“God’s faithfulness during the past 50 years assures us of His faithfulness in the future. We know that He can do all things, and nothing can thwart His plans.” Dick Hillis made this statement reflecting on our 50th anniversary. Now, as we begin our 64th year of ministry, it remains true. Looking back on some of the 2015 highlights of the U.S. Mobilization Center fuels our faith for 2016.

More Workers

The Mobilization department tripled in size in 2015! Although the department is now three people, the addition of these two workers brought the needed resources to boost our social media visibility, most notably with 3,000 Twitter followers. Along with the recommendations of our own OC workers, Mobilization’s Facebook page and blog are in part responsible for the fact that we have more people with applications than in the last 10 years.

Not only do we have applicants, but One Challenge deployed eight units (families or singles) to their countries of service in 2015. Additionally two single workers changed from short-term to career commitments. Two more units received the green light to deploy early 2016. Praise God for His faithfulness in answer to our prayers for more workers and those to journey with them in the going!

In keeping with our value for caring for our workers, the MemberCare team hosted 14 units at our 10-day Personnel Enrichment Program (PEP). Part of God’s provision for our workers was a new, convenient, and affordable venue in the Colorado mountains.

Also in 2015, One Challenge established the Global Care Team, consisting of 9 workers from around OC’s world.

More Funding

One Challenge praises God for multiple sources of income allowing the U.S. Mobilization Center to end the year in a financially healthy place. This was made possible in part through the generous contributions of partners, OC workers, and many others to help relieve the financial obligation of the US-MC. The Launch Project finished with $750,000 in contributions. Overall, One Challenge finished a very tightly budgeted fiscal year with more money in the bank than we have had in 10 years.

More Communication

In keeping with their commitment to share good news for the purpose of praise to God, informed prayer, and to enable others to partner with us, the Communications Team celebrated a number of milestones.

• In-person communication to five field in Asia to provide onsite video and photography services
• The 2014 Annual Review and Prayer Guide
• Facilitating a one-month college “internship” position
• A mission-wide review of monthly newsletter mailing, switching hundreds of subscribers to email
• Initiating a one-page electronic monthly bulletin with the latest news on www.OneChallenge.org
• Populating our new intranet and enabling better internal communication
• Providing design and distribution of the new alumni publication

All was done with one thing in mind: “What God is doing in people’s lives is great and praiseworthy. His greatness is beyond what anyone can imagine. We desire to spread the good news about what he has done to every generation by communicating however we can of His mighty acts.” (Communication’s paraphrase of Psalm 145:5)

Advancing the Kingdom – Technically Speaking

Our Information Technology department celebrated the generosity of a donor which enabled them to replace a very old server. A huge blessing as all of our electronic communications, files, folders, hours of work, has to be stored safely – on servers. Equally big for IT was the installation of a new firewall. Keeping our data safe and systems functioning keeps OC up and running. Also very significant was completing the transition from an expensive, less-intuitive intranet to a free option now possible with technological advancements in the Google realm. So, technically speaking, all of this contributes to the advance of the Kingdom.

A Year of Transitions

In many ways 2015 was a year of transitions beginning with a new president, Dr. Dean Carlson. This was accompanied by smooth leadership transitions on virtually every level. Four new members were transitioned onto the US-MC Board of Directors.

OC USA transitioned to independence as a separate (401c3) OC ministry under the name of Near Frontiers.

In cooperation with the OC Global Alliance, a USA division of OC Sepal began and will continue to develop in 2016.

Moving into 2016

As we move into the new year we are asking God for more workers, more funding, effective communication and improved use of technology. In response to the March 2015 Leadership Conference and Future Send initiatives, there will be changes and adjustments to go forward relevantly and sustainably for new generations. We are hoping too that 2016 will be the year of the volunteer.

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One Challenge’s Mobilization department can be reached at:

Become a Mission Worker… Initial Contact Form

Missions Mobilization
One Challenge is an international mission sending agency empowering local church ministry in more than 100 countries around the world. We seek to empower the whole body of Christ to bring a transforming love and hope to all people. When invited by local leaders, OC facilitates local bodies of believers to identify, train, and send global workers toward realizing a “from everywhere to everywhere” vision. For more information, please email OC Mobilization at mobilization@oci.org. Or go to our Mobilization blog called “Prepare for Impact” at https://prepareforimpact.life/blog/.