People NewsArrivals Departures

PlacesLearning the WordHidden SeaEducation Across Asia

ParticipateServe AsiaBoarding TodayEvents

千億

天國教育Education for the Kingdom

UK National Office OMF International (UK) Station Approach, Borough Green Kent TN15 8BG 01732 887299 omf@omf.org.uk www.omf.org.uk

Directors National: Peter & Christine Rowan Finance: Darren Wall Mobilisation: Gerard Charles Candidates: Appointment in process UK.candidatedir@omfmail.com Member Care: Beverlea Parkhill

Area Mobilisers London and the South East Allen & Litsa McClymont 07532 053 956 uk.london@omfmail.com Angelo Lebrato 07402873654 angelo.lebrato@omfmail.com

London – Under 30s Philipa Kalungi 07804 918 707 philipa.kalungi@omfmail.com

East Tim Jenkins 07557 237 039 tim.jenkins@omfmail.com

South West & Wales Charles & Liz Chalmers 0117 946 6211 uk.waleswest@omfmail.com

North Gerard Charles 01732 887299 uk.north@omfmail.com

Scotland Gerard Charles 01732 887299 uk.scotland@omfmail.com

Ireland Nathaniel & Donna Jennings 028 9073 1266 nathaniel.jennings@omfmail.com

Diaspora Ministries Keith Wood 07971 418019 ask.diaspora@omfmail.com

Registered Charity England and Wales: 1123973 Scotland: SC039645 Company limited by guarantee England and Wales: 6541911 International Centre, 2 Cluny Road , Singapore 259570

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’Education is something we all experience in some form, whether lessons from those who raised us, formal study at school or university, or teaching in our churches: we are all educated. Through education we have each garnered a unique collection of information which shapes who we are today. Our learning ought to be held in check by our fear of the Lord from whom all true knowledge flows. As an inescapable part of life we must consider education’s place in mission, not just as it affects the lives of those in the field, but also as an opportunity through which the good news of Jesus can be shared.

Chris WattsEditor – chris.watts@omfmail.com

We are OMF International, founded by James Hudson Taylor in 1865 as the China Inland Mission.

We serve the Church and share the good news of Jesus Christ in all its fullness with countries across East Asia. We help place Christians with professional skills in China and other Asian countries, and share the love of Christ with East Asians worldwide.

Through God’s grace, we aim to see an indigenous, biblical church movement in each people group of East Asia, evangelising their own people and reaching out in mission to other peoples.

Heart for Asia. Hope for Billions.

从从器From the Editor

目錄Contents

Directions

Education for the Kingdom

Peter Rowanp. 18

People News 04Arrivals 06Departures 08

PlacesLessons from Longsuffering 12 Learning the Word 14Hidden Sea 16Education Across Asia 20

ParticipateServe Asia 10Mini Missionaries 22Boarding Today 24Events 26Finance 27

千億Billions

2016 年一月至四月Jan – Apr 2016

新消息News

Refined for the Future: OMF BrandingMany years ago, two men were given a challenging design project: to create a portable and ornate dwelling, rich with symbolism to communicate the identity of the great king who commissioned it. They were given a specific design, a key audience, materials, visual elements, a colour palette and a budget.

Equipped by God’s Spirit, Bezalel and Oholiab set about the enormous task to ‘make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them’ (Exodus 25v8).

Whether an organisation thinks about it or not – people form opinions about their values, identity and trustworthiness based on experiences. Experiences can build credibility and trust, or damage them. ‘Brand is what someone thinks about when they think of us.’

Ultimately our identity rests in God himself. What we do reflects God’s heart for the nations. If the way we speak, look and interact focuses attention on us, we’ve done something wrong.

We looked at how we could share our vision and mission more effectively. We wanted to have

a coherent global appearance and message, and ultimately point to the one we serve.

This led to working toward a new logo design and brand. After consultation with the Branding Review Task Force and International Directors, the International Executive Committee approved the new logo.

The logo reflects our connection with East Asia through use of the colour red and the calligraphy inspired brush strokes. Gold was chosen to represent God’s faithfulness and turquoise for new growth. The three colours forming a circle represent our diversity in unity and a sense of movement.

Coupled with a new strapline: ‘Heart for Asia. Hope for Billions.’ and a new mission statement we feel able to express clearly who we are and what we do.

Please pray for the teams implementing the new branding across OMF, and ask that everyone who uses it will find it easier to communicate the vision God has given us.

Tony WaghornInternational Media & Communications Manager

Heart for Asia. Hope for Billions.

People

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Chefoo Reconsidered 2016Chefoo School once again came alive with the sound of voices arriving from around the world in October 2014. A week of events in Malaysia saw more than 50 former students return for a time of joyful reunion as well as processing the separation and loss experienced in their childhoods. Some had not seen each other for over 40 years since leaving the school, and yet felt a sense of ‘coming home’. Let’s hear a few speak for themselves:

‘I cannot put into words what this week has meant for me and for the opening door and healing that has started.’ ‘… amazing and special and powerful. It has certainly helped me connect with the past so I can enjoy the present and move freely into the future.’

‘It was a great joy to be part of Chefoo Reconnected. My heart is still heavy for the missing friends that should be part of the picture.’

This opportunity to reconnect has also enabled some to begin the journey towards making sense of a faith that for so long seemed only to be the cause of painful goodbyes.

Many former students were not able to attend in 2014; others wish to continue the journey started. So for all ex Chefoo students ‘Chefoo Reconsidered 2016’ is being held February 29 to March 6. Our hope is that many Chefoo students will join us, to reconnect and celebrate with the Chefoo family, share memories, and reflect on how past hurts and other experiences have shaped us.

An OMF project, the Chefoo Reconsidered Travel Fund P74209, has been created to help participants with travel costs. Donations can be made through any OMF centre.

For more informationVisit: chefooreconsidered.azurewebsites.net

Or contact Andrew Lane: chefusian64@gmail.com

Remember. Rejoice. Renew – Sesquicentennial Snapshots2015 has been a year of celebrating God’s faithfulness to us and our forebears. We have shared stories testifying to his

presence, protection and provision in the past and present, and we have renewed

our commitment to the unfinished task before us. In August 2014, OMF Australia kicked off the

150th anniversary season with an event in Sydney. Since then the entire OMF world has been buzzing with activity.

