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- Sharing With Missionaries In Bangkok 18.2.85
Sharing With Missionaries in Bangkok 18.2.85
George Verwer

George Verwer (1938 - 2023). American evangelist and founder of Operation Mobilisation (OM), born in Ramsey, New Jersey, to Dutch immigrant parents. At 14, Dorothea Clapp gave him a Gospel of John and prayed for his conversion, which occurred at 16 during a 1955 Billy Graham rally in New York. As student council president, he distributed 1,000 Gospels, leading 200 classmates to faith. In 1957, while at Maryville College, he and two friends sold possessions to fund a Mexico mission trip, distributing 20,000 Spanish tracts. At Moody Bible Institute, he met Drena Knecht, marrying her in 1960; they had three children. In 1961, after smuggling Bibles into the USSR and being deported, he founded OM in Spain, growing it to 6,100 workers across 110 nations by 2003, with ships like Logos distributing 70 million Scriptures. Verwer authored books like Out of the Comfort Zone, spoke globally, and pioneered short-term missions. He led OM until 2003, then focused on special projects in England. His world-map jacket and inflatable globe symbolized his passion for unreached peoples.
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Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the speaker talks about various events and conferences related to missions and spreading the word of God. They mention a final message given with John Pantry singing, which attracted about 20,000 young people, with 3,000 making commitments to overseas missions. The speaker also mentions the United Missionary Conference and the involvement of different missions. They highlight the importance of prayer and the need for recruits in mission societies. Overall, the sermon emphasizes the impact of these events and the importance of spreading the word of God.
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I found that missionaries in various countries sort of appreciate when I take these kind of meetings, just hearing a little bit about what's happening in other parts of the world. And so I'll just share these things with the idea that then we can pray for what God is doing. I live in London, England, even though I'm an American by birth. I thought those of you from Britain especially might like to know that some tremendous things are happening in Britain right now. I don't know if you've ever heard the name of Keith Green, but Keith was killed in an airplane crash a couple of years ago. Before that time he was probably one of the most well-known Christian singers in America, and his tapes were going out to England as well. Keith was an unusual singer because his preaching was as strong as his singing. And his five or six Keith Green albums, tapes, that have gone out all over the world. Just before Keith died, he went to Europe. He had a little missions vision before that. His wife, Melanie, is very famous for her writing. Born because she wrote against abortion. He was killed shortly after. Before that, because we both tend to be a little extreme, I'll never forget that night. He wrote in a piano player. The song he was writing, Jesus Commanded You To Go. After his death, they discovered that there was one videotape of Keith. There was one videotape of Keith. More people committed themselves in the United States to missions. It was quite amazing. So this year we decided, they came to England. Many of them thought it was impossible, but they came. I remember the first night. I spoke just at six of the 18 concerts at the end after the videotaping. The young people came, about 20,000. About 3,000 young people made commitments. Definitely go, at least, to this meeting. Shortly after that, the first United Mission in DC. A lot of discussion and arguments. Canceled it for one year. Resurrected again. UCCF for missions. God gave us 1,000 for a four or five day conference. They've got it all memorized. But let's pray. Very told people that are going. Then I gave a second invitation. I was speaking on the last night. Gave a second invitation. Remained seated. 150, much more than a man. Enabled them. If we could pray, also for all the following. Wheaton College is just an example. Years ago they had maybe 12. The number of people right now is showing some interest. It's quite enormous. But I'm telling you, a lot of these young people. Just a lot of action. These specially made decisions. Britain. And the States. And Singapore and Malaysia. Pictures. But I'm convinced. I know I'm going to teach you basic principles. Many of them even include James Taylor. It's a great, great James Taylor's trip. I noticed he's going to Ulster. About three weeks ago I was in Northern Ireland. The same kind of. There's some movement going on in Northern Ireland. International Youth Bridge. Taking advantage of the fact that people overseas. Last year it also was. Leadership event. So let's pray for James Taylor's visits. It's so important. His trips. But unless the Holy Spirit works. There's two different worlds. House churches. And all the different things. Tens of thousands. Somebody might sneak out of the back door. But let's really pray. That somehow. Another country I'd like to mention. Is Germany. It's just been in Germany. Totally different country. God is working. Terrific open door there. Huge youth movement. They need this challenge. God can use them. We have an Easter evangelistic thrust. In April. If you could pray for that. We get four or five hundred. We get quite a few hundreds of Germans. Coming to summer. Career missions. So let's pray for Germany. Pray for a man named Mr. Hunt. He's the president and founder of our second ship. The Deluxe Board. The increase of distribution. Today