http://www.omf.org/ en-GB Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:36:47 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/worst_flooding_in_thailand_in_50_years Thailand has been suffering terrible floods which hit the north and swept south affecting many OMFers. How can you support the flood relief efforts? Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:10:55 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/a_day_in_the_life_of_a_language_learner My heart beat quickened in anticipation and I furiously tried to make sense of what the others were saying. I glanced around the room. It was Kohei’s turn. What was he saying? Someone in his group had shared about something.... But was it a good thing I wondered? Was he encouraged? Or was he discouraged? Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:50:36 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/when_huts_become_high_rises A quick glance at the finance page of your favourite newspaper will tell you that business is booming in East Asia. The strengthening economy has captured the attention of the world. “Development” is the word on everyone’s lips, from the highest reaches of the politcal bureau to the smallest offices in the remotest towns. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:47:33 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/you_re_teaching_what That’s the usual reaction I get when I mention one of the most popular courses I teach.... the dating class! Actually, it is officially called ‘Dating Safe, Dating Well’ which I teach at our Family Centre in East Asia. Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:58:34 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/pray_for_japan An 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck the north-east region of Japan on March 11, 2:46pm local time, about 400kms from Tokyo and 30kms below the surface. A large tsunami followed, hitting Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures on the east coast. Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:40:49 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/the_missionary_kid_experience Growing up overseas is one of the richest experiences any child can have and working with missionary children is equally enriching. Missionary kids (MKs), along with children of expatriates are often termed Third Culture Kids (TCKs) because they grow up not in their parents’ culture or their hosts’ culture but somewhere in between. Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:04:50 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/later_in_life In Acts 7:20-25 it is said that Moses after he was born was raised in his fathers’ house; then he learned the Egyptian way of life. Following the story of his life we can see that God had His hand upon him according to His divine plan. Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:24:05 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/it_means_a_lot_to_them This story happened in a small park that was the size of 4-basketball courts, opposite a big temple and surrounded by a huge wet market. Every now and then, we could see kids playing there after school when their parents or carers were busy selling food in the market, so we decided to organise some activities on Saturday afternoons for them. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:38:07 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/ordinary_women One evening I dragged myself to catch the train in Tokyo to go on a rare girls’ night out. My feet dragged, not because of reluctance, but exhaustion. Our youngest son had been sick during the night and the day that followed was busy. But I didn’t want to miss this precious opportunity to spend time with good friends. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:47:23 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/zhuang_ancestor_worship The Zhuang people believe that the souls of the dead enter a netherworld and continue to assist the living. Fri, 28 May 2010 01:56:28 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/what_took_you_so_long A prayer team was taken into an area of the Mekong region, where the majority of the people are Hmong. The terrain is very rough there, and it is very difficult to grow food. Often times the ground is more rock than dirt. The prayer team walked through a Hmong village and found a group of people sitting around talking. They went up and had a little chat with them. Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:47:34 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/filipino_diaspora_in_singapore The first time that I met Anna she was in tears. Imagine how difficult life must be… Anna’s husband was bitten by a snake and died, leaving behind Anna and her 4 year old daughter. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:13:22 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/emerging_church_under_the_tree Every Sunday, Randy and Janet load their bicycles with plastic chairs and an electronic keyboard; and with song books on their backs they cycle to the low-income housing estate in Taipei. They sit on the street corner under a big tree with people they have met there and begin singing praise songs to God in Taiwanese. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:28:29 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/good_fortune_for_the_new_year New Year’s Day. I was freezing as I stood in line with hundreds of people, waiting to enter the Hokkaido Shrine. According to the National Police Agency, a record 99 million Japanese visited Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in the first three days of the New Year. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:57:04 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/pray_to_the_lord_of_the_harvest What happens when we pray for mission? The Lord raises up workers for His harvest fields, according to Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:25:48 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/from_darkness_to_light “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:17,18). The commission for missionaries today working among unreached or less reached people groups is no different. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:19:24 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/national_conference_2009_review This year’s national conference saw a record number of attendants, with just over 240 guests pushing Naamaroo Conference Centre to full capacity. Visitors came from near and far, from all around Australia and internationally. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:57:08 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/the_power_of_unity I first met Hannah, a seemingly vibrant East Asian believer, when we worked together training some local counsellors. We talked as we worked, and gradually I realised Hannah was really struggling. