Operation Mobilization

Summary

Operation Mobilization, founded in 1957, is an international, interdenominational mission organization with nearly 5,500 people from more than 95 nations working in more than 110 countries and on two mission ships. OM's role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization, and to strengthen and help plant churches, especially among the unreached in the Middle East, Europe, South and Central Asia. OM uses all possible means to share the Gospel. Sports, medical care, relief supplies, art, small business and much more are all means of reaching into others' lives to talk about Jesus, as well as often meeting practical needs.

This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Operation Mobilization's role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization, and to strengthen and help plant churches, especially among the unreached in the Middle East, Europe, South and Central Asia.

Evangelism is at the heart of everything OM does. The ministry began with the distribution of Christian literature, and that continues to be a significant part of OM's activity. Bibles, Scripture portions and Christian books may be sold in shops or on the ships which travel from port city to port city. Or they may be given away on the streets or on treks to remote villages or discreetly supplied to seekers in restrictive countries. An OM team rarely goes anywhere without a supply of Christian literature.

But evangelism takes many other forms, as well, including showing films such as the Jesus film, using music and drama for presentations on the streets, doing surveys which lead to conversations about spiritual matters, using the arts to open conversations and present the Good News, and simply making friends and introducing them to the Gospel. When OM teams reach out to the suffering with food, medical care, shelter and much more, it is done with a sincere desire to bring practical help but also to open the door for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be presented so that the greatest need may be met. In that spirit, OM's efforts to meet practical needs take many forms: relief following natural disasters, refugee ministry, schools, literacy programs, job skills training, HIV/AIDS ministry, microenterprise, housing and care for street children, medical clinics, and much more.

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

OM uses the following to express its mission:

OM's role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization and to strengthen and help plant churches, especially among the unreached in the Middle East, Europe, South and Central Asia.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Muslim Peoples - According to Operation World, OM is the largest mission presence in the Muslim world. The agency has been working among Muslims since 1961, with long-term focus on church planting, discipleship of new believers, and development of leaders among the nationals within the Church.

India - A major Christian presence in India, OM has worked here since 1963. Current ministry includes more than 150 church-planting teams, nearly 100 schools educating 15,000 children of the outcast Dalit people at the bottom of Indian society, and one of the fastest-growing church movements in the nation--the Good Shepherd Community Church movement with thousands of churches serving the Dalits.

Europe - In Europe since 1960, OM has teams in nearly every country here. Ministry includes reaching out to the Roma (Gypsy) population, serving immigrants (many of whom are Muslims) and equipping churches to reach immigrant neighbors, using sports and numerous day camps for children's outreach, using arts outreaches, and much more.

Ships - OM's two ships, Doulos and Logos Hope, each carry approximately 300 or more OM crew and staff from many nations. Since the ship ministry began in 1970, the ships have welcomed more than 38 million people onboard in nearly 500 different cities in 155 nations. The ships have distributed over 13 million Christian books and Bibles as well as nearly 20 million educational books.

Relief and Development - Activities include providing emergency relief (following natural disasters or in refugee situations), ministry to children in need or at risk (orphans, street kids), income-generating projects, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, medical clinics and preventive health training, job skills training, empowering people with disabilities, and more.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

OM uses the following to express its statement of faith:

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments in their original texts, are fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, without error, and are the final authority for the Church.

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In the absolute deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, the authenticity of His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His present mediatorial work in heaven.

In the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit. We believe He gives life, He sanctifies, He empowers and comforts all believers.

That man was originally created sinless. Tempted by Satan, man fell and thereby brought the whole race under the condemnation of eternal separation from God.

That man is saved through repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ. Justification is through grace alone.

That the Church is the body of Jesus Christ composed of all true believers. The present work of the Church is the worship of God, the perfecting of the saints, and the evangelization of the world.

In the personal and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate our salvation and establish His glorious Kingdom.

History [ Back to top ]

OM, as an International Missions Agency, traces its roots to the prayers of ordinary Christians. Such persistent prayer by a suburban housewife, Dorothy Clapp, led to a small revival in a high school in New Jersey, USA in the mid-1950s. Her visionary prayer was that God would not only redeem the lives of those students but also raise up a globe-spanning missionary force from among them. She supplemented her prayers with simple literature evangelism. God responded to such faith. George Verwer was one of those students who dedicated his life to Jesus Christ as a result of reading a gospel of John given to him by the Clapp family. In Christmas1957, George went to Mexico with two other college students in an ancient truck filled with Spanish Gospel literature. Behind them stood faithful supporters who prayed, financially supported and shared their vision. Lack of a precedent, ample resources or experience was more than compensated for by a radical faith in God's Word and a hunger for spiritual reality and practical discipleship.

Such simple beginnings have shaped OM ever since. Today over 5500 people are working in 110 countries bringing God's unchanging truth to literally millions every year. Today it is easier than ever to begin or continue your journey of obedience and discovery with us. The great secret in missions today is that though God uses ordinary people, missions needs many more of them right now.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

OM is a faith mission dependent upon God as He moves the hearts of interested individuals, local churches, and other organizations to meet financial needs. Missionaries raise support for their ministries from interested churches and individuals. Funds provided for the support of the ministry of each individual are set apart for that purpose and disbursed in compliance with the support schedule and policies.

During 2008, contributions to OM through its USA office came from these sources: 53% from individuals, 24% from churches, 14% from organizations, and 9% from foundations.

Other areas of need and involvement include:

GLOBAL CHALLENGE: short-term mission outreaches lasting two weeks to two months (customized options up to six months available on request).

GLOBAL ACTION: OM's one or two year, hands-on missions training and service opportunity.

GLOBAL SERVICE: opportunities for long-term service for experienced or professional staff.

TEEN STREET: conferences and outreaches for Teens, 12-17.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Evangelism Support Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		270 of 348	30 of 37
Fund Acquisition Decision		270 of 348	31 of 37
Resource Allocation Decision		of 348	3 of 37
Asset Utilization Decision		of 348	3 of 37