OM Africa partners with Davar Partners International to distribute audio Bibles to those who cannot read.

A shepherd from a Muslim background comes to Jesus thanks to a goat ministry started by OM Mozambique.

God is working to transform lives in Mozambique through the efforts of the local OM team.

Lives are transformed in Mozambique as OM’s Tabitha Project gives local women training in sustainable handiwork skills.

Limardes Domingo, an OM worker in Mecula, Mozambique, has seen church growth over two years through God's faithful answers to prayer.

The OM Mozambique team builds a library in Mocuba to support and provide resources for the local community.

Antonio Nipueda (Mozambique) recollects his journey to ministry with OM in Mozambique and the ways their prayers have impacted one village there.

Focusing on one person at a time, John uses everyday life as a way to meet people where they are and journey alongside them.

“God is working in this community,” James said. He and other Christians in his village are challenging the culture by living their lives for Christ.

"...if they don’t believe you, you have to keep on talking and talking and talking until it gets stuck in their head," said Lansipe.

People in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe are still recovering from Cyclone Idai. OM is responding to the needs in different communities in these countries.

Lima, Peru, May 9, 2020 / 02:00 pm (CNA).- Peruvian congresswoman Luz Milagros Cayguaray Gambini has demanded the country’s health minister provide the legal and scientific basis for a directive that would allow abortion when a pregnant woman is infected with the novel coronavirus.

Abortion is illegal in Peru except when pregnancy would cause death or permanent harm to a pregnant woman.

On April 22, Peru’s Minister of Health Victor Zamora issued a directive calling for provision of emergency contraception in the country, and allowing abortion for pregnant women who test positive for the coronavirus.

In a May 5 letter, Cayguaray demanded Zamora to “Indicate what the legal basis” is for the directive that allows doctors to “end the pregnancy,” if the mother has contracted COVID-19.

The legislator also challenged Zamora to indicate “the scientific and medical basis the norm is based upon.”

At issue is whether a positive test for coronavirus is sufficient to establish that a pregnancy threatens the life of a woman. Gambini says that assertion is unproven and unfounded.

Cayguaray has also written to Dr. Enrique Guevara Ríos, director of the country’s Perinatal Maternal Institute, asking him to report how many pregnant women with COVID-19 have been treated to date, “how many have had their pregnancies terminated,” “on what grounds,” and “what current regulation has been applied to carry out the interruption of those pregnancies.”

The Arequipa Doctors for Life Association has criticized the health directive in a statement.

"At this time in which all our efforts as a nation should be aimed at improving our precarious health system to mitigate the serious impact of the pandemic, the circumstances are being used to dictate measures that threaten the lives of Peruvians in their most vulnerable stage, life in the womb,” the group said.

Regarding the “morning after pill,” the group expressed surprise and concern “that the Ministry of Health promotes the irresponsible and reckless use of this drug in the general population and particularly for minors, and even worse, dispenses with obtaining the person’s medical history, which is an essential tool for the responsible practice of medicine, thus seriously exposing the users to danger."

Aborting a child because the mother has COVID-19, the doctors said “is contrary to the principles that govern medical practice, which must always be based on the application of therapies that are based on rigorous scientific studies and with respect to elementary ethical principles” which guide medical science in providing the best strategies to protect patients.

When a woman is pregnant “we have two patients to take care of, the mother and the unborn child," the doctors association stressed.

Concerning the babies themselves, five newborns whose mothers have COVID-19 were recently discharged from a government hospital in Peru. A sixth, also born of a coronavirus patient who is in serious condition in the intensive care unit, was born prematurely and remains hospitalized. None of the babies have tested positive for COVID-19.

In a May 5 interview with the El Comercio daily, Dr. César García Aste, who heads the hospital’s neonatology department, explained that there are strict protocols as to how the baby is to be fed in order to avoid infecting it.

A doctor from the hospital is assigned to follow up daily by phone on the baby’s condition for an average of 14 days, and “so far we haven’t had a problem with any of the five babies,” Garcia said.

 

A version of this story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news agency. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

 

In this second update from the Serbia/Croatia border, OM leader Volker Sachse describes moments of God’s peace that transforms people in a dire situation.

A team at the Serbian/Croatian border provides relief to migrating refugees. OM Germany leader Gian Walser talks about the work and its impact on him.

