In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing his testimony and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be at the conference. He references Matthew chapter 9 and talks about how Jesus called the fishermen to follow him and become fishers of men. The speaker then shares about his own experiences in India and the growth of their work there. He also mentions the birth of Operation Mobilization and the impact of one woman's prayers. The speaker emphasizes the importance of taking God at his word and shares examples of young people surrendering their lives to Christ and the growth of evangelism in Mexico. The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to be open to God's calling and to be willing to leave their nets to become fishers of men.

I'd like to take the first part of this meeting, before your coffee break, to just give my own testimony, and just a little bit of what God has been doing. And then after the coffee break we'll share something from the word of God. Let's just once again, however, have a word of prayer. God, just speak to our hearts tonight, that we may know more about you, because we've been here together. Thank you for what you're doing around the world. And we yield our hearts to you, to do your will, in Jesus' name. Amen. Matthew chapter 9. My testimony goes back to an elderly lady, who knew the reality of these verses. I might say it's a real joy to be back in this particular conference center. And when I first came to Holland back in 1962, I think Sidney Wilson must have been the first name that I'd ever heard of. And some of the people that God had used him in their lives. And we know through the years God has done so much in so many people right here in this particular place. These are the verses. Matthew 9, 35 through 38. Just read it in Dutch. This dear woman believed in these verses. And she prayed for a school near her home, that people would not only just be converted to Christ, but that they would go from that school to many parts of the world preaching the gospel. She prayed for 15 years. And not very much happened. But she kept praying. And then she began to pray for me when I arrived in that school. She prayed for me for three years. And every year I got worse. I wasn't from a Christian home. Actually my father is from this country. His father was an atheist. My other grandfather was from Scotland and he was a drunkard. And already by 16 I had become a very selfish and materialistic person. Even though I had become a member of a good local Dutch Reformed church. And I had become president of the young peoples. And the pastor made me his little special assistant. I had never heard the gospel. I certainly didn't think it was necessary to be converted to anything. And I had one foot in the church and the other foot in the world. And I was living for myself. And for money. And a lot of other things. She kept praying for me. She sent me a gospel of John through the post. God used me. And God used his word to prepare my heart. So when Billy Graham came to New York City where I was then living near there. I was ready. That's such a valuable aspect of giving people the word of God. It often prepares them. For that time when they hear the gospel in clarity. And they respond by simple faith. I went back to that high school. And God's spirit just began to move. And this was not a Christian school. Completely ungodly school. A third of the students often were drunk. God's spirit moved through that high school. In answer to that woman's prayers. In one meeting alone when I was speaking. 125 of them surrendered their lives to Christ. And this was the birthplace of what's known today around the world as Operation Mobilization. The same group that operates the ship Logos and the ship Dulos which I think you've probably seen on television. One woman believed God. One woman took God at his word. And if we're going to know the reality in Christ. We've got to learn to take God at his word. When I was 17 I began to share the message just as I'm sharing it tonight. And young people caught this vision. We began to evangelize in our hometown. Within a year three of us found our way to Mexico. And a work was born there that's going on till today. In fact three weeks ago I was on the ship Dulos, the bigger ship in Mexico. And it was our 20th Christmas crusade. Three or four hundred young people again came to serve Christ during their Christmas holiday rather than go home and sit under the Christmas tree. This new ship that God has given us is such a tremendous instrument. It's got room in one lounge alone for 600 people. In the dining hall under the lounge is room for 350 people. In our cabins there's room for 400 people. We had 60,000 visitors on the ship in Tampico, Mexico. In a few days in the city of Veracruz we'll be having a massive citywide crusade together with Luis Palau, the Billy Graham of Latin America. And I'd really appreciate your prayers for this. Tens of thousands of people are visiting the ship there in Veracruz. The ship, of course, is still only part of this ministry. The bigger part is still on land. In India, where I've just come from, in answer to this specific prayer we've had the privilege of training many, many thousands of Indians. Working with almost every Christian organization in the nation. And we still have 280 men and women full-time with OM in India. And it just continues to go on. This summer we're expecting about 3,000 to be involved with us. One of the reasons I take meetings like this about 600 of them a year is because I'm looking for some more people. Not people who want to sit the rest of their life in meetings or in some church half asleep but people who want to move out in obedience to what God says. