These men are members of "Church on the Ocean", literally!
They are crew members on board the MV CMA CMM Marlin where every Sunday evening, they gather for Bible study and prayer. The second person on the left is Matthew who leads the Bible studies. He is a man who truly loves the Lord Jesus and is very much committed to the work of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
What's so exciting about meeting Matthew and crew is that they are part of a growing movement that have Bible studies on board their ships. Contributing to this exciting development is the Seamen's Christian Friend Society which is based in Manila - Philippines. They offer a four day training course for Philippino seafarers when they are at home on leave. Listen to the testimony of a sailor who took the course, "I was very much blessed by attending the course CHURCH ON THE OCEAN. I experienced a lot of joy and was refreshed by the Lord. My desire to lead others to Christ in fulfillment of 'The Great Commission' increased. It is very important for every Christian on board to learn continually, to get more equipped, to grow spiritually and to strengthen the personal relationship with Jesus. This training course was a big help to me."
We did not have much time to talk because right after lunch they all had to go back to work. We did however, pray together and thanked God for his incredible goodness in Christ Jesus.......
The "Gates of Hell" cannot prevail against Christ's Church, even the "Church on the Ocean."