A New Song

Last Thursday we prayed for Koege. Several visited a local church and asked God for a new song of salvation to fill hearts in the city.

Isaiah 12:2Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

Last weekend 150 people from the ship participated in various ministry projects in Denmark.

Update

We had a good day in Copenhagen yesterday with a group of people who seek to be salt and light in the market place. It was refreshing to catch their vision.

We are still in Koege, Denmark. Much of the outfit works has been completed. Our main focus in preparing the ship is on some engineering works that need to be completed before we can get the Passneger Ship Safety Certificate.

At the same time we focus on the training for the crew and ministry involvment in Denmark. eams have been abel to work with local projects among needy people in the country.

We thank God for His leading in our lives n this journey.

Check out the latest news on the Logos Hope Site: www.logoshope.org

Mike & Ann

Insight on leadership

Here is my leadership thought this week.

In leadership we help release people to grow in capacity for God’s glory.


“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Rev 1:5 – 6

We are working with kingdom priests! WOW! They have been released from sin by His blood. They have awesome capacity!

In leadership we can easily hold people captive through wrong assumptions and a control approach that communicates our lack of trust or personal insecurity. We need empowered teams free to go beyond our personal capacity. They need kingdom perspective, space to exercise their gifts, encouragement, coaching and appropriate accountability that builds for growth.

Blessings,

Mike

Update

On the 19th July we will have an engagement party for Michelle and Dan. We thank God for the way that he has led them and for the passion that they have for Him.

This is our last week in Australia. We have been encouraged and refreshed by the ministry together with the Church. Our passion is to see the Vision of Christ's presence transform lives. We see this happening in the local church.

Logos Hope in Dry Dock

In Dry Dock

In Australia

It has been very encouraging to return to Australia and connect with friends and church for a few weeks. Mike will be speaking at Clovercrest Baptist church this weekend. We ask that we will have words of encouragement and challenge from the word.

The Logos Hope has now moved to Denmark. The project work continues. Pray for the community on board as they serve to prepare the vessel for future ministry.

The Generator is in and work will continie for the next 6 to 8 weeks to complete the installation.

Our goal is to obtain the passenger ship safety certificate by August. Keep praying for the needed workers and finance.

Update

It has been some time since we updated our blog site. The Logos Hope has left Kiel. Teams are working in countries around Europe. Work continues to progress on board. The Logos Hope is in Landskroner, Sweden. They ship goes into drydock on the 12th or 13th of June. Pray for the engineers as the work witht he ship yard to install the reconditioned generator.

We will be in Australia next week. Pray that our time will be na encouragement to many.

Hopefest

The Logos Hope experience deck was filled with people. In the evening we enjoyed a time of celebration, thanksgiving and reports on the time in Kiel.

Update

Last Monday we had a youth event on board. Of the 80 people attending 60 knelt in prayer to make their lives available to make a difference in the nations.

This weekend we open the ship to the public in Kiel for a time of celebration and thanksgiving for the last few months. There is a great sense of excitment on board.

In Denmark

We spent last weekend in Copenhagan. Praise God for the opportunity to share about the Logos Hope and to bring a word of encouragement to some churches. We hope to have the ship in Koge, Denmark by mid June.

Training

Everyone who joins the Logos Hope needs to go through basic safety training. Last week several leaders completed a course and the ship is now approved as a venue for training.

Deck 4

The work on the flooring for deck 4 is progressing. Millions of people will walk through this area.

Ann's Birthday

Praise God for a very special day together. Thank you for all the notes that you sent

Mike, Ann and Hilde (captain's wife) giving greetings through a video link to a meeting at the COVE, which is Billy Graham's centre in the US.

Update

This week we celebrated Ann's 50th birthday. The ship's community enjoyed a good curry on the day, Thursday, 17th April. On Wednesday we had a relaxed evening with about 50 others to share appreciation for Ann and to reflect on the investment of her life.

Work is progressing in the dining room. We now eat in the Logos Lounge which is our usual meeting place for the community. By the end of the month we hope to be back in a completed lounge.

The flooring on deck looks great. The Book fair area is now completed. This is the experience deck where we hope to see millions of people walk in the years ahead.

On Monday, Mike will go to Mosbach for some leadership meetings. Then on Wednesday next week we will travel to Denmark for some ministry with OM there.