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It's amazing the number of young people today who are responding to the challenge of the great commission of Jesus Christ. Especially from places where we would not expect it. For instance, one of our main fields now is this area called Singapore. We just started working there. When these young people come they have to see God supply their finances. There are many obstacles. But we now have over 100 from Singapore and Malaysia full-time this year. And many of these young people I believe later on God is going to use them in China. Most of them speak Chinese. They're working on both of our ships. And it's exciting what God is doing. God has also given us many from this country. People like Ebo Burma. And Lane Schotte who is the chief engineer on the ship Lagos. I was just with him a few days ago. So the Lord answered that lady's prayers. And these past 24 years we have just seen God just moving the mountains and throwing them into the sea. God is alive. God is real. One of our greatest burdens is for the Muslim world. And tomorrow at our literature display I hope you will get a set of these prayer cards. How many have already seen these? How many of you have been on Operation Mobilization? It's good to see some familiar faces. I may not be able to get all the names. How many of you have been on Lagos in Rotterdam? And Doulos? So you know something about this. And you may know about these little cards. These are 52 of the most needy countries in the world. These cards are about 52 of the most needy countries in the world. Not specifically about OM. All kinds of essential facts about these countries. We may only work in half of these countries. But I use them as prayer cards. Or maybe you have to wait for a bus. Or you can't drive a car because there is ice on the road. Then you can take these prayer cards and you can pray effectively for these countries. If you read through these cards and you see some facts about these countries you will be amazed. For example the land of Somalia has just a few hundred Christians in the whole country. Among over 3 million people. There are countries in Africa like Mauritania there is not one known believer in the country. Libya has 2 or 3 believers. Among 2.5 million people. And in Senegal 4.5 million people. What does that say? 110 missionaries. That doesn't say the number of believers. One in every 41,000 believers. Tunisia. Almost 6 million people. There are just maybe 14, maybe 20 believers in the nation. There are only a handful of Christians in the whole country. If you go to countries like Pakistan where I have just been. There are more Christians. But there live 70 million people in Pakistan. Most Christians have a Hindu background. The outcast sweeper caste. But most of the people are Muslims. So there is no communication. Most of the Muslims in Pakistan have never had the Gospel. This is the newest field that we are praying about. Starting a permanent work. The church is inviting us to work long term in Pakistan. With Lagos we saw a miraculous open door in that country. We had about 17,000 visitors. We had enormous book sales. Twice as much as we have in India. We even ended up dry docking the ship there. Because they gave us permission to pay the dry docking with local money. Now I know just hearing about these places. For most people. Doesn't make much of an impression. We're here in Holland. We see the need here. And it's difficult to reach out by faith and see Pakistan or India or Turkey or Tunisia. And it's difficult to see by faith a country like Pakistan, Indonesia or Turkey. I wonder if you can even tell me where Mongolia is. In England they don't teach much geography anymore. As long as you can find your way to the train station. As long as you know where the nearest cinema is. And the nearest pub. And the nearest football stadium. What other geography do you want to know? And when I'm talking about these countries. You get sort of this blank look. But I hope they still teach you over here in the Netherlands. You're supposed to be more intelligent over here. So you can tell me where Mongolia is. Praise God for that map back there. And you can tell me where Afghanistan is. And if you can't I can sell you a map. Because we publish our own maps. And we put a bible text on the top of the map. