OM Global Magazine #2 2022

O P E R AT I O N M O B I L I S AT I O N MAGAZINE 2022 ISSUE NO.2

RESPONDING TO THE UKRAINIAN CRISIS

WAYS TO P R AY FO R P EO P L E 3 GROUPS AROUND THE WORLD

SEE THE LAMB OF GOD

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ISSUE 2 2022

A WORD FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

ON THE COVER:

Ukrainian Refugee PI C T U R E BY:

Alex Zehrer

IN THIS ISSUE:

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EUROPE

Responding to the Ukrainian crisis

04

WORLD NEWS

06

BLOG

07

SHIP MINISTRY

09

LEGACY

10

EMPOWERING WOMEN

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PROFESSION IN MISSION

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C R E ATI V E M I N I S TR I E S

The doorbell of Good News

3 ways to pray for people groups around the world

The Lord is with you, always

I Will

In the Balkans

Bringing hope

See the Lamb of God

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.

Registered as a company limited by guarantee no. 2564320 and charity no.1008196 (England and Wales).

Dear Friends, Amidst the heart-breaking stories of war, suffering and displaced people I have been so touched by the way OM teams have mobilised to reach out to people in and around Ukraine. To hear and see first hand the way in which our workers continue to care for those fleeing horrendous situations has been both moving and inspiring. In fact, it has been in the midst of the unfolding tragedy in Eastern Europe that I have found myself feeling so privileged to be a part of a mission movement like OM as I see how our workers remain completely committed, working tirelessly in their desire to demonstrate as well as proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all peoples.

We have seen unprecedented concern and support for the work in and around Ukraine in recent months and we are now seeing opportunities open up for people not only to pray and give financially but also to go, to work alongside believers in countries in Eastern Europe for a week or two and help serve those in need and share the hope that we have in our Lord Jesus.

The crisis and subsequent opportunities to serve people in Eastern Europe, has reminded us of the incredible possibilities (now travel restrictions have been lifted) to engage in short-term outreaches.

Would you or someone in your church be interested in joining one of our teams this summer? Mobilisation of course has always been at the heart of OM, and we long to see more people serving with us around the world. Whether teenagers (through TeenStreet), students and young adults (Short-term, Discipleship and Gap Year programmes), longer term recruits (on board Logos Hope or in one of our other teams) – so many incredible opportunities to serve!

tel: 01691 773388 email: hello.uk@om.org w: www.uk.om.org

Thank you for your continued support as we seek to inspire, equip, and connect British Christians to engage in God’s Mission to His world.

EDITORS:

Yours in Christ,

Davina Curtis and Kerry Wigglesworth STORIES AND IMAGES:

OM International

© Global magazine 2022. 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.

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

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

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

P.S. Please do consider joining us for our 60th anniversary celebration of OM in the UK. uk.om.org/60-years

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

EUROPE

JEREMIAH 31:25

Responding to the Ukrainian crisis

O

M teams continue to respond to the unfolding situation in Ukraine and surrounding countries.

As more and more people flee, our team members are busy mobilising local churches, coordinating relief efforts, and administering aid to those in need. Our OM teams are assisting thousands of vulnerable people in Ukraine and across six bordering countries.

WORDS JENNY SHAFFER

After travels, leaving loved ones behind, and days-long waits on the Ukraine border, people are exhausted. Many of our teams have set up first response tents near the border or in cities where refugees are arriving by bus. Team members and

volunteers distribute hot food, beverages, and essential goods like blankets and warm clothing to those in need. Many of the more vulnerable include small children, the elderly, and pregnant women – and these are among those that OM teams are intentionally assisting.

A key role that many of our OM teams are stepping into is the coordination efforts to connect national volunteers or churches with meeting the needs of arriving Ukrainians. In Poland, a website has been launched to help volunteers know where the needs are and how they can respond.

Elsewhere, team members are manually helping to co-ordinate and pass along requests, working tirelessly to build bridges between those that want to get involved and where the needs are.

