Executive Director’s Asia Trip Confirms OMSC’s Enduring Calling On March 3, I embarked on my first international trip on behalf of OMSC. With invaluable practical support from the Korean Research Institute for Mission's Dr. Steve Moon (photo at right) and Chun Lee, his colleague and recent OMSC alumnus, a very busy agenda provided many chances to speak with alumni, missionaries, church leaders, seminary administrators and professors, and students. Starting and ending in , I also visited , , and over the next 18 days, preaching, lecturing, sharing about OMSC’s work, and getting to know colleagues in God’s mission at KRIM, Sarang Church, Yonsei University Church and Chapel, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Hoseo University and Theological Seminary, University and Theological Seminary, First Presbyterian Church Daejeon, Torch Trinity University, Jiguchon Church, and Asian Mission. Everywhere I went, I received a warm and gracious welcome, meeting old friends of OMSC and many new ones. In Seoul, I visited the Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery and adjacent 100th Anniversary Memorial Church, whose volunteers maintain the cemetery and serve as tour guides for visitors from all over Korea and the world. I was moved to stand at the grave of Dr. Horace Underwood III, who was a great personal encouragement to me after Carol and I were appointed by the PC (USA) in 1988 as Mission Co- workers to Japan. Also, the grave of Gaichi Soda (1867–1962), a Japanese man who had a ministry for Korean orphans, is a powerful symbol of hope for peace and reconciliation between neighboring countries who share a troubled history. In Gwangju, colleagues from Honam Seminary took me on a sobering and painful visit to the National Cemetery (photo at left), honoring the hundreds of mostly young students who were killed by S. Korea's military government during the uprising of May 18–27, 1980, evidently with tacit support from the U.S. government. In Daejeon, I was asked to speak to mission agency leaders, pastors, and missionaries on “Retired Missionaries and the Church,” because about one-third of the 21,000 Korean missionaries serving today will be retiring by 2020! It was very clear from the reaction to my talk that churches and mission agencies have not planned to provide for these retirees. One theme that kept coming up in conversations was the sense of feeling physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted or burnt out. This came as something of a surprise, given the reputation of the Korean churches for their vitality. One seminary professor told me that his students send him messages at all hours of the night, often interrupting his and his wife's sleep. When I suggested he turn off his phone, he said he would rather respond than deal with the wrath of young students who expect an immediate answer. The day before leaving Seoul, I was interviewed by the Kukmin Daily, a leading newspaper owned by the Yoido Full Gospel Church, the largest church in the world. The senior reporter, to whom I was introduced by current OMSC residents Mi Ok Kim and Seong Il Lee, asked me what I had learned from my trip and what I would like to share with Korean church leaders, and I said without hesitation, “Christians are human beings who need Sabbath. We need to honor our limitations as creatures of God and recognize that we cannot do everything.” On the final leg of my journey, I stopped off in Japan for a week. In Tokyo, I met with Rev. Hikari Kokai-Chang of the Wesley Foundation to discuss ways we might partner together in God’s mission. The next day, former OMSC Artist-in- Residence Soichi Watanabe, his wife, Nao, and their daughter, Manna, warmly welcomed me to their home where we shared a lovely meal and several hours of conversation. Then I went to Kobe where I met up with some of my former