Communications colleagues have generated a torrent of books, brochures, posters, videos, web materials, teaching packs and mobilisation tools.

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) have contributed to the ‘TCK Arts Project’ – written pieces (prose and poetry), visual arts and live performances (music and drama). These are uploaded to a private Facebook group, which you can be given access to if you email Louis Lau – louis.lau@omfmail.com.

At the International Gathering in Thailand we welcomed 184 Serve Asia Workers from fifteen sending bases, to run the TCK programme (400 kids!) and take care of technical and security tasks. A time to connect with missionaries, and to express their partnership through serving. We thank God for each one.

Looking ahead, we want to ensure that the momentum developed this year will move us forward and equip us for the task ahead. As we do so, we know that praise and prayer must remain central to all we do.

Glenys GoulstoneProject 2015 Coordinator

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抵達Arrivals

Rachel

What is your current ministry?Personnel Manager and Third Culture Kids Advisor for a team in East Asia.

Highlight of your term?Seeing a student come to faith for the first time, through hearing my testimony!

What can we pray for your future and your field?All the members of my field are overloaded and overworking. Please ask for wisdom for each person to establish healthy rhythms of work and rest. And ask for more workers!

For myself, I need patience to wait for guidance on my future placement. I will not return to the same location or ministry. Things are always changing in our local context, so my future direction might not become clear until the last minute.

Graham & Nok

What is your current ministry?We have just completed our first term, serving amongst the unreached Muslim people groups in South East Asia. We have taken up professional roles, learning the language and culture of our focus people, while making friends in our community and town.

Highlight of your term?We have experienced many highs and lows during our first term, but have continually seen God's faithfulness and work in our lives (see James 1:2–4).

What can we pray for your future and your field?As we begin our first home assignment, pray that God will be leading us as we seek to encourage Christians to engage with Muslims and pray for us as we transition back to life in the UK. In terms of our field, pray for more workers to come and work with us and pray for breakthrough amongst the multiple unreached people groups that we work with.

People

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Beth

What is your current ministry?I work in a majority Muslim context. I have been teaching English to theological students from a Christian background, but am about to retire.

Highlight of your term?Just one very recent highlight; I was asked by a pastor to do some Bible studies with a lady from his church. It turned out that ‘Tina’ had been a Muslim but married into a nominal Christian family. She had a dream of two cemeteries, one large and Muslim, and the other a small Christian cemetery. A figure in white told her she belonged to the group from the smaller plot. Tina asked to be baptised and attended confirmation but was longing to know her new faith much more deeply. It was a joy to find this Muslim background follower of Jesus so eager to please God and have a deeper relationship with him. I did not find anything like this spiritual hunger in most of the students at the theological college!

What can we pray for your future and your field?Pray for the renewal of many mainstream churches. Pray that many would join the relatively small number of believers who are overcoming their fears and prejudices, and sharing the good news of Jesus with their neighbours from the Muslim community. Pray for many like ‘Tina’ in mixed marriages, that God would use the situation to introduce the gospel into Muslim extended family circles.

Adam, Mim and Bella What is your current ministry?We work at The Lighthouse Centre (TLC), a children’s library and family centre. Together with the local staff we run classes for children and their families. Our vision is to see families in East Asia that are physically, emotionally, spiritually, educationally, and socially strong. We also run a project called The Mobile Library Programme (MLP), which reaches out to impoverished countryside schools. Highlight of your term?The number of children in school has dramatically shrunk in the countryside schools due to new governmental initiatives. Although it’s sad to see these school communities in decline, the result has been that we have built great relationships with the small groups of children that remain. We have had some very memorable and sometimes messy times! What can we pray for your future and your field?Pray that we continue to reach children and their families through our work at The Lighthouse Centre. When we return we are keen to build on our work in the countryside and hope to develop local partnerships; please pray for us in this.

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離境Departures

Angelo Lebrato

Destination: London Designation: MobilisationDeparture: Started Sending church: St Paul's South Harrow, London Baptisten Gemeinde Passau, Germany

I got to know my wife, Andrea, in Africa while on the mission field. We both wanted to invest our lives in missions. When we first went to Germany to finish our studies we were deeply challenged by the prayer movement’s message of wholehearted devotion to God. With music having been my passion all my life, during that time my love for prayer and worship grew and developed.

We moved to London four years ago to work with the House of Prayer in the areas of worship leading and training. This has taken me to parts of Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands to teach about the power of prayer and intercession combined with worship.

In early 2014, we felt the Lord was bringing a change, ‘adding’ to our ministry. Since then we have been involved

in different events and gatherings with OMF, even in the last National Conference. I went to Japan twice with

Serve Asia and loved it. I truly believe that through short-term ‘Prayer Teams’ missionaries can be refreshed, local believers encouraged and countries changed by the power of prayer.

That’s why I joined the mobilisation team, because I have a passion for the Church (in London and in Europe), and it’s my heart’s desire to challenge people to pray, calling them to invest their lives in the Kingdom in order to be a blessing to the nations.

People

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Muriel Macleod

Destination: CambodiaDesignation: Rural Church plantingDeparture: End of October 2015 Sending church: Stornoway Free Church, Isle of Lewis

My interest in mission began after reading missionary books as a child. I loved reading Isobel Kuhn books, Gladys Aylward and many others, which I was often given as Sunday School prizes or gifts.

I became a Christian when I was a teenager. At that time, Cambodia was in the news headlines (almost like Syria is today). Cambodian refugees were flooding into Thailand and the atrocities they had suffered under the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979 came to light. I continued to receive prayer info through my time at university, further study and working as a teacher in Lewis. In 1993 following UN sponsored elections, Cambodia began to open up to foreigners again. I finally had the privilege of going to Cambodia with OMF in 1995. Following language study in Phnom Penh, I spent most of my time up-country in Kratie (a town on the Mekong River), and later in Snoul (a market town on the Vietnamese border). I was part of church planting teams and also taught English at the local high schools. It was an amazing experience to be there seeing how God was changing people’s lives. During that time I also had an opportunity to spend a year with girls from the countryside living in Phnom Penh while working in the clothing factories. Sharing in the lives of these beautiful young women who were so full of life and fun, and working with them as they reached out to evangelise their colleagues was a memorable experience.

