Two crew members from San Diego area share ship experiences

When the Operation Mobilization ship Logos II arrives at Broadway Pier on May 10 with its crew of 200 missionaries from 45 nations, it will be a homecoming for two men from San Diego.

Caleb McKinley, 23, and Mark Brown, 37, each are several months into a two-year commitment to the ministry. They recently shared their sea experiences and what they are looking forward to during the ship’s stay here on May 10-26.

“The body of Christ is bigger and more diverse than you can imagine,” said Caleb. “It is our privilege to be able to visit other lands and help out people around the world. If you want the fruit you have to go out on the limb and if you want to experience God’s power in your life you have to get out of the boat and walk on water.”

Why did they decide to serve on Logos II in the first place?

“I sensed God calling me to ship ministries,” Mark said. “I confirmed the call by serving on the ship as a dry-dock project worker and I told God that if the money comes in, I will go.”

Mark has been on board Logos II for three months now and is from Shadow Mountain Community Church.

Caleb, who has been on the ship for eight months, explained, “I wanted to share the love of God to the people of Latin America in a challenging environment where I can transition into a deeper intimacy with Christ.” His home churches are Carlsbad Community Church and College Avenue Baptist Church.

Caleb works as a volunteer coordinator in the book fair and is the sports ministry coordinator.

“I work more with the public and local Christians than I imagined,” Caleb said. “Although it is not that much physical work it is a higher level of intensity both time and energy.

“I am in a position where I can use a lot of the management and organizational skills I learned while attaining my business degree at University of San Diego. I have also received a lot of ministry training here on the ship, especially in regards to relating in an international community.”

Meanwhile, Mark works in the engine room doing a wide variety of tasks (locksmithing, welding, fabricating, painting, maintenance, cleaning, etc.). He is also involved in the ship’s many ministries (dramas, church teams, tour guide, tract distribution, altar call counseling, etc.).

“I am using skills and talents that I knew I had before I came to ship and being on board has groomed me with three months of training to meet the needs here.”

Mark is getting used to working with people from different countries.

“Just in the engine room we have Finish, Dutch, German, Caribbean, Polish, British, Malaysian, Faroese, American, Indian, and Paraguayan,” he said. “It is challenging having a communications barrier because of different accents and vocabulary, but it is fun at the same time to be able to learn about different cultures.

Caleb said that in his book fair shift he works with an Albanian leader, Dutch, Uruguayan, Korean, Japanese, Caribbean, Mexican, Irish, and Ethiopian.

“It is challenging and rewarding,” Caleb said. “The challenges can seem insurmountable when you are motivating people with a totally different value base and inter-relational style. It is immensely rewarding, though, when we break through to understand each other in the truth of Christ’s love.”

Most of the crew members are college-aged singles - like Caleb and Mark - there is also a solid group of families and couples.

“Romance does develop often, but you won’t find any love boat action with this guy!” Caleb said.

Mark also noted that most of the crew is single and said that after your first year of service you can develop “special interest relationships.”

Caleb noted that the time between ports is much different than when the ship is docked. “It’s usually about 2-5 days in between ports and it is always wonderful to spend time with the other crew uninterrupted on the sea. My favorite part is being in solitude with the Lord in the middle of the ocean with the infinite sky and ocean meeting on the distant horizon.”

“What is nice about this time is that the ship’s company gets a break from the ‘full on’ intense ministry mode,” Mark noted. “In port you have the ‘what is next’ mindset. At sea you have the ‘how can I catch up’ and ‘let’s recharge’ mindset.”

The favorite ports for Mark have been Vera Cruz, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Acajutla, El Salvador; Balboa, Panama; and Guaymas, Mexico.

His favorite on-shore story: “One day I was trying to be a tourist. But because our local tour guide would introduce his rarely seen white guests as being missionaries from the Logos II and from the USA and Ireland, our tour guide was perpetually having effective counseling or evangelism conversations throughout the day. As a result, I learned that even though I don’t speak the language, just being a missionary presence can have a significant impact.