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:25:38 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/working_shoulder_to_shoulder “Get out! Get out from our area! We don’t need you Christians! You are nothing but trouble and I will do everything to move you out!” screamed the housing resident. Thu, 28 May 2009 01:59:44 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/i_hated_him I was sitting in my rotan armchair feeling quite confident. Sweet tea had been served and I could see my students relax as I complimented them on their English. Since all these students were new theological students, I suggested that they try to explain in English how they had become Christians. Thu, 07 May 2009 05:18:04 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/christ_less_eternity In Australia we have seen many news reports focusing on the problems that exist within Health Services. Whilst there may be room for improvement, trust us when we say that once you have experienced the health services in Vietnam, you will be grateful for what you have here in Australia. Thu, 07 May 2009 05:02:31 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/text_production_manager_for_a_bible_translation_project This morning I have to write my own job description: Text Production Manager for a Bible Translation Project. I start thinking about task lists. I consider clustering them in groups. I envision placing them in order of importance. Suddenly my administrative daydream has become a monster nightmare of tedium! Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:18:25 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/go_forth_with_joy_journey_of_faith “You have served in Hong Kong for over 4 years?” “Yes, that was unbelievable!” I remembered when I fi rst arrived to HK in the sweltering summer of 2004. It was hot (37°c) with humidity of 95%, people everywhere, the noise and pollution was unbelievable. I wondered how I was going to survive in such conditions for the next four years. Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:32:59 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/serving_as_an_english_sensei Over the next 10 Friday’s, I will run English conversational classes in a church called Kibo No Oka*, twenty minutes walk from Fuzukumi Station, south of Sapporo city. Kibo No Oka is led by Takemoto-sensei. The average size for a Japanese evangelical church is about 30 people. Kibo No Oka, however, is considered one of the biggest evangelical churches, with weekly attendance of 100 and average age of 53. Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:32:47 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/a_cambodian_odyssey The hot, humid air hit us as we set foot on to Cambodian soil. We were confronted with the dusty and chaotic roads as we made our way to the OMF team centre. It was amusing to watch the interweaving traffic at intersections, paying no heed to the lights. Yet there seemed to be a method to the madness. Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:24:14 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/review_omf_national_conference_29_31_aug_08 Not long ago we saw the heroic efforts of thousands of athletes at the peak of their fitness, beamed into our living rooms. We marvelled at the human body and what it is able to do. Following on from the example of Liddell, the theme of this year’s conference was “Proclaiming His Glory to the Nations”, Isaiah 66:19. Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:40:47 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/significant_in_god_s_global_plan_in_your_second_half When it was mentioned to me after eight years of retirement from thirty years of full time teaching that I should consider going to the Philippines and doing a stint in an International school for the children of Missionaries, I gave an emphatic no. Now in August 2008 I have come back for a second year. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:53:48 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/running_the_race Eric Liddell’s life inspired the film, “Chariots of Fire,” released in 1981, winning four academic awards. His life began in China, born in 1902 in Tientsin, the son of missionary parents. He died in 1945 in a Japanese internment camp at Weihsien a few months before the end of the Second World War. What made Eric Liddell so great? Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:52:16 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/language_learning_why_bother Wang sat opposite me in our living room listening intently. He had many questions and had been brought to us by a Christian friend called Chen, who was a new believer. I had only been learning language for a short time and although I could understand his questions, I could not answer him adequately. I had never felt so frustrated. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:50:18 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/english_teaching_in_east_asia_more_than_a_job_not_less_than_a_journey All teachers love that moment when a student’s face lights up, when concepts and information fall into place and understanding occurs. “Teacher, when you explain it and we practise it, I can understand!” Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:58:00 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/kids_ministry_taiwanese_style In Taiwan you will meet children in all kinds of places and at all times of the day. Whether it is early morning on the way to school, or 1am at the night markets, children are around. Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:45:46 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/student_ministry_japanese_style One thing I’ve realized is that every soul saved can make an enormous impact. In Australia, it’s not uncommon for there to be at least a few Christians in our workplaces, universities, schools - but in Japan, Christians are often few and far between. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:16:28 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/worst_snow_in_china_for_50_years China is battling the worst winter weather it has seen in more than 50 years. Snow and ice have crushed houses, brought down power lines and crippled transportation across a wide swath of 10 provinces in central China. Hundreds of thousands are homeless. Millions have been affected. Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:38:34 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/student_ministry_thai_style Six Aussies set off to try out student ministry Thai-style at the predominantly Buddhist Naresuan University - a far cry from the University of Western Australia. Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:21:25 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/robert_morrison_pioneer_of_pioneers Two hundred years ago, Robert Morrison spent 9 months on a ship. The ship was no ordinary one. It was a ship that had left London and New York to dock in Canton, dropping off a young man whose mind had been consumed with thoughts of 350 million souls. Fri, 03 Aug 2007 06:36:48 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/professionals_at_your_service The young woman had a sad history. She had lost her job, was deserted by her husband, had two children in her care and a vague idea that perhaps there was someone here who could possibly help... Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:47:40 GMT http://www.omf.org//australia/news/hotspot_vietnam Over the last few centuries, Vietnam has been a political hotspot. Years on, Vietnam is still a hotspot, though now for a different reason...