Friend Ships September 2015 Activities Report

FRIEND SHIPS at PORT MERCY, 1019 North 1st Avenue, Lake Charles, LA 70601
Tel: 337-433-5022 Fax: 337-433-3433 Email: info@friendships.org Website: www.friendships.org

Dear Friend of Friend Ships:

As we prepare this report, we are looking forward to
having a wonderful celebration with a group of
Friend Ship friends, former crew and Sea Hawks, to
commemorate a tremendous milestone. On October
2nd, it will be 30 years since the Lord gave us,
without charge, a 5000 ton ship to fulfill the vision
He had put in our hearts- feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, heal the sick, tell people about Jesus, and
give Christians a place to serve without pay and
without charge. Collect the surplus from our nation
blessed by God and take it to people who
desperately need it.
Today we continue to carry out this vision, having
many miles under our feet. As we celebrate, there

Ships at Port Mercy

First Sight of Spirit in 1985

are two undeniable facts that
eclipse all else. First, the Lord
has and continues to amazingly,
supernaturally, graciously and
lovingly provide immeasurably
more than all we ask or imagine.
We have been able to accomplish
and be a part of more incredible
events that we would ever have
been able to dream.
And
through it all, our God has been
there, never letting us down,
always challenging us but
always, always being there for
us. Even when the answer to our
situation required an action that
went far beyond natural means,

He provided it! The food multiplied time and time again; the ship stopped dead in the water to avoid a
collision or the one freed from being six foot aground (when all logic defied it!); parts and equipment we
required suddenly turning up; supernatural healings and unsurpassed favor we experienced time and
again.
The second undeniable fact is this Gods people have risen to every occasion and made this wonderful
dream come true. You, who sit down at your desk and write an unsolicited check out of your hard earned
savings to help pay for our fuel, electricity, insurance and all the routine expenses that any effort incurs.
Do you understand how amazing that is? We do!
You, who hear about our needs and diligently pray that God will bring our answer. Do you realize how
powerful that is? We certainly do. Or you, who have taken time from your busy and full lives to travel

here or bring a team to help push us toward the mark. For these past 10,950 days, we woke up each
morning to a team of people, willing to work hard for no pay, only for the love of Jesus! We praise God
for this and for being able to provide a roof over all our heads and food to eat, each and every day. Do you
know how unbelievable that is? We definitely do! It is only the Lords anointing, His call, His kindness
and generosity, along with you, His precious people, who make Friend Ships what it is; you, Gods

One of the early crews

people, who are given a choice to remain blessed and comfortable in what you have earned OR rise up
and stand with the Lord to meet the poor in their time of need, to go the extra mile, purely because of your
love of God. You choose God and it is utterly awesome!
As we celebrate a great event, October 2nd, many will join us here who have been part of this great ride
in one way or another. Many of our Captains, Engineers and dear friends, have gone on to be with the
Lord. But for those of us still here, we will rejoice! We celebrate the thousands of faces we have seen,
coming humbly to us for a helping hand and the magnificent fact that we could help them. We celebrate
the thousands of souls who have cried out for a relationship with the One True God and we have known
in what direction to lead them. We celebrate the thousands of Christians, young and old, who have come
from around the world to work hard physical labor and endure tough circumstances, day after day with
only the knowledge that they are serving and pleasing Jesus as a reward. We celebrate the overwhelming
faithfulness of the Lord-faithful to provide what we need yes, and faithful to help us mature, to grow us
up in Him, to teach us His ways and to hold us in His arms and let us know we are loved just when we
needed it the most.
Friends, please celebrate with us! It is truly a time to rejoice! What a tragedy it is for people who dont
have a relationship with Jesus. They miss all this abundant life that He came and died to give to us. We
so look forward to the next 30 years and remain committed to developing a continually stronger team that
the Lord may call on, whatever the need, a team deeply rooted and established in love. Our mission
remains to collect and distribute fresh food to needy families, deliver humanitarian aid to foreign
countries, bring medical care, provide disaster relief and train and develop young Christians as leaders.
Our goals include training teams equipping Christians for the work of the Kingdom, building character,
developing skills, inspiring people to fulfill their calling and stand strong in faith, shining the light of
Jesus love on a hill. We are committed to reaching people, being available to the Lord to go where and
when He calls us meeting physical needs, leading people to Christ, strengthening their faith, giving
believers an opportunity to serve, being a demonstration of who Christ is, His loving, giving, kind and
caring nature. We are ready and willing and because the Lord is with us, we are able. Ephesians 3:20 says
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power
that is at work within us.
Thank you for being such a vital part of all this! Do you know how tremendous that is?? WE DO. We
love you!
Together in Christ,

Don and Sondra Tipton and the Friend Ships Teams