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into the harvest. And I just feel it's so important. For God's people to be informed about the world situation. By the way Mongolia is just north of China. And there are no believers in that country. When we look into God's word. We see many wonderful, very pleasant verses. About blessings. And God's people like blessings. And we read about salvation. And that's wonderful. We read about going to heaven. Wonderful. We read that God answers prayer. Even for our personal needs. That's wonderful. Many times people come to me. And they give me a prayer request. For a personal blessing. Personal need. In America some churches have a theology of prosperity. They believe if you love God. He will give you lots of money. You can get a bigger house. Get a bigger car. And you can buy your wife twenty, thirty, forty dresses. And you can have everything you want. They say God is a big God. And he loves to give his people things. Especially if they're Americans of course. And they teach this as a theology. And yet we look at the life of Jesus Christ. We look at the life of the apostles. Paul had to even work just to keep his ministry going. Just to exist. And in Corinthians he says we are poor. Yet we're making many rich. Yet so often today we have to work. Yet we have to say as Christians we are rich making many others poor. So I believe when we look into God's word. We cannot just take the verses we want. We have to take the verses we don't want. Many verses that I don't like. I've never found it easy to be a Christian. Some people I meet. They seem to find it so easy to be a Christian. The question is of course what kind of a Christian. But I've found that I had many questions. Is this really God's word? Is Jesus Christ the way, the truth and the life? For Muslims? For Mongolians? For Hindus? Why can't these people be saved through their own religion? And this caused me to study even more. And perhaps the thing that I believe the most. Is that this book is God's word. There are things we don't understand. That's the way God has ordained it. There are things that take many years to fully understand. But I believe as we study God's word. And we study prophecy. And we study the various arguments. And then we begin to put it into practice. That's the thing that really proves it. It works. God answers prayer. These practical principles of spiritual life. That we're talking about throughout this weekend. For 24 years I've seen these principles working in the lives of thousands of people. So when I read verses. Like go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. I must be willing to obey. I often think of when the Lord Jesus Christ. He met the fishermen. And he called them. Notice in Matthew chapter 4. Jesus in verse 18. Was walking by the sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers. Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother. And they were fishing. They were working men. Some of you. Jesus looked at them. And he said unto them. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. And notice verse 20. And they straightway left their nets and followed him. And I believe that is why God has put me here in this world. And I believe that is why God has put me here in this world. I would like to cancel this visit. And stay in India. India on the ship was a last minute opportunity. I didn't expect to go there. Many months ago I told Jaap I would come here. But I felt I must move out to have this meeting with my leaders. On the ship. As the work is growing so much. And there are many problems. And many opportunities. And we hope to expand our work in subcontinent India much more in the coming year. I had ten meetings in Britain in the last week. And I either cancelled them or I sent someone else. But as I prayed. I felt I should come back and be at this conference. And I thought why is that? A very small meeting. Anytime I am speaking to three thousand people. Why has God put me here? On this terrible day. I have already almost been killed. In India the weather is so wonderful. Beautiful time of the year. Here I am. I thought I had arrived in Greenland. I believe this is one of the reasons. Because there are seven of you. Maybe only one or two. I believe this is one of the reasons. Because there are seven of you. Maybe only one or two. You are working. Studying, planning to work. Jesus is going to face you. These days. And he is going to say follow me. Leave your nets. And I will make you a fisher of men. And he is going to use you to bring hundreds of people to Jesus Christ. Now this is not the only way that God works. Now this is not the only way that God works. Sometimes God tells people to stay with their nets. That is just as important. I think of people who work very hard. And give up their money for world to world missions. And we never want to put or bring division between these two groups. And we never want to put or bring division between these two groups. The last thing we want to say is that one is better than the other. I had the opportunity to meet some people today. From here in Holland. Who have been praying for our work for 19 years. Or 15 years. And it is through their prayers. And their giving. That this work is going on. But other people. Are like Peter and Andrew. He says to them. Leave your nets. Leave your job. And follow me. This has been happening around the world. That is why we have now about 1,100 people in OMS. That is why we have now about 1,100 people in OMS. God brings more people. Peter's and Andrew's. Just as in those days. And then you have to see what happens. Then they go further. Maybe you are not a Peter or an Andrew. Maybe you are one of these others. James and John. No, it is long from there. He saw two other brethren. James the son of Zebedee. And John his brother in a boat. With Zebedee their father mending their nets. And he called them. And notice verse 22. They immediately left the boat. And their father. And they followed Christ. The same thing happened when Jesus looked at Matthew. He was