Good news from thousands of sails and good news from all over the world
Interview with Tao Hailin about seafarers’ ministry
After praying, Tao Hailin looked at the obscene and pornographic calendar in his cabin. "The calendar on your wall is not good," he said, "Can you take it off and let us take it away?" "Yes!" As soon as this person finished speaking, something even more surprising happened to me; another person was baptized on the same day. One sailor couldn't wait to say: "I also have one in my room, I'll get it to you."
⋯⋯The whistle sounded, and he was about to leave. A Filipino seaman rushed over, grabbed his hand tightly, and said, "Please pray for me, my family..." It turns out that God has sent people from all over the world to When people are brought to our doorstep, all we have to do is get up from our seats, open the door, and invite them in for a chance to receive the gospel. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19) What I can do is that I am willing to "go"!
▲Tao Hailin (the one wearing glasses in the middle seat) and his family (first to fourth from right) take photos with the seafarers they care for.
The Port of Houston is one of the important ports in the southern United States. Cargo ships from all over the world unload and load cargo here every day; after taking a short rest, they set sail again. In this port with frequent traffic, the old pastor Malone has been boarding cargo ships for many years to care for these lonely seafarers. The old pastor, who has been suffering from illness for a long time, has a capable co-worker after years of working alone in seafarers' ministry. It was Brother Tao Hailin, a missionary from Taiwan.
New to seafarers’ ministry
Tao Hailin believed in the Lord as early as 1965 and immediately started serving in the ministry. His first contact with seafarers was in 1991 when he and Brother Lu Yingdao sang hymns on a ship. This gradually became a routine—picking up seafarers to worship at church on Sundays.
After the September 11th incident in 2001, the number of seafarers who could receive "landing certificates" to disembark from the ship dropped sharply. In order to cope with this restriction, Tao Hailin's service method also flexibly changed to leading the choir on board the ship, leading the seafarers to worship and praise together, and in a brief Make a call to make a decision immediately after the sermon.
Another impact of the 9/11 incident was that seafarers were unable to talk to their families while sailing. After entering port, they were still unable to go ashore and call home because they did not have a "landing permit". Therefore, purchasing phone cards for seafarers has become one of his routine tasks.
In order to ease the boring and monotonous life of seafarers at sea for a long time, supplying them with a large number of gospel magazines, hymns and gospel audio tapes is also an important service project.
Tao Hailin, who has rich experience in missionary work, asks every sailor he meets for the first time if he has read the Bible directly because of the short berth time limit. Would you like to pray together? Because he said: "Prayer and Bible reading are indispensable. The two are like the wings of an eagle. Without one, it cannot spread its wings and soar."
▲In the interview camp, the interview team members were all moved by Tao Hailin’s touching story and heavy burden.
Front row from left: Li Mei, Tao Zhaozhuju, Tao Hailin; back row from left: Wang Jin, Li Jinling, Li Yuzhen, Hu Liyan, Chen Huimei.
Full time commitment
In 2003, Tao Hailin left his job as an architect and devoted himself entirely to the ministry of seafarers. In addition to Chinese ships, it has also expanded to visit ships from Russia, Turkey, India, South Korea, Japan, etc., and has also prepared Bibles in different languages for sailors of all races.
He visits the port at least twice a week and stays on the ship for an hour or two each time. When he meets a friendly and open-minded captain or first mate, he is also invited to have lunch together. Meal time is also the only time that all shift seafarers can gather together. When traveling, this timing and the unique afternoon tea time on Indian ships became his best time to preach the gospel. He often showed the movie "The Life of Jesus" or "The Passion of the Jesus" at this time, and then prayed and called Call.
Speaking of the seafarers he serves, they can be roughly divided into three categories. Tao Hailin analyzed: "The first category is those who are Buddhists themselves or their families and are very repulsive to the gospel; the second category are those who are not very repellent and may be Buddhists or Muslims. background, but are willing to talk about the difference between the Bible and the Koran; the third category is those whose hearts have been loosened and are willing to pray together. "In addition to the first category, which is more difficult to accept the Lord, seafarers are quite easy to accept the gospel among ordinary unbelievers.
