For Geoffrey and Yuliya, a French couple who had been thinking about going abroad for years, it was only when they came upon information about OM’s Off The GRID (OTG) adventure discipleship programme in New Zealand that they felt they had found the right fit.

OTG, a 40-day programme, is held several times a year for people 18-28 years old who are interested in intentionally deepening their walk with God while spending the majority of their time hiking through the unique and beautiful wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island. Small groups of participants are led by Norm and Christy McCarren, an American couple passionate about helping people take time away from the busyness of life and learn to talk and listen to God in new ways.

“The goal for us was to become more Christ-like in our everyday living,” shared Yuliya. “To leave our comfort zone and learn to witness to complete strangers, as well as friends, neighbours and colleagues.” She and her husband wrestled with the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges that come with long days of hiking through mountainous and wooded areas and sleeping in tents or wood cabins with basic facilities. Both were challenged to “discover our real priorities in life.” Through the daily devotions and leadership training provided, as well as God’s creation and the solitude and silence that can be found when life slows down, the couple “heard the Lord speak to each one of us individually, leaving us transformed by the experience.”

At the end of their OTG experience, Geoffrey and Yuliya realised that they needed “to continue to move forward with the Lord Jesus, have new priorities and trust Him completely so as to grow as His disciples.” They are not sure what awaits them when they return to France, but they’ve learned “that we can and need to be missionaries in our everyday life; no matter what kind of work we’re involved in, or what rank we attain, we need to live as Jesus would wish us to live. We are called to serve Him in whatever role He calls us to.”

For more info about OTG email info.nz@om.org.

On 16 August, about 110 men, women and children climbed five iconic Auckland volcanoes (Domain, Mt. Eden, Mt. Hobson, Mt. St. Johns and One Tree Hill) in the Freedom Climb in New Zealand. Participants were reminded of those unable to climb out of their circumstances on their own.

Terrena Griffiths (New Zealand), who believes that the Freedom Climb “is a great cause and a great way to encourage the family to get moving,” was thrilled to be the first to complete the 16 kilometre (about 10 mile) climb. A couple of New Zealand celebrities also participated in the climb, including one of New Zealand’s national cricket selectors and a well-known TV personality.

Of special mention were 12 residents from Ranfurly Care Society, an organisation for people with intellectual disabilities, who took part in the climb as a team, in relay fashion.  

All participants were divided into four groups of different ability and speed, and they each received a pink or blue water bottle. The great weather and encouraging turnout made the event unforgettable.

Freedom Climb, an initiative of OM, raises awareness and funds for projects that seek to bring hope and transform the lives of women and children who are exploited, enslaved and trafficked. If you would like to participate in the Freedom Climb New Zealand planned for March 2015, please contact info@freedomclimb.net.nz.

“Probably one of the greatest challenges participants will face during this 10-week discipleship programme is the media fast,” said Stephen Brandon, field leader of OM New Zealand. “Imagine any group of young people in a van on the roads of New Zealand without a digital device; being confined to the community of the team without access to family and friends via texting or social media. It will be difficult for many, I am sure! But we want to help participants redevelop community and realise their own potential, be it through fitness, community or lack of gadgets.”

Off the GRID team leaders Norm and Christy McCarren (US) were instrumental in designing and leading OM New Zealand’s TEA (Training, Evangelism and Adventure) programme until they left the country in 2008. Since 2012, they have worked at securing a visa for New Zealand and were thrilled to return last month. Preparations for the first intake of Off the GRID participants in October 2014 are underway.

“Although TEA and Off the GRID look similar from the outside, the structures and emphases are different,” noted Stephen. “While doing evangelism and training, our main focus will be on discipleship and leadership. We want participants to walk away with a new understanding of how they can be used by God in their daily lives.”

Keen to learn how to actively pursue Jesus and live a missional lifestyle? Sign up for OM New Zealand’s Off the GRID programme.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19.4 kilometre hike in New Zealand's oldest national park and dual World Heritage Site in the Central North Island of New Zealand. It’s a beautiful and awe-inspiring landscape, shaped and hewn by millennia of volcanic activity.

“The whole thing was much more physically, mentally and emotionally challenging than we had realised,” admitted Varya Brandon, Freedom Climb New Zealand Coordinator. “Very quickly we split into groups of 2-4 as we went at different paces, with support men at the front and rear.”

Highlights of the day included resting at the shore of Emerald Lakes; enjoying the cool of bush walking towards the end of the hike; seeing women's friendships deepening and new friendships emerge; and stopping to hear about how the money raised would bring people out of sex slavery in France and India.

Despite the ridge near the top of the climb being very narrow and rocky, with sideways wind threatening to sweep the climbers off the mountain, all participants completed the hike within eight and a half hours.

