The Whole World in His Hands

He might be approaching the age of eighty, but George Verwer is no less capable of shouldering the challenge of the whole world has he was sixty years ago!

You might not think about coming to Nigeria and participating in a mission mobilization conference a likely place to run into a missionary legend, but that is just what happened me these past few days here in Abuja, Nigeria. “Selected or Solution” was the theme of this third annual Leadership Summit organized by my friend, Timothy Olonade, who invited a list of inspirational international speakers including George Verwer. Fueling the growing passion for cross-cultural missions in this country, this event is becoming a significant opportunity to learn about the latest resources and methods available to African churches and mission organizations. Along with my friends Jon Hirst, from Global Mapping, and Al Hawthorne, from Wycliffe Associates, I was one of eleven presenters offering elective workshops about everything from how to raise funds to how to translate the Bible.

Nigerian mission leaders recommitting to engage in
world outreach

But without question, the highlight of each day was the evening session presented by George Verwer. As founder of Operation Mobilization, George’s passion for sharing God’s Good News has spread across the world by means of the Logos and Doulos ships as well as through thousands of young people who serve in just about every country on earth. Having experienced before George’s unique presentation style complete with world map jacket and giant beach ball globe in a South Korea football stadium during GCOWE 1995, I was happy to see that he was still as compelling a speaker as ever. What has changed for George, by his own admission, is much more concern for a wholistic view of the Gospel that includes care for such things as human trafficking, HIV-AIDS, rights of the unborn, and clean water.

With George Verwer after fifty-two years

It was fun to reminisce with George about a time in 1963 when we first encountered each other. I was twelve years old on a family camping vacation in Europe and George was launching the first summer youth rally of OM. My dad got permission to pitch our tent on the grounds of a Paris chateau used by the European Bible Institute. So did George. Except our tent slept five and his was huge military style affair that accommodated several hundred young people for his evening rallies! Never would I have imaged back then that our paths would cross again fifty-two years later in a place like Abuja, Nigeria.

I praise God for the faithfulness of people like George Verwer that has resulted in millions learning about the love of Jesus and hope of peace with God.