Maximum Impact

“We have a bigger impact in the smaller ports…” It is often noted that ship visits attract more publicity in smaller towns, and this is certainly true with the current Doulos visit to Japan. The ships are a major news item in smaller communities and this allows us even greater interaction with visitors. Logos II is soon to visit three small towns in the UK (Falmouth, St. Helier and Portland) and Paul has been helping promote these events. Here’s a sneak preview of the publicity before the ship has even arrived. Here 1 Here 2

The ‘M’ in OM

‘Bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world’ - OM Ships’ vision also includes motivating Christians to leave their comfort zone and step out in faith to serve God. Recently a group of young American students were invited to see Logos Hope in the shipyard and were deeply impacted. Here’s some feedback from one of the group’s mothers – What a delightful opportunity to get a tour of Logos Hope and hear of your mission. Many in the group are majoring in intercultural studies and desiring God’s will in their lives as to where he would have them serve. My daughter was among those traveling. This mom says thank you for showing them one more way God is using those who love Him to reach out to those around the world!

Not Always Plain Sailing

“Do you ever get seasick?” This is a question all those serving with the ships are asked. Being based on shore, there’s no waves to make us feel queasy now. However, there were times during the years we were on Doulos when the swells came, particularly when we were being chased by a typhoon in the South China Sea! Thanfully, most voyages are short smooth journeys around the coast, lasting less than 48 hours. The ships don’t spend much time at sea, so the crew can minister to people on land. Pray for all on board Logos II now as they face rough seas on an 11 day voyage from Albania to the UK.

OM Ships Alumni

With Nobby in Japan, Paul made a flying visit to Northern Ireland to visit friends. Churches there have sent many people to OM Ships and the mini reunion we had was a real highlight of the trip. Pictured next to Paul here are Andy and Laura Bleakely (N.Ireland/South Africa) with David and Lisette Williams (N.Ireland/Mauritius) – good friends from our time on board Doulos and further examples of the type of marriages only OM creates! Another highlight was watching the Northern Ireland ladies football team in action. Their anthem ‘We’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland’ is truly a classic!

Foreign Correspondence

There are few obvious connections between Egypt and Trinidad. However, citizens from both countries recently wrote to us following ship visits there. “Just wanted to let you know how much your Christian novels have been appreciated here, at such good prices,” wrote Rosemary from Trinidad. “I try to buy a lot when you visit our capital, to give to people who may not want to read more serious Christian literature, but will get the Gospel message through fiction. Please bring more next time you visit!!!!” Meanwhile Fahmy wrote from Egypt, recalling the 2005 Doulos visit: “I really like this ship and the very kind people there.”

Saying Goodbye In Style

At the ships office, there are always people coming and going. However, when one of the longer-serving team members is leaving Mosbach for good, we make a special effort to say farewell properly. No party is complete without food, so we all come together to eat a continental style breakfast in the office meeting room. After far too much to eat, the person leaving gives a speech and we pray for their future plans. Today we said farewell to Collette, who has been our receptionist for nearly two years. She will spend time with family and friends at her UK church before joining Logos Hope in January.

Make Yourself At Home…

Once a month, the OM Ships families here in Mosbach open their homes to the rest of us. These events have several aims – fellowship, an informal setting for prayer and chance for the mothers who don’t work in the office to stay connected with the team. We usually go to Andy & Irene Juliffs (a British/Swiss couple pictured here with their son Benny). Paul first met Andy while presenting the ministry around churches in the US back in 2001. Since then, we’ve kept in touch and it’s great to work together in Mosbach now. Paul and Andy also share that peculiar sense of humour the British are famous for!

Taking A Tour

Visitors to Doulos in Japan can satisfy their curiousity about ship’s life – by taking an official behind-the-scenes tour of the vessel. Demand for these has been strong, with a group setting off every ten minutes at peak times! Since there aren’t enough Japanese-speaking crew on board, several local Christian volunteers and ex-crew (including Nobby) are also serving as guides. The 45 minutes of the tour is an excellent for interaction and a good opportunity to explain more about the faith of those on board.

Öhringen Hears About OM Ships

Like many young people, Salomon wants a break before continuing his education. However, as a commited Christian, this he hopes to use the time to serve God. Earlier this year, Salomon applied to join Doulos and was accepted to begin this September. Having studied IT and worked in his father’s computing firm, his skills are very needed on board. To help Salomon’s church better understand what OM Ships are all about, Paul and Peter from OM Germany travelled to his home town of Öhringen and gave a 45 minute presentation in the Sunday service. The labourer is due his wages, and we then spent the rest of the day enjoying traditional German coffee and cake with Salomon’s family!

An Alliance For Albania?

Twenty years ago, Albania was a country closed to the outside world. Praise God that since then Doulos and now Logos II have visited.  This continued contact with OM Ships International is significantly raising the profile of the Albanian Church, very much considered a minority religion. Being associated with the educational and humanitarian work the crew are currently performing, local pastors are hoping for a breakthough they have long prayed for – official state recognition of the Christian Alliance. Please pray that God will use the ships to bring about such a long lasting and significant event.

Bremerhaven Beckons

After several weeks of uncertainty, the news is confirmed - Logos Hope will head to Bremerhaven once the ship leaves Trogir, Croatia. Until recently, plans were for the final outfitting phase to take place in Bremen City itself. However, when that option fell through a lot of prayers and effort went into finding an alternative location. God faithfully answered – not only is the outfit berth (pictured above) available for several months, space is also allocated for Logos II to come alongside. Praise Him too that Logos Hope can still head to Germany, and that the Bremerhaven port authorities are offering the space for free!

