Fred Merry [fred.merry@scfs.org]
I am Fred Merry and I have been married to Mary for 21 years. Mary and I have three daughters. Emma, who is married to Dave, Sarah who is married to Darren and Celina who is still at home with us. I have worked with many of the Christian Denominations with Through Faith Missions, Walk of 1,000 Men and I am now a serving member of City Praise Centre church at Gravesend, Kent.
I find that so many of the different nationalities are open to hear about the gospel as I take Jesus Christ to the seafarers. I am currently giving out 450 of the UCB bible notes each quarter, along with many bibles in various languages. I also give out bible study courses. I have the privilege of taking bible studies on board and even had twenty out of the twenty-four crew attend at one time. I also have the privilege of visiting seafarers who have had to visit the hospital and praying for their physical or spiritual needs.
I meet many seafarers who are hungry for spiritual matters. Many come from a background where they are persecuted for even having a bible in their possession. I have not heard from one man 'B' for some time. He had taken a bible and was excited about his walk with the Lord. We had some contact and when I met him again, he said that he was experiencing the peace of the Lord these days. Suddenly all communications have ceased.
Another seafarer, sent home because of ill health. I had given him a bible and he was progressing well. Since returning home, I have not heard from him. There is a great hunger and many opportunities are opening up. Many bibles are being given away to seafarers from all over the world.
As we learn about disasters, of earthquakes, famines, floods, hurricanes, piracy and terrorist activities, there is a great need for the world to know about the hope and the peace that we have through a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
I recently had the privilege of talking to a man from a Muslim country. He believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came to earth and died on the cross and rose again. He also said that he believed that Jesus was coming again soon. I presented him with a bible in Arabic.
The man had an allergy and was afraid to get treatment because he thought that his life would be in danger because of the terrorist attacks. I was able to pray with him for the Lord's healing. I told him that we all have to face God in judgement and the reason that Jesus came and died on that cross, in our place, was so that we could have a personal relationship with God. As I gave him a the bible I told him that if he prayed to Jesus, then Jesus would speak to him through the bible.
Fred Merry is looking for volunteers to help in his Sea Farers missions ministry. If you are avaliable and can spare some time please aid him in this high impacting field! Click here to watch the video.