"Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." Philippians 4:17
The Gospel Boat Ministry
Goals: 1) Evangelism 2) Discipleship 3) Church Planting 4) Disaster Relief |
Dear pastor and supporters,
I am writing to ask you to help us begin the boat ministry in the Grenadine islands of Canouan, Mayreau and Union. Our missionary David Ballinger has been seeking the Lord’s will for a boat to be used in the ministry there. Brother David has been offered a tremendous opportunity to purchase a 2013 power catamaran valued over $200,000. The boat is capable of carrying his family, tent, and supplies between the islands each week. It will also allow them to stay comfortably overnight when they are away from home. Ultimately, this will allow Brother Ballinger to do the work of 4 or 5 missionaries. Here is where we need your help. The owner has reduced the price of the boat because of the ministry that it will be used for. God has already sent in half . We need God to provide the remaining $25,000 before January. Our Church is giving. Others have given. Will you? If 25 Churches were to commit just $1,000 this month Brother David would be able to move ahead with the process to purchase the boat. Brother David has asked the Church to own 50% of the boat for accountably purposes. The plan for the boat is to first begin tract distribution and evangelism on the surrounding islands, followed by a Gospel tent meeting. After the tent meetings, they will begin weekly bible studies on each island laboring and laying the ground work for a church plant. This boat is not a toy, but a tool to enable the Gospel to be better spread throughout the Islands of the Caribbean. Please prayerfully consider what you can do financially and pray often for this great ministry. Because of Calvary, Pastor Barry E. Philbeck |
"The Gospel Boat Ministry is a ministry of Love Valley Baptist Church in Kings mountain, NC Pastor Barry Philbeck, and operated by missionary David Ballinger. He is serving the Lord in the Grenadine Islands assisted by Macedonia World Baptist Missions. Brother David has been laboring in the Islands full time since 2014.
The Lord has placed a burden on Brother David’s heart to begin evangelistic efforts on the surrounding islands with the goal of planting doctrinally sound Baptist Churches. God has already supplied funds for two tent meetings on the islands of Canouan and Union, and brought in $87,000 towards the cost of the boat. The boat must be large enough to carry the Gospel tent, supplies, and also accommodate the Ballinger Family during the tent meetings."
The Lord has placed a burden on Brother David’s heart to begin evangelistic efforts on the surrounding islands with the goal of planting doctrinally sound Baptist Churches. God has already supplied funds for two tent meetings on the islands of Canouan and Union, and brought in $87,000 towards the cost of the boat. The boat must be large enough to carry the Gospel tent, supplies, and also accommodate the Ballinger Family during the tent meetings."
How the boat will be used
Transportation
A boat is one of the most common ways of transportation in the Caribbean Islands.
In order to effectively travel between each of the islands we must travel by boat.
The boat will be used to transport the Ballinger family as they minister on a weekly basis in the Grenadine Islands.
The boat will be used to transport the Gospel tent and supplies for Gospel tent meetings, bible camps, VBS, and more.
The boat will one day, Lord willing, be used to take national pastors and preachers to areas that need the Gospel.
Accommodation
The boat will be used to sleep the Ballinger family as they conduct weekly bible studies and ministry in the Grenadines,
and others that help with tent meetings, camps, revivals, etc..
Disaster Relief
In the event of a hurricane or other disasters, the boat can be used to assist other church ministries in the transportation and distribution of relief supplies throughout the Caribbean islands as the Lord provides.
How you can help
Monthly support of the boat operations
One time donation for the purchase of the boat
Labor in the fields
Transportation
A boat is one of the most common ways of transportation in the Caribbean Islands.
In order to effectively travel between each of the islands we must travel by boat.
The boat will be used to transport the Ballinger family as they minister on a weekly basis in the Grenadine Islands.
The boat will be used to transport the Gospel tent and supplies for Gospel tent meetings, bible camps, VBS, and more.
The boat will one day, Lord willing, be used to take national pastors and preachers to areas that need the Gospel.
Accommodation
The boat will be used to sleep the Ballinger family as they conduct weekly bible studies and ministry in the Grenadines,
and others that help with tent meetings, camps, revivals, etc..
Disaster Relief
In the event of a hurricane or other disasters, the boat can be used to assist other church ministries in the transportation and distribution of relief supplies throughout the Caribbean islands as the Lord provides.
How you can help
Monthly support of the boat operations
One time donation for the purchase of the boat
Labor in the fields
Canouan
Population: 2,000
Baptist churches: 0
God has placed a burden on our hearts for the island of Canouan. Nearly 2,000 people with no Gospel-preaching Church
Our hearts are greatly burdened to reach the people of Canouan with the Gospel.
Our first step will be to hold a week or two-week long tent meeting, and follow up with weekly Bible studies.
