Crossing the Ocean in a boat

Jan 31

        What’s up friends and family? I haven’t written anything the past few days, and figure since I am literally in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, now might be as good a time as ever for me to share some stories and thoughts about my experiences. 
        One of my major concerns, and therefore prayers, over the past year was that I would be blessed to have a community of believers aboard the ship and that my walk with Christ would not falter despite being removed from Cru, church and my friends and family back home.  I have been recognizing how incredibly blessed I have been in my life to have had family enlightened with the Truth, friends in CP that kept me accountable and encouraged me in my walk, and the wisdom that certain individuals from Cru have imparted into my life.  Not surprisingly, God has so far answered my prayers for fellowship aboard the ship in a huge way.  Last night we had our second worship service, with about 30-40 people attending both times.  I was blown away that despite a lack of leadership from staff and adults, a confusing set of procedures and rules for reserving a room, and the fact that none of these people knew one another just weeks ago, we stood in fellowship, worshiping and praising a living God. 
        I think it was the second night on the ship (about three weeks, a few thousand miles and a couple different countries ago) that there was an interest meeting for those wanting to pursue religious services.  Of the roughly 50 people in the room about half said they were looking for Christian services.  The ship has a staff person designated as the coordinator for religious and spiritual services, but he happens to be Hindu and gay, so leadership for a Christian service was clearly going to come from someone else.  I volunteered my name as someone who would be willing to help lead a bible study or prayer group, since I have had some experience in those things during my time at UMD, and expected more information would be distributed in the next few days about meeting times and such. About a week passed with no further notice about Christian services, so I decided to email the coordinator and again volunteer to help set something up.  I had already met a bunch of other believers on the ship who had expressed a desire to formally fellowship together.  Next thing I knew, I was given the responsibility, or perhaps volunteered into the task, of reserving a room, getting together guitarists and singers, emailing everyone who had indicated an interest in a service and coordinating the various aspects of planning and running our service.  Of course, this all happened in about two days time, and just before we arrived in Brazil, we had our first Fellowship @ Sea (we had to pick a club name to go on the room reservation form, and fortunately someone suggested Fellowship @ Sea, otherwise we might be known as the “Christian Club.”  I wasn’t feeling too creative when it came time for names.)
        Although our first service didn’t run perfectly, and we fumbled over some song lyrics, and I had to play the guitar and lead singing for a couple of songs (yikes) and we had it planned out on the back of a napkin, which I lost before the service, it was organic and raw.  Stripped of the conveniences and luxuries of church buildings, power points, ministers, Internet resources and experienced leadership we worshipped the Lord passionately as a body of believers.  It was a very authentic “church” experience and I couldn’t help but feel like some of the early believers that are described in Acts.  Last night we had our second service, and again the presence of the Holy Spirit was apparent in the room we were in.  I think it can be liberating to strip to the necessities of worship; namely a humble and giving heart, and a reverential awe of Christ’s love.  I had asked a student to share a message about her life and was blown away by the manner in which she boldly and humbly articulated the power the Gospel had in her life and encouraged us to daily be vulnerable and broken, ready to receive God’s grace and mercy. 
        I have also had the blessing of meeting with my friend Jim for about an hour every other day to pray for and encourage each other in our walks.  Jim is a new believer, but passionately pursues Christ.  Our times have been mutually encouraging and a blessing, and we certainly plan on continuing to meet together one on one.  Andrew Briggs, who I think I mentioned in an earlier post, has been an invaluable resource and answer to prayer as far as an older believer being able to share wisdom into my life.  Briggs, like my self, is a thinker, and has been able to beautifully articulate some of my thoughts/concerns about the evangelical church in America.  It has been incredibly refreshing to hear something different than Cru’s “pressure” to have a high volume of
“converts” when in reality, I have no idea what it even looks like to be “converted.”  Briggs has been especially valuable in describing a missional (if that is a word) approach to career and life, while not strictly labeling oneself a missionary.  I am beginning to better understand the tension that exists between 100% service projects and 100% evangelical endeavors.  I am sure that, on a case-by-case basis, there exists a harmonious relationship between providing for an underprivileged area’s earthly needs (clean water, education, health etc...) with their needs for a Savior.
        In other non-spiritual news, the water on the ship has been poisonously bad tasting the past few days, and I have been required to buy whatever Gatorades and sodas remain at the ship’s bar just so I can stay hydrated.  However, the Atlantic Ocean is absolutely gorgeous and the waves have been mild at worse (at least so far).  Day to day is pretty busy for me, but does include naps since I wake up early every morning to meet with people for breakfast and for classes.  I work two hours each day, but of that time maybe 10 minutes are actually spent working and the rest spent stealing music from the ship’s 50,000 song library, playing chess with the Ukrainian AV staff person, and talking to my coworkers.  Classes are easy, and it is so different actually having relationships with my professors and knowing them on a first name basis.  The other day I was “adopted” into my extended family for the ship.  My “grandparents” are a nice older couple from Canada named Melody and Dr. Bob and my “siblings” are three other girls.  Once again I am the only guy in a group, but I know two of the other girls pretty well, and I think it will be a good “family.”  On Thursday, we have the Sea Olympics, which means no class.  I think I am competing in the tug-of-war and possibly trivia competitions.  More on that to come.  Hope everyone is doing well back home.

Peace and Love,
-Ben