Open Air Campaigners
| Basic data | |
|---|---|
| Denomination: | Evangelical |
| Headquarters (D): | Neunkirchen (Siegerland) |
| Geographic location : | 50 ° 47 ' N , 8 ° 2' E |
| Establishment date: | 1892 |
| Place of foundation: | Sydney , Australia |
| Employee: | approx. 200 (as of 2012) |
| Operation area: | approx. 26 countries (as of 2012) |
| Website: | www.oaci.org www.oac-d.de www.oac.at |
Open Air Campaigners (OAC) is an international mission organization . This mission work has the special aim of organizing or helping to shape missionary activities in the open air. This includes events in pedestrian zones, on campsites, on beaches and in residential areas.
distribution
The mission work today has permanent branches in over 25 countries with over 200 full-time and other part-time evangelists. In the context of short-term assignments, however, people are reached in far more countries. For example, work is carried out from Germany in Slovakia , Hungary and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe .
OAC in Germany
OAC-Missionsteams eV , the German branch of OAC, sees itself as an extended arm of local Christian communities with which it works closely on the basis of the Evangelical Alliance . From Germany there are numerous seminars and missionary assignments in Central and Eastern Europe, primarily in Slovakia and Hungary. Evangelist Ulrich Hofius is the head of the German branch. The German mission center is in Neunkirchen (Siegerland) .
OAC in Austria
Started by Ulrich Hofius and Korky Davey (OAC-GB), the Austrian branch is now independent. This branch is called OAC Austria Chr. Free Assembly Service . In Austria, too, OAC works on the basis of the Evangelical Alliance. Evangelist Stefan Höfler is the leader.
methodology
OAC employees like to use visual aids such as gospel magic , pantomime and “Sketchboard Evangelism” (proclamation with brush, paint and blackboard) at their events . The aim of Open Air Campaigners is, in addition to missionary work, above all to train and equip local churches.
history
Open Air Campaigners have their roots in Australia . On March 10, 1892, the "Coogee Open Air Mission" was founded. Open-air meetings on beaches and in Sydney city center quickly became the norm .
With the first “gospel car” came a new name: Open Air Campaigners. An open air Sunday school was built on Coogee Beach and Goulburn Street became the “Open Air Cathedral” for the people of Sydney.
At an exhibition, OAC evangelist Jim Duffecy discovered a huge drawing board. An artist advertised an ice cream brand using negative type . Duffecy took up this idea and developed the “Sketchboard Evangelism”, which is still a trademark of OAC today.
In 1954, New Zealand's first overseas mission branch was born. Jim Duffecy pioneered OAC work in North America (first branch 1956) and later became OAC's first international president. The German branch was created in 1963 and was therefore the first in Europe.
The President was Reverend Robert Siakimotu ( New Zealand ) from 2004 to 2012 , and Rob George ( Australia ) has served since then .
literature
- Jim A. Duffecy: The Truceless Warefare Advances: The Story of Open Air Campaigners International. Daniels Publishing, Orlando (Florida) 1983.
- Noel C. Gibson: The Fisherman's Basket: Open air and other methods of evangelism. Freedom In Christ Ministries, Drummoyne 1984, ISBN 0-9591100-0-3 .
- Ulrich Hofius & Dorothee Kluitenberg: Practice book Open-Air-Arbeit: The ABC of evangelism outdoors. Hänssler, Neuhausen-Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-7751-2633-3 .
- Alan Bailey & Ulrich Hofius: The best message told in color: A practical book for missionary work among children. Open Air Campaigners, Neunkirchen 2008, ISBN 978-3-00-025108-5 .
- Ulrich Hofius: Najlepšie posolstvo vo color. Open Air Campaigners, VIVIT sro, Kežmarok 2013, ISBN 978-80-89264-78-0 .
Web links
- Open Air Campaigners International
- OAC mission teams in Germany eV
- OAC Chr. Free Assembly Service in Austria
- Images from the work of OAC