Several teams have opened roles for international short-term volunteers to support their efforts. OM teams are also helping to advocate on behalf of Ukrainians arriving, especially when it comes to finding temporary shelter options for people to stay in. In response to our efforts, churches have opened their doors, existing refugee camps are receiving more people, and local businesses are donating goods and services to help. In some places, despite having very little themselves, people’s responses have been generous, immediate, and joyful.

Local businesses are donating what they can, and our OM teams are purchasing locally sourced goods to help boost the local economy as well.

How can you get involved?

Join us in prayer Keep up-to-date with the latest prayer requests straight from our OM teams by visiting uk.om. org/pray-for-ukraine.

Support our OM teams Give or go to help our teams respond to the needs of refugees in border areas, and within Ukraine. Find out how you can use your time, talents and treasure to live out God’s love in this crisis.

Visit uk.om.org/ukraine Host a refugee If you or your church would like to host Ukrainian refugees here in the UK, we recommend heading to the Welcome Churches website ukrainewelcome.org/howcan-i-help for advice.

WORLD NEWS

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

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The doorbell of Good News

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amuel*, originally from Europe, has lived in North Africa for 15 years, faithfully sharing the Good News whenever possible. Recently, he got to see the fruit of how God had worked in a young man’s life he shared the Gospel with seven years ago. This is his story.

WORDS MIRIAM CONLEY

When the doorbell rang at my house, I quickly ran to check who it was. As I opened the door I was greeted by a young man in his late twenties. He greeted me enthusiastically and asked how I was doing. While talking to him I was trying to figure out how I knew him.

“I am Mohammed*,” he said, “but my friends call me Mado*. Do you remember me?” He was smiling as he asked and reminded me that seven years ago, I met him in a mobile shop as I was trying to fix

a broken phone. Later that day we had gone for a cup of coffee, and he shared with me that he had no place to stay as he was kicked out of his house. “You gave me a room to stay for a couple of days before I was able to solve the problems with the family”, Mado reminded me. “During those days you also shared the Good News with me, and we prayed together.” Now I remembered him.

“Ahh, it’s you!” I said, smiling.

Mado grew up as a Muslim, but I had a sense something was different now. He was radiating with light.

“Want to go out for coffee?” Mado asked. “I would like to share my testimony with you”. Maybe he saw my confusion because he went on to explain: “I am your brother now.

I’ve become a Christian.” When I heard that, I didn’t hesitate a

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I had a vision with Jesus. He appeared in my room and filled it with a powerful light and incredible divine power.

second. “Give me a minute to get ready and I will be out in no time.”

*names changed

I quickly grabbed my shoes and walked with him to the nearest coffee shop. As we sat down for coffee, Mado could not wait to tell me his story. “I had a vision with Jesus. He appeared in my room and filled it with a powerful light and

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy…”

incredible divine power. Jesus said: ‘I am Yesua, who shed my blood for you.’ I didn’t understand what He meant so I searched on the internet to find an explanation of His words.

I could not understand what I was reading. It didn’t make sense to me.

The next day, Yesua came to visit me again. This time He was reading from the Bible in a language I could not understand.”

“I kept searching every church in the neighbourhood to hear that language. Then I found a Korean church that the Lord led me to.

When the pastor was reading the Bible, I realised that was the language I had heard in my vision. While the pastor kept reading, he missed one word from the text, and I stood up and corrected him. Everyone was amazed how I noticed that. Then, I told them my story, and the Holy

ROMANS 15:13A

Spirit convinced me I needed to accept Jesus. I understood there why He died for me; to give me eternal life by just believing in Him and what He had done on the cross. Later that year, I got baptised too.”

“For the last two years, I have been serving the Lord as a Sunday school teacher and kept on studying the Word of God.” He smiled. “I thought you would be happy to hear what God has done in my life.” He was right. He then paused and looked at me, finishing off his story. “I wanted to thank you for showing me the love of Jesus in a practical way when I really needed help in my life, brother.”

