OM Global Magazine 2021 #3

O P E R AT I O N M O B I L I S AT I O N MAGAZINE 2021 ISSUE NO.3

C H R I S T I A N L I T E R AT U R E : STILL A POWERFUL TOOL

GOD’S HARVEST IN LOCKDOWN

USING MY SKILLS FOR SOMETHING ETERNAL

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ISSUE 3 2021

A WORD FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

ON THE COVER:

Woman in Afghanistan

PI C T U R E BY:

OM International

IN THIS ISSUE:

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WORLD NEWS

God’s Harvest in Lockdown

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SOUTH ASIA

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SHIP MINISTRY

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S TA R TI N G O U T I N M I S S I O N

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TA NZ A N I A

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PROFESSION IN MISSION

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GEORGE VERWER

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BLOG

He is at Work as We Pray Clearing Up Volcanic Ash and Sharing God’s Love God Prepared the Way for Our Family Known by Their Extraordinary Love Using My Skills for Something Eternal Christian Literature: Still a Powerful Mobilising Tool Four Ways to Share Your Experience of Mission

O P E R AT I O N M O B I L I S AT I O N

Registered office: The Quinta, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7LT. tel: 01691 773388 email: hello.uk@om.org w: www.uk.om.org EDITOR:

Davina Curtis STORIES AND IMAGES:

OM International

© Global magazine 2021. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced in any form without written approval from the publishers. Country file information taken from Operation World, 21st Century edition.

Dear Friends, It is hard for many of us to appreciate the desperation and lack of hope that drives so many people to flee their homes and risk their lives in order to try and build a better future for themselves and their families in another country.

In the midst of the latest crisis with refugees fleeing Afghanistan, I have been reminded of a quote by Patrick Johnstone; “God has used migration for millennia to achieve His purposes for His people.”

In OM, we sometimes have the privilege of glimpsing and experiencing the truth of this statement as we seek to serve refugees who are searching for hope and a new life.

Solomon* grew up in Afghanistan. A Muslim from birth, he became attracted to Christianity through working as a translator with a Christian charity. He was put in touch with an underground church but did not publicly proclaim his faith, not even to his wife. After threats from Islamic extremists because of his work, Solomon and his family fled Afghanistan. His wife and children went to India, while Solomon made the long journey to Greece, via Iran and Turkey. In Greece he joined a local church and connected with the OM team who were ministering to refugees. Solomon was able to share his faith openly and was baptised, together with an Afghan brother who came to Christ through Solomon’s testimony. After studying Theology at a Greek Bible college, Solomon graduated and now uses both his translation skills and his theological training to share the love of Christ with other Afghan refugees.

Of course, it is not only Afghans. We remember, among others, the Syrians and Iranians in refugee camps in Serbia, as well as the Rohingya in southern Bangladesh and the passion and commitment of OM teams to demonstrate and share God’s love with these peoples.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we in OM seek to mobilise more prayer, more funds and more people to go, so that the love of God may be shared and shown to the ends of the earth.

Bible references are from the New International Version unless stated otherwise.

/OMUNITEDKINGDOM

M AT T H E W S K I R TO N , UK CHIEF EXECUTIVE, OM

*name changed

Panoramic shots and pressing prayer updates – keep up to date and in touch via social media.

WORLD NEWS

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” R O M A N S

10:13

God’s Harvest in Lockdown hen the world stood still, God kept moving. “During lockdown many Turkish speakers were searching for Christ” Deniz, who is part of OM’s Turkish ministry in London, recalls. “We were able to meet with them through online platforms like Zoom, Facebook and YouTube. Eventually we could meet with them in person.”

OM’s Turkish Ministry, in partnership with the local church, saw a great harvest of Turkish speakers during lockdown. After waiting for a year due to restrictions, 21 new believers were finally baptised together, with at least another 10 wanting to be baptised soon.