I return to Cambodia in November after eight years at home in Lewis. I expect it to be a very different place to when I left. My dream would be to join a rural church planting team again, going to one of the thousands of villages that have no church or Christian witness yet.

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Move man, through God, by prayer aloneHudson Taylor knew the value of prayer. He was convinced that prayer should be central to everything in life. Following his example, OMF hopes to equip people to pray, whether it is through providing up to date prayer requests or by helping to inspire and excite Christians who may not know the need.

Last summer, OMF UK sent a Serve Asia Prayer Team to the Hokkaido region of Japan, specifically to pray. Praying for overseas mission work from home can be hard to keep up. For some, meeting the people you are praying for, talking to them and seeing them work, can ignite a lasting fire to intercede for them and with them.

‘The team is here, and Christians in England are praying, because Japan is on God’s heart’, reports Angelo, who led the team.

The team’s plan was to meet and pray with the Nayoro Grace Church plant. On the way they had the chance to visit Kitami Grace Church and Abashiri Grace Church. Pastor Kitoh, who oversees the churches, helped them to understand vision 2020: the hope to become a bridge connecting churches in Ohotsuku with the Northern regions of Hokkaido, where there are few Christians and churches.

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Participate

The team were quickly affected by the importance of the vision, and hoped that they, and those following them, would join in the vision by helping to build a long-term relationship of prayer: prayer for the salvation of many in Northern Hokkaido, and prayer with Japanese Christians, for their encouragement in the task of proclaiming Christ.

Karen Viljeon writes ‘we believe the Lord is calling his people to pray for a mighty movement of his Spirit as he “reopens the wells” in Northern Hokkaido’.

The journey started by joining Kitami Grace Church at their early morning prayer meeting. They had the chance to pray for the big picture in Hokkaido, as well as asking God to work in the lives of individuals, in particular two seekers, Mrs O and R.

‘We came back to the church from lunch the first afternoon to a very excited woman who had been studying the Bible with Mrs O for months. “She confessed Jesus as her Lord and wants to be baptised!” What a privilege to have partnered in prayer with this woman, even if our (the team’s) part was merely at the end of her journey in submitting to Jesus’, Karen recounted.

At Abashiri Grace Church (a Kitami church plant) the team joined a mid-morning prayer meeting. Mrs Kataoka, who oversees church activities, expressed thanks for the previous team’s (2014) prayers, many of which had been answered, including seeing a number of new believers come to faith in the past year. Mrs Kataoka asked the team to pray for Yobito, the neighbourhood the church is based in. The farmers and fishermen of the area are some of the hardest to reach with the gospel.

Prayer TeamAngelo Lebrato, Lok Sum Yang, Arun Sahadeo, Melanie Dessouroux and Angela Stevens, accompanied by Karen Viljoen, an OMF worker in Japan.

Hearing how God had answered the prayers of the team before them was a great encouragement as they spent time with the Abashiri church praying for breakthrough among local people.

Finally, the team travelled to meet with the Nayoro Grace Church plant. They were able to share in traditional Japanese meals provided by Miho Walker and meet with other couples from the church to share and pray.

Karen writes, ‘The final morning in Nayoro was a special time of prayer with Tim & Miho Walker, to pray for their contacts, such as TS, a self-defence force officer with whom Tim is studying the Bible. In a prayer of faith, Melanie prayed that the Lord would lead ten new people to believe and be joined to Nayoro Grace Church by 2016!’

The team decided that it would be beneficial for them to visit a Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple, to help them understand the culture of many Japanese people, both in Japan and those studying in the UK. However many of these temples are very dark spiritually, one particular place was dedicated to aborted babies. Angela suggested that while in these places they could listen to praise music to concentrate their thoughts on God and his protection as they looked around. As they explored the temples they had the chance to pray for the people they saw, that their hearts would be softened and they would meet the creator God.

For more informationThe team’s time in Japan allowed them to experience first hand the power of prayer in God’s work. To see how you could be part of a similar Prayer Team visit omf.org/uk/prayerteams

As they explored the temples they had the chance to pray for the people they saw, that the ir hearts would be softened and they would meet the creator God.

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The year was 1950 and Communist guerrillas were causing havoc in Malaya, then a British Colony.

To break the supply lines of the insurgents, General Sir Harold Briggs decreed the creation of ‘New Villages’ which rehoused the Chinese into communities with barbed wire, strict curfews, and guarded entry and exit gates. When Sir Gerald Templar became the British High Commissioner of Malaya in January 1952, he invited the CIM/OMF ‘to send personnel to live in the New Villages and proclaim the life-changing gospel of Christ.’ Though the General’s motives were probably largely political, God used these circumstances to open the door for evangelism.

And so CIM/OMF missionaries arrived in Malaya. Some lived in the New Villages, taking every opportunity to teach God’s Word and model Christ to the people. A few of the missionaries taught in schools in smaller towns, using lunch breaks to tell gospel stories and school holidays to run Bible School meetings and evangelistic events. Others in the New Villages helped improve literacy through Bible classes. Missionaries who were placed in central towns were responsible for visiting nearby New Villages. They also helped with Sunday Schools and Bible classes in the local churches.

The first ten years of ministry were very tough with meagre fruit. Suspicion of foreigners was common during this time of socio-political instability, especially from the adults. The young

people, however were more interested and friendly. In later years, OMF workers started to reach

out to those educated in English. Missionaries held monthly conferences to provide fellowship and teaching to English-speaking young people. Working in partnership with several churches and Christian groups, missionaries spoke at youth gatherings, were actively involved in Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade activities at an Anglican school in Kuala Lumpur, served in churches as pastors and teachers, and promoted the reading of Christian literature. They started Evangel (Christian) bookshop, a Bible correspondence course ‘Upward Path’ (that was later handed over to Scripture Union) and also the Rawang Christian Centre.

