Living and serving Christ among the poor
UNOH works through "project" teams and "open homes" among the poor. Our current focus includes:

Asylum seekers, Springvale, Melbourne, AUST
Serving those seeking refugee status through friendship, accommodation, prayer, advocacy and welfare support. There is a special effort with East Timorese asylum seekers who also have a church plant.

Rainbow Community, Springvale, Melbourne, AUST
Serving those with life-issues including drug dependency and mental illness through a church-based movement called "Rainbow", food-back, support groups, detox, prisoner visitation and post-release, as well as accommodation.

Klong Toey slum, Bangkok, Thailand
Serving those facing urban poverty in Bangkok’s largest slum - Kong Toey. Rod Sheard has just joined the Barker’s for his orientation. They have hopes for an impact with people who have AIDS, drug dependency and a neighborhood-based ministry through new and existing ministries.

Burmese refugees, Springvale and Thai-Burma border
Serving refugees from Burma both in Springvale through refugee settlement, advocacy and political action as well as on the Thai-Burma border through relief and education.

Kelvin Grove, Springvale

Noble Park



Training
UNOH currently offers a range of training programs, seminars and retreats that aim to equip for ministry, aid in discernment and awaken a missionary heart for the poor. If you are interested in more details about any of the following, please email us.

Mission Exposure Course (9 days)
Discover Jesus’ heart for communities facing urban poverty. Learn about people from all over the world, right here in Melbourne. Experience nine days of immersion in the heart of Springvale. MEC exposes you to new cuisine, cultures and religions from our diverse community.

• Discover the power of PRESENCE in a community
• Experience PARTNERSHIPS that respond holistically to poverty
• See how DISCIPLESHIP can make radical disciples for Jesus
• Be part of a community that follows Jesus together in WORSHIP
• Tackle the needs for TEAM HEALTH in urban mission
• Learn about issues facing refugees and asylum seekers in Australia
• An optional additional ministry placement, personalized to each participant

Missio Deo (1 Month)
Where have I been and who has God shaped me to be? Where am I going? What is my special mission from God? Who can I go with? What mentors and communities do I need? Missio Deo is a discernment course for those interested in a vocation in mission.

Key Elements

• Two overnight retreats
• Three workshop gatherings with other discernees around discernment and prayer
• Three mentoring sessions with a UNOH worker
• A daily devotional plan for the month
• A ministry placement with UNOH (optional)

Companions of Hope (1 Year)
Companions of Hope is a community for those who want to grow in serving people the way Jesus does. They take seriously the spiritual, skills and lifestyle formation needed to start and sustain mission with the lost and poor. Companions of Hope is part of UNOH for people who are based in existing local churches, rather than the order itself. Common commitments are based around:

• scripture
• solidarity with the poor
• service with the poor

Bible College Placement
Placements can be organised for Bible College students. These would be completed in the context of Companions of Hope. There is a minimum requirement of 20hrs per week involvement.

Apprenticeship & Novitiate - 1 & 2 Year Programs
For the person who desires to take on the formation of a UNOH worker to the next level, this commitment will enable you to live as a UNOH worker to discover:

• if Jesus is calling you to follow Him as part of UNOH
• how you can embody the ethos of UNOH
• what unique ministry gifts you have to express as part of the broader Body of Christ

Annual Retreat
UNOH organizes an annual, week-end retreat - open to all- since 1993. These have been times of renewal and challenge and include times of prayer, reflection and workshops. Recent speakers have included, Mick Duncan, John and Deanna Hayes, Daryl Gardiner, Monte and Linda Ohia and various UNOH workers.

Speaking
UNOH offers it’s workers as speakers to help create awareness and participation in God’s concern for the urban poor. As UNOH is part of GO Alliance, resource workers John Hayes from the USA and Mick Duncan, from New Zealand, are - from time to time - also available.


Should you have any further questions please click here to email us.

For more information on Unoh go direct to their website here