You may ask what qualifies me to teach upon the subject of church leadership aboard cruise ships? Firstly, I was a seafarer for 7 years. By 1985 I had become a hopeless drunkard. In despair I attempted to take my own life while staying at a seamen’s mission in London. Six months after that episode I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior while kneeling in my cabin aboard the old Sun Princess. At 38 years of age, by God’s grace alone, I had received the promised new life (Romans 6:4). The next nine months were often difficult as there were no professing believers meeting on that ship. I stumbled often. After that time I went to study for four years at Alaska Bible College, an accredited, nondenominational mission outreach. In March 1990 my wife Ina and I married. Two months later I graduated with a BA degree in Missions. From there we began to serve seafarers at the new mission in Whittier, then from 1993 in Seward, and now in both ports. We believe that this is God’s calling for us. In 1999 I was ordained as a minister of the gospel in a nondenominational church in Anchorage. During these years God has blessed us with two wonderful children - Grace and William.
It is now nineteen years since I began to visit ships. One main question remains the same. How is it possible to establish the church aboard in a way that is acceptable to all of those of the ships company who truly believe? The following guidelines have been learned through the careful study of the scriptures and by applying them according to the circumstances that God has ordained.
Considering that all of the Christian Fellowships Aboard (CFA’s) are made up of believers from different denominational backgrounds, or new converts, the level of unity which exists must be attributed to the influence of God’s Holy Spirit. He has used the love and prayers of the faithful. Even so, he who is “as a roaring lion” is not standing idly by. “He walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8), and it is division that he will use to weaken the fellowships. Foundational to church unity is the understanding of the major biblical doctrine that it is by faith in Jesus Christ alone that we become Christians (John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9), and that all true believers are part of God’s wonderful family (John 1:12-13; Hebrews 2:10-11). “Love one another” Jesus tells us. As family members who love each other we avail ourselves of God’s power to defeat the schemes of the devil. But what does that mean in the context of life aboard? First and foremost it means being tolerant of how other true believers may understand the minor doctrines. It does not mean imposing our own interpretations and styles of worship upon others. It means agreeing to disagree upon arguable points, as should be the case in all loving families. None of us have all the answers, just as none of us are perfect. Paul deals with this very issue in Philippians 3:12-16. None of us should be so unbending in our understanding of Scripture that we are unwilling to adapt to the nondenominational outreach aboard that we are privileged to be part of. The style of services should not be extreme - one way or another. Believers will usually return to their own churches when their contracts are over, while new converts need to be taught the basics of a victorious life in Christ so as to prepare them for when they return home. Over the years we have seen leaders unfairly seek to push their own church’s doctrinal beliefs, practices and worship styles upon their shipmates. The more persistent of these have been:
The examples given above are not there to judge. They are there because these are the issues that we have seen cause division and discontent among the faithful. It is not the role of the fellowship leaders to change the congregation’s point of view, but to make it possible for them to have meaningful Christian fellowship, guidance and support during the long months of their contracts. Remember, the church aboard is not an extension of your denomination back home. To think otherwise would be very selfish and an offense before God. We need to wise and realize that the ministry at sea that God has given us must include all of the ship’s company who have been born of God (John 1:13).
When the Christian presence on board was just a couple of believers meeting in a cabin for Bible study and prayer, the leadership issue was quite simple. The leader was a man who had the courage to make an announcement for others to meet in his cabin. However, as these groups have grown the responsibilities of the leader have increased. The Bible studies have become fellowships, or more correctly, churches. Leaders are now faced with increasing pastoral, preaching and teaching responsibilities. Fellowships need to consider the broadening of their leadership. Paul directed Timothy and Titus to appoint elders (men) to help them meet the needs of the church. God used Moses’ father-in-law Jethro to advise him to get some help to minister to the needs of the people (Exodus 18). In fact he said it was “not good” for him to go it alone. Most fellowships that have begun to tackle this issue find that they are most comfortable with a senior elder; a man who is supported by a board of elders who can help him carry the load. The advantages of such a system are as follows:
Problems have arisen when leaders have appointed the one who is to take over from them. Personal doctrinal beliefs and preferences can often cloud good judgment. It is a good idea to appoint elders from among those men aboard who have served at some time in the past. It may then be appropriate for them to consider appointing others within the fellowship who fulfill the biblical requirements of elder. As time goes on it should be the responsibility of the elders to select who is to be the next senior elder. It is much healthier for such a body to make this decision.
Please remember that the above guidelines are ideals to be aimed for.
It is important to offer the whole congregation the opportunity to help by using their gifts to help build the fellowship/church (Ephesians 4:12).
Finally, let us know your prayer requests and please remember that this Mission is prepared to send to you, without cost, Bibles and quality nondenominational Christian materials to wherever you are in the world. Photographs and news of your fellowship group are always very much appreciated. Does the CFA an e-mail address? If you send us these things they will be shared with the other groups. These really help everyone to grasp the idea of one family working on different ships, as well as expanding the vision of the special mission God has given us all, “to bring the fragrance of Christ to the cruise ship industry”.
In Christ’s Love,
Rev. David Hawkins, Pastor/Director
Seward and Whittier Seaman’s Missions
Box 2742, Seward, AK 99664
Tel: (907) 224 8482
Cell: (907) 491 1709
E-mail: seamission@juno.com
Back to Home Page?