WWW.OMSC.ORG NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT MAY 2017 Page 2 students at the Tokyo Union Theological Seminary and, on the final weekend of the trip, had the opportunity to meet with church members, preach, and lecture at a celebration honoring Ichibaku Church’s 70th anniversary. Ichibaku was founded by Kagawa Toyohiko, the great evangelist and social reformer I have been researching for several years. After the trip, I pondered some tough questions. Does the immediacy of digital links strengthen or weaken the ties that bind us? If our technologies make us feel depleted and if we lose touch with loved ones and ourselves, how will this effect our relation to God and our effectiveness as Christ’s witnesses? The trip and my subsequent reflections reconfirmed OMSC’s enduring calling and relevance and strengthened my resolve to do everything I can to build on the great legacy of this ministry while seeking additional supporters who will, with God’s help, enable us to continue to thrive into our second century (2022–). In such a time as this, missionaries, church leaders, and research scholars from every nation and church tradition still need a place like OMSC, a unique international community where “everyone is received as Christ” (Matthew 25:35 and Rule of St. Benedict 53:1), and where cross-cultural workers find spiritual, physical, intellectual, and professional renewal. Please join us as we engage in mission with the world Christian community by becoming a regular contributor yourself, and please ask your congregation to include OMSC in your annual giving. You may send a check or give on our secure online web link, www.omsc.org/donate. With thanks and blessings,

SNAPSHOTS FROM : MARCH 4–21, AND JAPAN: MARCH 21–27

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Spring Mission Leadership Forum Tackles Timely Topic: “Mission and Refugees: Crisis and Opportunity.”

More than three dozen mission leaders from the United States and the United Kingdom convened in New Haven from April 21-23 to learn from each other and to share their perspectives on “Mission and Refugees: Crisis and Opportunity.” Participants heard from a dynamic group of speakers, including Chris George, Executive Director of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven, CT, Judith Mayotte, Ethicist and Author of Disposable People? The Plight of Refugees, and Rachel Uthmann, Director of Training for International Association for Refugees (photo at left). Participants came away with a deepened sense of awareness of the political, cultural, and missional complexities of the refugee crisis and a sense of the urgency of this crisis for the world and the churches.

The next meeting of the MLF is scheduled for April 6–8, 2018 at OMSC. The theme we plan to explore is "Christian Witness and Building Bridges with Muslim Communities."

IF GOD LOVES US, WHY DO WE SUFFER? OMSC Residents Lead Trauma Healing Workshops for Local Community

Five OMSC residents took the lead in March as they put their Scripture-based trauma healing lessons to work, this time as workshop facilitators. Having participated as students in a trauma healing workshop earlier in the year, they put what they learned to good use for 10 members of the local community.

Participants attended sessions on two consecutive Saturdays in March. Through the workshops they discovered:

* What the Bible says about suffering; * The effects of trauma; * How to explore their own personal trauma and loss; * How to release emotional pain; and * How to reconnect and build resilience for the future.

Facilitator Funmi Kehinde (photo at left) shared what one participant said: “I am totally blessed by this seminar…I pray that God creates an avenue for this seminar to reach a wider audience.” Plans are already underway for residents to bring this workshop to their own countries of service when they return home.

OMSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES WELCOMES TWO NEW MEMBERS AT MAY ANNUAL MEETING

Paul Kretschmann (left) is a husband, father and retired attorney, formerly a partner of several New York City law firms. He is a Deacon and a past trustee of First Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT, (UCC) and continues to be actively engaged in various church and community organizations.

Steven Maasbach (right) is the chair of the Board of the Beulah Land Development Corporation, a non-profit that aims to rebuild New Haven's most underserved communities. Steven received his Master of Divinity from Yale. He resides in Woodbridge, CT, with his wife and two children.

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Certificate Ceremony Marks the End of Another Year! On Tuesday, May 9, the 2016-17 academic year officially came to an end when residents who had participated in the OMSC study program received their Certificate in Mission Studies in a ceremony at the Center. For those who live in areas of the world where Christians are in the minority and must worship under the watchful eyes of unsympathetic governments, the opportunity to participate openly in discussions and seminars on mission-related topics was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Supported also by the researchers and staff who make up the OMSC community, residents received their certificates from Dr. Thomas Hastings, Executive Director of OMSC. Residents described their time at OMSC as helping them not only to form friendships, but also to widen their intercultural understanding and help to prepare them for the next phase of their ministries. The ceremony was followed by a farewell luncheon.

(Photo at right does not show all certificate recipients due to security concerns.)

