Features for 2019

OSCAR works with churches to help them better support the people they send into mission. This includes providing training, advice and resources. Here's an interview with St. Andrew's Church in Leyland about their situation and how OSCAR has helped.

Often it is amongst great suffering where people can experience a deeper relationship with Christ. This is a review of the book Why God Calls us to Dangerous Places by Kate McCord from her time as a humanitarian aid worker in Afghanistan. It's a collection of testimonies woven together with Bible verses.

Along with Christmas card and gift ideas that benefit mission, OSCAR's Christmas section also includes links to other Advent and Christmas resources you might be interested in. These include some great virtual advent calendars and stories about how Christmas is celebrated around the world.

Assessing risks is becoming an integral part of every person's life. It should be even more so for people moving to new areas of the world. Check out RiskMap 2020 launching this month, forecasting political and security risks worldwide.

We're not running our own appeal this year, but we have been getting behind Stewardship's great appeal for Christian workers. You can donate to this up until 6th December. After that, why not give a little extra to a full-time Christian worker that you know. I'm sure they will appreciate it.

OSCAR’s Global Training was held in Kenya during early May 2019, with the aim of preparing people for mission with seminars on 'crossing cultures', ‘re-entry’,  'support raising’ and also training on how churches can ‘serve as senders’. What was the impact on course participants? Read on.

Registration for our Mission Resources Exhibition on 4th March 2020 is now open! Attendance is FREE if you register and we'll keep you informed of developments over the next few months.

OSCAR's Christmas section includes Christian organisations which sell Christmas cards and gifts for their ministry, plus 'alternative gifts' for people in need all over the world.

With huge variations in water supplies around the world, this is a fundamental question that every traveller asks. Good Neighbor Insurance have answered this with a helpful resource sheet on making sure your water is safe.

Please take our 5 minute user survey so we can get your input on which of our services you have found useful over the last year and help us to help you going forward into the next year.

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 month we feature Hannah Mulvihill from Mercy Ships who talks about the orientation training that OSCAR provides for staff going to work on the hospital ship 'Africa Mercy'.

Stewardship together with a number of investors have agreed to purchase the entire share capital from Kingdom Bank owners Assemblies of God Property Trust. Kingdom Bank offers a range of services for both savers and borrowers, where the relationship is truly personal and caring. With it's unique aims and values in the banking sector, it's a great choice for Christians in the UK. 

First Rock International will be merging with Sanctuary International to provide worldwide security cover for missionary organisations and faith-based NGOs. This will include Consultation, Security Surveys and Hostile Environment Awareness and First Aid training to equip individuals and groups in the Great Commission. At present they have representation and offices in Ireland, UK, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.

OSCAR has had a map and search upgrade! This includes the homepage map which now plots over 2500 Organisations and Resources in addition to the Opportunities. You can toggle between UK and Global, and zoom into any area and select or deselect any categories of organisation. The Organisations directory also now has a new map and filter search. Give it a try ...

This month OSCAR will be exhibiting at CRE (Christian Resources Exhibition) National at Sandown Park Racecourse in Surrey. We have an Opportunities and Resources stand. If you're attending, come and see us. If you would like to advertise any jobs or opportunities, click below.

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 month we feature the personal service that OSCAR provides, as emphasised by Isaac Frisby, Vocational Recruitment Officer for Church Mission Society.

We spotted this blog post on the great 'A Life Overseas' website. As one OSCAR user commented on Facebook, it got them thinking about the *odd* things they do after 20 years in mission. What about you? After you've read Rachels', we would love to hear yours.

Key Travel have produced a pdf entitled Our Top 10 Travel Savings Tips to Take Away. Whether you're an individual trying to make your budget go further or an organisation trying to be good stewards, these tips will help.

On 21st September OSCAR is running our next re-entry day course, called 'All Change', for those recently returned from the field and those who care for them. It will be based at the beautiful Prinknash Abbey in Gloucestershire. The cost for the day is £45 which includes lunch, refreshments and all materials. Join us and learn all about re-entry, for yourself or someone you support.

