Port:Harmac West
Crew: 22 Filipino
Names of Ship Missionaries: Gary & Gina Steele, Gerard Guimbatan
Result: 9 gathered to hear the gospel
Items taken on & given out: 1 bag of clothes, 22 gifts, 22 10 Commandment coins, approximately 70 gospel tracts
We met Gerard at the front gate and after checking through security we walked through the mill and checked through two more security stations. All security personnel were very friendly. The deck security took us up to the crew mess where we introduced ourselves, unpacked our bags and sat down.
They invited us to have dinner with them so we did and so we joined them with good conversations while we ate. Afterwards we asked if they would page other crew to join us and so we had 9 attend. They are always attentive to our message because it’s new to them. As Catholics they don’t hear the gospel of salvation as a free gift, as they are taught a works-based salvation, among other errors from the Catholic Church.
We began our presentation with John 14:6, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” This verse is a shock to them because they are taught that God is “indifferent” to them and that they need a mediator, Mary, to intercede for them. On top of that, they are in a system where the Pope is said to be the “holy father” as well as the head of the church, and the vicar of Christ (putting himself in the place of God the Father, subverting Jesus as the head of the church, and posing as the Holy Spirit as well). Needless to say, there are a lot of road-blocks in the way of our message getting through to them. But we present the gospel and give our testimonies and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
Afterwards we prayed a salvation prayer with them to hopefully start them on the road to true salvation. We prayed for their protection on the ship and safety as they work. They thanked us for visiting us. They were leaving in about 1 hour for a last voyage to Asia and then the ship will be sent to India to be scrapped.
Please pray that they will read the materials in their gift bags and that the Holy Spirit will minister to them. We thank God for such a good visit with this crew.
Report submitted by: Gary