I was amazed by what God had done in his life. When we said goodbye that day, we decided to meet soon again for fellowship and prayer.

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

UK.OM.ORG/BLOG

3 ways to pray for people groups around the world

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hen we think about the billions of people in the world who have never heard the name of Jesus, it can feel overwhelming. We know that prayer is powerful, but where do we start when praying on such a vast scale?

1 . S E E

Often, we tend to pray about the things directly affecting our own lives. Of course, this is not wrong – prayer should be a continual conversation with God. Nothing is too small to bring to Him in prayer.

But nothing is too big either.

As we lift our eyes to see people groups in our world who have limited access to the Gospel, we’re more likely to pray for them.

WORDS KE WROR R Y DW SIG AR G TL H E SUW R OMRATGHA H Y

One practical way to do this is to read. The Joshua Project and Operation World both have excellent resources available online. Discover specific prayer needs for each people group at joshuaproject.net and operationworld.org.

2 . S A F E G U A R D

In regions where Christ is least known, often those who decide to follow Him will face persecution.

Pray for protection and perseverance for these new believers, who often live in places where there is no known church.

Turning from another religion to follow Jesus can be one of the sources of this persecution.

If you’d like to pray for Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist background believers throughout the year, join ‘The Prayer Room’ via our Facebook page at facebook. com/omunitedkingdom.

3 . S E N D

In Luke 10:2, Jesus told His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” This verse is often quoted in relation to mission. But the verse has a second part: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”

When we see a need for more people to engage in mission, Jesus says our first response should be prayer. Not cajoling using human wisdom, but trusting in the wisdom of God and praying for His Spirit to be intervening in people’s lives.

Being involved in this is exciting and humbling. But as you pray, be open to the possibility that you might be the one God is calling to these places and people that He so loves.

UK.OM.ORG/BLOG

“…the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

JOSHUA 1:9

The Lord is with you, always

H

ello! My name is Luke, and I have recently returned from serving on board Logos Hope.

Having been brought up in West Lothian, Scotland, I was keen to serve God in whatever way He deemed necessary.

God led me to Logos Hope through several experiences through which I realised I needed to learn to trust Him more. It soon became clear that of all the ways I could do that, living on a ship lightyears away from home, both physically and culturally, was a pretty good way to go about it! So, I applied, had an interview, filled out all the forms, attended all the training, and in the middle of a global pandemic, I embarked on a year-long journey that changed my life.

WORDS LUKE DAVIDSON

On the ship, I worked in the catering department. Here I began to appreciate more the vibrant international community we had on board as I was washing dishes and preparing meals alongside Germans, Ukrainians, Mexicans, Ecuadorans, Dominicans, Moldovans, Chinese, and many others.

This is a story about how the Lord worked in us and through us to be a blessing to those around us.

As amazing as the work was, however, that wasn’t the main reason why we were there.

While COVID-19 reduced the opportunities we had to serve, God still opened doors for us to bless the communities hosting us. For example, we were in St Vincent in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption of the island’s volcano, La Soufrière. As a result, I was able to help in efforts to

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SHIP MINISTRY

pack donations and distribute any surplus fresh water we had to the local community.

I also had opportunities to be involved in sports ministry at a juvenile detention centre and to work a shift on the ship’s newly reopened bookfair. On a personal level, these were maybe two of the most impactful ministry experiences I had. But this isn’t a story about me or the people I met, or even about Logos Hope.

This is a story about how the Lord worked in us and through us to be a blessing to those around us.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave His followers a clear instruction: to “make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded

you.” This is no small mission. On their journey so far, the disciples had experienced furious storms, encountered wild demon-possessed men, suffered threats of arrest, imprisonment, and stoning, and now they were being asked to continue without the One who had brought them safely through that. But here Jesus also gives a promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The point is, from then until the day Christ comes again, those who undertake this mission do not do so alone.

