According to our mission statement, OMF International UK seeks to mobilise people, prayer and resources for mission to East Asians both here and overseas.
We do not fulfil this vision on our own but are encouraged and assisted by the contribution of many.
One recent publication that highlights OMFs focus on Buddhism is the Christian prayer guide The Buddhist Peoples of the World, collected by Paul Hattaway and published by Piquant. (Hattaway is also responsible for Operation China which has so helped to stimulate prayer for that great nation.)
The Buddhist prayer guide is an excellent resource. Hattaway gives us colourful, informed overviews of all the people groups that exist in the areas of the world where Buddhism is dominant.
Some of the groups are among the most neglected in the world, hidden away behind impenetrable cultural or geographical barriers. Others are in places where the gospel has been for many years but where the Church is still small.
The profiles contain helpful statistics and details for prayer and for building up public awareness. There are many photos and inset boxes that provide information about geography and the status of the evangelisation of particular groups.
Most fascinating of all are the contributions from a range of writers who give their perspectives on the Buddhist world. The articles are not only from experts who give us the essential overviews for understanding Buddhism, but also include testimonies of the varied and miraculous ways in which individual Buddhists have become Christians.
The stories encourage us and show that God has, at times, gone ahead of missionaries to prepare the hearts of men and women for the revelation of Jesus Christ. They also verify the words of our new International Director for Mobilisation, Jon Fuller, There are no God-forsaken places; there are just church-forsaken places.
The book contains a variety of accounts showing Gods Holy Spirit drawing people to himself through a combination of dreams, personal experiences and the witness of the Scriptures. And so we are emboldened to pray.
We may not be able to penetrate some of these groups ourselves, although in many cases we are trying, but we can all pray that the God of the whole world will continue to reveal himself to those who, for one reason or another, are cut off from the gospel.
