Where Is My Faith?

In early 2007 I read a 200 year old anti-slavery poster in the Barbados National Museum detailing a slave ship very similar in dimensions to the M/V Pacific Link. That vessel had a crew of 45 compared to our maximum of 50; however, it also had a cargo of 600 slaves.

Since the movie Amazing Grace, it is easy to quickly think of the abolition of slavery as an example of the efforts of Christians to overcome injustice. However, a look through history reveals numerous examples of Christians confronting evil and winning freedom for the oppressed. This is often achieved through what we in Youth With A Mission call “Acting in The Opposite Spirit” or what Jesus called “turning the other cheek.” If someone acts out of bitterness and anger, I approach the situation with forgiveness and love. Generosity responds to greed. It is not the fastest technique for creating change, but it is the approach Jesus took and ultimately proves most effective. YWAM Founder Loren Cunningham in his latest book, The Book That Transforms Nations, summarizes multiple examples of Christ’s followers using Biblical principles to change society. Sometimes it only takes a single Christian inspired by the love of God to begin an entire campaign for freedom from a specific form of pain or captivity.

Clearly, the world is still full of darkness and evil. People in every nation still choose to mistreat and take advantage of their neighbors. It may well be that there are more slaves and trafficked people at this moment than at any time in history. Near daily bombings across the world extend the misery of those living in hatred. In Papua New Guinea, one in seven rural women dies during child birth. People need salvation.

2010 marks the 50th birthday of YWAM and the 20th birthday of Marine Reach Ministries. In conjunction with these birthdays, a 16-port tour by the M/V Pacific Link of Australia is scheduled to begin in Newcastle in February.

After well over a year of planning and in partnership with YWAM bases across Australia we plan to challenge 100,000 young people with the call to change society through the power of the Gospel. There are now enough Christians in the world that if we all work together with Jesus it is possible that the Good News could be delivered to every distinct ethnic group in the next ten years.

As I have read back over our past newsletters I realize how many times I have reported the overcoming of impossible situations enabling the continued operation of the M/V Pacific Link. Even with the all the planning that has gone into our next tour, we still find ourselves in what seems an impossible situation. Between now and the beginning of February we have to create a way to contain all the waste water created on the ship and find enough crew to keep the ship moving.

In the immensity of this challenge I have identified with Luke 8:22-23:

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side (Australia) of the lake.(the Tasman Sea) ” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped and they were in great danger. (without a suitable containment system and certified crew the ship tour could be in jeopardy before it begins)

I have been tempted to think that Jesus has been asleep in the M/V Pacific Link (or maybe He even stayed ashore) while we frantically search for ways to stay afloat. I still feel frantic and even after so many demonstrations of His provision I wonder “where is my faith?”

Would you please pray with us to prevail in the face of the storm that we may take our place in calling the young people of Australia to rise up declaring the truth and love of Jesus to all mankind.

We don’t know how 2010 will unfold but there is encouragement in the rest of the story:

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the wind and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:24-25