The World Is At Our Doorstep: Are You Reaping the Benefits of OMSC?

Why do people support OMSC? Speaking at a Pastors’ Mission Luncheon earlier this year, Global Missions Pastor Larry Fullerton (Black Rock Church, Fairfield) shared four reasons why he believes in OMSC and its mission:

OMSC is truly international. Missionaries living and studying at OMSC are serving in countries other than where they were born. They are Indians serving the Islamic world, Africans ministering to Asia, and Latinos working in Europe. OMSC is local, located in New Haven, literally across the street from the Yale Divinity School. As a Missions Pastor in a church less than one hour’s drive from OMSC, I have, almost at my doorstep, a cohort of missionaries from around the world. Where else can I find missionaries who minister in limited access countries or who teach at some of the great international missionary schools and seminaries? OMSC is ecumenical. It is one of the few places, possibly in all Christendom, where you can find Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, liberal, charismatic, and evangelical missionaries and scholars living and growing together. I serve in an evangelical church and it is refreshing to be confronted with the fact that the church crosses all man-made boundaries. Finally, OMSC has enriched my life. It has had a powerful impact on me, not only as a Missions Pastor but also as a Christ-follower. I remember sitting in a seminar led by Dr. Andrew Walls and coming away with a new understanding of the spread of Christianity. I remember sitting in a leadership seminar at OMSC where we had a very frank discussion about racism and the mission field. It was at OMSC where I first heard of Operation World’s prayer guide and its emphasis on the necessity of praying for the nations. OMSC has enriched and challenged my soul.

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GALA AND ART AUCTION DRAWS ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD Fine food and classical music set the scene on April 29, 2017 at OMSC’s Gala and Art Auction, held in the Center’s administration building. With more than 50 pieces of Christian art on exhibit, attendees could feast their eyes on the works of current and former OMSC artists, while feasting their other senses on the food and music. Held as a benefit for the artist in residence program, guests had an opportunity to meet our current artist, Ronnie Farmer, Jr., and to see his latest work, Agony: A Cry for Justice, unveiled. Proceeds from the event raised more than $13,000 for the artist in residence scholarship.

For more photos of this event, please visit Facebook.com/omscnewhaven/

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OUR GLOBAL IMPACT: 9,004 Miles From Home