they say 70 percent. Criticism. Another country I'd like you to pray. Is the last day's ministry. Our work in the most. For that. That's Keith's latest album. Jesus commands us to go. God is really. Focus in our praying. We've been laboring in Turkey now. A handful of converts. And they all seem to have problems. It's been hard going. There has been a breakthrough in Izmir. The leader of our warriors there. So amazing. We've had people there for years. Teaching English. Now is a small group. Maybe 20. Most of them. Few in Istanbul. And there are individual believers. Some say there may be now. 40 million. So let's pray for. Turkey. And then also for the Sudan. That's a newer field. I guess born out of the ship. Sudanese. But the thing I like. Should be praying. More than that. But we must start. The Ethiopian situation is just so wild. So much money there. And yet. To get that food. Many complications. War going on. Whole area. You can get harmed. Strengthen your defenses. Realize that your own emotional survival. Is also something that could be as serious. As starvation. Because if you emotionally. And mentally. You're not so pressure. So great getting to you. Suffering in the world. I've seen that. Then of course you're not going to be able. To do anything to help the people. You've got to care for yourself. Potentially you can care for somebody else. One of the doctors in Ethiopia. Just cannot get enough doctors. So that's very much on my heart. We are involved. And then another country. That's very much on my heart. Different countries at different times in my life. Gravitated toward the top of my. Turkey's always stayed there. Pakistan is a land of. 80, 90 million people. Let's see if it's got the population. Jesus. 50% of our. Years. Churches. Frankie. The cathedral. On Saturday. So that's an exciting country. On this trip as well. I've come to just. Love Pakistan. It's so much like India. That is very different. Train. If you know Hindi. You can speak to two three hundred million. In India. Especially the reading. We have increased our program. Out in the subcontinent. Called Eastward Bound. This is a program where young people. Commit themselves for two years. In subcontinent. Then they go back to India. With another visa. Then they go to Pakistan. Work there for six months. Get another visa. And he's been out there I guess five, six years. Just. Rolling around. Came back to India. And it's such an exciting thing. It's very, very well. Officially there's an attempt. Recycling. I'll be seeing quite a few of them. Next week. So let's pray. For Pakistan. And also if you could pray. It's a little harder for women. Disorienting. So pray for Eastward Bound. Pray for Pakistan. And another country. That we're very interested in. But we're moving to our second stage. And you're going to see Muslims go on. At least at present. It just takes much more. Continual effort. Now in Bangladesh. People go out. Totally different. The trucks. They're separate. We sent out. People who just go out. And just low profile. Talk to them. Use a few. They're experimenting a little bit. Because he's the one that. He is. Being used to train. Some feel. Islam in Bangladesh. They come to Christ. Keep them in their town. We don't share with every Muslim. That we've talked to. We see if they're ready. Also after they come to Christ. We teach them not to share. With every single one. Very sensitively. When they find out somebody is open. Open to. Seeking God. And they answer the questions. And they share. And some have been baptized. These groups have. Coming out of the soil and snow. Terrific new New Testament. That's. In Muslimani Bengali. This is the Bengali. That the Muslim can understand. The old translation is Hindu. Uses Hindu terms. No it's Christian of course. It's the word God. It's terrific. The whole nation. But the Christians. We have the tradition. That side relates very well with church. And this other side. Disturbing to believers. About 70% Bangladesh. But some of them really. He's going back to his third term. We're excited about. Muslim world. In South. This is certainly the last. Big. Major frontier of world. Eight people in the world. In Italy. And there are millions of Muslims in the world. Millions. This is. An area of missions. That has been greatly. Certainly an increased interest. Interest. Certainly right now. Well there are a few of the lands. That are on my heart. And I thought it'd be good now. If we could just take. You can get it from. Dick Eastman. Used to be that every home. Has a separate organization. All the countries.
Sharing With Missionaries in Bangkok 18.2.85
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George Verwer (1938 - 2023). American evangelist and founder of Operation Mobilisation (OM), born in Ramsey, New Jersey, to Dutch immigrant parents. At 14, Dorothea Clapp gave him a Gospel of John and prayed for his conversion, which occurred at 16 during a 1955 Billy Graham rally in New York. As student council president, he distributed 1,000 Gospels, leading 200 classmates to faith. In 1957, while at Maryville College, he and two friends sold possessions to fund a Mexico mission trip, distributing 20,000 Spanish tracts. At Moody Bible Institute, he met Drena Knecht, marrying her in 1960; they had three children. In 1961, after smuggling Bibles into the USSR and being deported, he founded OM in Spain, growing it to 6,100 workers across 110 nations by 2003, with ships like Logos distributing 70 million Scriptures. Verwer authored books like Out of the Comfort Zone, spoke globally, and pioneered short-term missions. He led OM until 2003, then focused on special projects in England. His world-map jacket and inflatable globe symbolized his passion for unreached peoples.