CHURCH ON THE OCEAN # 2

On Good Friday evening I was working in the Mission at Roberts Bank. It was a very busy evening. Many seafarers were  making  phone calls and e-mailing their relatives at home. I noticed one older man among the crowd and I asked him whether he was the captain. " Yes ", he said, " I am the captain of the MV Bulk Monaco ".   I noticed that beside his chair were two plastic bags with bibles. He explained that he is leading a bible study on board ship and he needed some extra bibles. Then I asked him how many men attended the bible study. " All crew members ", he said, with a big smile on his face!  From our further conversation, I understood that he would really appreciate some additional study materials. The next day, armed with a load of  books, commentaries, bible studies and a study bible, I climbed the gangway to the MV Bulk Monaco. Both captain and crew were very thankful.

During lunch he told me that he is a member of a Pentecostal church in Manilla which is  called the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ in the Fourth Watch. " Interesting name," I said, "especially the last two words - the Fourth Watch.   Does 'the fourth watch' mean that you believe the Lord Jesus will return soon?" I asked. " Yes," he said,  "because people are buying more Bibles in the Philippines, (his native country) than I have ever seen before. There is a hunger for the Word of God."  I shared with him that I had also noticed an increase in the amount of Tagalog bibles which Philipino sailors were taking from the Mission to their ships.  

Moments like this are always praise-worthy and encouraging.  A special "Thank You' to all the churches and individuals who contribute to the ' Literature Fund ' of this Ministry for helping seafarers such as these in their spiritual needs........Tomorrow is resurrection Sunday. Praise the Lord!

P.S. The third person on the right is the captain.