A Christian relief ministry has been able to share Christ's love in word and deed around the world this past year.
The Christian-based humanitarian aid group Friend Ships, which was founded in 1983, owns four ships which it uses for various relief supplies in the United States and abroad. According to the group's website, its vessels are the only U.S.-flagged mercy ships.
The ministry has no paid staff, relying on about 60 full-time volunteers to run its headquarters in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Sondra Tipton, president of Friend Ships, says the ministry is able to stretch donor dollars.
"Primarily the goods are all donated, and the ships are donated -- and when we go into a foreign country, they waive all the fees for us," she explains. "We own our own facility here so there's no overhead; so our expenses are very small relative to the value of the goods and services we are able to provide. If someone contributes [to the ministry], it goes a long way."
Friend Ships can use volunteers of all ages, and many young people find the ministry effort opens a door to missions work. Twenty-year-old Hannah Riley volunteered earlier this year through an 11-month program with Friendships. She was able to travel to California and Honduras and Galveston to help victims of Hurricane Ike. The experience, she shares, was life-changing.
"I walk on faith at Friend Ships," says Riley. "Everything I do is basically walking on faith. You don't get paid and so you don't get money. You have to have faith that God will provide different things for you -- your shoes, for instance; clothing; all kinds of different things, which He does [provide] -- it's so amazing."
Friend Ships has several trips planned for 2009, among them a major outreach in Haiti.
My son Matt Craven served a couple years with this ministry and earned his engineer's licsense working in the engine room on one of these ships! I'm sure it was a very rewarding experience that God provided the opportunity for in his life!
Proud papa, Bill(Dad) Bildad ha ha