Kristina, one of the new believers to be baptised, shared her journey to faith: “I grew up in a Muslim family. The very first time I heard about Jesus was in

2010, but I felt extremely embarrassed because of my sins, and I ran away from God. After 10 years of living an immoral life, I strongly felt in my heart that I needed to be closer to God. However, I was seeking the wrong God. I started to focus more and more on Islam and studying the Qur’an. I began praying five times a day turning to face the right direction, praying in certain ways, but I couldn’t find peace.

Back in 2010, when for the first time I heard

about Jesus, I turned my back on Him, but He has never turned His back on me. The God of the Bible waited for me for 10 years to dress me in His holiness and grace. In 2020 through the testimony and prayers of my older Christian sister I gave my life and heart to Jesus.”

“It’s encouraging to see that Turkish speakers are coming to faith,” Deniz shared. “Our prayer is that those baptised will stay strong in their faith and be a light to their neighbours”.

OM’s Turkish Ministry in London works closely with the local Bulgarian/ Turkish church. Their partnership means they can share God’s love with Turkish speakers in the UK, and train new believers how to reach their neighbours and be witnesses at their places of work.

Head to uk.om.org/ukoutreach to financially support this ministry

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SOUTH ASIA

He is at Work as We Pray ine years ago, Pippa* (32) left her home in Surrey and joined in with what God was doing among Buddhist communities in the Himalayas. Through challenges, doubts and crises, prayer has been her unshakable foundation and the catalyst of Kingdom growth.

“Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see what You are already doing.”

to two further valleys where the Gospel is barely known.

“This is my prayer,” declares Pippa.

“As I pray, I discover who He is, and I realise afresh that it’s all about Him. He is the pioneer. He is already at work, and He has invited me to join in. So here I am.”

“There are about 9,000 Buddhists living in these two valleys and very few Jesus followers, most of whom are youth,” Pippa shares. “Our goal is to see these churches in the lower valley share God’s love in the valleys above, supporting the few young believers already there.”

Around the time she moved, the team were witnessing God at work; the vast majority of a village in the Himalayas turning away from their Buddhist heritage and towards Jesus as King. This was the beginning of God’s purpose for these villagers, and the culmination of significant, faithful prayer and Jesus followers sharing God’s love in this region over the years.

“Some of the people from this village are now nurturing new groups of Jesus followers themselves,” says Pippa. Perfectly positioned, this lower valley – which now has a number of established churches – acts as a gateway

The vision is big, but Pippa’s conviction is steady and certain.

“God is faithful. He will do again what He has done before.

And it begins with prayer.”

P R AY I N G G O D ’ S P R O M I S E S

“When we trek up to the valleys where we minister, there is a change in the atmosphere,” Pippa describes. “You feel the oppression, and each day spent there is full of spiritual battles.”

She explains that Buddhist religion is dependent on performing good

ISSUE 3 2021

I began praying God’s promises over the darkness and declaring His victory. karma to secure the next life.

There is a constant undercurrent of anxiety and hopelessness.

“I found every visit to the valleys exhausting,” she describes with heavy recollection. “Until I was gently, yet poignantly, challenged by my mentor; ‘How are you praying for the Buddhist people?’ she asked.”

*names changed

“I realised that my prayers themselves were heavy – crying out to God for the hopelessness of the people we served and petitioning Him to break the bondage that held them.” Pippa’s prayers were honest and heartfelt but burdened her. “Why don’t you

“…we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” R O M A N S

8:37

try focusing your prayers on who God is?” her mentor suggested.

resources to enable God’s love to be shared where He is not known.”

This was the moment everything shifted. Obedient service became joy-filled, love-inspired, compelling service. “I began praying God’s promises over the darkness and declaring His victory. I worshipped Him more.”

“Join us in prayer,” Pippa invites.

“Prayer is vital. It’s the foundation of ministry. Through prayer we see what God is doing. Through prayer we join in with Him. Through prayer mountains move for His glory.”

OPEN DOORS T H R O U G H P R AY E R

“This year we felt challenged afresh as a team to take a step up in our prayer and fasting,” Pippa shares.

