The Baumgardners in Ministry
Our family’s work is with ministries that use motor and sailing ships to bring physical and spiritual help to the many remote areas of the world. Through the years we have been involved with both the onboard running of ships as well as shore based operations, particularly where technical training is concerned. Our unique position allows us to invest in crew to see them trained up in the skills of a Godly mariner, as these are the men and women who support the practical operations of the ships allowing the Doctors and nurses to practice their gifting’s of medical and spiritual healing.
Matthew travels to the various ship based ministries around the globe within the ministry of Youth With A Mission. His specific area of expertise lies in the Deck side of the ships. As a mariner he understands the need for basic seamanship skills such as keeping a safe watch when at sea or how to anchor safely as many of the men and women who come to serve onboard do not have any experience in the Maritime world. He also teaches skills such as safety at sea which includes sea survival, basic firefighting and First aid.
In June of this year I flew out to New Zealand for 3 months to teach and support a new ship in the YWAM fleet. The ministry that operates the vessel is Marine Reach Ministries and is based in Tauranga, New Zealand. The ship is aptly named the “Pacific Hope” and It’s first voyage as a medical ship was to the area of the Pacific known as Melanesia. While onboard I served in the capacity as Third Officer and as the Bo’s’n (deck foreman) and using these positions to pass on the skills to those serving as deck crew.
The ship spent most of its time in the Nation of Vanuatu, which is found about 3,600 kilometers to the North East of Australia. Here the ship served three of the largest inhabited Islands. The various physical helps that are provided are dental care; mostly extractions and preventative care also are practiced. The dental care takes place onboard ship with one of the original living areas of the ship converted to a modern dental surgery. In the local villages medical clinics are set up to provide basic health care and preventative medicine.
During my time in Vanuatu, three translators sailed with the ship. Two of the men are staff with the Marine Reach land base on the main Island and the third translator; Marshel is from the Island of Malekula, where we were anchored. We spent many hours with the people of the villages we were serving as we transported them between the Island and the ship, as one of my tasks was to operate the boats. We had great conversations with our passengers through translators like Marshel, preparing and praying with them as they came aboard for dental work. It was during this time that his heart was changed.
He saw the love of Jesus being acted out daily and the hard work and love that all the crew performed to see Jesus made known. He ate with us and stayed onboard with us and such was his time that before he left the ship to return home to his family, he chose to commit his life to Christ. Oh what an awesome privilege to see a man give his life to Christ and to know that because of the willingness of all onboard to be salt and light, he is forever changed!
Prior to the ship sailing to its next port of call we had a baptismal service as several crew wanted to reconfirm their commitment to the lord. We took the small boats ashore and shared in their joy as they were baptized in the Coral Sea! Marshel was one of those who made this public display to the body of Christ represented in the crew, a beautiful act of proclaiming his love for Jesus!
It is said that that the world watches us as followers of Christ and that they are looking for genuine Christian love. Marshel saw the love of God acted out and could not help but be changed by what he had seen and heard. We are all commanded by Christ in Mark 16 v 15 to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. And for our part that is the Island and people of Vanuatu!
If you would like to make a financial contribution to the Baumgardner family, Click Here.
