Alaska Seaman`s Mission Newsletter

Newsletter of the Alaska Christian Ministry to Seafarers (ACMS)
April 2015
THE ANCHOR
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19
Mission Statement
The mission of the Alaska Christian
Ministry to Seafarers is to establish and
maintain a ministry of service to the
seafarers calling on Alaska ports. This
includes ministry to their physical,
emotional and spiritual needs consistent
with the Word of God as taught in the
Bible and revealed in Jesus Christ
through His life and the Holy Spirit.
ACMS is a non-profit corporation run by
a board of volunteer directors. All
directors and volunteers of the
organization shall be eligible to serve if
they know the Lord Jesus Christ as their
personal Savior and are active in a local
church body. Volunteers come from
churches world-wide. Members of the
board are Richard Cederberg, Joe
Seale, Karl Bengtson, Jim Chamberlain,
Dean Diller, Ron Tan and George
Reichman. Scott Johnson is the director
of the missions in Seward and Whittier.
Seward Seaman’s Mission
Scott Johnson
Box 2742
Seward, AK 99664
phone or fax: (907) 224-8482
E-mail: [email protected]
Anchorage Contact:
Joe and Jeannette Seale
P.O. Box 143316 Anchorage, AK
99514-3316 (907) 338-1425
E-mail: [email protected]
Our Website:
www.seamission.org
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/akseamission
Please Pray for Us
by Scott Johnson
“Finally, brethren, pray for us,
that the word of the Lord may
run swiftly and be glorified, just
as it is with you, and that we
may be delivered from
unreasonable and wicked men;
for not all have faith. But the
Lord is faithful, who will
establish you and
guard you from the evil one.”
2 Thessalonians 3:1-3
As you read our Anchor today, we are finishing final preparations for
the 2015 cruise ship season. Cruise ships will sail into Anchorage,
Whittier and Seward from May 6 to September 16. Collectively, we
will love seafarers by visiting one hundred plus ships, driving
thousands of miles, baking thousands of cookies, pouring hundreds of
gallons of coffee, greeting and serving thousands of men and women
from dozens of distinct countries and initiating thousands of
conversations from such vast subjects as divorce, navigation, India
politics, Filipino boxing, demon possession, child rearing, salvation,
church and grizzly bears. Collectively, we will initiate the love of Jesus
Christ with every single one of them. Some will see Jesus’ love in our
hearts as we greet them with a smile at the door. Some will hear His
love as we ask how we may serve them or inquire about their family.
Some will know the love of Jesus when they respond to the gospel of
grace and believe in Him as their Savior. With this stated, we covet
your prayer support throughout the long summer months. The Apostle
Paul gave out an urgent appeal for prayer in the above Scripture –
“Brethren, pray for us!” I, as the director of the mission, also send out
an urgent appeal to you - “PLEASE PRAY FOR US!” We need your
prayer support desperately. As in Paul’s days, we desire that the Word
of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ would “run swiftly and be
glorified” through our ministering to the seafarers. Also, we need
deliverance from “unreasonable and wicked men” who are energized
and led by Satan, who desires to thwart the work of our Lord in any
way possible. We too have an internal flesh which can discourage us
when difficulties arise in the ministry or bring us to self-boasting when
God’s work flourishes. Your personal, individual and regular prayers
can make a monumental difference in our ministering to the needy
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Newsletter of the Alaska Christian Ministry to Seafarers (ACMS)
Quotes
Oh to be known as a mission that lifts up and
magnifies the name of Jesus!!
Thank you for spending time with me and telling
me about your family. I saw the facets on the
diamond of your heart. Unknown
One does remember well some of the people
one met while at sea. I finished at sea 14 years
ago. UK
Words cannot express how grateful I am for you
not forgetting me. Since I resigned from the
ships, I soak myself in faith in God and surrender
everything to Him. Phil
So often we murmur away our blessings. Jamaica
It’s been a home for most of us. It’s the place of
so much peace. The mission helped us to feel at
home and helps us connect with our families.
From my heart, I would like to thank you all for
making us feel that we are part of your family
and thank you all for spreading the word of God
and sharing kindness to us all. I’ll keep this good
memory forever . For the most of us you’ve
helped, and enlightened.. We’ll try to do our part
to share what you’ve taught us..to share the word
of God and the promise of “salvation.”
I only want to know the truth and when I find it, I
will follow it! Indonesia
As the head of my family I want to thank you for
leading me and my household to Christ.
Philippines
My mother tried to teach me about God, but I
wouldn’t listen. I knew there was something
wrong on the inside and today I was born-again
in Christ at the mission! Philippines
I want to tell you I thought about that amazing
story every day these last two weeks! Indonesia
I am very fortunate to meet you and see that
there are people being used for God's very
purpose and how without any expectation doing
the God's ministry showing the love to the
seafarers. Hope many seafarers give this a very
serious thought, for why you are doing so
selflessly. Captain India
I’m looking for the truth Honduras
I’m alive! Philippines, after receiving Christ
This is shocking. India
Tell me more. Philippines
I have to make up my own mind. Indonesia
I’ll talk to you again. Philippines
Can you imagine if you keep preaching this, how
many spirits will be saved? unknown
April 2015
seafarers. In advance, I say, “Thank you for praying!” No matter what
takes place this summer, let us all remember that the “Lord is faithful.”