Baptist churches: 0
God has placed a burden on our hearts for the island of Canouan. Nearly 2,000 people with no Gospel-preaching Church
Our hearts are greatly burdened to reach the people of Canouan with the Gospel.
Our first step will be to hold a week or two-week long tent meeting, and follow up with weekly Bible studies.
Union
Population: 2,500
Baptist churches: 0
The last island in the Grenadines is Union Island. The few days that we were there on our survey trip,
we were unable to find a Baptist church. Union has two main villages, Ashton and Clifton. Much like Bequia and Canouan, we believe the first step will be to hold a one or two-week tent meeting, We praise the Lord that the needed funds for the tent meetings have already been provided.
Population: 2,500
Baptist churches: 0
The last island in the Grenadines is Union Island. The few days that we were there on our survey trip,
we were unable to find a Baptist church. Union has two main villages, Ashton and Clifton. Much like Bequia and Canouan, we believe the first step will be to hold a one or two-week tent meeting, We praise the Lord that the needed funds for the tent meetings have already been provided.
If we are to begin reaching out to the other islands WITH OUT the use of our own boat we can travel by ferry, speed boat, or air, the estimated weekly cost would be :
1) Ferry. $1,000 a week and 4 days of travel.
2) Speed boat. Weekly cost to hire a boat will exceed $1,000.
3) Plane. Weekly cost would be at a minimum $1,200 ,but doesn't keep scheduled flights through the Grenadines year round.
15, February 2018
To Whom it May Concern,
We have known the Ballingers before they were married. Their reputation is impeccable.
They have served well in Bequia.
While we are not on the same island, we have regular contact over the years. They are a short ferry ride away, and we keep in contact via phone, social media, and when he comes here to shop we try to get up with him. We go there for anniversary, etc.
He has preached at my church in Barrouallie, and I have preached at his tent meeting in Paget Farm and at his church. When over in Bequia we walk to many places, it is obvious that many people know him as a preacher, and greet him when they meet him.
He has worked at presenting the gospel in an appropriate manner. His tracts, signs, and even his shirt with a logo on it speaks of his desire to have a church in Paget Farm. There is another church in Bequia, and while he might get sheep from that church (being there when they were single – her father was the pastor, he was a summer worker), he has avoided it. The present national pastor at the former church, and David get along very well, and from time to time preach for each other.
We have helped him off load his stuff at customs, and move them to the ferry over to Bequia. Those would be times of great frustration, but they all have handled it well.
Recently he had the idea of getting relief supplies to Dominica after hurricane Maria. He had a contact with a yacht, and called me to be the captain and take food and items to Dominica. Part of the trip was very frustrating, because of mechanical issues – water in the diesel tank. He took on the job of working in the engine room, without a fan or air conditioning he worked in the tropical heat, and never lost his temper or seemed to get frustrated. I am glad my job was more up on deck. His stated goal was to witness to the two unsaved people that made the trip with us.
With the co-operation of 4 churches and several individuals, we delivered over $4,000 U.S. worth of food and supplies to four different pastors. We brought back 6 people to SVG. The place was devastated. David’s desire to serve people was exemplified by this trip.
We highly recommend him to you and to present his work in your church.
In Christ,
Alan Berry
To Whom it May Concern,
We have known the Ballingers before they were married. Their reputation is impeccable.
They have served well in Bequia.
While we are not on the same island, we have regular contact over the years. They are a short ferry ride away, and we keep in contact via phone, social media, and when he comes here to shop we try to get up with him. We go there for anniversary, etc.
He has preached at my church in Barrouallie, and I have preached at his tent meeting in Paget Farm and at his church. When over in Bequia we walk to many places, it is obvious that many people know him as a preacher, and greet him when they meet him.
He has worked at presenting the gospel in an appropriate manner. His tracts, signs, and even his shirt with a logo on it speaks of his desire to have a church in Paget Farm. There is another church in Bequia, and while he might get sheep from that church (being there when they were single – her father was the pastor, he was a summer worker), he has avoided it. The present national pastor at the former church, and David get along very well, and from time to time preach for each other.
We have helped him off load his stuff at customs, and move them to the ferry over to Bequia. Those would be times of great frustration, but they all have handled it well.
Recently he had the idea of getting relief supplies to Dominica after hurricane Maria. He had a contact with a yacht, and called me to be the captain and take food and items to Dominica. Part of the trip was very frustrating, because of mechanical issues – water in the diesel tank. He took on the job of working in the engine room, without a fan or air conditioning he worked in the tropical heat, and never lost his temper or seemed to get frustrated. I am glad my job was more up on deck. His stated goal was to witness to the two unsaved people that made the trip with us.
With the co-operation of 4 churches and several individuals, we delivered over $4,000 U.S. worth of food and supplies to four different pastors. We brought back 6 people to SVG. The place was devastated. David’s desire to serve people was exemplified by this trip.
We highly recommend him to you and to present his work in your church.
In Christ,
Alan Berry
