Inviting the world to the table

This Christmas, as you sit around a table with guests, family and friends, sharing food, stories and celebration, crew on board are doing the exact same thing.

Excitingly, throughout the year, the unique context of Logos Hope’s and Doulos Hope’s floating dining rooms often present amazing opportunity to invite the world to these tables. Not only for food, but also for conversation. 

Recently in Tema, Ghana, our Logos Hope crew experienced how a simple invitation to the table made a life changing difference.
 

Seeking opportunity
In each port, a passionate group of crew personally seek the opportunity to share God’s love with seafarers on ships docked nearby. These ‘ship to ship’ connections aim to inspire and encourage seafarers amid their intense working conditions, offering them life-changing hope.

Oftentimes, Logos Hope crewmembers walk up the gangways of these ships not knowing what to expect. The experience is different every time, but often fruitful. Sometimes, crew from other ships even end up visiting the bookfair or remaining in touch with Logos Hope crew after the ship leaves the country.

On one occasion, when crewmember Lawrence (UK) was leaving the port, he met a group of truck drivers. Though he had originally intended to go to other ships to connect with their crews, God had other plans. Most of the men he encountered were from a country in the Sahel region of Africa. They were primarily French speaking and from another faith background. Lawrence, who also speaks French, shared with them and was inspired by the attentiveness and eagerness in their hearts. 

Alongside another crewmember, Fidelis (Cameroon), Lawrence returned to talk to the truck drivers many times and gave them French Bibles. 

“Every day they would come to the ship and sit with [Lawrence and Fidelis] around the table to do a Bible study together. Not just on one night, but several nights. They came for dinner and they just shared with them. They were so excited,” shared crewmember Jari (Netherlands).
 

Building a lasting connection
Together, around a table and over meals, they studied the Gospel of John, learning more about who Jesus is. What could have very easily been a one-time interaction, turned into real relationships. Now, one of the drivers is seeking to join the ship. 

“God works through the very little things... Being around the table with them, it gives the room an atmosphere to connect... We really love to invite [people] here to sit around a table to just connect. I think that is very beautiful to do,” Jari finished. 

You can join us at the table! 
Give thanks with us for these opportunities to make Him known! 

You can be part of inviting more people to the table this Christmas, alongside crewmembers like Lawrence and Fidelis too! To donate to OM’s Ship Ministry today, click here.

Thank you for your support!