He will provide grace, mercy, forgiveness, strength, wisdom, words,
finances, safety, open doors, loving volunteers, and a host of other
blessings so that we can fulfill His “good and acceptable and perfect
will.” To Him be the honor and glory forever and ever, Amen!
The Story Changes but the Results are Always
the Same! by Jeannette Seale
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21
Every summer I talk to at least
one crew member from Asia or
India who has been affected by
a dream, voice, or vision that
we here in the West usually
dismiss. I am very thankful
they respond positively to Jesus
Christ because of these
dreams. One young Indian
man was thrilled to not only
find books in his own language
to read, but to sit down and tell me how he had come to trust Christ as
his Savior. It seems that Ganesh had been in trouble for many years
with drinking, drugs, stealing, and in continual trouble with the police.
He and his family had become desperate for a change in his life. In his
own words:
"A devil catch me and I go to every Hindu god to get help, but
nothing help me. My family was very angry with me and afraid. My
grandma had a dream and in this dream she heard a voice. 'You are
not turning to me and that is why your grandson is in trouble,' the
voice said. She asked the neighbors 'Who is this speaking to me?'
They told her it was Jesus.They told her to go to church and talk to
the pastor but she did not go. She told me about this voice and
dream. I went to church and Jesus made me a new person. Jesus
changed my life and I cut all the strings from my wrist. (Hindus wear
bracelets of many threads, called kalava, for protection and a symbol
of unity among Hindus) I am not in trouble now, I am a Christian, but
my grandma does not yet follow Jesus. I talk to her about Jesus but
she does not believe. I read my Bible, I go to the Christian group
here in the ship. May I sit and learn more about Jesus with you?"
After that day he would see Scott in the mess and he just soaked up
every word that Scott shared with him.
His Heart is Not Here
by Jennette Seale
Like a bird that strays from its nest, is a man who strays from his home.
Proverbs 27:8
Springtime in Alaska means cargo ships return to Anchorage bringing a
cargo of bulk cement. Loading in South Korea is accomplished in just
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Newsletter of the Alaska Christian Ministry to Seafarers (ACMS)
April 2015
a few days, but the discharging here with a small diameter hose takes much longer, usually a minimum of 14 days.
This gives us the opportunity to get to know the crew over a period of time.
For a man whose contract at sea has almost finished, his thoughts turn more and more toward home. It is difficult
for him to concentrate on his job. A Chinese Chief Engineer wanted to go shopping because his 18 year old
daughter was just entering college. He wanted her to have all the right supplies to take with her. This man's mind
was very preoccupied with going home, so much so that he even forgot to tell the Captain the message I had sent
along with him.
The Chief Engineer had not passed on the message, but the Captain's simple reply was,"He is going home soon,
his heart is not here." I had sensed that myself just the day before!
We were able to share Christ with the Captain, the Chief Engineer, and three crew members with local Chinese
Christians coming with us to translate. Our topic was Easter since they had just experienced closed stores on one
of the few days they had to shop! We used ancient Chinese characters to explain the gospel via our translator. Just
as we started, the Chief Engineer left the room and brought back his camera. He began taking a video of the entire
presentation! The five men sat in rapt attention while they heard each sentence in English and then Chinese. It was
the first time there had ever been a Chinese church service on this Captain's ship and it was the first time four of
the five had ever heard the gospel message! As we finished up with more singing and his camera still rolling, I
thought of his daughter and wife back home, who will sit and listen to this service soon after he gets home! God
grows his church in many ways, even through a man whose heart is "not here" at the moment.
God’s “One Another” Grace
by Scott Johnson
My grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Our God Almighty designed for His children a means for success, regardless of their present difficulty or
circumstance. His “means for success” is His exceedingly abundant grace. (1Timothy 1:14) God’s grace was
sufficient for Noah to build an ark and preach for 120 years, for Moses during 40 years in the wilderness, for
Joseph to endure 10+ years of slavery with imprisonment and for Elijah during 3.5 years without rain. Moreover,
His grace IS SUFFICIENT for every Christian aboard a cruise ship during a 9 to 10 month contract, even when
being 10,000 miles from home, family and local church. How does He provide sufficient grace? Well, He
personally resides with each of His children (Deuteronomy 31:8), His living Word stands available each second,
His throne of grace is accessible morning, noon and night for prayer (Hebrews 4:12, 16), and among many others,
He gives “one anothers” on board each ship. In the New Testament pages, the phrase “one another” radiates as a
grace provision to assist His children in fulfilling His good and acceptable and perfect will. For a reminder, think
of “love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1Peter 1:22) or “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law
of Christ” (Gal. 6:2) or “praying for one another.” (James 5:16) At sea, the Christian fellowship onboard becomes
God’s grace provision for the “one another”. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasizes the vital
importance of gathering together for mutual edification and spiritual stimulation unto love and good works.
