audio from OMF's magazine Billions.
On her retirement, OMF Third Culture Kids Advisor Helen Lyttle asked for readers of the May 2022 edition of Billions magazine to pray that God would help her to find the best way to continue supporting and encouraging Third Culture Kids back in Northern Ireland.Thank you for praying! We are delighted that Helen can now share how God has answered those prayers.
God gives different kinds of opportunities to serve him at each stage of life. We asked three short-term mission workers serving in different stages of life about their experiences and the blessings of serving across different generations.
Many churches have youth pastors, but fewer have someone dedicated to serving older people. Over the last few years, OMF worker Lucy Eastwood has been developing ministry to and with older people in Taiwan.
It's often said the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. It's why OMF has been supporting student ministry in Thailand since the 1960s, a legacy Singaporean OMF worker Cherlyn Oh has been continuing with Thai Christian Students (TCS) since 2016. She has had the joy of seeing students grow in their faith while at university as well as how that time has prepared them to live for Jesus in whatever they do after graduation.
When I walk into the living room, my teenage daughter can sometimes be watching a TV show, listening to a podcast episode, scrolling on a social media site, sending a friend a text, or recording a voice note…and all whilst reading a book! Listen to this article by Paul Robinson as he shares the opportunities that putting God honouring content on media platforms can produce.
When we moved to Meishan, a small rural town at the foot of a mountain range in Taiwan, locals were curious—why would anyone choose to live here? We weren't elderly or retiring, and had no relationships (“guan-xi”) in the area, they said. Hear more of Kat's story here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January- April 2025: 'Generations of Faith'.
The children of OMF workers are an essential part of the family's ministry. We asked two OMF (UK) children to share about their day-to-day life. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January- April 2025: 'Generations of Faith'.
As a man in my mid-40s, I still remember and put to practice things others taught me about the Bible when I was a teenager. I pray that this would be true for the young people I work with in Taiwan as well. Listen to find out about Nathan's work with youth in Taiwan. The encouragements and challenges, and how you can pray. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January- April 2025: 'Generations of Faith'.
In Christ a worker God is revealed. Ancient religions and philosophies thought of God as static and indifferent, or as a kind of Eastern ruler made into a god, who lay lazily in his high heaven. Christ draws back in himself the curtain of heaven and shows a God in shirtsleeves, a God busy with the hard work of guiding the destiny of a world in which the sinful and rebellious will of people creates infinite problems and difficulties. See what OMF are doing to advance the gospel within the workplace in East Asia. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at https://omf.org/uk/resources/billions/
For many Filipinos in rural areas, cities are a place of hope for a better future. Sadly, they often end up living in difficult and dangerous conditions in slums, struggling to make ends meet and dealing with broken relationships, addictions and other issues. Hear Fred's story of transformation as he found his joy in Christ. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September -December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at https://omf.org/uk/resources/billions/
Over the nearly 90 years of the China Inland Mission's work in that country, through famine, war and disease, thousands of men and women poured out their lives to tell the Chinese people of the Saviour who loved them and had died for them. We take a look in the archives to see what CIM was doing 100 years ago. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at https://omf.org/uk/resources/billions/
Pastor Roat leads Jesus Village Church in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. A group of OMF workers started the church in 1998, but it is now thriving under Pastor Roat's leadership. This is his story. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at https://omf.org/uk/resources/billions/
What does it mean to be involved in God's global mission? Who should be involved? Andrew Scott, President of OM USA, shared how his thinking on these questions was radically shaped by considering the role of those who's work takes them to new places, cultures and countries. Hear all Andrew shared at Work+Go 2023 on their podcast. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Pastor Fred shares his story growing up in the Philippines, hearing about Jesus through OMF ministry, and now leading that ministry and overseeing the development of local leaders. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
James & Kirsty lead OMF's Returnee Focus ministry. We talked to them about the place of cities in this gospel-sharing opportunity. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Hear from Cambodian Pastor Roat about Jesus Village Church in Phnom Penh. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: ‘Imagining the Eternal City'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Dr. Peter Rowan explores the city and a theme in Revelation and how it can inform mission practice today. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2024: Imagining the Eternal City. Read more at billions.omf.org.
OMF (UK) Archivist Marion Osgood reflects on the 50th anniversary of the deaths of OMF nurses Margaret Morgan and Minka Hanskamp in Thailand. This is an audio recording from OMF (UK)'s Billions magazine May-August 2024. Read the article See the rest of the content from this edition Subscribe to get the magazine by post or email Find out more about OMF (UK)
A look at key trends in China today can inform our prayers for the country and its people. This is an audio recording from Billions magazine May-August 2024. Read the article See content from the rest of this edition Subscribe to get the magazine by post or email
Guest Editor Sarah Hoskins interviewed David & Sue Pickard about their time together in leadership in OMF and the background to OMF's statement on women in leadership. This is an audio recording from Billions magazine. Read the article here Find out more about the magazine and sign up to get a copy by email or post here Find more content from the January-April 2024 edition 'Women in God's Mission' here.