“The South Crater was at times clear and at times shrouded in clouds, which reduced visibility greatly. From there we started ascending the rocky ridge, with massive boulders and little stones of all shapes and sizes. Climbing over rocks, with a sheer drop on either side, was the most challenging for all the women I talked to,” said Varya.

Many people were gathered at Ketetahi Hut, and with a loud voice, a few of the Freedom Climb participants read out information about sex trafficking in France and India.

“From the start of the campaign, supporters and climbers have been shocked that human trafficking is so prevalent in our world today,” said Varya. “People are very motivated to go out and give money, so the lives of women and children can be changed.”

Although New Zealand has a proud missionary-sending heritage, OM is not well known beyond the ministry of OM Ships, which has visited the country a number of times.

“We want to re-establish our relationship with sending churches in New Zealand, as well as work on developing credible relationships with new sending churches,” said Stephen Brandon, who took on the role of field leader of OM New Zealand eight months ago. “We do this by visiting the pastors of sending churches to find out what challenges they face, and to try to help them grasp the joy of missions and the blessing thereof as individuals, as church and as community.”

The small OM New Zealand team currently supports about 50 New Zealanders in cross-cultural missions. OM New Zealand has invested time in building relationships with sending churches this year, and the fruit has started to show: about 15 short- and long-term workers are currently preparing to go out, which is a significant increase in numbers in comparison to previous years.

Adds Stephen, “We want to be known as a mission that cares about people and is willing to go the extra mile, even if it means I have to drive 2,100 kilometres in 10 days as a result! We want our workers and their churches to be well prepared for the journey of missions.”

Although Stephen Brandon, from New Zealand, served as OM's International Web Manager for six years and was instrumental in developing OM’s corporate identity online, he recently took on the role of National Director for OM New Zealand. Curious to know what brought about this change, we sat down with him to discuss the transition and his vision for the future.

OM: Stephen, although you have a master’s degree in classical composition, you served OM for many years as International Web Manager. How did that come about?

Stephen: I've felt the call to ministry since my late teens, but in those days I thought it would be in terms of being a music pastor. Even before then, the plight of Christians behind the Iron Curtain was deeply ingrained in my soul. On my first date with Varya, who has since become my wife, my first question to her was, "So, are you interested in mission?" She was! The following summer we joined OM's Love Europe campaign and led a small team into a town in the east of the Czech Republic.

This had a huge impact on us, as we saw lives changed as a result of just two weeks of short-term mission. Five years later, we joined OM Czech Republic for two years, and I went on to join OM's International Coordinating Team in England as a developer for OM's internal web systems and public web sites.

My experience in working cross-culturally on the field, learning a foreign language and raising our own support money was invaluable when helping to manage and develop the systems used within OM, as I understood the daily challenges that our workers face.

OM: In June 2012, you become national director of OM New Zealand. What were the events that led up to this?

Stephen: When I was first approached about taking on the job, I said, "Absolutely not!" I had no desire to stop doing my web work. The Lord had other ideas, and started to speak to me through the story of the call of Moses. I was struck by the transformation of Moses' identity from shepherd, a job he was evidently satisfied with, to being a mighty leader called by God. Moses' identity was not his own to govern, but something that the Lord could transform for His own purposes. It was clear to me that my own identity as an expert in my own field had to be yielded to God, that it was His to transform. I had to be willing for change.

OM: What are your current responsibilities?

Stephen: New Zealand has a proud missionary-sending heritage, but OM is not well-known beyond the [OM ship], which has visited a number of times. My small team currently supports some 50 New Zealanders in cross-cultural mission and works with churches to develop their missions understanding and missions programmes. As leader of a small team, it's a constant challenge for me to prioritise planning and management versus working hands-on with churches, member care or communications.

OM: What is the state of the church in New Zealand today?

Stephen: Like any other country, New Zealand has its fair share of natural disasters, social problems, poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence and suicide. While there is concerted attack on Christian standards (e.g. a push for the abolition of the Bible in schools, push for gay marriage and some uncertainty in Christian circles about what to do about it) there are some excellent examples of church outreach into communities, recognised and encouraged by the government.

My vision for the church in New Zealand is that it again picks up the mantle of mission to the entire world, adapting to the challenges of a globalised culture and finding ways to integrate local, national and international mission. This has always been a country of immigrants, and there are huge opportunities for the church to serve cross-culturally, even over our back fence.

After qualifying with a master’s in classical composition, Stephen Brandon, 41, combined music and technology in several jobs in New Zealand, Japan and the UK. Amongst other things, he wrote technical documentation for Yamaha music studio equipment in Japan and software for a film music composition company in New York. After joining OM Czech Republic, he went on to record a Czech worship album and is one of the worship leaders in his home church in New Zealand. He is married to Varya, from Scotland, and has two sons, Benjamin and Toby. 

OM International is currently looking for a new International Webmaster. Are you passionate about developing, implementing and maintaining websites, social media and content management systems? Are you interested in using your skills to serve God in missions? Click here to learn more.