The quiet labour of the missionaries after many years resulted in many young people receiving Jesus. They were touched by the missionaries’ serving ministry, open home, listening ear, dependence on God and obedience to God.

Not only did the missionaries lead the people to Christ, they trained and discipled emerging leaders, taught them how to evangelise, encouraged them to read Christian literature, taught God’s Word enthusiastically and modelled a prayerful life. They also challenged the young people to give their lives to God’s ministry.

Malaysia achieved independence in 1957, and in 1966 a ‘10 year rule’ was announced: foreign missionaries could stay a maximum of 10 years and must work themselves out of the job by training a

Pengajaran Dari Kesabaran

Lessons from Longsuffering

12

Places

local person. By 1967, the Malaysian government refused to issue any more new missionary visas. Several of the young people who had been discipled by missionaries responded to the call for full-time Christian work, so the Malaysian church continued to grow despite this rule.

The University of Malaya was located in Singapore until the early 1960s. There was a vibrant group of students at the University Christian Fellowship who invited OMF missionaries to speak at their meetings. One Malaysian dental student, David Gunaratnam, was converted in his second year and attended the prayer meetings at the OMF headquarters. Sitting at the feet of Bible expositors like Oswald Sanders and Arnold Lea, his faith deepened. Paul Contento, a gifted evangelist, helped him to bring other students to faith, modelling how evangelism might be done. Michael Griffiths inspired him to give his life totally to God. Together with his fellow students at the university they felt called to use their professions and live out Christianity in the workplace, especially in locations where there were hardly any churches.

Dr David Gunaratnam went on to become a government dentist in a remote town in Johor and he faithfully worked, taught God’s Word and

led people to Christ. Transfering to another small town, he continued to lead many people to faith and mentor them. When the OMF Malaysian Home Council was formed in 1978, he became its first Chairman, serving for 24 years.

Many young people from the New Village and small town churches migrated to the bigger towns for education or employment, becoming active

members and leaders in churches. The influence of the OMF missionaries to

reach out and make disciples was passed on to my husband and me

as we were mentored by Dr David Gunaratnam. Today we serve as lecturers, also discipling dental students and graduates in Cambodia. Those ‘young people’

in the early days in Malaya are at present between 55–75 years old;

they have built up the Malaysian church, reached out in missions and

are now stepping back and encouraging the next generation.

Many of the missionaries did not see the fruits of their labour. But the seed of the gospel that was sown bore fruit years later. The locals who came to Christ continued to be witnesses of the gospel. Under the sovereign hand of God, the work of the missionaries, like a stone dropped into a pond, had created ripples that continue until today.

T he work of the missionaries like a stone dropped into a pond had created ripples that continue

until today.

Chern Chern ChooOMF Cambodia

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Pag-aaral ng Salita ng Dios

Learning the Word

The Ata Manobo Tribe are located high up in the hills of Davao del Norte in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago.They are animists and believe in many gods. They practise a self-governing system and use a ‘slash and burn’ farming method as their way of living. In the past very low literacy rates meant the tribe struggled to trade their crops with the lowland community of traders and businessmen. They were dismayed to find their crops were buying them less and less; their inability to read and do simple maths meant they were being cheated.

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Places

Education was desperately needed. The community leaders of the Ata Manobo in the Upper Langilan region asked OMF missionaries to help them learn to read and write. In response, the missionary team, with help from TAP (Translators Association of the Philippines – the local branch of Wycliffe/SIL), performed a literacy assessment of the Ata Manobo people. The results were staggering, in most villages the literacy rate was zero per cent, hardly anyone could read or write. In-depth questioning revealed that only three Ata Manobo ladies had been to high school and could read and write.

The Indigenous Children’s Education Program (ICEP) was born. Three ICEP centres were started in three different Ata Manobo villages: Maguimon, Kapugi and Mansalinao. The three literate ladies taught basic maths, reading and writing, laying a good foundation for the students to build on when they entered government elementary schools. The students ranged, from 7 to 11 years old.

One of the subjects taught in the ICEP centres is Chronological Bible Teaching (CBT). Bible stories are told every morning, starting with creation and going through to salvation, along with Scripture memory verses. The children often retell the stories to their families and quote verses during Sunday worship.

When students like Loloy and Marlon have mastered basic reading, writing and maths, they graduate from the ICEP programme and move into the ICEP dormitory in Tagasan. For Loloy and Marlon this means trekking for two hours up and down the winding jungle path, crossing rivers and living in the dorm with

other students from Maguimon and Mansalinao villages. Although this also entails separation from their family, they want to stay so that they can attain higher education, eat three square meals a day and continue learning about God and about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. The dormitory is being cared for by Ata Manobo Dorm Parents, Dulio & Norma Mankinumpas who have been serving the Lord for many years. Dulio is a trained Church Planting worker while Norma was one of the three teachers in the ICEP informal school, which eventually closed down after Philippine Education System changes.

The ICEP Dormitory is in Tagasan, part of the compound that the Ata Manobo community offered to the OMF team. We praise God for providing this parcel of land to us as a means to disciple Ata Manobo children and to share the gospel with their families and clans. Discipleship is facilitated through Bible teaching, morning devotion, prayer meetings, and daily activities like cooking meals, washing laundry, creation care, games and even hygiene.

Oreno & Naning from Kapugi village heard Bible stories when Loloy, their son, came home and repeated the stories he heard in school. As a result of what they heard, they came to trust Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and were baptised two years ago. Loloy’s older brother Bobong has also become a Christian through hearing Loloy’s stories and both young men now dream of becoming

pastors. Similarly, Romulo & Idunan heard the gospel from the stories their son Marlon retold at home. They eventually signed up to be trained in the Bible School run by the team.

In April 2013, we conducted the Multiplying Effective Evangelists and Disciplers (MEED) training with the students in the dorm as well as with the youth leaders of the Manobo Churches. It is amazing how they responded to the challenge of sharing the gospel even with their community leaders.

In March of this year, we had a parenting seminar for the parents of our students in the dormitory. It was very encouraging to hear the testimony of the parents who came to know Jesus through the ICEP ministry and through their children who are in the programme.

