Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart... inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 16)

George’s uniquebirthday celebrationOur son Daniel celebrated his 50th for a full year — including taking us with him on the Queen Mary from NYC to Southampton. He is now doing it again for our 80th.

I have decided not to organise a big event as we did for other anniversaries. We had more last year for OM’s 60th and we need to have a sabbatical from such events.

I always found it hard that I could not say very much to the people who came to these big events, most of whom I know and pray for — did not even say hello to some.

So for my 80th celebration I am doing some-thing different.

The main celebrations will be in UK Train Stations which for 55 years, since coming here in February 1962, have been very important in my life. This will go on all summer.

We will meet in Starbucks, Café Nero or Costa. I am only really sorry that I can’t manage to do the same in the USA, as there are so many friends I would love to sit with for a few hours. We will just have a few minutes conversation, maybe a prayer and for sure a photo — for me maybe a few tears.

In His grip, George (over a million miles on British Rail since 1962)

June 2018

The occasional newsletter of the

Southeast London Fellowship of

Operation Mobilization

P.O. Box 660, Forest Hill, London SE23 3ST

Ph: 44 (0)20 8699 6077 Email: info.spj@om.org

South

east

Lond

on Ne

wslet

ter

We thank God for George and Drena and for the 80 years God has granted to them. They have been a large part of

God’s gift to us and to thousands around the world.

at a Train Station

of your choice

Celebrating in a Train Station!

George and Drena at 80

Come for a cup of coffee, a prayer, a photo and maybe a tear or two.

For 55 years Train Stations have been an important part of my life — not only in Britain of course — and it seemed suitable to meet as many friends as possible in one of these amazing places. This is a list of the stations where I will celebrate my 80th Birthday.

July 2 July 3 July 4 July 6 July 10 July 11 July 13 July 14 July 17 July 19 July 21 July 24 July 28 July 30 July 31 August 1 August 2August 3 August 4August 6

MondayTuesdayWednesdayFridayTuesdayWednesdayFridaySaturdayTuesdayThursdaySaturdayTuesdaySaturdayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdayMonday

Paddington, LondonEuston station, London Cardiff CentralStuttgart (GERMANY)Charing Cross, LondonBirmingham New StreetExeter St David’sBristol Temple MeadKings Cross, LondonPlymouthGlasgow CentralParis Nord (FRANCE)Manchester PiccadillyBrightonVictoria Station, LondonSt Pancras, London Liverpool Street, LondonCrewe Newcastle Liverpool Lime Street

I will be available to meet friends and prayer partners any time from 10:30 to 7PM in any coffee place: Costa, Starbucks or Café Nero. I am hoping our grandson Charlie will be with me, especially for photos. Due to health and other factors Drena will not be with me.

Our Birthdays are actually June 2 for Drena and July 3 for me — the day of our normal Forest Hill prayer meeting. We celebrate people’s birthdays there almost every other week so I guess we will do something — not planned yet.

In the USA: On June 23 a small Birthday celebration is being organized in Washington DC by OM east coast rep Dave Roberts. I was already planning to be there for a strategic African American missions weekend.

Looking forward to meeting lots of friends,

His,George

PS Do not think this is too intensive for me. I am very relaxed on trains and often nap. I will be home most evenings and early mornings with Drena.

As we move toward our 80th birthdays we have so much to be thankful for. I so easily see the problems but I have learned how God works even in the midst of problems and difficulties. Here are just a few major things I praise the Lord for looking back over these many years.

I thank HIM for over 200,000 who have served with OM and for how many of them continue to be used of the Lord.

I thank HIM for tens of thousands who have come to know Jesus though all the ministries and especially some from among Muslim communities.

I thank HIM for 48 years of the ship ministry. It all went better than I ever imagined when we got Logos in 1970.

I thank HIM for so many nations that have become part of OM. Amazing! I believe God has used the tens of millions of Bibles and books — and hundreds of millions of booklets and tracts.

