About The Open-Air Mission

What passes through your mind when you see a crowd of people in a busy shopping precinct? Often we may only very selfishly think about how we will be impacted by having to enter busy shops and having to queue for long periods of time.

It is good for us to remember how the Lord Jesus felt as He looked upon the vast crowds who followed him from place to place, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew (9:36). The work of the Open-Air Mission since it was established in 1853 is to go out to where those same lost sheep are today and share with them the good news that there is a Saviour who loves them.

Douglas Young preaching using visual aids on a typical Mission display board

So few people today attend a place of worship. Church has become an alien environment for so many in our society. The need therefore to take the gospel to them is more urgent than it has been for many generations. Our evangelists and Associate workers are doing this vital work throughout the year. In the UK we still enjoy tremendous freedom to take the message of salvation out to others. We have a life-changing message to share and therefore we should be going out boldly, to share it with others.

As a Mission we are keen to help encourage and train individual Christians and churches to take up the challenge of open-air outreach. We are glad to lead seminars followed by the practical application of going onto the streets in order to preach the gospel and engage with people one-to-one about the things of the Lord. We also produce large amounts of good quality literature, which is available for anyone interested to buy at very reasonable rates. The Mission also provides follow-up for those who express an interest in knowing more. We are always keen to direct people to good local churches.

The work of OAM is overseen by our Committee.