ssMaritime.net
MV Doulos
“A
Ship Like no Other”
By Reuben Goossens
An American 1914
built ship that sailed 95 Years into History
SS
Medina (1914-1948)
Chapter Nine
--MV Doulos--
Doulos'
Postcard - Author’s private collection
Over many years many have supported GBA – Gutte Buche fur Alle” - “Good Books for All” and OM Ships International - “Operation Mobilization” for being a wonderful Christian Missionary work. The work is supported because of the wonderful work that is done by the many wonderful Douloid’s (volunteers) who so faithfully give years of service free of charge in the Lord’s service, although they are generally supported financially by their home Churches and/or Christian organisations. Volunteers on board include the captain, all officers, engineer to the all important deck Hand and all on the Doulos are 100% equal and they are not paid for the work they do on board, but receive accommodation and full board, etc! However, as I already indicated the means of support comes to OM Ships from various Churches and other organisations as well from individual’s from their massive worldwide funding campaigns who would faithfully provide for their care, as well as fore fuel and the upkeep of their ships by donating! In addition, everyone who does a tour of the Doulos pays a fee, and then there is the sale of books and both of these are very profitable indeed. Thus, funding is well provided for, but there are high overheads and ships cost a great deal in maintenance, thus more is always required.
Q. Is GBA/OM is “Book Fair” or a Christian Missionary Outreach?
The question is who is GBA - “Gutte Buche fur Alle” or “Good Books for All” and “OM Ships International” – “Operation Mobilization”?
GBA was started by a wonderful Christian who had a heart for the Lord and had a great desire to distribute the Word of God, the Bible, to the unsaved of the world! His work eventually became what we now know as GBA - “Gutte Buche fur Alle” and OM Ships International and there is no doubt that GBA & OM is a Christian Missionary organisation/outreach that operates ships for two specific purposes. 1. To provide Bibles and other Christian literature to the World, as well as some other secular books, and thus they sail with the title as their ships being a “Book Fair.” 2. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost souls in the countries they visit.
A work
amongst the Muslims. OM Ships make a huge effort in
Muslim lands. In order to operate in Muslim lands, OM Ships and GBA purposely
(sadly) has never visited the Sate of Israel, for if you check the listing of
their past ports of call you will note that this is one country that is NEVER
visited. We may ask why do the Children of Israel, Jesus’ natural brethren
not deserve to hear the Gospel as well? OM does not go there, the reason being
if they make even a single call to the State of Israel 99% of Muslim lands will
not allow the Doulos or the Logos Hope enter their waters. It is tragic, but
over the years the Doulos and other
A
Captain speaks out. Although GBA/OM in Mosbach
Germany will claim that these ships are only a “Book Fair,” we all
know that their mission is, as one captain told me whilst I was onboard the
Doulos years ago - “To convert as many Muslims and lost souls as
possible, that they might be saved in the Name of Jesus and to date we have
been very successful. For we have a heart for Muslims on the Doulos, and a
number of
The work of those who have worked on the Doulos is faultless and we should applaud them and their wonderful spirit as they go and spread the Word!
A Message from the Doulos’ Project
Coordinator
“MV Doulos promotes international understanding and world-wide education, through cultural exchange programmes, community service initiatives and as a floating book fair.
The Doulos as she sails
the globe carries a stock close to half a million books. There are thousands of
titles that cover a wide range of subjects, including many Bibles covering all
versions, be it the KJV, NIV and others as well as countless Christian books,
but we also carry thousands of educational and general reading books on Doulos,
from science, technology, sports, the arts, philosophy, as well as hobbies, and
cookery. These books are chosen to meet the educational and social needs of the
various local communities and a large selection is devoted especially for
children. Local language materials are also available together with the vast
array of English books where they are needed!
The Doulos experience encourages all who come aboard to expand their horizons and embark on a voyage of discovery and it is our Christian lifestyle that touched those who come on board, thus we do see many lives changed.”
Marlieske Smilde.
A Special Thank You to …
1999: I wish to thank
Captain of the Doulos, Captain Graeme
Bird for his enthusiastic hospitality! The ever delightful Doulos’
Project co-ordinator, Marlieske Smilde
for her efforts and all of Doulos’ wonderful staff for their outstanding
hospitality and co-operation whilst I was onboard. Also, thank you, Richard Beaumont Doulos' National
Director in
2008. I hereby wish to give
a very special thank you to Doulos’ Director Dr. Daniel Chae for his friendship whilst I spent my 23 days on
board. Also my good friend and host Mr.
Sven Benseler,
Manager of Doulos’ “Partner Ministries,” who was kind enough
to assist me in every possible was whilst I had a wonderful time the MV Doulos
most of August 2008. Sven has become a great friend and he and his wonderful
wife Mirjam and
children will remain in my heart always! Also thank you to Captain Ashley
McDonald for sharing time with me and allowing me on the Bridge as we sailed
out of
The voyage in 2008 meant a great deal to this
“Old salt,” thus to all the aforementioned a special thank you so
much for making my time onboard the Doulos and my voyage the experience of a
lifetime!
MV Doulos is
seen here in 1989 before the
Photograph
by & © Stephen Moore
Photograph
by & © Stephen Moore
Doulos in
Photograph by & © 1999 Reuben Goossens
Return to the Author’s – MV Doulos “A Ship Like No Other” Main Index
PLEASE NOTE:
Doulos was
decommissioned by OM Ships in December 2009
Read my … “MV Doulos
Preservation Campaign” page for details
on how my campaign saved
her for the future to become the Doulos Phos.
***************************************************
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