Interview with OM volunteer, Madeleine Brown

What does OM stand for?
OM stands for Operation Mobilisation. As an organisation, our aim is to share God’s Word to MOBILISE (get together) the whole world to OPERATE (live out) the gospel truth of Jesus Christ.

What did you do with OM?
OM offers many opportunities, from short-term mission in your home city to travelling for years to the other side of the world. Personally, I had the privilege of being part of the ship ministry, travelling the coastlines of the world, bringing knowledge, help and hope.

A year on a ship … how did you find that? What were the best and worst bits?!
I was on the ship for 12 months, which was both amazing and really hard. The hardest part was the lack of home comforts. I would say I’m an independent person, but there were times when I just needed a familiar hug from people back home. You would be surprised the simple things you miss when you’re so far away, such as Battenberg cake, the smell of freshly cut grass, even the rain! The amazing part of being away for such a long period of time was that it really taught me to appreciate what I am blessed with. I could never take home for granted again.

Where did the people on the ship come from?
All members of the ship’s crew were volunteers, including the captain. The crew was made up of 400 people from 150 different nations, meaning I was 1 of 10 British people! It was amazing to travel the world, with people from most of the world!

Tell us a funny story from the ship.
This has to be when I first arrived. I was assigned to the cleaning team, as every volunteer is given a manual job in order to keep the ship running and to make the ministry possible. At home my room was not always clean … and I hate early mornings with a passion, so when I found out the cleaning team started work at 6am (!!) it was a shock! There were many funny stories, as I was a genuinely a shocking cleaner, but I tried very hard. The most memorable story was the time I accidently vacuumed up water causing the vacuum cleaner on my back to drip warm, black water down my legs! Naturally shocked and scared, I ran around like a headless chicken before my friend saved the day by unplugging me!

Tell us a story about something you saw God do.
There are so many stories … God moved powerfully through the volunteers’ testimonies. A particularly memorable time was in Barbados. We went to the heart of the red-light district to minister to the women. I felt so out of my depth as I was only 18 years old, but God in me is greater than all my fear. I met and talked for two hours with a wonderful lady who was 22 with two children. She came from an abusive family, so looked to drugs and alcohol for satisfaction, using prostitution as the only means of paying for everything. Not being able to relate to any of these things, I had to look to God and His Word. This comforted her and made her realise the truth of God’s love and acceptance of her despite her past. She gave her life to Christ that very night and the ship provided her with practical, sustainable help through local connections. Praise the Lord!!

What did you learn from your time on the ship?
Overall my gap year on the ship taught me humility. I went from thinking I was a big fish in a small pond to being the smallest fish in literally the ocean! My comfort zone was blown away, showing me what really makes me who I am is my faith in Jesus Christ who carries me through everything.

Visit the OM website here