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Powered Up for Future Service - OM Ships Re-launches Ocean-Going Vessel Logos Hope Back Into Active Ministry

Contact: Jon Crowe, OM Ships, 843-656-1705, jon.crowe@om.org 

SINGAPORE, March 30, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Power Up Logos Hope technical project has officially reached its conclusion and this unique vessel is ready to continue transforming lives by bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world for many more years to come.

Photo: While in Anping, Taiwan in 2014 almost 29,000 visitors came aboard Logos Hope in one day! © OM Ships International – Credit: Beth Hutchison – Reference: hopd18374 

"We have experienced God's blessing in the financing, planning and implementation of this crucial project," expressed OM Ships CEO Peter Nicoll (South Africa). "This gives us a more efficient and reliable platform for the ministry that God has called us to in the years to come."

The three main aspects of the project have been the replacement of two of the vessel's generators, replacing the main switchboard to be able to cope with the increased electrical load and installing a heat recovery system so that previously wasted heat energy of the exhaust can be used for heating fuel and oil. With much preparation work having previously taken place in the engine room by OM Ships crew, the main installation work was contracted out to the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore under the supervision of a 25-member technical team from OM Ships.

The Power Up team has been led by Project Manager Matt Blair and OM Ships Marine Superintendent Elon Alva (both Australia). "We look back and see God's protection and provision," enthused Matt. "We've had people with the needed skills, good working relationships with the right people in the shipyard and the support we need." The installation work involved taking the vessel out of the water and cutting holes in the ship side in order to allow the old equipment to be removed before new machinery and other equipment could be brought in. The new systems are estimated to save around $320,000 per year in operational costs.

While the project was taking place, around 70 teams comprising 250 crewmembers spread out around the world to bring a message of hope in Jesus and demonstrate God's love to many. Serving on land across six continents in 40 different countries, teams were involved in a wide variety of service projects and outreach efforts. From Brazil to Kazakhstan, Zambia to the Philippines these initiatives were done in partnership with local branches of the wider work of OM International as well as several other partner organizations in Asia with the goal to continue bringing knowledge, help and hope through the message of the Gospel.

In Uruguay, a visit to a prison and the personal testimony of one of the team members resulted in ten inmates deciding to follow Jesus. Meanwhile in South Africa, a crewmember on the team there challenged drug addicts to give up their habits and offered a Mexican meal if they would take a step in that direction. In Norway, a crewmember from Ecuador shared the message of God's love with a fellow Spanish speaker who was feeling lost in a foreign land and in New Zealand a team challenged young people with difficult family situations to see the offer of love, acceptance and peace with God.

Elsewhere, another team helped clean up homes and schools after severe flooding in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia while in Cambodia a team helped build a church in just three months in partnership with locals. These are just some of the many encounters that saw real change in lives and communities helped through practical outworking of God's love.

This one-of-a-kind time in the ministry of OM Ships International was made possible by the generous support of partners all around the world who gave both financially and through gifts-in-kind, as well as price reductions from companies and suppliers. Many also joined in by praying regularly for the project. God's protection and provision was clearly seen as this $10.6 million project was funded ahead of the work being started and it has now been completed on schedule.

For further information, port schedule and opportunities to participate in this unique ministry please visit the OM Ships website.