Caleb also had a favorite story:

“We were in Maraca Ibo, Venezuela during the political turmoil and national work stoppages. It was a very tumultuous time to be there and when we were about to leave for a long sail to Mexico, they suddenly told us we could not leave. We were all wondering what was going on and feeling very anxious. The third day, though, it became apparent that God had held us back because one of the cute little 3-year-old boys became very ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. As soon as he went to the hospital we were allowed to leave. Had we been in the middle of the ocean little Joel may have had some serious problems.”

Are lives being changed by the ship’s ministry?

“Yes, I am seeing visitors and crewmembers lives changed for God’s glory everyday on the ship,” Mark said. “My faith in God has grown tremendously through the prayer/support team raising phase of getting on the ship.”

Caleb agreed, saying, “I see many lives being transformed by Christ’s love living inside of crewmembers and local Christians. Prayer continues to be the tool that shapes our lives in a great mystery we can only see a glimpse of.”

Both men have also grown spiritually.

“My relationship with God has become more personal,” Mark said. “I pray more. I want to fast more. I truly have gained a better biblical worldview as I associate with people and missionaries from around the world and visit many ports. I have become more holy. I trust God more. I see God’s Spirit working around the world and I want to be involved in it.”

Caleb’s experience was a little different:

“More than growing spiritually, I would say that I am being transformed spiritually. I am waking up to the reality of Christ’s love and the insanity of the world.”

“I am seeing the integration of ‘normal’ life with the ‘ministry’ life,” Caleb said. “We are all missionaries in every place the Lord has us. The question is, can I live everyday to serve Christ and others no matter where I am?”

The crew has daily devotions for 45 minutes every morning, a weekly prayer meeting, a study program, personal mentoring, as well as plenty of fellowship times on and off the ship, Caleb said.

“Recently the entire ship’s crew went through a walk through the Old Testament course and I just so happened to be fasting during this time,” Mark said. “God gave me tremendous clarity as to what to do when I finish my two-year term with the ship’s ministry. One of the things that I will be doing is connecting missionaries with organizations that want to give money away specifically to missionaries.”

“The regular meeting that I look forward to the most is the Port Report,” Mark continued. “This meeting usually lasts about two and half hours and the department reps and others give a report on all that the Lord accomplished through their department. It is absolutely unbelievable to hear all that is accomplished!”

How do the men go about getting support?

“It seems to me support is all built on prayer and faith,” Caleb said. “With these two foundations all we need is to share our heart with those around us. When we obey the Lord, He will raise the support.”

Mark’s comments: “I asked people to pray and see if the Lord puts it on their heart to financially support my missionary activities.”

“I know that God has called me to serve on the ship for two years,” Mark added. “We will see what happens after that. I tend to doubt that I will be a seafaring missionary for more than five years.”

“Ship ministries are not for everyone because of the close quarters, lack of privacy and the intensity it has upon many areas of your life,” Mark said. “I recommend people to serve for two weeks to three months prior to making a year or two commitment.”

Caleb added, “Serving in the ship ministry or with OM is for the person that believes living for Christ is an adventure that will take you into the unknown. We must transition easily and be adaptable in many different aspects. It is not for a person that doesn’t want to trust Christ with everything.”

What do these men miss the most?

“I miss fellowship with my brothers and spending time with my friends and family,” Caleb says. “It is also hard to not be with people I can deeply understand like those I grew up around in San Diego. Oh yeah, I miss In-N-Out a lot!

Mark replied, “I miss my waterbed. I sometimes miss the efficient way I could get things done back in the States. Many times you don’t have a phone, fax, copier, e-mail, internet, food, transportation, tools, materials, Home Depot, and common language at your disposal.”

He said he was looking forward to catching up with close friends while in port here.

“I can’t wait to share the vision of what Christ is doing around the world,” said Caleb. “It is also a huge blessing to show the Logos II to everyone in San Diego. I can’t wait to see my family and spend time at church. Oh yeah, and eat a Double-Double!”