“God is already opening doors!”

The team have been overwhelmed by the response of local believers now mobilised to reach out with God’s love into their local communities. With the pandemic limiting travel, the onus for sharing the Gospel has been more keenly felt by local believers. “Just imagine the future impact of both nearand far- culture workers serving together, sharing knowledge and

Let us pray Father, Open our ears to hear and our eyes to see what You are already doing and give us the courage to join you; in prayer, in word, in action.

May your Kingdom continue to come in the farthest corners of the earth, where your love is not known.

Amen

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SHIP MINISTRY

Clearing Up Volcanic Ash and Sharing God’s Love

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

ISSUE 3 2021

o see random people who aren’t believers come and join us showed me how much of an impact we can have on those around us.”

Monica Harder (Canada) reflected after more than a hundred teams were sent ashore from Logos Hope to help clean churches, houses and community facilities on the island of Saint Vincent. They were responding after the La Soufrière volcano erupted for the first time in 40 years; raining down toxic ash on buildings, roads and crops.

“We love because he first loved us.”

coronavirus vaccination services to all on board who wished to take up the offer. So, for an unplanned reason, the unique resource that is OM’s ship was travelling back to the island when the volcano erupted – meaning crew could distribute much-needed drinking water and purification filters, food and personal care essentials immediately after the disaster.

To see how much you can overcome with the help of God reminded me of His strength in our trials.

Monica saw for herself that meeting practical needs led to conversations about why the ship’s volunteers would do dirty work for strangers.

As they swept up ash together, there were opportunities to speak about the gospel permeating all aspects of life lived for Christ. This holistic approach to partnering and influencing for the Kingdom is how Logos Hope seeks to develop crewmembers as disciple-makers, wherever they find themselves.

Our integral mission focus is to positively impact communities that are marginalised, vulnerable, hurting. We are motivated – and passionate about mobilising others – to make a difference for Jesus on every level: socioeconomic, practical, spiritual.

We see God’s sovereign hand as we serve Him and are sensitive to His leading. The government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, having already facilitated Logos Hope’s lengthy port call in the capital at the beginning of the year, extended its

With much to do in the ‘red zone’ around Mount Soufrière in the north of Saint Vincent, Logos Hope revisited the island immediately after her annual maintenance work at a shipyard in Curaçao. She came laden with donated food, clothing

1 JOHN 4:19

and building materials: a ‘love offering’ to Vincentians collected by their fellow Caribbean islanders.

A further shipping container-load of donated goods from charities, businesses and the OM Ships literature centre in the USA was soon delivered to Kingstown port.

Crew have spent two months working with local partners to sort and distribute supplies. They blessed a neighbourhood by building its first outdoor playground and studied God’s Word with adults and children staying in shelter accommodation.

It’s our prayer and our push as we visit each port, that Jesus would draw people to work together to accomplish more than they could as individuals, a church, or mission agency.

And as we work for God, He works in us through those we encounter.

Lucas Brito (Brazil) said, “I had prepared myself to meet many desperate people, as they had already been through the COVID-19 pandemic and the island was suffering with many cases of dengue fever. As if this wasn’t enough, the volcano erupted and made many homes uninhabitable. But I didn’t meet any desperate people. I met people who stayed faithful to God. To see how much you can overcome with the help of God reminded me of His strength in our trials.”

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GLOBAL MAGAZINE

SHIP MINISTRY

EMBARK on a journey of discovery to know God’s heart for the world and where you fit into His plan;

Get On Board!

If you know someone looking for an opportunity to go and live out God’s love, pass on this article to them! Or maybe you are considering joining Logos Hope yourself.

Did you know 40% of the world population lives on the coast? What better way to reach these people than by travelling by ship and docking in ports around the world!

Home to 400 volunteers from all over the world, the ship has a place for everyone on board. Volunteers join for a commitment of 2 months, 1 year, or 2 years.

