Global Passion: Marking George Verwer’s Contribution to World Mission

by David Greenlee, ed.

Global Passion was published on the occasion of Operation Mobilization (OM) founder George Verwer’s transfer of leadership of OM to Peter Maiden after having led the movement for forty years.

Authentic Lifestyle, P.O. Box 300, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0QS UK/P.O. Box 1047, Waynesboro, GA 30830-2047, 2003, 207 pages, $14.99.

—Reviewed by Saji K. John, administrator, Operation Mobilization India.

Global Passion was published on the occasion of Operation Mobilization (OM) founder George Verwer’s transfer of leadership of OM to Peter Maiden after having led the movement for forty years.The book makes an attempt to demonstrate the impact Verwer has had on world missions, especially on those who have worked with him closely in OM. It highlights his contribution to short-term missions, Christian literature and the globalization of missions. Global Passion also expresses appreciation for Verwer’s leadership style, prayerfulness, genuineness and commitment to regular correspondence with hundreds of individuals.

The book presents a series of articles by various individuals who were impacted by Verwer. Chapter topics include perseverance in missions, holiness, worship, intercession, God’s faithfulness, hurting people being fruitful in missions, suffering, mothers in missions, leading under risk and growing leaders. The author of each article details the impact of George Verwer upon his or her life.

The book also presents the importance of the Two-thirds-world church, networking, missions from poverty, tent making, holistic work, literature ministry, and the ongoing renewal and research in today’s missions work.

The book ends with a tribute to George Verwer from various Christian leaders around the world. They describe him as a man who enthuses the unenthusiastic, mobilizes the immobile, motivates the unmotivated, comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Verwer, according to these leaders, lived a simple lifestyle, dared to be different and won the respect of Christians around the world.
At times the multi-authored book seems disconnected. One could also wish that the book provided more insight into Verwer’s childhood, his family and his own struggles and failures. Yet the book challenges readers to ponder what God can do through imperfect people who trust God to do the extraordinary through their lives.

Check these titles:
Verwer, George. 1983. No Turning Back, Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.

____.1994. Hunger for Reality, Waynesboro, Ga.: Send the Light.

____. 1994. Revolution of Love and Balance, Waynesboro, Ga.: Send the Light.

____. 2001. Out of Comfort Zone, Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany
House.

All available from Send The Light, P.O. Box 1047, Waynesboro, GA 30830-2047.

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