Update

Today officials from the Malta Marine Authority and Faroes marine Authority will spend time on board to assess the Logos Hope as a Training Venue for Basic Safety Training.

Tonight we meet in our ship family groups for an interactive time to talk about health and growth in community life.

On Wednesday, Marcus Chack will be with us from India. He will share about the work among Dalits.

On Saturday we will have our first Men's breakfast on board. Pray that the message will touch many hearts.

Update

Last night another 200 youth filled the Logos Lounge. After a simple good news message 20 came forward for prayer. We continue to ask for lives to be tranformed and for the message of forgiveness, Love and Hope to restore the walls of truth in a generation gripped by lies.

For those who wanted a more recent photo - December 2007

Update

Last night we had a celebration to look back over the last few years and to see God's faithfulness in the project. It was on March 29th in 2004 during a day of prayer that we decided to purchase the Norrona 1. Today, we have a community of 360 on board from over 40 nations. Volunteers from around the world continue to join us. We have 116 project workers on baord today. Work is being done on the flooring of Deck 4. This is the main experience deck for visitors to the ship. The Staff lounge on deck 7 is taking shape. Mare cabin space is being completed and there are many other tasks being finished to prepare the ship for the future.

This weekend we hosted a group of 55 teenagers. Last night 12 of them responded to a simple word and chose faith in Christ.

Last week we met Josko from Croatia. He had come to faith through the time the Logos Hope was there. He is working at a ship yard here in Kiel. He has been on board again today and it is such an encouragement to catch up and to see how God has been working in his life.

Continue to pray that lives will be transformed by Christ as people visit the Logos Hope. Around 240 people attended the Open Ship event last Friday night.

Getting the Chillers into the Engine room

Praise God for the engineers and silled workers who have joined the team.

Mike, President of the State and the Captain

On the Bridge

In the Gally preparing a good curry

Praise God for the international flavour to food on board

Snow at last

Many were excited to see a little snow in Kiel

Arrival of the group from India

Update

Pray that doors will open as we prepare for the following schedule:


ETD Kiel (Germany) Thursday, 29th May
ETA Landskrona (Sweden) Thursday, 29th May
Preperation work (prior to dry dock) Friday, 30th May – Sunday, 1st June (3 days)
Dry dock Monday, 2nd June – Thursday, 12th June (11 days)
Layup time after dry dock Friday, 13th June – Sunday, 15th June (3 days)
ETD Landskrona Monday, 16th June
ETA Koge (Denmark) Monday, 16th June

Logos Hope

We thank God for the engineers and trades people that He has give to us over the years in OM ships. In Exodus 31:3 it says of Bezalel, “and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of craft –“ God has given a team of engineers and trades people at this time who are called to serve practically. He has filled them with His Holy Spirit and with skill, ability and knowledge in engineering and to plan and lead the replacement and installation of the generator.. When we see all the work being done we see the need for His presence in the work being done .

The tabernacle was a place of worship where the community of God encountered His presence and became known as the people of His Name. The Logos Hope is a place for a growing international Christian community to worship God. This worship is expressed in many practical tasks that enable us to operate the vessel and complete the engineering and outfit works needed for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate. This work prepares the vessel for future ministry. We need more worshippers who are skilled to enjoy God’s presence by serving through welding, carpentry, plumbing and with other skills.

Moses prayed, “If you are pleased with me , teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you…..” God then said to Moses, “ My presence will go with you!” (Exodus 33:13,14) Our desire is for the presence of God to permeate every aspect of our leadership, management, service and witness with the Logos Hope. We often feel our limitations, especially in the face of uncertainties about the future. Even though we develop plans, we do not want to take steps into the future without His pervading presence in every aspect of the Logos Hope ministry. Pray that we will be known as the people of His presence and power. Without Him there is no Good News! As we look to the future we look for the presence of Christ.

“ If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15 – 17)

Progress with the work

Today, the flooring for deck four will be loaded. This is the experience deck where thousand will walk every day. Pray for those laying the floor in the next few weeks.

We had many visitor over the Easter break. Pray that the Good News will bear fruit in their lives.

Angels in the Snow

Making Angels

Esther and her friend making angels in the snow.