HELP YOURSELF by HELPING OTHERS
“I was saved to serve”
Jesse Gibson was a sailor on the Welland Canal in the late 1800’s; and by Gibson’s own account, he declared himself a godless, careless sinner who was lead to Christ by "Thomas Bone The Sailors' Friend."
Thomas Bone, was know as the sailors’ friend or Mr. Bones but his real name was Dr. Gordon, who taught his protégée well; That, the highest purpose of a ministers life is, “that by all means he might save some.”
Up and down the Welland Canal Mr. Bones boarded ships for nearly 40 years to pass the “Good News” of the Gospel of Christ to the seamen. The elderly missionary Thomas Bones died in 1908; and, his friend the pastor, the “salty sailor,” his “son in faith,” Jesse Gibson wrote a book to preserve the techniques of the faithful and humble servant of Christ, his mentor Mr. Bones.
And like Paul’s work with Timothy centuries ago there were years of “faithful and tactful efforts,” with dividends that still pay off. In fact some 50 years ago a young lad named Dick Armstrong who was all of 17 years old) and another missionary would board ships on the Welland Canal to minister to the sailors. The two missionaries would share their time, they would share their love for Christ by talking with the sailors; and, Dick found occasions to play the accordion to share music with the sailors. Though times were different, the message of the Gospel of Christ was exactly the same and the “Sailors Friend’s ministry" set forth by Dr. Gordon in the late 1800’s was continued by Agape's own Dick Armstrong.
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Currently Dick Armstrong is serving as Agape Flights Interim Executive Director.
Agape Flights is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, Christian ministry that provides ongoing and critical support services to close to 400 missionary families that work in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. Agape provides coordination and support getting supplies and services to the island nations in the Caribbean for the missionaries via air support on “Bandit,” from Agape’s hangar and home base at the Venice Florida Airport.
“I was saved to serve”
Jesse Gibson was a sailor on the Welland Canal in the late 1800’s; and by Gibson’s own account, he declared himself a godless, careless sinner who was lead to Christ by "Thomas Bone The Sailors' Friend."
Thomas Bone, was know as the sailors’ friend or Mr. Bones but his real name was Dr. Gordon, who taught his protégée well; That, the highest purpose of a ministers life is, “that by all means he might save some.”
Up and down the Welland Canal Mr. Bones boarded ships for nearly 40 years to pass the “Good News” of the Gospel of Christ to the seamen. The elderly missionary Thomas Bones died in 1908; and, his friend the pastor, the “salty sailor,” his “son in faith,” Jesse Gibson wrote a book to preserve the techniques of the faithful and humble servant of Christ, his mentor Mr. Bones.
And like Paul’s work with Timothy centuries ago there were years of “faithful and tactful efforts,” with dividends that still pay off. In fact some 50 years ago a young lad named Dick Armstrong who was all of 17 years old) and another missionary would board ships on the Welland Canal to minister to the sailors. The two missionaries would share their time, they would share their love for Christ by talking with the sailors; and, Dick found occasions to play the accordion to share music with the sailors. Though times were different, the message of the Gospel of Christ was exactly the same and the “Sailors Friend’s ministry" set forth by Dr. Gordon in the late 1800’s was continued by Agape's own Dick Armstrong.
------------------------------
Currently Dick Armstrong is serving as Agape Flights Interim Executive Director.
Agape Flights is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, Christian ministry that provides ongoing and critical support services to close to 400 missionary families that work in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. Agape provides coordination and support getting supplies and services to the island nations in the Caribbean for the missionaries via air support on “Bandit,” from Agape’s hangar and home base at the Venice Florida Airport.
YOU CAN help by praying for the missionaries and checking out Agape Flights web site to find out more about this important ministry. You can see the missionaries’ current needs and you can read the stories about the missionary families- their victories and struggles plus updates from missionaries in the field, many from the earthquake regions of Haiti.
Agape Flights Blog now up and running- Another way to connect with the ministry.
Agape has been providing continual service for their member missionaries for 30 years and will celebrate the Anniversary at the Agape Flights Hanger on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Check Agape Flights web site for further details and RSVP gomissions@agapeflights.com with “Celebration” in the subject line.
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