From the beginnings of the church, women have been in mission – and OMF’s history is no different. When the first China Inland Mission (as OMF was then known in the 1860s) missionaries left in a boat from England, more than half were women.
Our special thanks go to our guest editor for this edition, Wendy Marshall, who serves with OMF Japan. As a subscriber to digital Billions, you’ve received a bonus article written by Wendy, on her journey in mission publishing so far (see button above!).
This edition of Billions features stories of women serving in various and perhaps surprising ways, undertaking work that is so often invisible. You can read Billions online, or navigate directly to stories of Aussie OMFers using the links below:
- The thousand things seen and unseen: Our National Director Paul writes to honor women in mission – including a tribute to his wife, Mel, whose passion and example prompted him and their family to missionary service in Japan.
- How to live a worthy and meaningful life: Mel (yes, Paul’s wife) exhorts women to live for the glory of God, fearing and loving Him above all else – because who we are in Christ is more important than what we do.
- A journey in mission publishing: Japan Harvest Managing Editor and OMF Japan’s social media mobiliser Wendy shares her journey into mission publishing, growth on the job and her top five tips for getting into publishing ministry.
- Created to create: Debbie shares how she has learned to live out God’s image as a created being as she exercises her artistic gifts in both work and rest for His kingdom purposes – and shares tips on how Christian creatives might do the same.
- A female Asian mobiliser in Australia: Luba shares the challenges and opportunities of her role as a mobiliser – and advice for women in ministry drawn from over twenty years of mission experience in East Asia and Australia.
- Making the most of every opportunity: Kat shows the many ways families – including mothers – can get involved in ministry withtheir children, not in spite of them. God can use any stage of life to enable you and your children to draw people to Himself.
- In the sandwich space: What’s it really like to be a single Asian woman in ministry? Is it more complicated, scary or harder than it is for men? Holly* shares how God provided her with a team whose strengths complement each other.
- A new era for Pearl Family Garden in Taiwan: PFG is passing to local leadership, and Edna and Audrey are excited by the way local churches are becoming “a string of pearls” joining God in this work among women in the red-light districts of Taiwan.
- The woman who opened my eyes to mission: It all started with a woman at church. Finance manager Edwin couldn’t understand why anyone would do anything that didn’t involve making money (he’s an accountant). Now he does.
- Caring for those who serve: On home assignment from her roles as guest home manager in the Philippines, Nicole invites prayer for “the needs of our co-workers, our fellow soldiers, our siblings-in-Christ living and serving in the Philippines.”
- The hidden East Asians in East Asia: With their adult children all grown up, Zechariah and Elizabeth* are heading back to Asia to share the gospel with and disciple East Asians studying in Japan.
- Rural ministry in south-west Cambodia: Simon and Angeline share of their recent term leading a church-planting team in Kep, including re-establishing a small Khmer fellowship and developing ministry skills in church members.
- A certain hope amidst the pressure: In the last four years in Japan, Alex and Naomi have seen God’s grace in drawing people struggling with expectations and constantly pressured to try harder, to hear and experience the hope we have in Jesus.
- Offering two small fish: Kalos and Aggie have just departed for their first term in Japan! Pray as they seek to use their time and talents in creative outreach and cultivate relationships with local communities by being a Christian friend.
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