Features for 2020

As the world eases out of lockdown, everyone is trying to get a picture of the 'new normal' and how it will effect them and their particular mission and ministry. Alex Hawke's article helps us get our bearings and navigate the unknown path ahead.

OSCAR has collected together a number of resources and links to help you plan for the months ahead. This is a follow on from last month's article - Coronavirus: Help for Mission Workers, and can be regarded as an addendum.

Published in May, this is a review of this a 10-week re-entry devotional book for long-term workers who are leaving ministry or the field. Whilst written before the current crisis, many aspects of the re-entry process are the same and many more people will appreciate this book's help in leaving the old behind and embracing the new. Reviewed by Rob Jameson.

Losing a loved one is hard enough in 'normal' circumstances, but the current crisis has brought new complications. If you have lost someone during the last few weeks, the 'Faith in Later Life' website has links to a range of resources.

On Saturday 27th June we're running a cultural adaptation day course online for those heading to another culture over the next few months. If that's you, it will give you a 'toolkit' to help you adapt quickly and transition well.

Another month on and we have updated last month's article with lots of new resources and advice specifically of use to mission workers during this crisis. 

People are learning new ways of taking care of themselves and supporting each other. Applying some member care principles can help with exploring the possibilities. This blog highlights a useful seven-fold approach as a tool to assist in this. 

With such great need on our doorstep and so many places in the world facing serious challenges, where do we start? Use OSCAR's prayer resources to keep informed and let God guide you in your prayers.

If you have lost or decided to change your job during the crisis, we can help you find a new one. OSCAR continues to have well over 100 UK and 600 global opportunities for you to peruse and choose from. 

During the lockdown we have moved virtually all of our training online. We are offering most of our courses 'on demand' via Zoom, grouping people together with others who need that particular training in a certain time frame. If you would like to participate, just contact us and we will sort out a course for you to join.

There is already a plethora of information and advice online for the general public about COVID-19 issues. We have collected together a range of resources and advice specifically of use to mission workers during this crisis.

This is the fourth edition of this book by Ted Lankester and Nathan J. Grills. Our feature includes a couple of quotes and some links for purchasing the book at a significant discount.

Anticipating a wave of response after the global lockdown, we have created a new section under Ministry Resources for those who work in situations of disaster, emergency or relief around the world.

On 4th March we celebrated OSCAR's 20th birthday by hosting a Mission Resources Exhibition alongside the Christian Resources Exhibition at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. Here's a brief report of the day with some feedback from visitors and exhibitors.

Whilst we have vacated our offices and are not conducting any face-to-face training, exhibitions or events, our online services are fully operational. We are all working from home and, as always, we are here to help and serve you!

As we celebrate OSCAR's 20th birthday, Mike takes a look back at where it all began and how things have changed with OSCAR over the 20 years.

The UK Christian festival scene continues to change and has some new arrivals for 2020. Check out OSCAR's comprehensive list to see what's happening when and where. 

We have upgraded our online community, OSCARactive, to the latest version of the Ning platform. Take a look and feel free to join if you would like to participate.

This month Stewardship starts a new style back-to-back 2 day training course on raising personal support. It's designed to prepare, inform and equip you to build an effective support team.

OSCAR is planning a Christian job and mission opportunity board in the exhibitions of some of the UK's biggest Christian festivals and conferences this year, starting with Big Church Day Out in May. Bookings for job cards is now open!

Stewardship and OSCAR have been partnering for nearly 10 years to deliver support-raising training and resources. Sarah T from OSCAR interviews Fiona Mearns from Stewardship to find out how that's gone.

Lent starts on 26th Feb. If you've not joined the 40acts movement yet, this year could be your chance! Join with this global community to make a difference by modelling generosity in your locality.

With the coronavirus outbreak declared a global health emergency, where do you go for your crisis travel advice? Your first stop is probably the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. After that you might want specific advice or resources that can help. See our Crisis Management section for help.

Now is a good time to plan your holidays, breaks and retreat time for 2020. This will stop them getting squeezed out by other priorities as the year progresses. We have lots of good suggestions for places to stay geared for those in mission and ministry.

The OSCAR website currently receives around 140,000 page views per month from around 22,000 visitor sessions (2019 statistics). Our Website Sponsorship Scheme offers you a unique opportunity to sponsor part of this growing, mission specific website and reach out to this audience.

In this, OSCAR's 20th year and leading up to OSCAR's 20th birthday, we are featuring various people and ministries helped by OSCAR. This is the story of how OSCAR has helped one couple through training and shipping of personal effects before they left for their overseas assignment.

OSCAR has launched a new Events section. With over 50 events listed it's by far the most comprehensive mission-related events list of any website in the UK. What's more, events can be filter searched using 8 different options. Organisations can add their events through their account.

On 15th Feb OSCAR is running a re-entry course, called 'All Change', for those recently returned from the field and those who care for them. It will be based at OSCAR's offices in Gloucester. The cost for the day is £45 which includes lunch, refreshments and all materials. 

Last July we featured Stuart Simpsons new book, Unlocking Your Life P.U.R.P.O.S.E. Now there is a new course from Catalyst Ministries based on the book. This transformational and practical 9 session course is suitable for individual, group or church-wide use.

Good news: our online job advertising prices are not increasing for 2020! That includes both our individual listing and our package fees. As the most comprehensive, most viewed and most reasonably priced Christian jobs website in the UK, that makes us even better value than last year!