If home is where the heart is, then Kenya is definitely home to OMSC alum Marta Bennett. Born and raised in the United States, Marta first travelled to Kenya while pursuing her doctorate in leadership studies at Seattle University, while working at Seattle Pacific University as the Director of Campus Ministries. Although she expected that traveling more than 9,000 miles from Seattle to Kenya would be the experience of a lifetime, she had no idea that God was about to direct her path in an unexpected way. Nairobi, a Maasai phrase meaning “place of the cool waters,” is the capitol city of Kenya and is the largest city between Cairo, Egypt and Johannesburg, South Africa. It was here, while working on her dissertation research, Marta fell in love with Kenya. After completing her degree, she moved permanently to Nairobi to teach at Daystar University, where she eventually became dean of postgraduate studies. Marta’s teaching responsibilities soon branched out to other Meanwhile, Marta took full advantage of attending the many schools as well, and by 2006 she had joined the faculty of seminars offered with leading scholars and visitors from Nairobi International School of Theology (now known as around the world. As she soaked in the content and lively International Leadership University). Focused on developing interactions, the year provided her with an opportunity to step Christian leaders for both church and society, ILU also has back and to reflect on the Gospel as it is lived out in East Africa schools in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, and Burundi. and beyond, to be refreshed through fellowship with other Though Marta’s career was fulfilling, her heart was burdened residents, and to make forays into the wealth of resources at by the large number of children she saw in need. So, with God the Yale Divinity School Library, to study, write, and enrich directing her path once again, she pursued adoption and was her teaching upon return to Nairobi. soon sharing her home with son, Justin, daughter, Sara Imani and Fast forward to May 2017, and foster son, Steven. As her children Justin has just completed his grew, she knew it was time to share freshman year at Penn State with them part of her own heritage. University. In his application to university, he cited his year at So, in 2011, Marta, Justin and Sara Imani made the long journey to New OMSC as a significant contributing Haven to become part of the factor in preparation for his studies international residential community in the US. Marta and Sara Imani at OMSC while Steven remained in (who is finishing her junior year of Nairobi to pursue his studies. high school in Kenya), were recently explaining the photo on their fridge As Justin began 8th grade and Sara Imani started 6th, both were to a house guest. The photo displays all the 2011/2012 OMSC concerned about making friends and learning in an American residents and staff outside in front of OMSC. Together they system so different from the Kenyan British-based system at reminisced about the friendships made, the adventures home. Justin quickly found his niche through joining the New experienced, the monthly community dinners, and the gift of Haven Youth Soccer league, along with a few classmates and that year apart together as a family. two other boys whose families also lived at OMSC. Ministry for Marta is expanding, even as she remains based in Sara Imani took longer. She confesses that for the first three East Africa. After serving as the Head of Department of months, she found an excuse to go to the friendly school nurse Leadership Studies, then as the Deputy Vice Chancellor for almost daily, who provided a safe haven and welcoming Academic Affairs at ILU in Nairobi, she is now narrowing her words. Eventually, she made several close friends at school, engagement to teaching and supervising Masters and PhD joined the girls’ hip hop dance team, and settled in well. At the students in their research and writing. This allows her to end of the school year, Sara Imani wrote thank you notes to become more involved in leadership development and many, and especially appreciated Nurse Janice, noting, “I’m discipleship in her local Kenyan church, with its rapidly sorry I haven’t been coming by very much lately – but at the expanding outreach and church plants, as well as to invest beginning of the year, you were my only friend. I’m so glad more in grass root ministries being launched by former you were here.” At OMSC she was happy for piano lessons, students in Rwanda, South Sudan, and Kenya. Home is where excursions, and family time together. the heart is, and Marta’s heart is in Kenya.

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Alumni News and Notes

The School Principal and “Uncle Ohene” Former Senior Scholar Receives PhD Update from Ghana A moment of Grace is what the speaker called it, and As we reported in the last issue of OMSC TODAY, so it was as former OMSC Senior Scholar Randall alumnus Ohene Kumi brings Bible lessons to many Prior took part in the March 24 University of Divinity schools in Ghana. Recently he shared this experience: Conferral Ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, “One of the junior high schools had a new principal, Melbourne, Australia for the conferral of his Ph.D. and I was asked to speak to her so that she could decide After ten years enrolled, and perhaps thirty years in the if we should bring our Bible course to her school. After making, he notes that it was with a deep sense of reading over our materials, the principal shouted ‘Oh gratitude and satisfaction that he received his Ph.D. my Lord, I studied this lesson when I was a student, and Uncle Ohene was bringing the lessons to us every Friday.’ She looked closer and said ‘you are Uncle Ohene!’ and she quickly took the lessons and shared to all the students and teachers at her school.”

No Taxi? No Problem! The Birth of a Home Church in Nigeria

Former OMSC residents Amos and Modupe recently shared how God is always at work. Amos says, “While I was away during the month of January for Steering Team meetings, Modupe relied on a taxi to get to church. One day she waited but the driver never showed up. She decided to start singing and praying. Spreading the Gospel in the Mountains

After a while she heard a knock on the gate. When she “At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the went to open it, there stood 15 young boys dressed for Lord’s command they set out” (Numbers 9:23). church. She invited them to join her…and this gave Former residents of OMSC, E* and J* (names birth to the Good News Chapel!” protected for security reasons) work in a remote area under the ever watchful eyes of the Chinese government. Recently they undertook a trip into the mountains to train four local mission workers. Despite security concerns, and some personality conflicts among the local workers, E* and J* felt the Lord’s peace as they undertook this trip. Here is what they said: “We had a great time in the mountains. It was snowing on the mountain tops and still cold…J couldn’t sleep well because of the low temperature at night, but we were full of His spirit. We had 7 people all attending the training, for a total of 21 hours teaching within four days. We were so encouraged by the workers’ experiences of local culture and religion. We were thankful that more and more local people have been Modupe at her home church – the Good News Chapel interested in reaching out and sharing the Gospel.”

