Midland, Texas (March 15, 2023) – YWAM Barbados started off its 2023 year of Christian programs and ministry outreach with a team of nine missionaries from Pennsylvania, and 16 young adult seekers from Denmark, USA, Canada, Switzerland and Germany who arrived at the base in mid to late February. The Pennsylvania team came with great construction and building skills and are part of a group that has a long history and relationship with the organization tracing back to the tenure of former YWAM Barbados Base Leader Bill Landis. The young adults are part of the Mission Builders International, a program which YWAM Barbados participates in to give youth the opportunity to volunteer, seek and serve Christ.

The week of February 27^th saw the construction team and mission builders undertaking several construction ministry projects on the YWAM Barbados campus, which is a more than 200 year old former sugar plantation, repurposed to serve God and currently offering community nights, youth camps, training and meeting rooms, a prayer room for quiet reflection, a community market, and Discipleship Training School. The base experienced damage during the 2021 hurricane season and the construction ministry included roof repairs, electrical upgrades, bathroom and housing remodeling, the completion of the removal of uprooted trees and tree trimming. The Construction Ministry program, which was under the leadership of one of the base leaders Jack McCall, supports YWAM Barbados’ campus development which helps expand and grow ministry capacity by increasing housing, meeting areas, classrooms and practical needs to run a campus.

In addition to the construction ministry, the Barbados partner of Marine Reach Global also fully restarted its community outreach initiatives with Mission Builders joining local YWAM Barbados volunteer and schools’ program leader Beverly Pinder in visits to local schools to conduct youth Bible study classes. These are part of the organization’s direct involvement in the neighboring areas that also include evangelism and the hosting of Christian video series, discussion and prayer nights at a local village community center.

Current YWAM Barbados Base Leader Rob Lucerne said, “It is rewarding for all of us to be able to welcome missionaries back to our campus and see the hands and feet of God at work in our midst. While we still had some limited programs running during the past two years of COVID restrictions, we are now getting things going again fully, and we’re thankful to the team from Pennsylvania, the Mission Builders, our dedicated volunteers and for the recent visit from our Founders Bill and Val Landis who shared their wisdom and blessed us with their presence here.”

About Marine Reach Global

Marine Reach Global is a family of ministries (and non-profit organization) committed to demonstrating the love of Christ and promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ through medical care, construction, supplies distribution, community and education outreach. MRG oversees the operations and fulfills its mission through the works of the MV Pacific Hope, SY Next Wave and YWAM Barbados.

Midland, Texas (March 7, 2023)  – Marine Reach Global (MRG) today announced the successful kickoff to its 2023 Ministry Outreach program with community outreaches from February 26^th through March 4^th 2023 in Manacapuru, Brazil on the Amazon River where the MV Pacific Hope, MRG’s flagship medical relief and Christian ministry outreach vessel, is currently visiting. With the generous support of our many donors and volunteers, along with the prayers of our supporters Marine Reach Global was able to conduct a Bible Outreach ministry down in the town’s riverfront market and partner with three local organizations that included an orphanage, a disability center catering to persons of all ages, and a senior citizens home.

Since the COVID 19 outbreak, Marine Reach Global has continued its ministry outreaches, sometime with just the crew on its vessels because of international travel restrictions and the difficulties encountered by volunteers trying to comply with regularly changing country entry requirements. This 2023 kickoff outreach saw the return of the lifeblood of our Christian ministry efforts with five volunteers joining the MRG leadership team and Pacific Hope crew to visit social service organizations in Manacapuru to pray, play and show the love of God through the vision and eyeglass clinics, Bible distribution, youth Christian themed crafts and games, and with blessings of donations of needed supplies.

MRG’s Captain Marvin Wilson who led the outreach said, “Marine Reach Global’s mission is to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ showing His love through our Christian community outreach and Bible distribution. We pray with, help in various ways and introduce people to God through our examples of His love.” He noted, “It is hard to truly state how ecstatic I am about the success of our 2023 kickoff ministry outreach in the Amazon. Our outreach team was able to work with three great organizations Casa Esperanza [House of Hope] a local orphanage, APAE (Assoc. de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais [Association of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional] a group working with and on behalf of persons with disabilities) and Espaço Acolher Casa de Sara, a senior home and spend time with their communities in conversation, conducting eyeglass clinics, playing with the children and sharing stories of our culture and missionary outreach, while also learning about the gracious people of Brazil.”

Marine Reach Global is planning more outreaches and mission trips for 2023. Captain Marvin said, “We are looking for individuals, churches and even company groups who are interested in volunteering and joining us on our Amazon Outreach.” He urged everyone to visit the MRG website at marinereachglobal.org to check for outreach dates adding that MRG is also looking for volunteer crew interested in longer term engagements. “This is also a great opportunity for crew looking to answer the call to serve in the ministry and support our mission so I encourage them to check out those opportunities too,” he said.

About Marine Reach Global

Marine Reach Global is a family of ministries (and non-profit organization) committed to demonstrating the love of Christ and promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ through medical care, construction, supplies distribution, community and education outreach. MRG oversees the operations and fulfils its mission through the works of the MV Pacific Hope, SY Next Wave and YWAM Barbados.