There are 2.1 billion people with very limited opportunities to hear the Good News of the love of God. It may seem like we’ve inherited an impossible task. But just as the task has remained the same, the promise has remained the same also - that the Spirit of God will be with us “to the very end of the age.” We are not

to fulfil this mission alone. The Lord actively encourages us to partner with Him in this and to do it in His wisdom and strength, not our own.

Get on board!

If you were inspired by Luke’s story, you can find out more about joining

Logos Hope at uk.om.org/logos-hope.

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“I thank my God “Fighteverytime the goodI fight remember of the faith.” you.”

P 1 HTIILMI POPTIHA YN S6 : 11 :23A

WILL L E AV E A L E G A C Y Because of the generosity of people like you leaving a gift to OM in their Will, in 2021 we were able to send additional support to a number of teams and ministries.

There were 12 extra projects we were able to support. Four of these were in North Africa, an area which is one of our focus areas for ministry growth over the coming years.

*names changed WORDS LEAH GOULDING

One project we were able to support was for a team who have had their first Muslim Background Believer join them as an OM worker. For these local believers there is no local funding to support them. Therefore, we have supported the setup of a media shop for this worker. This will have a room for photoshoots, one for editing and another that is soundproofed for audio recording.

For many children in this area, schooling is a luxury which is rarely

completed. For many of the present working aged adults this was also the case, as their education was hugely impacted by the conflict in their region. This is something that the local team are not wanting to happen again for those of current schooling age due to lack of finances. Therefore, we have been able to support some of the local team members, providing finance to ensure that they get to go to school.

Another project we have supported is a garden project. Adam* was hired with a few others to make bricks to build a brick wall. He quickly noticed the environment was completely different. “All the people were friendly and respectful, and they treated us like their own family,” Adam said. He realised there

was something different about the people by the way they treated and love others, so he began to ask questions. This led to Adam’s team lead sharing God’s love with him and giving him an AudioBible. Over time Adam would ask more questions about the things he had heard. “He explained it to me until I came to total conviction that Christianity is the religion of God and Jesus died for my sins!” shared Adam.

If you have already written your Will and intend to leave a gift to OM, we’d love to know. Or if you’ve got questions about leaving a legacy to OM, contact us at: hello.uk@om.org or 01691 773388

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

THE BALKANS

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Empowering women in the Balkans

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*names changed

W O R D S A N N I E R E E D A N D EWL O L YRND SS CDHAEVLI LDE N J OB H ER NG S

hen Ensia*, a participant in one of our projects, lost her husband, she was left with young children including a little girl who has a tumour and a son with impaired sight. Strangely, when a woman in this corner of the Balkans loses a husband to death, divorce, or desertion, they become a target for slander or blame.

The family of her lost husband “sanctioned” Ensia, and this harassment brought her to seek medical help for the stress in her life.

Ensia has been attending the life skills classes which are part of a vocational training project. Seminars on personal value and boundaries have been transformational for her and she is doing much better because of the support that staff and volunteers have been able to give her. She has taken the first step but will need ongoing emotional support along this journey. Unfortunately, her case is not at all unusual here.

Our Women’s Empowerment Project (WEP), along with practical

We know that the promise of blessing, the promise of life, will come to all the families of the earth.

skills, offers women a chance to become aware of and consider, their own personal value. One lady told us recently, “I have found myself with all of you.” The programme offers a chance to be seen, to have space for themselves, to be something more than a

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collection point for other people´s expectations and obligations. People can find emotional healing in moving on from loss and trauma. WEP builds capacity and hope, offering a bridge over troubled waters.

Donations given from the UK have played a critical role in making this bridge possible through funding local staff and trainer salaries.

Recently we have seen the project spilling over across generations.

Connecting with mothers and families brings us into the sphere of their sons and daughters; in this context, surveying the local schools, we find ourselves in a terrain of crisis. Fathers are lost to growing divorce rates and a population haemorrhaging into the diaspora.

Schools, which are perhaps the healthiest institution, describe 50% of families as dysfunctional.

Young people have issues managing emotions and communication

“those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.”