Recalling the experience of sharing the gospel on the boat, the calm Tao Hailin couldn't help but raise his voice excitedly because there were so many stories that made him so happy. With a smile on his face, he told us several stories...
Once, after praying together in the cabin of a sailor who had decided to be baptized, Tao Hailin looked at the obscene and pornographic calendar in his cabin. "The calendar on your wall is not good," he said, "Can you take it off and let us take it away?" "Yes!" As soon as the man finished speaking, something even more surprising happened; he was baptized on the same day. Another sailor couldn't wait to say: "I also have one in my room, I'll get it to you."
Another time, the whistle blew and he was about to leave. A Filipino sailor rushed over, grabbed his hand tightly and said, "Please pray for me, something happened at home... I was doing something outside." I feel sorry for my wife, I know it’s wrong, but I can’t control myself, please pray for me.” They had met once before, and this time they met in a hurry, and the other party completely trusted him and was willing to let Tao Hailin pray for his private matters. .
Of course there are some fun memories too. Once when he led a sailor in prayer on a Turkish cargo ship, Tao Hailin said: "Thank you Lord, accept us, I am a sinner!" The other person followed without thinking: "Thank you Lord, accept us, I am a sailor (sinner)!" ).
Oh God! I'm willing to go
What inspired Tao Hailin to devote himself to such an "unpopular" ministry for a long time? Seeing the ships from all over the world parked at the port, he said with deep emotion: "It turns out that God has brought people from all over the world to our doorstep. All we have to do is get up from our seats, open the door, and invite them in. If there is a chance, Accept the gospel. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19) All I can do is go!"
Tao Hailin not only "went", but also brought a huge back-up, namely his virtuous wife Zhao Zhuju and his three sons. On Christmas Day in 2005, he brought his wife, second son, second daughter-in-law, and third son to form a small choir, went aboard the ship to sing Christmas hymns, and delivered a successful music sermon. Now many seafarers have decided to accept the Lord. Jesus was the Savior and was invited to go again the next day. He was particularly happy when he mentioned this experience, because serving with his family was his long-cherished wish.
When it comes to family, he has to mention his mother. He once mentioned to his sick mother that he intended to go to seminary, and specified a sum of money in his will for him to study in seminary. After six years of part-time studies, he has now completed most of the courses for a master's degree in biblical literature; after he became a full-time preacher, his wife Zhao Zhuju also willingly took up the family's livelihood. Three generations of this family work for the glory of God. , really gave it completely.
Like every servant of God, he also had times when he was deeply frustrated. That was whenever he encountered language barriers and encountered sailors who could not communicate in Chinese or English, and missed the opportunity to share the gospel, he became anxious. On the contrary, when he took the sailors to go shopping and watched them happily buying for their families far away, or talking to their families on the phone, that was when he felt most gratified.
No matter how ups and downs the road of service may be, what motivates him to keep moving forward is: "I am sending you to them, that their eyes may be opened, and that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; and that through faith "I have received forgiveness of sins and an inheritance with all who are sanctified." (Acts 26:18) This God's commission has led him through more than forty years of service, and he hopes that this passage will become a blessing to many. Encouragement from workers.
Oh God! Raise up co-workers!
Tao Hailin’s suggestion for “those who are willing to participate in this ministry” is: they can help transport seafarers to church for worship or to go shopping in Chinatown; if there are special festivals, seafarers can be invited to participate. Members in Christ who are willing to serve can even Serving as seafarers serves as a "warm-up" training for missionary work in other places. It would be better if you have received evangelism training such as the Three Blessings. If not, it doesn’t matter. The most important thing is to have the determination to serve.
He also urgently needs co-workers in various languages; in addition, used clothes, shoes, old magazines, music CDs, etc. can be transferred to seafarers. For any support, please contact Tao Hailin directly. His email is: thomastao@sbcglobal.net
Finally, there is another way that everyone can participate in the service, which is to pray faithfully and constantly for Tao Hailin’s health and safety on the way to and from Katy and the port three or four times a week, asking God to protect him day and night and keep him safe. Feng's footsteps are more steady and powerful.