a tax collector. Immediately he left everything. And I am convinced the Holy Spirit is still doing this today. And I hope that during this weekend. We will listen carefully for the voice of God. The voice of Jesus Christ to our own hearts. When we think of these countries. Where in some cases there are no missionaries. Where millions have never heard. And we know that Jesus Christ is looking for men and women. Of course Satan is very clever. And he has sowed the seed of much misunderstanding. As to what missionary work really is. Now supposedly I am a missionary. Do I look like a missionary? What does a missionary look like? Should he have a big funny hat? And a big bible? And so often when I speak to young people. They think missionary. Some super dedicated person. Very spiritual. And with great knowledge of theology. And able to speak many languages. Even all at once. We have discovered. That God uses ordinary people. Many of our best longer term people. Who did learn a language. And have been used of God. Never ever planned to do this. They never had the plan to become a missionary. In fact we don't even use that term. Because in most countries it is totally misunderstood what you are talking about. God can use ordinary people. This is the miracle of the two ships. Most of the people on those ships are ordinary people. Some of the men are professional people. And they are skilled people. But they are still ordinary working people. But God has put his hand on them. And has sent them out. And is using them to reach millions and tens of millions of people. And thousands have come to know Christ personally. Because some people were willing to obey the voice of Jesus. Some people say well they don't need missionaries anymore do they? There are so many national Christians. In some countries. Praise the Lord. There are many national Christians. But those very national Christians are asking us to send equipment and to send people. In India we have about almost 200 national Indian workers. And about 90 internationals. I just met with our Indian leaders. And they asked me please go back to Europe and get some more Europeans to help in the work. And we praise the Lord that we have had Dutch young people in almost every OM field. The Dutch especially seem to go for the ships. Now I haven't done a study on why that is. Maybe because you have of course a great merchant navy. You certainly have had some interesting experiences with the sea in your history. You've got the great port of Rotterdam. But right now we don't have one single Dutch person laboring in India. And with all the mission societies in the world. I hardly know of anyone laboring from the Netherlands in the land of India. I'm sure there are some. And this is one of the strategies of Satan. To get us to think oh we're not needed there. What can I do there? But you see in the work of God today. All kinds of people are needed. Technical people. Secretaries. People that are willing just to kill. Clean. Now I would have thought we could get many from the Netherlands. Such a clean country. There must be this great competition between the Swiss and the Dutch. Whose streets can be polished the most? But maybe you've not travelled in the rest of the world. Most people don't wash the pavement in front of their houses. Only in the Netherlands and Switzerland and a few other countries. And you have this gift of cleaning. And in OM we need some people with a gift of cleaning. Because many of our headquarters are very dirty. We have many English people. Many Americans. They are not very good at cleaning. And you know sometimes when there's a job on a ship. Of just domestic work. Cleaning. Working in the kitchen. We can't find the workers. On the ship Doulos. We have a laundry. Since we have a lot of people. We can't find people who feel called of God to work in the laundry. Some come they feel called to preach. Others feel called to start churches. Others feel called to give out literature. Some of them write to me. No one ever writes saying I feel called to work in the laundry for Jesus. And we are lacking many workers. Right now. Especially on the ships. So as you have your cup of coffee. The international symbol of Dutch survival. I hope you'll be thinking about these things. We can have these cards available tonight. You'll see brother Huub. And the other books and things will be ready tomorrow. Pray over these countries. Say Lord. Give me a burden. Like that woman. Who prayed for 15 years. And a whole world wide fellowship was born. That has reached already 250 million people. Face to face. With a message of Jesus Christ. One woman. Prayed. Persevered. Believed God. And this is what I've been telling you a little about. Is the result. Do you have a life of prayer? Are you taking God and his word? Not just the blessings. The hard verses. The commands. The obligations. The demands of Jesus Christ. Only when we do that. That the real joy and reality will burn in our souls. And our faith will become a living multiplying thing. Let's just pray. Father we thank you for your word. And pray that during these days we may get a world wide vision. For some of these nations where there is so little work. Lord we believe that you are sending out laborers. You are calling forth workers. And sending them into the harvest field. All kinds of people. And we'll give you the praise. In Jesus name.