ISAIAH 40:31A

with self-control. Gambling, high unemployment, poverty and a crippling skills gap are in the background.

Perhaps at the heart of this crisis is personal value and values. There is a loss of a sense of responsibility as youth see that diligence and honesty do not appear to pay.

Many want “chill, power and cash” without work, and bad guys seem to prosper. Others find themselves trapped in isolation, in a shaming culture, with little access to sports, dance, or creative expression. On top of this, COVID-19 has left a gaping wound in the psychology of adolescent kids. Into this terrain, we are working towards a youth dimension to the WEP intervention.

There are almost no known believers here. Serving in this closed community means we are an authentic and welcome healing

presence, which provokes questions that might not otherwise arise, as we share life and our stories: “How do you believers deal with evil (spirits)?” “How can religious rules make you a good person?” “How can Jesus be both God and man?” We can agree that Jesus is the Word of God. But we clarify, to look at Him, you are looking at the exegesis of God, the human face of God. He is the very book of God. We know that the promise of blessing, the promise of life, will come to all the families of the earth.

It is perhaps unbeknown to them at this point. The Book of Life contains names of people from families from this terrain and from these streets.

Please pray for this project as OM teams in the Balkans minister to women like Enisa and their families.

If you would like to support OM ministries like this one, please go to uk.om.org/give

GLOBAL MAGAZINE

LIVE OUT LOVE : PROFESSION IN MISSION

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Bringing Hope ost families in the part of Central Asia where Shona* serves keep their disabled children hidden at home in a dark room, where neighbours and the community cannot see them.

Shona, an Occupational Therapist from the UK, works with children with disabilities and supports their families through Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) groups, home visits, and training for local staff and mothers.

In the CBR groups, the children play with one another, sing songs with basic sign language, receive a short lesson, a time of application through art, and then a snack. If a family arrives earlier, the child can also receive one-on-one therapy.

WORDS JENNIFER ROLAND

For new mothers, this can be overwhelming to step into, however, as the town is small, connections are quickly made: “Oh! You are my auntie’s neighbour.”

“You went to school with my brother!” And so they are ushered into this new community.

In this Muslim country, many mothers feel the weight of shame for having a child with a disability, not because of the child, but because they believe that it is their punishment for a sin they have committed. One of the first things Shona and her team seek to do when meeting a family for the first time is to break this cycle of bondage and hopelessness and speak life into their circumstances.

It is here that they share the love of God for the first time. “To witness this part of someone’s story is such an honour,” Shona recounts.

Often it is the first time they have heard this, and it is the beginning step of revealing their worth: the crack of light seeping into a dim situation. “The work isn’t just about providing access to occupational therapy; it is providing access to the hope and love of God.”

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Shona grew up within a Christian family and does not remember a time when she did not know God. In High School, Shona continued to grow in her faith, but “somewhere along the way, I built an image of someone who serves God in other countries. I wasn’t it: I am not outgoing or extroverted.”

Even before graduating as an occupational therapist, she knew that she did not want to work within the health service as she had felt that the spiritual side of people’s lives was ignored in this context.

Shona wanted to give people more to grow into, not just meeting their physical and mental needs.

We want to be living examples of Christ – His light in a dark and hopeless place.

*names changed

After graduating, Shona felt such a strong nudge that she could not ignore it. She did not feel called to a particular people group and felt quite anxious about the possibility of God calling her to a new unknown place. Despite the anxiety, she asked Him to send her where she was most needed, as “the thought of not following God’s calling was more anxietyprovoking than going wherever He sent me.” A vision trip to Central Asia wiped away any anxieties.

She remembers walking along a street in one town and felt peace

“Your word is a lamp to my feet…”

blanket her and God saying, ‘Home, you will call this place home.’

Shona reveals God’s love through daily life with her neighbours in her new home. People notice the way the Christian foreigners live differently and have chosen to give up their comfortable Western lives.