Education is not only a means to uplift the economic standard of people, it is an essential tool to establish indigenous Biblical churches, reaching out to their own people group and beyond.

Grace MoronOMF-Philippine Home Council Missionary to the Ata Manobo Tribe, Mindanao, Philippines

In most villages the lite racy rate was zero per cent

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Lily first entered a Christian school as a staff member.

The school was run by an American couple who shared the love of God through teaching. After a few years experience the American couple began to encourage Lily that she could start her own Christian school. But each time they discussed it, Lily discounted herself.

‘I’m single, with other dreams; wouldn’t a school be better run by a married couple?’ Lily thought.

By the end of her fourth year in the school, she felt the time was right to pursue new dreams. Being a tour guide seemed like fun. Maybe God was calling her to something totally different?

Around the same time, a group from Lily’s church heard from God for themselves. They wanted to start a Christian school in their country, teaching children a biblically based curriculum.

The church leaders supported the idea, but needed someone to run the school. Lily soon realised she was the obvious candidate, but one big problem stood between her and the job; she had no passion for teaching. She wanted to be a tour guide. She had just finished teaching; surely it was time for a change?

As the decision lurked in her mind, she could sense everyone else hoped she would step in. ‘Surely I can’t flatly refuse?’ Lily thought, as she considered her options.

With no road signs pointing her towards the right decision, she took to fasting; for 40 days she wouldn’t eat an evening meal, instead she dedicated her time to God and prayed for an answer.

Days and weeks passed by, but nothing happened until, on the 36th evening Lily received a phone call: it was Joanna, a friend from church. She wanted to know what her decision was.

‘Don't you think I would make a wonderful tour guide? I could glorify God in the tourism industry!’ Lily proposed curiously.

Joanna listened, but reminded Lily that there were already Christian tour guides in their country, but no one had started a Christian school. As the conversation came to an end Lily was left disappointed. Again the feeling returned, everyone was counting on her.

With a troubled heart, desperate for an answer, Lily cried out to God. She wanted a direct instruction. Time passed and the evening wore on, when, through tired and dreary eyes, Lily read the words of Micah 5:4 and her mind awoke,

‘God spoke to me! So quickly, directly answering my prayer. I had no excuse for denying the calling.’

But even with this in her heart there was still one problem – no passion. How can you follow God’s instruction without passion for the task? She kept silent, and tried to ignore how God was working in her heart.

隱藏的海洋Hidden Sea

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Places

‘I did not want to accept this task: the lifelong commitment, the danger, the demands, difficulties, uncertainties and weariness sure to come.’ Again she discounted herself, ‘I don’t have the skills!’

But the reality remained, God was calling her. The next night some friends phoned to

encourage her. As each spoke God continued to point Lily towards the school. It wasn’t until her cell leader called that she thought she was hearing some more welcome news.

‘Have you ever been to Z…..?’‘Oh travelling!’ Lily’s heart jumped, maybe she

had misheard God; maybe he did want her to be a tour guide!

‘Sure I’ve been there!’ ‘Do you know G…..?’ the leader inquired. ‘Of course!’ Lily replied as her anticipation grew. ‘Do you know a park there called Hidden Sea?’

he continued.Without hesitating Lily interrupted, ‘Wait a

second, I’ll check it out for you! Who wants to go?’ ‘No need to look it up’, the cell leader responded,

as Lily realised she might have got ahead of herself. ‘Last year, we went to Z…… for a mission trip.

On the last day we had some time for sightseeing. When we got to the park, we couldn’t see past the wall behind the gate. It was not an enticing sight but since we were already there we bought the tickets and went in. We went through the gate and noticed two words on the other side of the entrance, Hidden Sea. As we came around the wall, the most beautiful view opened up before us – the ocean!’

He paused, waiting to see if Lily would interject, but she remained silent, knowing there must be more to the story.

‘When I was praying for you just now, I only got these two words from God, Hidden Sea.’

Like the cell group leader who couldn't see the beauty of the Hidden Sea, Lily couldn’t see the beauty of what God was calling her too. In her mind it was an unwelcome task, but she was starting to understand that God had a spectacular plan.

Lily thought for a while.‘If I obey God’s calling, despite my lack of gifting,

that’s his business, not mine. He will be responsible for everything’.

As she thought about it she felt the pressure lifting. She knew then that she would follow God’s call; not in her strength, but in his.

Children and MissionFor more information about Christian and International Schools in East Asia, take a look at our Children and Mission booklet, available with this edition of Billions.

If I obey God ’s calling, despite my lack of gifting, that ’s his business, not mine. He will be responsible for everything

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Witness Within The MainstreamThe late Dennis Lennon, OMF missionary to Thailand, talked about ‘the strategic importance of establishing witness within the main stream of education.’ 1

I’ve been on the receiving end of that kind of witness. Sitting on my bookshelf is the copy of John Stott’s Issues Facing Christians Today that one of my secondary school teachers gave me. Let no one underestimate the missional significance of a Christian teacher, especially in the state school system, who over the long haul exercises a godly influence in the classroom and local community.

Disinterested ServiceThe intersection of education with mission is a long established one. According to the Dutch missiologist J. Verkuyl, ‘Education ranks as the oldest form of diaconia [service] in the modern history of missions.’ 2 Missionaries have often been at the forefront of initiating many forms of education, especially among those whose opportunities to access education were non-existent. William Carey’s Serampore mission team

天國教育Education for the Kingdom

is a good example. The “Serempore Compact” of 1805 stated: ‘The establishment of native free schools is also an object highly important to the future conquests of the gospel.’ 3 Within five months of Carey’s arrival in India, boarding schools for European and Anglo-Indian children were opened. The first school for Bengali boys was opened in June 1800. By 1817 there were forty-five schools. A society educating native girls was formed in 1818 and by 1824 six girls’ schools were up and running.