Guest Editor Sarah Hoskins reads her article 'Welcoming Women' introducing our January - April 2024 edition 'Women in God's Mission', looking at women in Luke's Gospel and in OMF today. This is an audio recording from Billions magazine. Find out more about the magazine and sign up to get a copy by email or post here. Find more content from the January-April 2024 edition.
Six ways to see God's kingdom come in the Mekong region. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Peter Rowan explains our role in the future of mission how trusting local agency helps to further the work of the Spirit of God. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
How you can help bring the good news of Jesus to those who need to hear it. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Helping people live out their discipleship in Christ creatively in their work each day. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Handing the responsibility of the church over to the indigenous peoples. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
How a creative solution allows the continuation of ministry to Mekong minorities. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Sharing the good news of Jesus to the remaining Mekong minorities that have never heard it before. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
20 years of answered and continuing prayer for people along the Mekong. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2023: ‘Along the Mekong'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Reuben Grace talks to Reverend MiJa Wi about opportunities for the UK Church and UK theological education to be informed and grow by listening to and learning from Christians across East Asia.
Richard & Louisa Evan show how the En Route course from All Nations Christian College seeks to rethink how theological and mission training is delivered, across four continents, for people from dozens of nations. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January - April 2023: ‘Teaching and Training'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
StJohn shares his experiences serving at Sabah Theological Seminary in Malaysia. Leading class discussions, learning about counselling through boar hunting, teaching virtual classes via Zoom, driving through palm oil plantations, and supporting collaboration across denominations, days were often full of surprises. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January - April 2023: ‘Teaching and Training'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Peter Rowan suggests three ways our thinking and practice could change in light of the shifting demographics of the Global Church. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January - April 2023: ‘Teaching and Training'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Hong Kong Christians share four things to be praying for the Hong Kong Church. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2022 ‘Welcome Hong Kongers'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Resources to help you and your church be ready to welcome those moving to the UK from Hong Kong, and elsewhere. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2022 ‘Welcome Hong Kongers'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Peter Rowan gives six reasons that the western "Minority World" Church and mission agencies must be listening to and learning from Christians and churches in the "Majority World". You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2022 ‘Welcome Hong Kongers'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Over the past year Krish Kandiah has been pivotal in bringing together several organisations, churches, and individuals to respond to the arrival of many people from Hong Kong in the UK. His work resulted in the formation of the UKHK initiative, so we caught up with him via Zoom to find out more. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2022 ‘Welcome Hong Kongers'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Thai Christian Students (TCS) began when an OMF worker encouraged a handful of Christian pharmacy students in Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok to gather, study the Bible and grow in their faith together. Anucha Khobpee, the general secretary of TCS, shares his journey to faith in Christ. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
We asked Ho Meas, an OMF worker who grew in his relationship with Christ while studying overseas, to share how we can welcome international students. Here are his three top tips. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Doing a university degree provides all kinds of new and unexpected opportunities. We spoke to Chloe* and Hannah, who both did placements with Serve Asia – OMF's short-term mission discipleship programme – during their degrees. Why did they do it and what did they gain from the experience? You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Guilford Baptist Church has a long-standing involvement with global mission. Notably from the early 1970s they were sending church for former OMF General Director Michael Griffiths and his wife Valerie. In the last year, it's had growing opportunities to welcome the nations on their doorstep. We sat down with Ian Stackhouse, the senior pastor, to find out more. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine September - December 2022 ‘Welcome Hong Kongers'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Mission is now ‘from everywhere to everywhere'. Our local communities in the UK are increasingly diverse. OMF (UK) has renewed its vision to face this. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
The Rowes share about their time at All Nations Christian College and how learning to live cross-culturally in that setting prepared them for life overseas. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
In cross-cultural work, language learning is essential but can be a daunting prospect for new workers. We caught up with Charlotte about her experiences. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Hear from Anna and Tina about how they returned home after coming to know Jesus while overseas. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
People are turning plastic from rubbish into an income with Plastic Bank, a social enterprise which sees rubbish as a means to uplift the poor. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Starting at a new school can bring up all kinds of worries for children and parents alike. This is especially true for families starting a new school in a new country in a new language. The Koh family – OMF workers from Australia – share about their experiences when they moved to Taiwan. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine May - August 2022 ‘Every day is a school day'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
OMF has worked in the Philippines for over 70 years. We chatted to OMF Philippines field director Irene McMahon about the future role of cross-cultural workers there, how her openness to God's call led her to the role, and what she has learnt from the Filipino Church. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January - April 2022 ‘God gives the growth'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
Leona, who leads an urban house church in the Philippines, shares the difference knowing Jesus Christ has made in her life. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January - April 2022 ‘God gives the growth'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
One of the silver linings of lockdowns has been the opportunity to join in prayer together online. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January - April 2022 ‘God gives the growth'. Read more at billions.omf.org.
OMF aims to see locally led, biblical churches reaching out to their own people and beyond with the good news of Jesus Christ. Our workers, however, are not supposed to be a permanent fixture of the East Asian Church. Rather they are like scaffolding, ready to be taken away at a certain point in the building project, with local Christians taking the work forward. You can also read the article here. Audio from OMF Billions Magazine January - April 2022 ‘God gives the growth'. Read more at billions.omf.org.