“We want to be living examples of Christ – His light in a dark and hopeless place.” Opportunities to share stories and pray whilst drinking cups of tea or in the marketplace are endless. “In fact,” Shona added, “we sometimes found the number of invitations

PSALM 119:105

we received overwhelming.” The team are praising God for these invitations, but also praying for more examples of Christ like Shona.

What is your profession?

Using your profession in mission is a great way to use the skills you already have to live out God’s love where Christ is least known. To find out more about using your profession in mission, go to missions.uk.om.org to see oppotunities available.

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See the Lamb of God

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n Belgium, a powerful project to share the Gospel is underway – using the arts. Several years ago, Gerdine Baaij moved to Belgium and visited an exhibition about Flemish painter Jan van Eyck.

Shortly after, she discovered a labyrinth in a local Catholic church and her creative process started.

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Jan van Eyck’s most famous painting is ‘The Lamb of God’, depicting the scene in Revelation 5 in which the Lamb of God is worshipped in Heaven.

This painting is the centrepiece of the Arts Experience Labyrinth, setting the theme for the entire experience. The labyrinth is made from portable panels that can be set up wherever the exhibition travels. Each panel tells a piece of the story, printed in vivid colour, and every element is important in Flemish culture.

In addition to van Eyck’s painting, the labyrinth also features works from the Flemish primitives. These painters worked between the 13th and 14th centuries, and their pieces are inspired by Biblical texts.

Interspersed with the historical paintings are contemporary works collected specifically for this exhibition. To guide people through the exhibition, the team created Pepijn the Flemish Giant rabbit.

A cartoonist brought the breed to life along with other characters, one of whom is a giant – an oftenseen character in Belgium.

WORDS HOLLEN HOSTETLER

Special music was also composed to play in the background while people walk through the labyrinth. There is also the ability for other art forms, such as dance, to be incorporated if the venue allows. All these elements come together to create a stunning experience that leads people to encounter Jesus in a unique way. They are arranged in such a way that they walk visitors through the metanarrative of

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him...”

PSALM 145:18

Scripture, touching on creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration.

By experiencing the beauty of the art in the labyrinth, people will experience the goodness of the Lamb of God.

The hope and prayer for this exhibition are that people will come and be moved by the story of the Lamb of God. The Gospel is presented without overtly evangelising those who come, but rather by allowing them to experience the story themselves in a novel way. Those who may not be willing to talk about Jesus otherwise may in this way hear the truth. The project has also brought together the Protestant and Catholic churches in the area. Historically, they have not worked together, but the labyrinth has provided a way for them to collaborate. The team had a test exhibition to see how things would go and what needed to be improved, and they now have a full exhibition that started in June. Entry to the entire exhibition will be offered for free wherever it travels, as the heart of the team is to honour the Flemish culture and give the people something beautiful.

The Lord has already worked mightily to bring this project together, even in spite of the

pandemic. The lives of those planning it have been greatly influenced and they are eager to see how the Holy Spirit will move as the exhibition travels. The Gospel is beautiful, and it is showcased in this fantastic work of artistry.

By experiencing the beauty of the art in the labyrinth, people will experience the goodness of the Lamb of God. May He be honoured and glorified, and may many hear of His love through this exhibition!

Creative ministry opportunities You are uniquely shaped with gifts and skills, all of which God can use for His glory. Are you an artist, dancer, or someone who enjoys other forms of art? Explore our upcoming creative outreaches by going to uk.om.org/shorts and filtering by ministry type ‘creative ministries.’

“God is at work. We count it a privilege that He continues to use OM in the UK to fulfil His “God is at work. We count it a privilege that purposes. Our vision and prayer is that OM He continues to use OM in the UK to fulfil His continues to help mobilise churches in local purposes. Our vision and prayer is that OM as well as global mission efforts.” continues to help mobilise churches in local Matthew Skirton - UK Chief Executive, OM as well as global mission efforts.”

Matthew Skirton - UK Chief Executive, OM

Please join us as we celebrate 60 years in the UK. Please join us. O asM we UK . Ocelebrate R G / 6 0 -60 Y Eyears A R Sin the UK.