I thank HIM for 54 years of ministry in India, and especially for the miracle of birthing a major church movement with about 3,000 Good Shepherd Churches. Six years ago OM India evolved into a dynamic church movement with over 100 amazing schools. Most of all, I thank the Lord for how He has kept HIS hand on this and the leaders who lead the ministry.

I thank the LORD for this amazing building here in Forest Hill where I am actually typing this. We celebrate 30 years here and with joy will soon turn it over to OM International.

I thank the LORD for an army of people around the world who stand with us in prayer and financial support.

I could easily present another few hundred ministries and works of God that we could thank the Lord for.

So much to be thankful for

Praying for God’s blessing on two very special

80 year olds! Gerry and Jean

Not to us, Lord, not to us

but to your name be the

glory (Psalm 115:1)

George Verwer

Gideon’s Army

Mosquito nets and repellents Spare parts for broken old vehicles Lap tops and Computers Emergency medical needs Funds for needy widows, for funerals

and for kids education Cataract surgery and other key

procedures Water purifying devices

The list could go on…..

Pray for the release of One Million

This morning I read about Gideon who had 300 men in his army. I only have about 100.

I have 100 shakers and movers in my Special Projects Network in about 50 different nations. I am in touch with all of them (and others) and I want to bless them. They all need funds. Let’s stand with these proven workers and help them fulfil their vision and ministry. Many are hidden heroes struggling financially. They all have different needs, but via personal contact, mixed with prayer, I find out what they are and then give.

You can help make this happen. Imagine with 100 people in key ministries I can easily use one million US Dollars or (hey!) even UK Pounds. JOIN me in prayer for what seems impossible. Here are some of what they need for their ministries:

Bibles and New Testaments Gospel booklets and Gospel tracts Gospel audio devices Leadership training materials High impact books, CDs and DVDs Wheel chairs, Toilets and Bicycles

I could easily use one million Dollars

or (hey!) even a million Pounds

Giving to Special ProjectsIf you would like to make a gift, you can send a check to any OM office or

you may donate online. Follow the links from:

www.georgeverwer.comSpecial Projects works in harmony

and partnership with the main OM US office, which co-ordinates all

Americans working with OM around the world.

May14-16 Team Retreat – Otford Manor16 Hession Trust Meeting17 Prayer Emphasis Day20 am: Bromham Baptist Church, Bedford pm: Bedford Pentecost in the Park25–27 Wetzler, Germany: Mission Meetings in partnership with local churches and OM27 Open Air at Altenberg Convent with Bill Drake

June2 Drena’s 80th birthday*6 Fly to New Jersey, USA8 Wayside Cross Ministries, Wheaton*10 am: Fardale Trinity Church, NJ

*10-17 80th birthday gift from son, Daniel — sailing on Cunard NY to the UK21 Prayer Emphasis Day22 – 23 NAAMC Conference in DC area23 OM Donor’s DinnerJuly1 Bethesda Evangelical Church, Hay-on-Wye, UK3 George’s 80th birthday7 Aidlingen Sisters Praise Event, Germany8 City Chapel, Stuttgart15 am: Wembley Christian Fellowship pm: Selsdon Christian Fellowship19 Prayer Emphasis DayAugust11-13 NCL Conference, Quinta16 Prayer Emphasis Day13 August - 3 September Tentative: NJ and Idaho USA

George’s itinerary is regularly updated as other meetings are confirmed and added. George is ministering most Sundays in a local church. Often meetings are not booked more than a few weeks in advance. * indicates that Drena will be with George.Details of 80th birthday celebrations in Train Stations are given on the opposite page.

P O Box 17, Bromley, Kent BR1 3JP, UKOffice phone: +44 208 7775163GV Private phone: +44 20 8777 5268Mobile: +44 7860 426 426US Mobile: (201) 657 0130

Email: George.Verwer@om.orgWeb: www.georgeverwer.com

George’s itinerary: May - September 2018 in our prayers

Dr Philip and Rachel RicePhilip has served on the Special Projects advisory group for about 15 years and is a great supporter and friend of OM. His wife Rachel, who was a nurse, has battled cancer for the past many months and went to be with the Lord on 26 April.