No prior experience or skills are needed as comprehensive training is provided before stepping aboard.

Once onboard Logos Hope, you will receive further training on the job as well as for ministry and life skills.

The ship has 6 main areas of service: Bookfair, Angels (cleaning), Galley and Pantry (kitchen), Deck, and Engine, along with many other departments. These are vital to the running of the ship, and you will play your part for five days and have one day of ministry outreach a week.

Interested? Find out more at: www.uk.om.org/ships I M P O R TA N T I N F O R M AT I O N :

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old, in good health and speak English at a reasonable level.

• Applicants must raise financial support to cover the basic living costs on board.

• Applicants must have a sending home church who will recommend you and can support you spiritually during your time.

Be EQUIPPED to be more effective in ministry through work, training and living in an international community; Be EMPOWERED to make a difference in the lives of those you meet during your time on board and throughout your life.

S TA R TI N G O U T I N M I S S I O N

“The Lord himself goes before you...” D E U T E R O N O M Y

31:8

God Prepared the Way for Our Family od placed Turkey on my heart; we didn’t know if we were going to go on a short-term outreach or long-term placement, moving our family thousands of miles away from home. But God knew and went ahead of us, every step.

In 2020, as the world locked down, preparations sped up for Charlotte’s family. “It was a busy year, working full time and exploring our calling as a family, squeezing in training calls and meetings, and also trying to learn the language. All in the midst of a global pandemic,” she recalled.

Fundraising seemed especially challenging. But as the family faithfully prayed together each morning, God responded through people they knew.

Each new commitment bolstered the family’s faith.

Before they knew it, it was time to go!

“We were generally quite in the background in our church, helping out a little with preaching and technical aspects, and the youth work, but nothing that would make you point at us and shout ‘missionary!’” she said.

Then the family joined a short-term outreach to Eastern Europe with OM. “It was much more rewarding than a holiday, it brought us together and strengthened our faith as a whole family.

We made great friends, learnt

a new culture, even picked up a few phrases and enjoyed trying to recreate the meals at home,” she described.

In 2019, the family joined a ten-day outreach in Turkey.

In contrast to their previous outreach, “this time there were no locals on the team, and it felt really weird,” Charlotte explained. On the last day of their trip, the OM leader in Turkey told the family about an initiative to raise up more locals and bring them into mission.

“And there was our vision,” Charlotte stated. “If we can do something to help locals get involved in mission—it’s our calling! From that short trip, we felt this was what God was calling us to.”

For our short-term outreach options go to uk.om.org/go.

*names changed

Charlotte had always been interested in missions, but she wasn’t sure

what that would ‘look like’ for her—or how it would fit in with her family. Prior to joining OM, she got involved in youth work, and through that, fundraising and project development. Her husband qualified as a teacher and gained experience in school leadership and coaching team members.

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TA N Z A N I A

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

Known by Their Extraordinary Love s we look forward to Christmas 2021, we also want to look back at last year. Here is a glimpse at one of the projects funded by your kind donations to the 2020 Christmas Appeal.

This is Hassan’s* story as told by an OM worker in Tanzania.

OM Tanzania have been involved with Matipwili Islamic village in Tanzania for the past two years.

One evening while on outreach, as we were busy having a meal, a young Muslim man by the name of Hassan came looking for us. Hassan is a father of eight and a husband of two. He shared with us that he had heard we were back in the village, and he wanted to take the opportunity to become a follower of Jesus. We asked him, ‘why now?’.

Based on the beliefs and teachings of Islam, Hassan believed he could not be saved. He shared how impossible it was for him to keep

to the laws and how God seemed so far away, his life was falling apart, and sin was dominating him. Hassan felt like Islam did not make sense to him anymore and it was failing him. He shared how he saw something different and unique about us, and about our message and had come to ask for help. He was almost on his knees in desperation begging for us to help him to become a follower of Jesus.

We could see that he was expectant of a special ceremony and a prayer, but we just simply told him to go back home and cry out to God for himself. We shared how he needed to ask God to save him, and we encouraged him to come back and share how God had spoken to him.