The commitment to providing education to local communities has often been a form of disinterested service (no intent to profit or ulterior motive) – something rarely seen in other faiths. Vinoth Ramachandra writes how, in the Indian context, ‘[t]he ideal of disinterested service which missionaries and indigenous Christians provided was unique. It is easy to understand charity for the sake of achieving religious merit or as an inducement to religious conversion. But that charity and social betterment should have no other motive than love itself – this was an alien notion.’ 4

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Directions

Agents For The KingdomFrom a theological perspective, the meeting of educational need is part of our demonstration that God cares for the whole person and that ‘there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry “Mine!”’ 5 The Christian teacher understands his daily work to be part of his active witness to God’s sovereign rule over all things. The Christian lecturer recognises her university to be the place where God has called her to be an agent of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

It was this kind of vision that led Hudson Southwell of the Borneo Evangelical Mission, to initiate discussions with the education department in Sarawak for the establishment of a programme of technical education. He wanted to see Christian men and women educated so as to exercise their civic responsibilities under a commitment to the Lordship of Christ. In 1955, following his discussions with the government officials he wrote to his friends in Australia:

The indigenous church in Borneo now consists of thousands of believers among the various tribes, but apart from those few being trained as pastors, almost none of these Christians are being trained for civil responsibilities. In many parts of inland Borneo the picture is not that

1. Dennis Lennon, Young World (Sevenoaks: Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1979), 23.2. J. Verkuyl, Contemporary Missiology: An Introduction (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978), 212.3. William Carey, Compact Curriculum Supplement, Candle in the Dark, published by Christian History Institute.4. Howard Peskett & Vinoth Ramachandra, The Message of Mission (Leicester: IVP, 2003), 238.5. Abraham Kuyper, “Sphere Sovereignty,” in Abraham Kuyper: A Centennial Reader, ed. James D. Bratt (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), 488.6. C. Hudson Southwell, Uncharted Waters (Calgary: Astana, 1999), 327.

of a few called out believers in a vast pagan community, but rather of many believers in communities which have become largely Christian – though still awaiting the education and training which should accompany such a change. I have a feeling that we have a responsibility to meet the need for such training… 6

There are all sorts of ways to be an agent of the Kingdom involved in education. It may mean remaining in your present school with a renewed sense of calling to Kingdom service. It could mean taking a position in an international school somewhere in the world where Christian presence is minimal among faculty, students and wider society.

OMF is looking for skilled educators with a passion for mission. For instance, we need people who are prepared to serve in cross-cultural environments in order to teach the children of missionaries. In creative access nations there are openings to work in universities and to impact the lives of students. Whether in formal or informal settings, educators across East Asia have unique opportunities for the transforming power of the gospel to be seen and heard from their lives. If this is a direction you’d like to pursue, we’d love to hear from you.

Peter RowanNational Directoruk.nd@omfmail.com@ptrrowan

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Free resources from www.mathsphere.co.uk

2x3 =

y-z =

1,345

y- 32

x 17 +41

Education takes many forms and involves a diverse and large group of people. Whether educating children who already know God, or teaching tribal groups in rural villages, OMF’s aim is to give God glory. These are a few stories from around Asia that show the array of education we are engaged in.

JapanA lanky year eleven student burst out with his news, ‘I just wanted to let you know, I became a Christian over the summer!’ I couldn’t hold back dancing a jig as I heard him. Not all students at Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ) are Christians, though most come from Christian families. This Korean student knew nothing of Christ when he arrived.

I did not lead him to Christ. He saw God in creation. The intricate beauty, the complex

interconnections, everything he learned in mathematics and science, these were what

convinced him of God.He is really keen on maths and science. He

walked across the stage at his graduation waving a periodic table poster! I taught him for two years, coached him on the school trivia team and math competition team. We would chat about life and the joy of learning new and amazing things. He attended extra

classes after school and studied for the fun of it. God met him where he was; in the books and equations he read.

At the Christian Academy in Japan, we strive to teach our courses in a way that

lets the students know that God is behind everything. I praise God that he proved himself to this young man.

It reminds me that it is not our job to change hearts. Our job is to act faithfully in the tasks that God

gives us. We declare his saving love in Jesus. He is the one who

does the saving. He saved this student, and we pray that he will continue to save Japanese people.

by David Marshall

การศึกษา ในเอเชีย

Education Across Asia

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Places

Free resources from www.mathsphere.co.uk

East Asia‘I’m too shy to speak English!’ ‘I’m afraid I will make mistakes.’ These are typical statements of those who come to our English Centre for the first time.

The English Centre meets an important need– informal education for an unreached Muslim group. The ability to converse in English is key to succeeding in university studies, obtaining quality jobs, and studying or traveling abroad. We meet that need by providing English discussion groups, pronunciation practice, public speaking and more, all of which is facilitated by an international team of short-term volunteers and one long-term worker.

Initially the students are attracted by the chance to practise their English with foreigners and not paying expensive fees. But they soon realise that the English Centre is much more than a place to improve their English. Friendships are formed and informal mentoring takes place through students who have attended the Centre for a longer time. For many students the English Centre has become their second home, and they consider the community there to be their family. Joys and sorrows, successes and failures are all shared together.

We have witnessed numerous students grow significantly, not only in using English, but also in leadership and social skills. This is encouraged by involving students with advanced English in leading discussion groups and public speaking sessions.

Short-term volunteers are key in this ministry. As they befriend the members, share in their lives, and impart truth to them, they provide tangible examples of what it means to follow Christ.

Anonymous

Thailand One day our foreign neighbour, Uncle Dan, visited my school. The principal introduced him to us as we stood in our class rows. Uncle Dan showed us a book he was donating to the school library and explained a bit about what Christians believe. He finished by inviting us to English classes he was starting in the market. I didn’t pay much attention. I wasn’t planning on taking any classes. Mum couldn’t afford it, and it would mean less play-time anyway.

When I got home my sister, Ann, told mum about the English classes.

‘I really want to go!’ She exclaimed much to my annoyance. I just wanted to enjoy not being at school!

Mum nodded. ‘Aunt Kate let me know about them. I want you both to go.'

Before I could object, she continued. ‘I’m sure it will be a good use of your time and may help you get a good job someday.’

I wasn’t convinced, but when Uncle Dan’s sons, Roger and Owen, told me they had to go too, I started to feel better. They could already speak English! A couple of other children said their mothers had heard about the classes, and they were going too.

