GEORGE Verwer, evangelist and founder of Operation Mobilization, passed away peacefully at his home near London, England, on April 14 while surrounded by family members and loved ones, at age 84.
Friends and colleagues of George Verwer have condoled his death.
OM’s International Director, Lawrence Tong, said, “George was passionate about Jesus, passionate for God’s Word and passionate for the lost. I believe he was God’s man for the 20th century, who changed the course of modern mission.”
He demonstrated a lifestyle of radical discipleship. “George’s legacy is that of a life-size example of a truly committed Jesus-follower,” said Akira Mori, a ministry pastor in Japan. “George had a God-given ability to inspire and exhort and challenge – but to me, the person was the example, the message and the challenge; much more than what he said.”
“George truly practised what he preached,” said Matthew Skirton, Field Leader of OM in the UK. “His authenticity and passion for reaching the lost, but also his humility and transparency when sharing about his struggles, have profoundly impacted me – and I know have touched, encouraged and challenged so many others.
Lawrence Tong recalls, “many people, myself included, were baffled at the invention of the word. I realize more and more the truth and wisdom of what he packed into that one word alone. As usual, George the trailblazer was way ahead of us in his spiritual life, in his thinking, in his vision, and in his interpretation of trends. There will never be another GV.”
Joshua Bautista, OM Canada’s Executive Director said, “George was not only a man of immeasurable influence and impact on modern Missions, but he was a faithful man of God whose sole desire was to love his Lord and help others enter into the same loving relationship with Jesus.”
Known for his world map jackets and for handing out more than a million free books, in the 20 years since he stepped down from leading OM, George managed special projects, spoke at church events with characteristic vigour and wrote more than a dozen books.
A key theme of George Verwer was admitting his own imperfections and honouring God who graciously forgives and works through people, despite their mistakes. He called it ‘messiology.’