Gathering on board is vital for a seafarer’s spiritual success. The fellowships worship together, pray for one
another, teach the Word of God and encourage one another. When visiting the ships or in the mission, we
prayerfully encourage the Christian fellowships with sound Biblical materials, prayer, counsel, teaching, music,
evangelistic booklets, and “one another” fellowship. We know that the spiritual success for many Christians at sea
is determined by their Christian fellowship, so we make great efforts to encourage gathering, organization, unity,
leadership, worship and teaching. Last summer, many leaders sat down with me at the mission or on the ship to
discuss and pray about their fellowship and how it could be improved to more effectively serve one another. This
summer, we pray and trust that the hand of the Lord will use us again by His grace to encourage the Christian
fellowships and their leaders.
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Newsletter of the Alaska Christian Ministry to Seafarers (ACMS)
“Can you Help me Please?”
April 2015
by Jeannette Seale
"When the cares of my heart are many, thy consolations cheer my soul." Psalm 94:19
The call came from the ship unloading cement. A compassionate sailor called to ask me to help his friend who
was sorrowing over his mother's death. The ship had been en route from Korea to Alaska when the young man's
mother had died, and her funeral was the day they arrived in Anchorage. They asked me if they could go to church
somewhere. I gladly picked them up from the ship, but I pondered how I could really help or what I could say.
Thankfully the church was still unlocked when we arrived and he seemed happy to sit in one of the back pews to
pray. Later I was able to express my condolences and he seemed relieved to be able to tell someone about his
mother's 15 year illness. It is at a time like this when I am hit anew with the difficult job of the seafarer, being
away at all the tragic times. I know he felt so helpless, not able to be home and really not able to concentrate on
his job either. There had been a very serious accident on the ship the afternoon before, and it could have been
related to inattention to his job very easily. I thanked the Lord that no one had been injured.
Words just don't help at a time like this. To take them to the church and to express sympathy seemed like such a
trite response. I pray that this experience will be preparation for me to help future heart broken seafarers.
I work on a cruise ship!
by Scott Johnson
“For God is not willing that any should perish!” 2 Peter 3:9
I had taught Romans chapters 1-5 for most of the day in the Philippine heat at a church some two hours north of
Manila. The day light was fading in the western sky when my wife, Beth, and I finally were able to go for a walk
around the housing area. While working our way along the streets, we greeted the few individuals with “Hello!”
On one street we could see a lit cigarette being puffed outside a house up ahead. As we approached, I tossed out
a little nonchalant, “Hello!” The young man immediately greeted us with a bit of enthusiasm in his voice that told
me he wanted to talk with us. We paused from our walk, and for the next twenty minutes, we talked of many
things including his trying to stop smoking, his duck farm, his spotting me riding bikes with our host pastor and his
playing basketball with the pastor. Toward the end of our talk, I mentioned that I was teaching the Bible at the
pastor’s church and then asked him if he had read the Bible. Many times, God gives us an open door to transition
the conversation from the physical to the eternal, if we are watching and initiating. Tonight the door was open.
Our host pastor had given him some tracts and they had talked, but he had never read the Bible. I shared the
gospel of Jesus Christ with him again on the street and mentioned that I worked as a pastor and director of a
seaman’s mission in Alaska. He burst out with an enthusiastic announcement, “I work on a cruise ship and I will
be in Alaska this summer!” This very man whom God had brought across our path would be in Seward in less than
two months. Wow! What an amazing God we serve! He brought us together in such a unique way for our host
pastor had not spoken to him since he had become a seafarer.
Two months later God worked again. As I walked through the crew mess on the first day his ship was in Seward, I
greeted a man as he sat at a table with three women. He was all smiles and we talked a bit until he said, “You
don’t remember me, do you?” When he told me who he was, I was astounded. God had brought us together
again. He could not come to the mission, but I spoke with him for several minutes after the ladies left. He had
received the booklets we had left for him in the Philippines, but he had no knowledge of his personal salvation. I
watched for and asked about him all summer, but he was always working nights. Why Lord? Such an amazing
coordination to meet him twice and yet all summer no rendezvous? On the last day his ship was in port, our paths
crossed early in the day. He asked if I could take him to the mission. I could go back at 1:00 pm, but that was too
late as he worked at 2:00 pm. So judging that it was God’s will, I left the ship and went back to the mission at 10
am. He spent the next three hours talking to Beth and Cheryl at the Mission. Before returning to the ship, he
understood that his performance and good works meant nothing compared to the completed work of Jesus Christ
on the cross. Therefore in the basement of the Mission, he believed in Jesus who had died for his sins and rose
again! Amazing! From a street corner in the Philippines, to the port of Seward, to the crew mess, to the mission,
and then all the way to be seated with Christ in heaven!
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