Suffering the after-effects of the Earthquake and Tsunami disaster that hit countries around the Indian Ocean, OM Malaysia continues to press on, mobilising for missions and relief work around the world. Malaysian Christians have given generously to war-torn Sudan and to Tsunami stricken countries despite economic difficulties.

Nearly 80,000 people are confirmed dead in Indonesia, whose western island of Sumatra was closest to the epicentre of the earthquake.

OM Hong Kong leader, Stella Chan is currently in hospital under observation after she experienced numbness spreading through her body. A doctor paid the fee for Stella to undergo necessary tests last week. Investigations continue to discover the cause of this problem.

Before going into hospital, Stella encouraged her team to rely on God. And she took her favourite book “The Most Important Story” into hospital with her – hoping to share God’s love with her fellow patients. Please pray for Stella and for the rest of her team in Hong Kong at this time of trial.

Source: OM Hong Kong

The White House has new occupants – this is not a reference to the recent US elections but to a new Child Abuse Recovery Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia affectionately known as ‘The White House’. The house, once occupied by Pol Pot soldiers during the Khmer Rouge war, has undergone major repair and renovation by the team of workers in Cambodia and by the landlord. Now, working at the centre, a specialist team of workers will offer counselling, medical therapy, education and other services to child victims of sexual abuse and assault.

More than 70 South Koreans are preparing to join OM following the ‘Mission Korea’ programme this year. OM South Korea is arranging orientation training for all of these new recruits before they head out to join OM teams around the world. Around one third are joining for a one-year programme while the rest will spend two years or more on the field. Praise God for the work of OM South Korea in mobilising people for world missions. Please pray for each one of these new workers – pray that God will prepare them for what lies ahead and that He would provide everything they need for their new ministry.

Source: Anne Marit Viljoen

Children in seven different suburbs of Sydney, Australia took part in a KidsGames event. The youngsters competed in a range of sports and also learnt about Jesus. At one site, 35 children took part in the games and workers had many opportunities to share the Gospel. One worker wrote, “For me, the highlight of the week was when a girl in my small group responded after I told them that God loves them. ‘No one has ever told me that God loves me,’ she said.”

For the closing ceremony around 200 children from across the city came together along with their parents and leaders. The children marched behind banners they had made during the week and took part in the sports finals. Some groups presented drama, dances and songs that they had prepared and the Gospel message was presented clearly. Pray for the follow up of these children and their parents.

Source: OM worker, Australia

George Verwer is one of the main speakers at a Youth Missions Conference in Taiwan this week. The event, hosted by the Christian Evangelical Fellowship every three years, runs from 4 – 10 July. Around 1,400 university students and graduates are taking part. Please pray for many to be inspired and challenged to go into all nations.

Source: Stella Chan, OM Hong Kong

Alex Tarrant writes, “I wasn't sure what to expect from my trip to Cambodia. A new OM ministry - Mercy Teams International (MTI) - has just begun there. People in Cambodia often earn just enough to survive. If they are injured or become sick they have to borrow money to live on. The last resort for many families is selling their children to pay their debts. The children are put to work as child prostitutes.

OM PNG is leading a series of Radio programmes to pray for the nation of Papua New Guinea this week. Every morning, from 7.30am the team will be broadcast live on air giving a short devotional followed by a time of prayer. OM Papua New Guinea leader Kini Kila writes, “We are asking you as friends and supporters of OM PNG to join us during this time of prayer for our nation and to remember us as we go live on air.”

The first-ever Europe Presentation Team begins a six-week tour of Australia, this week. The team will promote OM's ministry throughout Europe - presenting the needs and exciting opportunities of the continent and challenging Australians to get involved. Anton (RU) from OM Russia, Adinda (NL) from OM LUKE and Kukka-Maaria (FIN) from OM Kosovo arrive in Melbourne today (18 April). Please pray for a quick recovery from jet-lag and for the OM Australia team as it makes final preparations for the meetings. Pray that God will use this trip to raise up many Australian workers for the ministry in Europe.

Source: OM Europe communications

Starting with just a two-hour Saturday afternoon club for ‘port kids’, OM Philippines has seen a rapid growth in the ministry in Cebu City. Today, workers are active in five different areas in partnership with five local churches.