In his third update from Serbian/Croatian border, Volker Sachse says that in spite of increasingly difficulties, he can see God’s peace touch local people.

Michel Di Feliciantonio and three other Italian Christians spent a week in Šid, Serbia, helping refugees on their way into Europe.

At an OM-led art session in Serbia, some Syrian refugee children have a chance to express themselves, and let their creative talents shine.

Sometimes it's not about handing out blankets, meals or having conversations, noticed OM worker Elizabeth when volunteering in the refugee ministry in Serbia.

Christina reflects on lessons learned about valuing people the way Christ did, while cleaning trash and volunteering in a refugee camp in Šid, Serbia.

Though his home city of Palmyra is in ruins, Abdul hopes to give his children a second chance in Europe.

Mahmood, a refugee from Sudan, travelled the 'West Balkan' migrant route. Months later, settled in The Netherlands, he recalls worship in OM's tent in Serbia.

God uses football and English lessons to build friendships between OM Serbia and refugees.

OM Serbia, with the help of volunteers from several nations, are providing sweet tea, and friendship, to the refugees at a camp in Sid, Serbia.

As refugee numbers soar locally, the local government in Sid, Serbia, asks OM to help them again. OM gets their tent out again.

“This publication is a tool to help those who will join Goran in sharing the gospel among Gurbet-speaking Roma, and lays the foundation for future Christian materials.”

Debora from Mexico will soon join OM in Serbia to serve refugees. She's been three times already as a volunteer...what keeps bringing her back?

Goran’s decision to follow Jesus challenged the cultural values and traditions he grew up with, causing him to live differently in his community.

Iranians in Serbian refugee camps are turning to Jesus, becoming baptised and sharing their faith—events that one OM leader describes as being straight out of the Book of Acts.

During their visits in Serbia, Moldova and Montenegro the two MDT Love Europe teams had many experiences, as well as opportunities to share God’s love.

Slobodan never thought he could be free, but Jesus gave him a new start. Now Slobodan urges Roma in Croatia and Serbia that there is a better way.

Jude, project coordinator of OM's Refugee Relief Serbia describes her busy role, and how OM’s service can be a powerful practical witness of the love of Jesus to hundreds of refugees.

OM Norway Field Leader Willy Andre Meberg expresses condolences and prayer for the people of Norway.

In January 2013, OM Norway and Norwegian Naval Training Agency agreed on internship programme for deckhands and motormen on board MV Logos Hope.

Work of OM Romania, partnering with the church

Work of OM Romania among the Roma population

As Rafael, the leader of OM Romania, lies awake in the middle of the night, he shares about the OM outreach to the Roma people he and his family are taking part in. They’ve set up a mobile clinic in Padureni, and through games, sports and Bible stories, the community is learning about God’s love.

Catherine, from the UK, joined an OM team in July to host a dental clinic and outreach for the residents of Pădureni.

A Roma man’s cry to God for mercy to spare his son’s life transforms his future and the future of his small town.

Europe short-term mission coordinators gather in Sibiu, Romania, to increase vision, gain training and share resources for greater impact in Europe.

Michael (Kenya) participates in a short-term mission trip to Romania and gives an account of God's transforming power at work amongst the Roma people.

People who dig through landfills during the week to provide for their families find rest along with spiritual and physical nourishment at church on Sundays.

OM founder George Verwer speaks at the Romanian Brethren Assembly about living a pure life and standing against the issue of abortion.

Since 2007, the Bus4Life has visited 150 locations, welcomed 10,000 visitors and touched many lives, including one Romanian teen who comes back to God.

“What a feeling it is to know you can be someone’s miracle…” shares a short-term worker after outreach with the OM Transit team in Romania.

Faith is strengthened when OMers learn how the Lord watches over them, not allowing harm to come to the people or the ministry.

Rafael Nastase is the field leader of OM Romania. He tells his story and describes the current work of OM Romania.

Surprises await Bus4Life coordinator Esko when visiting a Romanian village: Meeting orphaned girls saved on a visit 26 years ago, and the former Chief of Police from the Communist era.

OM uses an educational programme called KidsGames to share Bible stories in a public school.

A recap of Bus4Life's ministry in Romania during the summer of 2018.

As a grandmother with some serious health issues and limited knowledge of Spanish and English, Francine wondered whether God could use her in Spain.