“A missionary’s legacy is made up much more of the relationships he or she builds than the studies or numerical results he or she obtains.” Oswaldo Prado

Our OCGA team leaders in Europe gathered in early February to build strong relationships for mutual support in prayer, collaboration, and seeking a future vision for OC ministry across Europe. OC-USA Area Director Tammy Lundell convened the Euro Leaders Meeting in Granada, Spain, along with Migue and Cortney Medina (Spain), Jorge Carvalho (Portugal), and Tony Ford (UK and Collaboration Hub).  

The team told stories and discussed ministry projects and topics while deepening relationships, eating, and praying together.  By connecting in this way, they identified new workers and opportunities for collaboration in the European context.  

Jorge writes:
Missions is a wonderful way of making friends! It is impressive how many people God connects with us on this journey of faith and obedience to His call. Men and women of different ages and nationalities with a common purpose: to love Jesus and make Him known to the ends of the earth.
And this was our experience as we met with the OC/Sepal Global Alliance leaders in Europe (photo above). Here we have the United States, Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom represented in a picture we took after three days of a meeting that aimed to strengthen ties between us and our fields on the old continent. The chosen city was the beautiful Granada (highlighting the Alhambra in the background). We left there with one certainty: we need each other, and our friendship can inspire our missionaries to live the same way in their fields.

Tony writes:

From Jorge, I learned that SEPAL Brazil has just accepted a Brazilian couple based in Edinburgh, with whom I have already made contact, and a younger couple who met here while studying in the UK, have married, and now feel led to return as missionaries. Already, the potential is evident for UK ministry as we partner with SEPAL Brazil.  The trip also emphasised the OCGA's benefit to OCUK. I see God at work in many details, not the least in increased ministry in the UK. Having a team of OC and SEPAL workers in our country will start a new phase of life for us.

The OC Global Alliance is made of of 15 Independent Mobilization Centers around the world that partner for greater effectiveness in developing leaders who multiply churches and disciple all nations.  We are excited to witness how God will use the combined strengths of our partners in Europe to bring new fruit in the "Old World."