February 9 - 14
OM South Korea is hosting OM’s International Leaders’ Meeting this week. International Co-ordinator Peter Maiden wrote: “These are always vital days for our movement. Subjects under discussion will include the development of our ministry in Europe and of youth ministry around the world; and security issues at a time when danger in ministry is most certainly on the increase. Please pray for travel safety, for those who will open the word of God for us and that we will know the leading of our Father as together we wait upon Him.”

Source: Peter Maiden – International Update

OM New Zealand has launched its first ever TEA Programme (Training, Evangelism and Adventure). A team of six people from Switzerland, Holland, the USA and New Zealand will be traveling extensively for nine weeks of adventure, discipleship and evangelism training.

There was an unusual awareness of God's presence as Frank Fortunato's team Heart Sounds International (HIS) began recording Mongolian worship songs, last month (October). The team had set up a makeshift recording studio in Ulan Bataar, Mongolia and worked alongside a local group of young worship musicians.

Around 50 OM World Partners turned up to a special evening event in Malaysia. Sharing a meal together, the former OM workers enjoyed ministry from Allan Adams who shared on 'Pleasing God' from Colossians 1:6.

There was also an opportunity for World Partners to express their views and suggestions. This reinforced the message that World Partners are valued and can continue to make a contribution to OM's ministry.

As a result of the evening, two men have started OM World Partner prayer groups in Subang and Rawang in Malaysia.

Source: OM East Asia Pacific Communications

The Arab World Presentation Team is spending four weeks in Australia presenting the challenge of praying, sending, and going to the Arab World. 'My perspective has totally changed towards Arabs through your presentation', said a YWAM staff member in Canberra.

Two Arabic churches in Sydney showed great interest in sending out people to the area where many had originally come from. Please pray for the people who are now thinking about being involved after seeing the presentation. Pray for the seeds that have been sown to bear lasting fruit.

In Adelaide the team will take 17 meetings in nine days followed by a week of 13 meetings in Melbourne.

Source: Martin Bateman

Over 40 churches have requested a visit by the Arab World Presentation Team when it visits New Zealand. This is even more than in 1997 when another team visited New Zealand resulting in a large number of recruits for the Middle East and North Africa. The majority of New Zealand recruits tend to have a long-term vision and some of the recruits from that first tour, six years ago, are still serving on fields in the Middle East. Pray that God will use these visits to raise up more labourers for His harvest field.

Source: East Asia Pacific "Beats and Pieces" newsletter

News from Hong Kong: "The recent outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in Hong Kong has left many people depressed and fearful. The economy is in deep recession and the virus is threatening lives. The threat has been highlighted by the death of some young, healthy people in recent days. The OM Hong Kong staff members are fine but are all wearing masks as a precaution. Please pray for the continued safety of OM personnel and that God would free HK from this terrible disease and somehow heal the hearts of the people of Hong Kong towards the Lord."

Source: Alex Tarrant, East Asia Pacific Communications

'Go Global, Take a big step' was the theme of the very first mission conference for young people in Hong Kong. In the Chinese University Campus, around 500 young people joined afternoon workshops and a further 1200 arrived for the evening meeting, last month. Over 140 people responded to the call and said they were interested in joining one or two-year missionary programmes or would seek the Lord about becoming long-term missionaries! The OM Hong Kong team writes, "Praise the Lord because this response was greater than we could ever have imagined! You'll understand how big the impact was if I tell you that as of August 2002, only eight out of the 287 Hong Kong missionaries are under the age of 30."

Source: Alex Tarrant, OM East Asia Pacific Communications

During the OM's International Leaders' Meeting in Italy, OM Papua New Guinea leader Kini Kila had an email from his wife, Hane, saying she had been attacked at gunpoint. A group of armed men took her car and money. Hane escaped unharmed by quite shaken by this attack.

These types of incidents are quite common in Papua New Guinea. Please pray for the safety of OM workers in the country. More people from PNG are now joining OM ministries around the world and OM PNG plays a key role in mobilising believers for world missions.

Source: Anne Marit Viljoen (info@n.om.org)