Mike & Linda van VuurenMike and Linda returned to the UK in May to resume the leadership of the Special Projects team. Mike faces a health challenge and covets prayer:

“In December I had to have a radical Prostatectomy as in the course of my travels a tumour had been discovered and my prostate was removed. As there are still some cancer cells present I am now heading for another round of tests to be followed by Radio Therapy treatment. Thanks for praying.”

From our fellowship

Vera Zabramski

in our prayers

“My beautiful, gracious and beloved mother went to be with Jesus on March 7. I was able to quickly get a ticket to fly home and was able to say goodbye to her. She was unresponsive from the Friday and when I arrived on the Sunday I said to her, “Hi Mom, I’m here.” Mom opened her eyes, acknowledged me and squeezed my hand, letting me know she knew I was there. It was a privilege to be with her holding her hand as she let go of her mortal body and went to be with Jesus. I miss her greatly. Thanks for praying for me as I go through the grieving process and continue on in my work with George.”

The OM Southeast London Newsletter is the occasional newsletter of the OM Southeast London Fellowship, 39 Honor Oak Road, London SE23 3SH, UK ● Phone: +44 (0)20 8699 6077 ● Email: info.spj@om.org

Operation Mobilization• PO Box 444, Tyrone, GA 30290–0444, USA • 212 West Street, Port Colborne, ON L3K 4E3, CANADA

www.om.org OM in the USA is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

GDPRGENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION

As I get older my memory has gone downhill, so having all of this available to me helps me immensely when it comes to being able to pray for you.

If what you have read is okay with you, I would love you to email me/us at George.verwer@om.org or write directly to the address at the bottom of this letter, letting us know that you give us permission and how you’d like us to contact you.

Note: if you change your mind at any time, you are always able to opt out by getting in touch with me via email, letter or over the phone.

We fully understand not all of you want to get our newsletters, but these new regulations mean that we need your permission to even keep your data for the purpose of sending personal letters and emails. We can and WILL only send to you what you give us permission to send.

We look forward to hearing from you,In HIS grip, George

All of you receiving this letter are our friends, relatives or among those that so generously support us.

We do our best to pray for all of you as well as keep in contact, not just by these printed letters but also email and personal letters from Drena and me.

Due to changes in legislation at this time we need to ask you for your consent to not only store your personal data but to continue to contact you at all, including by letter, email, phone call and even SMS/text message.

We assure you that we protect your privacy to the best of our ability and will never pass on ANY of the information we store about you without your express permission first. As well as storing your contact details (name, mailing address, email address, phone number and a record of any financial support) we’d also like to continue to keep other valuable information about you, such as the names of your family members, how we first met, when we last met, and any major prayer points you tell us about.

On Logos Hope in Veracruz, Mexico, all visitor records were broken. An astonish-ing 226,554 people came aboard. It was the greatest number of OM ship visitors in one port — ever! We celebrated with a late-night pizza party for the ship’s company.

I was in Veracruz to speak at the annual ship’s Line-Up conference. One person there asked me about the ‘calibre of this OM generation’. “Do you think the old OM was more radical?”

My mind went back to my 1966 OM summer team in Trieste. Servant leadership and a frugal lifestyle were the early OM way. The coffee policy in OM’s first Discipleship Manual said it all: ‘A hot drink is not to be served more than once a day! Coffee is eliminated from the diet of OM because it is so expensive.’ Then word reached us of a breach of the food policy on the Mantova team during

Peter & Birgitta Conlan

On Logos Hope in Mexico

a visit by George himself. Apparently ice cream had been served to the entire team! To no one’s surprise, it was both provided and served by none other than George. As for the ‘calibre of this OM generation’, back at the pizza party ice cream was also provided. To my delight it was served by Pil-Hun, Director of Logos Hope! More than 50 years ago I was a Verwer gofer. Now, with Special Projects, it feels happily like being a GV gofer again. I still remember us singing to gather a crowd while selling books in the streets of India in 1967. But today, Birgitta and I send con-gratulations to George and Drena as they celebrate this birthday milestone.

India 1967 Thailand 2017