For those wishing to advertise vacancies or opportunities with OSCAR, but who aren't currently on our Gold package, we have an amazing offer for you. From Sep 1st we can offer the Gold package for the rest of the year at 33% of the annual fee! Whether you're an organisation, church or Christian company, that gives you a great opportunity to try out our full vacancy advertising service for 4 months for one low fee.

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 month we feature the role OSCAR has played in leading youth to Christ by recruiting a new worker for a Gloucestershire youth ministry.

Launched this month in the UK, this book takes an in depth look at enabling those with disabilities to become active in mission. It's essential reading for churches and mission agencies who want to be inclusive and accessible (which should be all of us, right?). The book is reviewed by Tim Wood.

A new resource paper has been released by Stewardship to help Christian workers communicate with supporters. This is part of Stewardship's great set of resource papers for Christian workers entitled 'Finance for Living' specifically aimed at those who have to raise their own financial support.

If it has come to August and you need a break but haven't planned anything, OSCAR's newly updated accommodation section might be able to help. This section includes guest houses, holiday apartments and Christian festivals, many of which are happening during August. There are UK and global listings.

If you're going to one of these festivals in August: Creation Fest, Bangor Worldwide, David's Tent or Westpoint, come and say Hi to OSCAR in the exhibition. OSCAR will be hosting a job/opportunities and advice stand at each of these events. If you have a role that you want to advertise on our board, the next deadline is 16th Aug.

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 month we feature the role OSCAR has played in resourcing Clare Franks as World Mission Coordinator at St. Barnabas Church, North London.

This month sees the launch of this new book by Stuart Simpson subtitled Discovering Your Destiny by Understanding Your Design.  It’s a good overview/introduction to the basics of discovering your purpose, with some great exercises and further links so readers can go as deep as they like, when they want to unpack a little more.

Aetna International, a global health insurance and benefits provider, has produced some interesting destination guides useful for anyone moving countries to work. The info includes culture and lifestyle, staying safe, business etiquette, cost of living and finding a home amongst other things. Over 20 countries are currently featured. 

With June ending with an extraordinary heatwave across Europe, it's a reminder that many mission workers endure high temperatures all year round. One of the hardest things to do in a hot climate is sleep, so here are 24 tricks to survive hot nights (without air conditioning) from the Greatist website.

OSCAR hosts a job/opportunities stand at several major Christian festivals and conferences during the year. These include Big Church Day Out, Creation Fest, Bangor Worldwide, David's Tent, Westpoint and CRE. Four of these are taking place in the next two months. If you have a role that you want to advertise on our board, make sure you submit it in time. The first deadline is Friday 26th July.

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 month we feature the role OSCAR has played in providing a lifeline to one mission worker in Nepal, Peggy Franks.

This is an edited excerpt from the book 'Internationals Who Live Among Us' by Neal Pirolo about relocating refugees. Neal highlights the value of becoming sponsors for refugees.

Key Travel have produced a pdf entitled Top 10 Take Away Tips for Traveller Safety. These work no matter where you are going, so use them to help you stay safe.

June kicks off with national volunteers' week. Many churches and charities survive on volunteers. If you have some spare time, why not offer to help a Christian charity or good cause? OSCAR has hundreds of voluntary opportunities to choose from.

On Saturday 15th June we're running a cultural adaptation day course in Gloucester for those heading to another culture over the next few months. It will give you a 'toolkit' to help you adapt quickly and transition well.

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 month we feature the role OSCAR has played in profiling a small ministry which provides mission workers with a place to stay whilst in the UK.

This 30 Days of Prayer resource helps Jesus-followers to respond with love to Muslim people. You can buy your copy through this site and use it throughout May to pray for Muslims during Ramadan.

OSCAR has featured articles, books and organisations which can provide resources on this subject. We’ve now created a new section to bring these together.

You may have noticed that this question now appears next to many of the resource listings on the OSCAR website. If you or your organisation is responsible for that listing, you can now claim it and edit it direct on our site.

We will be hosting the jobs/opportunities board and providing advice on anything related to mission in the Bazaar at Big Church Day Out later this month. Come and say Hi if you're going to be there. If you want us to advertise a job/opportunity for you, see below.

