By Michelle Adserias
“If only we could see the value of one soul like God does.”
– George Verwer
I heard George Verwer speak at Urbana ’87. I was just out of college and prayerfully considering the direction God was taking me in life. I had already been part of a short-term mission to Africa. Did God want me to serve him in full-time ministry? George Verwer’s story was instrumental in my commitment to go where God called me to go and do what God called me to do.
Mr. Verwer was born in New Jersey in 1938. His first exposure to the gospel was through a copy of the Gospel of John, given to him by a woman who was faithfully praying the students at his school would find and follow Christ. Several years later, he attended a Billy Graham Crusade. He surrendered his life to Christ.
Everything changed radically. He began by telling his fellow college students about what Christ had done for him. Then, his concern for those who did not have a copy of the Bible began to grow. In 1957, he and two friends sold enough of their personal possessions to fund a trip to Mexico with Gospel tracts and booklets.
His next move was to Moody Bible Institute, where he met his wife, Drena Knecht. She shared her husband’s burden for lost souls – so much so that they sold some of their wedding gifts to fund an outreach to Mexico City. After six months in Mexico, they moved to Spain and continued their work. At one point, he was arrested and deported for smuggling Bibles into Communist countries.
George Verwer wasn’t certain what to do after God shut the door on Bible smuggling, so he took some time to seek God’s direction. While on a prayer retreat in Austria, he saw a group of young people boarding a bus from his perch in a tree. The name “Operation Mobilization” popped into his head. In his mind’s eye, he could see “busloads” of young people being mobilized to bring God’s Word and service to people throughout the world.
Logos was the first of five ships, launched in 1971, to reach people throughout the world. Since that time, more than 49 million people have visited the onboard book fairs and over 70 million portions of Scripture have been distributed during ports of calls in 151 countries. In addition to their ships ministry, they have staff members ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of people from centers throughout North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Islands.
After establishing a thriving ministry center in India, George Verwer and his family settled in London, England, where they lived until God called Mr. Verwer home to rest from all his labor. The work he began continues to thrive and grow, blessed by God’s hand. If you would like to know more about Operation Mobilization or how you can get involved, visit: www.omusa.org.