‘At least we could go as a group,’ I thought before I arrived at the class.

A lot of kids showed up for the first class. We had to work together and try to spell our nicknames in English. Uncle Dan played the guitar as we sang songs, and Owen helped his Mum lead some games. As we left, a Thai lady from the local church gave out snacks as she said good-bye to us. She even remembered my nickname!

The class was more fun than I’d expected. Mum said she was glad the

Christians were helping the children in our community,

so I know she wants me to keep going. Maybe there are benefits to having foreigners as neighbours!

by Brenda Noble

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작은 선교사Mini MissionariesEnglish Mission School (EMS) is a children’s programme devised for Hosanna Church in Busan, South Korea by Shirley DeMerchant and Park Eun Sook.The purpose of EMS is ‘through English to educate and inspire elementary-age children with the Word of God, with the intention of producing future missionaries’.

The original programme was a familiar Sunday School format with singing and Bible lessons presented in English rather than the children’s first language. Alex & Tracey Banks and Kim Hye Jean, added a mission syllabus that alternated with the Bible syllabus over the two years.

This article presents the mission component of EMS. While designed for Koreans with a focus on learning English, as well as about mission, the authors believe that EMS can be adapted to suit any context as a tool to raise awareness of mission among children.

Learning Goals

} To understand the terms cross-cultural, missions and missionary, and the roles that each play within the Church.

} To learn about other nations, people groups, and cultures. Not to fear different ways of thinking, being or doing.

} To nurture compassion for unreached and needy people groups. Children to know how they can be involved in meeting these needs now and in the future.

} Children to have a strong, personal faith in God and a desire to serve Christ and his Church.

English Mission School contributorsAlex & Tracey Banks (OMF, Australia)Shirley DeMerchant (OMF, Canada),Kim Hye Jean and Park Eun Sook (Hosanna Church, Busan)

EMS PrograMme

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Free resources from www.mathsphere.co.uk

ConclusionThe EMS programme continues to be well received in Hosanna Church because it integrates two great passions within the Korean Church: missions and English. However, the ultimate success of the EMS programme can only be assessed by the number of Koreans encouraged to act on what they learn under the leading of the Spirit. The authors hope that the influence of EMS may spread beyond Korea, and that others would catch the vision of this programme. The four themes and their teaching points are available from omf.org/uk/resources.

Class OrganisationEach class is named after a country.

Where possible use the countries your

church’s missionaries work in.

Class country focus for missions studies in cultural contextsThe country focussed class names provide the cross-cultural background against which missions themes are studied. For example, when looking at ‘Other religions’, students in the Malaysia class could study Islam and its influence on Malaysia. Whilst thinking about ‘Sacrifice’, students in the Ecuador class could study the life of Jim Elliot and the outreach to the Waorni.

Interaction with active missionariesClasses should try to adopt a

missionary from their focus country.

The children can then receive

newsletters from, communicate with,

and pray for the missionary. Classes

wishing to go the extra mile can

arrange to speak to their missionary

in person, by phone or online.

Parents involvement in missions through homework assignmentsHomework is designed to get parents involved in the activities and to provoke thought about missions beyond the local church. For instance, following the lesson on ‘Sacrifice’, the homework invited children and parents to discuss what sacrifices their family might have to make to become missionaries. Students then shared feedback in a future lesson.

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今日寄宿Boarding Today

Our story began with one man standing on a beach in England prayerfully making a decision.This was repeated 16 years later in 1881, with the same man, Hudson Taylor, standing on yet another beach thousands of kilometers away. There, at a small coastal village called Chefoo, on the eastern coast of China, the first boarding school for CIM missionary children opened.

Hudson Taylor saw the need for families to stay together, rather than sending loved ones back to their home country to be separated from one another for many years. Since then

many things have changed. With the reluctant exodus from China, the original Chefoo School ceased to exist in 1951.

Other boarding schools named after the coastal village sprang up in five Asian countries where OMF had begun work. Many years on, these smaller schools have closed. The most recent was Chefoo School in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Its doors closed in 2001, ending the history of OMF Chefoo schools.

OMF does not have its own school any more, but still runs three boarding homes in Chiang Mai,

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Thailand, and supplies teachers to international schools. Homeschool helpers are also sent to families around Asia to support the ministries of missionary families by providing education for their children.

Missionary families can take advantage of the range of education opportunities offered to them, from national or international schools, to homeschooling. This is reflected in the low percentage of OMF missionary children in boarding schools (only 5 per cent of school age children in 2015). Parents are advised to evaluate the decision for each child. When it comes to schooling options there is no ‘one size fits all’. One child may thrive in a boarding environment, while their sibling might not. We seek to help parents find the best schooling option for each of their children.

We must constantly seek to improve and to provide a caring and loving environment that will bring out the best in children. This includes rigorous screening and professional development of staff, accountability embedded into the boarding programme structure, annual training on child safety and protection issues, and provision of external advocates for the boarding students and their parents. Each year a new set of four or five advocates, male and female, OMF workers and non-OMF workers, are asked to serve by being available to students and their parents. Though students and parents are encouraged to address concerns directly to boarding home parents, the boarding home coordinator or members of the management group, we acknowledge that there may be times when none of these people is available. In such

exceptional times, students and parents are encouraged to contact one of the advocates, who will have a listening ear, keep confidentiality and give adequate support.

Nowadays, children who board are united with their family at least four times a year, and parents are encouraged to visit during term time. Modern technology makes it possible to stay in touch regularly via e-mail, text messaging or video call. But even with these developments, some of the old challenges remain: times of separation, times of transition, cultural re-adjustments, homesickness, to name a few. What has changed is the way these challenges are addressed. We aim to help students express their feelings and process their emotions, guiding them through challenges and rejoicing with them in joys and achievements.

Each year we are looking for new boarding staff. We would like to see a Boarding Home Parent couple in each of the three homes in Chiang Mai serving long term, and alongside them two Boarding Home Assistants to support this important ministry. The boarding homes are modelled on the family to create a home away from home. Knowing that we will never be able to replace the original families and indeed should not, we work hand in hand with parents to share parenting and to be collaborative in the task of caring for the boarding children.

