The Logos Hope – the fourth ship in service with evangelistic ministry OM Ships International – this year marks 10 years in service. DAVID ADAMS spoke with a long-term member of the crew, Australian Matt Blair, about his involvement…
The Logos Hope – the fourth ship in service with evangelistic ministry OM Ships International – last month marked 10 years in service. Australian Matt Blair first joined the OM Ships ministry in 1999 and has since had several stints on ships, including the Logos Hope, during which time he’s visited more than 40 nations. The 44-year-old father of three, who met his German wife Heidrun through the ministry, talks about his involvement with the ministry, the highlights and challenges of on-board life and how it has impacted his faith…
The Blair family and the Logos Hope.
IN SHORT – MATT BLAIR
A person I admire?…”I was recently reading the biography of [19th century English evangelist] George Muller, it’s inspiring and challenging to read the stories of some of God’s ‘mega faith-filled’ servants”.
Something I’m grateful for?…”My super-supportive wife and kids. As well as our prayer and financial supporters that are faithfully supporting the ministry in the background.”
A Bible verse that’s impacted me?…”I recently read II Samuel 14:14. Like so many other verses in the Bible, somehow I had never ready noticed it before. But it’s one of the those verse’s that says ‘so much in so little’ It’s kind of a great sum-up of life in one verse!”
Firstly, you currently work as a fulltime volunteer for the Logos Hope remotely from Newcastle. What does your role involve?
“My current role is technical project manager. [It] basically means I manage any technical projects related to operating the ship. One of the main projects each year is a four week maintenance period where the ship goes in to dry dock for part of that time. This involves some of the ship’s crew (approximately 130 people) along with the shipyard to complete around 400 different jobs. Apart from these yearly maintenance periods, for any given year there are always smaller technical projects that need to be carried out and managed. Often the upgrading of equipment or systems for either compliance, safety or efficiency reasons. I work remotely from here in Australia and then normally travel out to the ship as needed.”
When did you first join the ship and how did that come about (and how did you first hear about OM)?
“I first joined in 1999. I knew of the ship ministry through someone from my church who had served. I knew that the ministry was often in need of people with technical backgrounds. I was working as automotive technician at the time and had little natural desire to do anything different but I felt God’s leading for me to enquire about joining. Despite having little desire, I applied. Once I had done so, God quickly changed my heart that I actually wanted to join the ship and would have been really disappointed if it didn’t work out. Soon after, I was accepted.”
You’ve served on the ship for several stints since first joining the crew in 1999 – what’s life on board the ship like (and how does it differ with your life in Australia)?
“Life on board is very community-oriented. It has to be, with more than 400 Christians from more than 60 nations all stuck together on board a ship! It’s kind of like being on a really great church camp where you are all working, ministering and worshipping together, just every few weeks you are in a different port/country. In Australia, a lot of us are raised in a very individualistic way. This world view tends to get a lot of abrasion while you are living on board – whether it’s having to share a very small cabin with three other people or having to always leave the ship with at least one other person for safety and accountability reasons.”
Between 2004 and 2013 when you and your wife Heidrun had three children – Rebecca, Amy and James – while living on board. What was it like living as a family on board?
“I guess like anything there are advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it felt a little like raising your kids in a fish bowl, with plenty of eyes watching what you do as parents. It was not always easy for the kids to run around safely by themselves, so sometimes things could be a little more confined. But in general we considered it a huge blessing that the kids were being exposed to so many different cultures, experiences and Godly role models. The school on board an ocean-going vessel gave them opportunities to visit and learn from the various places the ship called at. Every few weeks they were in a different part of the world!”
What have been some of the highlights of your time on the Logos Hope?
“There have been a few storms, but I guess those are not really highlights. There have been highlights of seeing local lives changed and impacted as our crew have visited them or as they have come on board to the bookshop or one of our on board conferences. But I think the highlight for me has been to see the lives of crewmembers change. Most of us don’t come on board as ‘super’ Christians. But by being surrounded by 400 like-minded believers, with many teaching and training opportunities along with plenty of challenging and stretching times, plenty of crewmembers have grown tenfold in their relationship with God. You know that God is going to continue to use them as they return to their home country or another mission field.”
Matt Blair working in the engine room while the ship was in drydock.
What have been the greatest challenges?
“Perhaps missing family/friends. Or sometimes having a different timeline in mind than God does, especially with the early days for getting Logos Hope up and running. Also seemingly unanswered prayer for needed people to be involved with the ministry.”
How has your time on the Logos Hope impacted your faith?
“Probably the biggest single thing is that my view/understanding of God is so much bigger than prior to join the ship. I guess I often had God in a pretty small ‘box,’ based on the experiences I had till that point. Once I joined the ship and came into contact with all these different people from so many different backgrounds, and saw how God had been working in them and around the world, the small box I had him in was really been blown apart.”
How have/are the crew marking the ship’s 10th anniversary?
“There will be a reunion/celebrations at the OM Ships’ head office in Germany, reuniting people from the original crew. On board the ship there was a big cake, balloons, ice cream, and a family evening of celebration and thanksgiving for all God has done through the ministry. The young people serving on the ship are very aware of the heritage they are part of. There are some leaders and the captain who served back then on board again now to share their stories.”
What advice would you give to someone considering serving on the ship?
“If God is calling you, then it’s best to be obedient. Life on board will not always be plain sailing, but the challenging times often help to strengthen your relationship with God. For most people, it’s such a life-changing awesome experience, I’m often surprised how little known the ship ministry is here in Australia. It’s kind of like one of those ‘best kept secrets’ among mission-minded believers, but it really shouldn’t be.”