ISSUE 3 2021

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” P S A L M

He was almost on his knees in desperation begging for us to help him to become a follower of Jesus.

The following day Hassan came back looking like a different man. He shared of how one of his children, who had kept them up many nights for months because of a chest condition, had slept through the night. Every time Hassan woke up to check on the child, to his surprise the child was still sleeping, but he took the opportunity to pray through the night. During the night God revealed Himself to Hassan, and he made a decision to follow Jesus. Hassan then asked if we would disciple him and his family and he asked for a Bible. Paul, one of our fellow brothers in the Lord, immediately stepped up and committed himself to journeying with Hassan.

*names changed

Hassan’s story reminded the Team of the scripture in John 13:35, where Jesus tells His followers that the world will know that we are His disciples and belong to Him by the way we have love for one another. Our testimony as a community of believers speaks volumes to the world around us.

Christmas Mercy Appeal As in the words of Mary in Luke 1 – Join us this Christmas as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and show mercy to those in distress, lift the humble and fill the hungry with good things.

To give to this year’s appeal, go to uk.om.org/appeal

86:5

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LIVE OUT LOVE : PROFESSION IN MISSION

Using My Skills for Something Eternal ife with God is an adventure, and do you trust Him enough to say ‘Yes!’ to that adventure?” When Jenna Montgomery (JM) heard a conference speaker say that, it was the final confirmation that she needed to step out.

“God wanted me to use my professional skills to invest in something eternal,” she said in an interview with OM Journalist Nicky Andrews (NA).

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“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others...” 1

NA: YOU LEFT A PERMANENT HR JOB IN THE UK TO JOIN OM IN SPAIN, AND YOU’RE NOW THEIR PERSONNEL O F F I C E R . H O W D I D T H AT COME ABOUT?

I received a final confirmation that I needed to use my skills for God abroad through a conference speaker in 2018. At the time I’d spent 10 years doing work in Human Resources (HR) for my local city council in Aberdeen and serving in my home church. I joined OM in Spain in January 2019 for a two year commitment, focusing on outreach and discipling.

JM:

Then the director invited me to stay longer and become Personnel Officer. I’m able to do HR part time and continue serving in some of my previous ministries too. So, I get to combine all my passions meeting new people, sharing about Jesus, speaking Spanish, and Human Resources!

N A : D O YO U H AV E A S T RO N G S E N S E T H AT G O D G I V E S A N D USES OUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR HIS GLORY?

Absolutely, I feel God gave me a heart for people and enables me to do HR well. Doing my previous job in the UK to the best of my ability, with God’s help, glorified Him. However, whilst you don’t have to go abroad to use your Godgiven skills, I can see how mine are

JM:

making a difference to the OM team in Spain.

NA: HOW DO YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS CONTRIBUTE TO THE MINISTRY OF OM IN SPAIN?

In Aberdeen I’d been in a team of about 60 people supporting 7,000 council staff, but the aims of HR are the same everywhere – right people, right place, right time! I hope my colleagues here feel wellsupported, and in a good place to fulfil their potential.

JM:

I get to combine all my passions - meeting new people, sharing about Jesus, speaking Spanish, and Human Resources!

PETER 4:10

N A : W H AT W O U L D YO U S AY TO SOMEONE WONDERING IF GOD CAN USE THEIR SKILLS IN MISSIONS?

It’s wise to explore the future impact on your professional development and pensions.

However, in my own profession, I don’t foresee huge issues with those if I return to the UK. I’ve gained new transferable skills in Spain, such as living and working in a different language and culture, which I can bring to any future role.

JM:

But there’s the bigger picture. So many people in the world have never heard the Gospel. Telling them is the responsibility of all believers, you don’t need a special calling for that. But if you are abroad, you need a network of people around you doing roles like finance, HR, or IT. These professions help others to go, so you’re using your professional skills to invest in something eternal, and that’s exciting!

