DE KROEZA DANNE, HOLLAND (ANS) -- Over 250 participants attended Operation Mobilisation’s Global Orientation (GO) conference at the end of August and together they represented a rainbow of nations. More importantly, those at the biannual event would not be returning home straight afterwards, but leaving to serve God overseas as full-time missionaries.

Each had heard and answered God’s call to join the Great Commission – one lady from Trinidad had even sold her own business to join OM’s work in Cambodia.

Taking place from 20th to 31st August, in De Kroeze Danne, the Netherlands, the conference covered a range of subjects from cross-cultural communication to God’s heart for mission.

Daily Bible teaching and discussion seminars further developed the participants’ understanding of the challenges they would face while proclaiming Christ overseas. An entire day was also set aside for prayer, with each attendee spending time alone with God and then coming together to intercede for different regions of the world.

Some of the participants at the recent OM Conference

Among the 250 at the GO conference were 35 Christians from the UK, heading to join OM’s outreach teams in locations as diverse as East Europe, Central Asia and the Near East. The group also included a family preparing to serve in France. Several of those from the UK had heard about OM through the recent visit of Logos Hope to ports in Britain and Northern Ireland and after the conference were flying out to the Caribbean to join the ship. “It was amazing to be with the people of God from so many nations! I loved the focus on knowing God and loving people,” said Emily, who is now joining an OM team in the UK.

Founded by George Verwer over 50 years ago, presently there are 5,400 OM workers serving in 110 countries and on board two ocean-going vessels. Through friendship evangelism, sports outreach, community development and more, they seek to transform lives and communities with news of God’s love. More details about the organisation and how to be involved can be found at www.uk.om.org

Peter Wooding is a TV, radio and print journalist and media consultant having spent 10 years as news editor with UCB Radio in the UK. He has traveled extensively reporting from countries including Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Dubai, South Korea, Zambia, Gambia, Mozambique, Croatia, Israel and India. He reports regularly for CBN News, KCBI radio, ASSIST News and Sorted Magazine. Peter and wife Sharon live in North Wales, UK with their three children. Passionate to see God’s Justice and Mercy impact lives, Peter is director of a new UK ministry Mercy Project International (www.mercyproject.org.uk) to help at-risk young people in Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Kosovo, the Middle East and beyond. Contact Peter for consultation at woodingpeter@hotmail.com or tel. +44 1244 549167/+44 7500 903067.