Logos Hope boat on the quays in Dublin

walzer

Anybody know anything about this group that have brought a (rather large) ship to Dublin? The ship is called "Logos Hope", and it's run by a group called OM (Operation Mobilisation) who appear to go around spreading the word of God. They have a lot of young volunteers on board, and invite visitors to tour the ship. They sell books on board which mostly seem to be of a Christian/family/gospel variety.

Just wondering if others know about these people?

FYI the ship is berthed on Sir John Rogerson's Quay, and will be here until about 24th May.

PDN

OM is a fine ministry and the ship is well worth a visit.

homer911

PDN wrote: »

OM is a fine ministry and the ship is well worth a visit.

+1

For those interested in finding out more, here is the relevant link
http://www.ie.om.org/

OM also organise Teen Street in Germany which is a big draw for many young Irish Christians. Plenty of church groups go and I know some churches who send groups of volunteers to help run the week
http://www.teenstreet.om.org/

One of my kids has been and has had a great time, another going this year DV

keano_afc

PDN wrote: »

OM is a fine ministry and the ship is well worth a visit.

Absolutely, was on board for most of today and was well and truly blessed.

Fanny Cradock

Speaking of being blessed, I remember when the Dolos (spelling?) sunk a nymber of years back. I seem to remember that it didn't get much more serious than a broken nose or some such.

philologos

Just wondering what your thoughts are on this. The Logos Hope is a new ship from Operation Mobilisation (OM) Ship Ministries, and it is docked in Dublin on Sir John Rogerson Quay. I had the privilege of visiting it on Tuesday and I must say I was very very impressed at the use of this ship for promoting knowledge about the Gospel in sailing around the world and docking at different places.

On board there are 350 volunteers from 45 different countries from Singapore to Trinidad and Tobago, and I was speaking to a few of them about how they find it, how they came to the idea of coming onto the ship, how they got interested in the Gospel and what they do, and most were able to answer my question with genuine honesty. I thought it was a strange idea to have a ship which sailed around from port to port to promote awareness of the Gospel but after having visited I think it was a great idea.

I'm just wondering if anyone has come into contact with this group any more and if so what do they think of them, and if not take a look at the website and tell me what you think.

Mickeroo

Y'aaarrrrr scurvey sea dogs they be. :P

This may be of use to you:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055566684

philologos

Thanks Mickeroo, feel free to lock or merge the thread PDN or Fanny Craddock

Wishbone Ash

homer911

A little history on the acquisition of the ship if anyone is interested, extracted from seawaves.com:

2004: OM Ships International purchased the Norrona I from Smyril Line at a cost of 3.6 million Euros. The ship will be renamed Logos Hope and is expected to begin active service during 2005. Humanly speaking, it seemed impossible for OM Ships International, a non-profit Christian service and aid organization, to purchase Norrona I. The owners were already negotiating with another buyer. Bernd Guelker from Germany, OM Ships International's Managing Director, said: "Despite this setback, we still believed this was the right ship.
Then Friday, March 26, the other buyer defaulted on a deadline to sign the contract, and the ship was back on the market - now with two other potential purchasers bidding for it. "In order to stay in the running, we had to place our bid urgently. We informed Norrona I's owners, Smyril Line, that we needed to honor our prior commitment to holding a day of prayer on Monday, March 29, before signing any agreement." Guelker explained: "Hundreds of thousands of Christians, in more than 85 nations, have also been praying for the purchase of OM's new ship. On Monday, March 29, at 5:15 PM, after prayer at our head office in Germany, a memorandum of agreement was signed for the purchase of Norrona I for 3.6 million Euros. The Norrona I will become the LOGOS HOPE!"
The Norrona I was in Copenhagen, Denmark. For the past 20 years, the 12,000-ton ferry has sailed between the Faeroe Islands and Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and the Shetland Islands. The Faeroese, many with a strong Christian faith, have expressed their support, and their delight that 'their ship' will now be bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world. After the signing, the Director of the LOGOS HOPE Project, Lloyd Nicholas, from Australia, said: "This is the culmination of two years' planning for the replacement of our present ship LOGOS II. With more than one million visitors every year to OM's ships, the vessel has simply outlived her ability to meet the increasing needs and opportunities we face every day in ports around the world." HIV/AIDS seminars onboard, and teams visiting schools, prisons and orphanages, are some of the many activities in the different ports we visit. Daily, thousands of people queue to visit the floating book fair.
"LOGOS HOPE, a much bigger ship, will allow us to do so much more," Nicholas said. OM Ships International plans to launch LOGOS HOPE in 2005. Significant renovation and refitting to equip her for her new role, will take place in a shipyard over the coming months. Conference facilities for 500 people will be equipped with specially designed sound, lighting and projection systems. The newly designed indoor book fair will be the largest floating bookshop in the world. Quality cabins will be fitted for 350 crew and 150 guests. Air-conditioning, IT, telephone, fire alarm and sprinkler systems will be fitted or upgraded. OM Denmark Director, Bitten Schriver, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the generosity of people worldwide who have given financially so that we could now commit to the purchase of Norrona I. Of the total LOGOS HOPE budget, 60% has already been given. To complete the project, a further 8.7 million Euros - and many more bold steps of faith - will be required." Since launching the LOGOS in 1970, more than 33 million people have visited OM's ships in over 140 nations. OM Ships International's successful bid for Norrona I signals an exciting step forward for what has been described as one of today's most innovative and effective Christian ministries
http://www.seawaves.com/newsletters/TDIH/march/31Mar.txt

philologos

homer911: Just out of curiosity, did one of your children go on the ship for the full two years? I was very impressed myself I must say.

homer911

Sorry, no, getting my messages mixed up. My kids have been to Teen street. I do know of one local guy who worked on the original Logos,but not at the time it went down