ssMaritime.net
A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21st
Century
MV Doulos
Chapter
Nine
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!
Update
- The End of the Doulos in
In January 2010, knowing that the Doulos had
been decommissioned on
I suggest that you read details of the hideous conditions at these years and of the thousands that die slow deaths in great pain of asbestosis and other toxic deceases, for workers at these yards receive NO internationally safety equipment whatsoever and are exposed to the most horrendous conditions. And I mean men, women and children, from as young as 12 years of age. There is no hospital or registered doctors available to these yard workers whatsoever!
Block Health Officer, Dr S B Joshi said.
“Even when there are accidents in the area, there are no orthopaedics to
look after the patients. And if there is a very serious case, then we take the
patient to
I honestly believe that the directors of OM Ships International have somehow lost the way and in this case have certainly NOT followed the Christian way, they are certainly not seeking the Lord in prayer, for our Heavenly Father, blessed be He, would not have permitted this miscarriage of justice!
I have been told that I am totally against the breaking up of the Doulos. The truth is that I would prefer her to be retained and we have two wonderful Christian organisations that were able to buy her and maintain her in the Lord’s work. But if that had not been possible and she could be sold to another for one reason of another, then OK she will have to be sold for scrap, but to a breaker who is fully licensed and has internationally recognised safety standards in place for their workers! Is that too hard to ask for from what is supposed to be a “Christian Organisation?” The point is from the emails I have received from them of late, I feel that I am dealing with a secular group and certainly not anyone that remotely sounds like a Christian anymore!
Again, I wish to point out, this does not apply to the many faithful ones who have worked so prayerfully and faithfully on board the various ships of OM & GBA, and in the offices of OM around the world.
Below are my original comments as written many
years ago. I have not changed or altered them, even though my views regarding
those at the Head Office in
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, such as Bibles of various versions,
KJV, NIV and more as well as many other Christian based books, but also
science, technology, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, and philosophy. 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 needed!
The Doulos experience encourages all who come aboard to expand their horizons and embark on a voyage of discovery.”
Marlieske Smilde.
For
further news updates please visit the “MV Doulos
Campaign” but
there is another link to this page at the bottom of this page.
A Special Thank You to …
1999: I wish to thank
Captain of the Doulos, Captain Greame 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 (now past & retired) Doulos' National Director
in
2008. I hereby wish to give
a very special thank you to Sven
Benseler, Manager of Doulos’ “Partner
Ministries,” who was kind enough to host me whilst I was able to spend
some twenty three wonderful days on the MV Doulos in August 2008. Sven has
become a great friend and he, his wonderful wife Mirjam and
children will remain in my heart always! The voyage meant a great deal to this
“Old salt.” Thus Sven and Mirjam, thank
you so much for making my time onboard the Doulos and my voyage on her the
experience of a lifetime!
Photographs of
the Doulos in
MV Doulos is
seen here in 1989 before the
Photograph
by & © Stephen Moore
Photograph
by & © Stephen Moore
Doulos in
Photograph by & © 1999 Reuben Goossens
MV Logos Hope is seen here being prepared for her future duties
Photograph © 2008 OM
Go to
Chapter 10 – Doulos Goes High Tech – Satellite Dome/Dish fitted 2006
Or, return to the MV Doulos
Main Index
PLEASE
NOTE
MV Doulos
has been decommissioned in December 2009
Read the …
“MV
Doulos
***************************************************
alternatively go to our ssMaritime.com INDEX
Reuben Goossens commenced in Passenger Shipping
industry in May 1960
Email the author – at
PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of
requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I hereby wish
to advise that I am unable to assist
due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these
lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request
for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!
Discover over 260 Classic Passenger liners
By the same author
Please Note:
Hit Counter since April
2005
melbourne dry cleaners Counter