurance

9

Be commissioned by your church

10

Attend the GO conference and leave for the field

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SHORT-TERM MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES Is it possible to do a short-term trip with OM first?

Short-term missions offers you trips and training opportunities varying from one week to six months. Every year we have 250 outreaches in 50 countries worldwide.

ORIENTATION INTERVIEW SHORT MISSION TRIP Not quite sure yet if you want to go on a short- or long-term trip? Contact our office for a chat with OM staff. We can help you organise your thoughts and we will work together to find a suitable place within OM for you to serve. We would love to help you explore the possibilities!

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These trips are connected to the long-term ministries and aim to familiarise you with the mission work. You can participate as a group or as an individual. OM works with international teams, so you will not experience things alone. Have a look at www.uk.om.org/shorts for current possibilities.

NEED MORE INFORMATION? Unsure about whether you want to serve for a short or longer period of time?

Do not hesitate to contact us.

We would love to help you!

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pray

give

go

“ THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, FOR HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM THAT CAPTIVES WILL BE RELEASED, THAT THE BLIND WILL SEE, THAT THE OPPRESSED WILL BE SET FREE.” LUKE 4:18 (NLT)

/OMUnitedKingdom

WWW.UK.OM.ORG/LONGER Operation Mobilisation. Registered office The Quinta, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7LT. Registered as a company limited by guarantee no. 2564320 and charity no.1008196 (England and Wales), and SCO40988 (Scotland).

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Operation Mobilisation transforming lives and communities

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