From the Helm

FORWARD

I’ve spent many long days and even longer nights at the helm of ships in all kinds of weather conditions, from fair and beautiful to hurricane force winds with mountainous seas, for almost 50 years now. In 1953, when I went on an adventure trip to Alaska with Marine Medical Mission as a crewmember on board the l36 foot “Willis Shank”, we traveled north out of Seattle through British Columbia and into Alaska in ministry outreach to native Indian villages. We went into the very isolated communities reached only by ship or seaplane. I had no intention of it being anything more than a summer experience, but God had something else in mind. I found myself becoming involved with people…people that I perceived to be in need of a clear understanding of who Jesus Christ is and how their lives could be transformed by His power.

Within a year or so I found myself learning the challenging skills of ship handling, navigation and seamanship. Over the next few years I was captain on all of the ships owned by the Mission including the 136 foot “Willis Shank”, the 86 foot “Nunivak”, the 70 foot “Luke Brown’, and the 50 foot “Hideaway”.

Through these experiences I’ve learned that the man at the helm must rely on God’s power and control and make decisions that depend on God’s wisdom.

In 1961, I was asked to step to the helm as General Director of Marine Medical Mission, now known as North America Indian Ministries, and at a very young age I took on this monumental task.

In an attempt to communicate clearly with the people God raised up to be a part of this ministry through prayers and finances, I began to write monthly letters simply addressed to “Dear Teammate”. Sometimes the letters were insightful about the ministry, sometimes a challenge to grow in Jesus in their own lives, but mostly to say Thank You for being a part of my life and the lives of our staff and our ministry. Over the years these letters have accumulated and finally, after more than 45 years of being committed to this ministry, my wife and co-laborer set out to go through this mountain of letters and put them into some order that could possibly be a source of continued blessing to you and others in the years to come.

After a major stroke in 1994, it was necessary for me to step down as General Director, but my vision and goal for the reconciliation of Indian people to Christ is ongoing and Sandy and I continue in this ministry.

Thank God if you are blessed by these short messages from a missionary who has served God at the Helm for nearly 50 years in obedience to the “Great Commission”.