Providing Member Care to Mission Workers: Submit Applications Now for 2018-2019 Many mission workers face a lack of educational resources to be effective in their day-to-day work. Some also face danger and anxiety as a part of their intercultural ministry experiences. Time spent at OMSC gives such workers an opportunity to be spiritually, emotionally, and physically renewed for continued service to the remotest areas of the earth. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from time at OMSC, contact us today for an application.

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Alumni News and Notes

OMSC Alum Paul Matheny proudly wears his OMSC T-shirt in this photo taken at Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines. He and his wife, Mary Nebelsick (far right), and their daughter, Rachel (second from right), pose with some of their students.

The Good News of the Gospel is Not Always Good News for Mission Workers New churches are opening around the world as people of other faiths convert to Christianity. But in many places, those who are newly converted themselves are often tagged as the local leaders of the church, without the educational resources or the experience for the job. Thanks to your support, current OMSC residents who have gained experience and understanding through participation in our residential study program will be returning to central Asia to offer member care for some of these pastors. In India, former OMSC resident Steward faces a different challenge as he works with Hindu converts. He reports that Hindu fanatics are trying to reconvert all the Christians in India and are mobilizing nearly 100,000 workers. Some churches are closing and one church was forcibly turned into a school. Even amidst these challenges, Steward says, “Indeed the Lord is good and He is taking care of our life and ministry here.” Please continue to pray for workers like Steward.

New Website Offers Exchange Visitors Opportunities for Networking In January 2016 the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs began inviting J-1 Exchange Visitors, such as OMSC’s alumni, to join the Department of State’s International Exchange Alumni Website. This dynamic and interactive networking website is available to all current and former Exchange Visitors. Alumni can build on their exchange experiences and explore resources for professional development, view exclusive video webchats with VIPs, network with fellow alumni around the world, and explore grant opportunities. OMSC’s J-1 alumni from 2015-2017 should have already received an invitation to join this network. For alumni from 2014 or earlier, you may contact David Benze at [email protected] to request an IEA Fast Track Registration spreadsheet.

OMSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHOPPING? You can support the Edith Blumhofer, President ministries of OMSC when you John Nwangwu, Vice President shop with Amazon Smile Joel Carpenter, Secretary Engaging in Mission with the World Christian Movement https://smile.amazon.com/ Ed Seibert, Treasurer Published for the friends of OMSC CLEANING? DONATE GENTLY USED Timothy Chiu Joseph Delahunt Thomas J. Hastings, Executive Director ITEMS TO Helping Hands Susan Harper 490 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511 USA Community Thrift Store and Paul Kretschmann (203) 624-6672 www.omsc.org Furniture Bank in Orange, CT. Steven Maasbach Your items can support OMSC! Lamin Sanneh Call (203) 298-0499 for info. Tite Tiénou Become a regular supporter by writing a check and mailing it to us at the address above, or by donating online at this secure link: http://www.omsc.org/donate

WHERE IN THE WORLD DOES MY DONATION GO? When you support the ministries of OMSC, you support Christianity around the globe. As you see from the stories in this newsletter, our alumni are church leaders, ministers, medical missionaries, and research scholars who preach, teach, share, heal, and bless others in countless ways. Your local donation to OMSC has a worldwide impact through our alumni. Donations help provide educational and research opportunities for those with limited resources, help subsidize housing on OMSC’s campus, and provide scholarships to those in greatest need. THANK YOU!

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