Morning Devotions

Hearing the Bible taught in a language you’re not fluent in isn’t fun. This is the situation we face each week when we go to our church here in Mosbach and while this helps us learn German, it’s not the best arrangement for our spiritual lives. Thankfully once a week we have a team devotions in the ships office, with different people taking turns to share a message that God has laid on their heart (in English!). Yesterday Paul spoke from John 21, asking the question of who was counting the 153 fish, why and what it means for our daily lives.

First Weekend in Fukuoka

“Busy!” This is the main news coming from Doulos after the ship’s opening weekend in Fukuoka. Over 6,000 people climbed on board over Saturday and Sunday – possibly setting a new record for visitor numbers in Japan. No doubt that public interest has been fueled by intense media coverage of the visit (which gives Paul memories of his time serving as the onboard Public Relations Officer). Among others, Doulos has already been featured on the national NHK TV channel. Nobby has also been busy, giving tours of the vessel to the visiting public. All in all, praise God for the great beginning!

Service in the Sun

Nobby timed her arrival in Japan so she could attend our church in Tokyo. However, what she didn’t realise is that particular Sunday is the one time a year the service is held outside in a park! Fortunately we found out in time and Nobby could still go and catch up with our friends and supporters there. She has now left Tokyo and caught up with Doulos in Fukuoka. Over the coming weeks she’ll be giving tours of the vessel to the public, explaining what life on board is like and what the crew believe. Paul will arrive in Japan at the beginning of June.

Saints of the Ship Ministry (2)

MIKE & CAROL ANN POYNOR – In the Beginning, or just slightly after, Mike and Carol Ann joined the original OM ship Logos in the 1970’s. Their involvement with the ministry has continued since that day. In many ways, Mike and Carol Ann were pioneers, helping establish the ship’s office in Mosbach from the time it became obvious an onshore base was needed. As a qualified Chief Engineer, Mike has returned to the ships many times, helping lead the dry dock maintenance times. Carol Ann continues to work in the Communications Department here and organise events for our team. Here they are pictured at Mike’s 65th birthday celebration. Thankfully they’re not stepping down just yet – we still really need them!

One Visitor’s View

Imagine visiting a place of unity and harmony… What would it be like to be in an environment wholly sustained by love, respect and community values? Life on board an OM ship isn’t quite that perfect, but those who visit for a short time are often struck by the warm and friendly atmosphere they find. In such a setting, Christians are encouraged to persevere in their faith and make a difference in the lives of people around them. Meanwhile, non-believers experience God’s love in a deeper and more real way than they ever thought possible. Read one visitor’s experience of stepping on board Doulos here.

Doulos Due In Japan

Crowds stood on the Taiwan quayside, waving farewell to Doulos. Now the ship is at sea, heading to Japan and expected to arrive in Fukuoka on Friday. That’s the same day Nobby will fly there to help translate many of the activites taking place on board. Some details of the visit are still unconfirmed, even at this last stage. Pray that complications surrounding the vessel’s insurance paperwork and communication systems can be solved. Pray too that the crew’s immigration will go smoothly. Doulos will then visit Kanazawa, where the OM Japan office is (24 May – 5 June) and Niigata (6 – 19 June).

Integration Course Ends

Nobby’s German course started eight months ago – and it ends today! Unfortunately for her it finishes with a large test that she has studied very hard for during her freetime. However, being on the course was a real blessing for several reasons. Firstly, the lessons took place in a school just behind the OM offices and within easy walking distance. Second, the government here paid most of the costs for her to attend (since she is a non-EU citizen now with right of residency in Germany). Finally, Nobby has made several good friends through the course. Oh… and her German’s a lot better now too!

One Worthwhile Week

‘Mo’ is looking for the next step. Along with 28 others, this young German has just finished a week long introduction to mission seminar here at the OM Mosbach office. On the first day of the event, Paul presented a session about serving on board the ships and Mo began wondering if that was God’s plan for him. Over the week he thought and prayed about what he had heard about the ships and in all the other meetings. By Friday evening he was in Paul’s office asking very specific details about joining Doulos! Pray that God will open the doors for this young man to join the ship this September!

Busy To The End

The Doulos visit to Taiwan ends this weekend – and what a visit it’s been! Close to quarter of a million people have been on board, roughly equal to 1% of the country’s population in just two months. Both educational and Christian literature from the ship’s book fair have flown off the shelves. Local churches have also played a large part in organising behind the scenes details – let’s pray they reap a harvest after the ship has left port. Even the small OM office on the island is expecting a huge increase in applications from people wanting to serve in international mission. All in all, much to praise God for!

Last Dry Dock Done!

Full ahead for Logos Hope! Currently under renovation in a Croatian shipyard, OM’s latest vessel has just completed the final dry dock of the project. Furthermore, the new onboard galley is now complete and over 30 people are staying in the ship’s refurbished accommodation. All of which leads us to believe that the time Logos Hope will leave Trogir Shipyard is close at hand. There are also very positive leads for an available berth in North Germany the ship can use afterwards, when supplies and material will be transferred from Logos II. Through prayer, the dream is becoming reality!

Personnel People

Pictured here are the ‘behind-the-scenes’ personnel team of OM Ships (the department Nobby works in). Staff issues are a major part of every organisation – with OM even more so! Firstly, most people serve for a two-year period, so there is a high turnover rate. Secondly, those with the ships come from many different nationalities, cultural backgrounds and first languages. Finally, everyone is a volunteer! All in all that makes the work of the personnel department very challenging. Since the people God brings us are our most precious resources, please pray for the team looking after them.