In this, OSCAR's 20th year and leading up to OSCAR's 20th birthday we will be featuring various people and ministries helped by OSCAR. We start with the role OSCAR played in helping recruit for a significant role in a small charity with a very noble purpose, to bring an end to FGM.

Did you know that April is stress awareness month? So it's a good time to feature a book entitled Resilience in Life and Faith by former OSCAR trustee Tony Horsfall and Debbie Hawker. We like practical, helpful books tailored for those in challenging mission or ministry situations, and this book seems to measure up. It's reviewed by Phil Jolley.

We have added a new Trafficking and Slavery section to our Ministry Resources area. Previously we undertook some research to define various Christian organisations involved in these areas of ministry and produced a special resource sheet. Now we have put all of these online so you can access them.

We are steadily pulling together and building up our various resources for ‘Exploring Vocation’. We’ve added links to related articles, book reviews and specific organisations or individuals who can help. It’s a good place to start if you’re trying to work out how and where God is leading you.

Our article this month is just one story. We have over 650 opportunity listings, 130 UK opportunity listings (more than any other Christian jobs website) and over 80 organisations advertising with us at this point in time. Contact us if we can help you advertise or send you email updates about jobs.

Do you keep a journal or diary? If not, you might consider doing it during short-term trips or transition times so you can capture what God is saying and teaching you through your new experiences. This month's article by Shawna Levet helps us get started with what to include in a basic journal.

How do we go about mobilising our churches to reach the nations? This book by Mike Frisby takes us through the various steps that can unlock the potential and help our members into their God given calling.

Is there a lent activity that helps you impact the world around you? Yes, it's called 40acts, it's produced by Stewardship and it's free to participate. Each day has a reflection and a challenge, based around activities of  generosity to others.

Kingdom Bank have launched a new range of savings products for individuals, churches and charities These not only have very competitive interest rates but also enable Kingdom Bank to provide its other products, like mortgages for missionaries and churches. It's a great way to build the kingdom with your savings.

OSCAR will be in Kenya in early May 2019 to lead a week of one day stand-alone training courses for the mission community in the region. If you're within reach of Nairobi, don’t miss this unique opportunity to undertake some practical development training taking place in your area. We would love to meet you.

What are the strangest gifts that missionaries have received from their supporters? This was a question asked of a number of missionaries and you might be surprised or shocked at the answers. Fiona Mearns from Stewardship helps us think through what missionaries really need and how we can best support them.

This book is a fascinating insight into one woman's courage and perseverance in a land traumatized by war and poverty. Jill Kinsey brings to life the people who live in a small town in Mozambique in the 1990's. It is reviewed by Annette Samsom.

International Training Partners SYIS course has come highly recommended over the years. Now you can take this course online. It's great development training for anyone in mission or ministry who wants to develop healthy relationships.

If you're entering the UK from overseas, whether for the first time or after a long period away, this great 'guide to life in the UK' from Friends International will help you understand British culture and settle into life in the UK.  It's designed for students but has plenty of useful info for anyone.

We have changed our main menu selections, losing the title Directory and spliting this into Organisations and Resources. You'll also see that we have introduced content tables into the Resources area to help you see and navigate through the sub-sections. Let us know what you think. Your views are valued.

'How many people use OSCAR?' is one of the most common questions we get. So, we've put together some stats for you that we hope might answer this question from a range of different angles.

Find out how God is changing the lives of families everywhere through prayer - from the frozen Arctic to the hottest desert, on the highest mountains and in crowded cities. This new book "Window on the World" brings alive the culture, history, and traditions of all sorts of different people that adults and young people alike can pray for.

Whether you're looking for a career in Christian or mission work, or looking to change roles within the Christian work sector, OSCAR has it all. We list more opportunities and organisations than any other Christian website in the UK. That's why OSCAR should be your starting place for your search. You can also subscribe to our weekly email for the latest job adverts, called the 'Opportunities Update'. 

Now is a good time to plan your holidays, breaks and retreat time for 2019. This will stop them getting squeezed out by other priorities as the year progresses. We have lots of good suggestions for holidays geared for those in mission and ministry.

On 26th Jan 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.