More InformationIf you would like more information or would like to support this vital ministry, please get in touch with the Boarding Home Coordinator at c3m.bhcoord@psmail.net.

Prayer points – from Rachael Bosma, Dorm Parent in Chiang Mai

} Pray for the Dorm Parents of Saeng Pratheep Dorm, Mountain View Dorm and Haus Benaja Dorm as they provide a loving and caring environment for the TCK's of OMF.

} Pray for the new dorm children in the three OMF dorms, and their families. Pray that they will settle well into the dorms.

} Pray for the provision of Dorm Parents and Dorm Assistants for now and in the future.

} Pray for the senior students, as they complete their final year and prepare for university in their home countries.

} Pray for the International School of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Chiang Mai International School, Grace International School and the German International School.

} Pray for the provision of more Christian teachers.

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Tuesday 5 January Bristol Beginning of Year Day of Prayer 10.30–15.00With Melanie Bister (Taiwan) Light lunch provided174 Redland Road, Bristol, BS6 6YGContact: Charles & Liz ChalmersEmail: uk.waleswest@omfmail.com Phone: 0117 9466211

Saturday 9 January Ireland New Year Afternoon of Prayer14.00–16.00 Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Belfast, BT5 6BHContact: Nathaniel JenningsEmail: nathaniel.jennings @omfmail.com

Saturday 6 February Reconciliation in a World of Conflict Conference9.30–13.30 With: Peter Rowan, Mike & Jo from Myanmar, Mel Croom, David Gould and Colin TamplinMonyhull Church, St Francis Drive, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 3PSContact: Charles & Liz Chalmers Email: uk.waleswest@omfmail.com Phone: 0117 9466211

12–14 February OMF Ireland U35s Weekend Whitepark Bay Youth Hostel, Ballintoy, County Antrim, BT54 6NHContact: Nathaniel JenningsEmail: nathaniel.jennings @omfmail.com

21 FebruaryFacing a Task UnfinishedWorldwide eventEncourage your church to join with thousands of congregations worldwide in singing the hymn for the #TheTaskUnfinshed event. Visit: go.gettymusic.co/hkgz

Saturday 1 March Bristol Day of Prayer10.30–15.00Light lunch provided174 Redland Road, Bristol, BS6 6YGContact: Charles & Liz ChalmersEmail: uk.waleswest@omfmail.com Phone: 0117 9466211

Saturday 5 MarchA Rock or a Rolling Stone? St Luke’s Watford, Langley Way, Watford, WD17 3EGContact: Tim JenkinsEmail: tim.jenkins@omfmail.com

Exhibitions that OMF is attending:

2–7 AprilWord AlivePrestatyn, Wales

Missional Business – UK OMF has founded a number of businesses in East Asia with the express purpose of reaching people in some of the hardest places. Our speaker for these conferences is Nora Hughes, who has been involved in a number of successful missional businesses in East Asia.

7 MayBristol day conferenceContact: Tim Jenkins Email: tim.jenkins@omfmail.com

14 MayLondon day conferenceContact: Tim Jenkins Email: tim.jenkins@omfmail.com

21 MayMilton Keynes at COCMContact: Tim Jenkins Email: tim.jenkins@omfmail.com

活動Events

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經濟Finance

Astonished at Answered Prayer! As I write this, we’ve just completed our budgeting process for 2016. In broad terms we have two main streams of income: those received for general uses (including legacies) and those received for specific members. That income is spent on the support of our members (who fund UK running costs e.g. employed staff) and living allowances for retired members. Our prayer is that the income received and expenditure will equate to one another.

When there is a gap, this could quickly be closed with a strengthening of GBP against USD or with members seeing their support levels increase. It is not expected, however, that donations received for general uses will increase, as the trend in UK giving is towards personalised support. I was recently reading a report from the mid-1980s that highlighted that personalised support made up 40 per cent of OMF UK income at that time, and this figure was increasing. By 2000 this had reached 50 per cent and now it is nearer to 75 per cent. With only 25 per cent of our required income received for general uses, and a significant portion of that required for our retired members, our active members need to see personalised support covering approx. 85 per cent of their individual budgets. We are grateful to the many who pray with us regarding

these matters, particularly for those seeking increases in their personal support.

The heading of this article comes from the account where the church in Jerusalem was praying for Peter in prison, the night before his expected execution under Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:5ff). They were astonished when Peter, for whom they were praying ‘earnestly’, turned up where ‘many had gathered and were praying’. God intervened miraculously on this occasion, although he could have let another course of action occur, such as when he allowed James to be murdered by Agrippa, as occurs earlier in the passage.

As we look to the period ahead, when there are financial challenges, these are no different to circumstances that OMF has faced in the past. So, by praying and responsibly seeking an objective indication that members will be sufficiently well supported during their forthcoming term of service, we can entrust these matters to the Lord. And we shouldn’t be astonished to see him provide this way, although he could indeed guide us forward in a different way to that which we may be seeking. I’m not ruling out an increase in general giving, which we still need to receive, but, primarily, our policies do focus on expecting that most support will be personalised, which is why we especially need prayer for low supported members.

Adjacent are the encouraging figures showing how the Lord has provided 97 per cent of required income in the first nine months of this year compared to the budgets set a year ago:

Actual income£4225K

Target income £4347K

Member Support Gifts£3206K76%

General Donations/Other Income£418K10%

Legacies£601K14%

by Darren Wall, Director for Finance & Corporate Services

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Live for the holidays?

a holiday for life

word alive

Great teaching and training, joyful celebrations, and activities kids love – all lasting long after the journey home. Bring your friends, family, or church. Bookings open 8 July 2015

2–7 April 2016 www.wordaliveevent.org

word_alive_Billions_01.indd 1 17/11/2015 10:27

Listen to Keith & Kristyn Getty’s new version of the classic mission hymn Facing a Task Unfinished at go.gettymusic.co/hkgz

Encourage your church to join with thousands of congregations worldwide in singing the hymn for the #TheTaskUnfinished event.

Worldwide event– 21 February 2016Calling believers everywhere 'To go and make Thee known.’