Use Your Profession in Mission

Providing an efficient HR function, and using ‘soft skills’ in interviewing and active listening, can make a big difference to someone’s experience of an organisation, especially in the process of joining and settling in to a new country, or needing some member care later.

Were you inspired by Jenna’s story?

OM has a variety of opportunities all over the world. To find out how you could use your professional skills in mission head to uk.om.org/ go or email personnel.uk@om.org.

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OP-ED

Christian Literature: Still a Powerful Mobilising Tool ven during lockdowns all over the world, Christian literature has played a vital role both digitally and in print.” George Verwer, founder of OM, explains.

Now coordinating a small team in the UK called Special Projects, George continues to raise funds to reach the unreached, build up God’s people, and provide Bibles and literature in languages where the need is greatest.

“We have seen tens of thousands of books and Bibles distributed all over the world, but especially to Africa and India” George continued. “We get amazing response even from young people.”

Many of the books Special Projects offer teach on missional living – encouraging believers to engage with, and live out, the gospel message. “History shows that books of that kind have been a major factor in mobilising people into missions.

I have had thousands of letters and e-mails that show that this is true.”

Whilst reading books has surged during the pandemic and lockdown in the UK (almost doubling in popularity), many of the younger generation do not know about such books. “We as disciples and committed people need to work night and day to change that.”

George encourages.

He goes on to share the impact literature has had on him throughout his own life: “I came to Jesus

because of a praying woman, a gospel of John, and Billy Graham.

I was discipled largely though life-changing books.” Knowing the spiritual impact books can have, George has continued to encourage others to take advantage of the resources available. “I now have 65 years of distributing life literature and I still have the prayer that people will also become distributors.”

Equipping the Church through quality literature has been part of OM’s DNA for over 60 years. We offer a wide range of books which can be found at uk.om.org/books.

Take some time to pray for God To put a book and/or person on your heart, and take the opportunity to encourage and mobilise someone in your church.

UK.OM.ORG/BLOG

“…encourage one another and build each other up...” 1

THESSALONIANS 5:11

Four Ways to Share Your Experience of Mission oining in with God’s mission is an everyday rhythm - an everyday choice to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and live out God’s love right where you are.

But the times when we step out of our comfort zones to serve God in a particular place, at a particular time, can be transformative. We don’t come back the same.

How can we share this experience effectively?

1.SHARE YOUR STORY

Your story is powerful. It can inspire, but it also acts as a blueprint for a route into mission. Being honest about the joys and challenges of your experience gives others permission to ask their questions or share their fears.

Find points of connection in conversation. A discussion might turn to a particular country or city take these natural opportunities

to speak about how you’ve seen God at work in that place.

2. ENRICH YOUR C O M M U N I T Y AT H O M E

Be open about your experience in the communities you already find yourself – this might be your church small group, prayer group or Christian Union.

Encourage prayer for the world in these contexts and raise awareness of people groups with very limited access to the Gospel.

Find resources to help you do this at uk.om.org/prayerresources 3. INVEST IN THOSE WHO GO AFTER YOU

Do you know anyone who’s planning to go overseas to serve God? Use your experience to support them through this process.

This might look like taking them for a coffee to chat about the country they’re going to or the ministry they’ll be involved in. It could also look like praying with them or supporting them financially.

4. BECOME AN AMBASSADOR

One way of using your experience is to become an Ambassador! This voluntary role is about engaging with Jesus followers in your local area, inspiring them to find their place in God’s mission.

You might have returned from overseas mission with a deep care for a people group, culture, or ministry. Being an Ambassador is a great opportunity to encourage others to consider cross cultural mission.

Find out more at uk.om.org/ambassadors

journey An extraordinary

begins this Christmas Find out more at: U K .O M .O RG/C H R I S TM A S

REGISTERED OFFICE:

Operation Mobilisation, The Quinta, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7LT. Registered as a company limited by guarantee no. 2564320 and charity no.1008196 (England and Wales).