Seorang
pembaca blog Helen Ang telah berkongsi pengalamannya diperdaya
(“duped”) oleh laporan indah The Star untuk
membuat lawatan ke sebuah kapal mubaligh yang mendakwah agama
Kristian.
Operation
Mobilisation: “For decades, OM’s ships have travelled the world
supplying literature, helping people in need,
motivating Christians,
training young people and sharing
the Good News of God’s love.”
(sumber:
http://www.om.org/en/what-we-do/ships)
Jemputan NECF
Mengikut
laporan Borneo
Post,
kapal MV
Logos Hope telah
diundang ke Malaysia oleh National Evangelical Christian Fellowship
(NECF).
NECF
seperti yang kita ketahui ada hubungan dengan politikus evangelis DAP
serta pengerusinya Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng pernah mempersoalkan Perkara
153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan sebagai membuli lain-lain kaum —
laporan ‘Perkasa
gesa akta hasutan pada paderi Eu‘ (Malaysiakini).

“Logos
Hope
is also here to bless the community through conferences and seminars
on board, through ministry
teams sent on outreach,
and through a two-week volunteer programme for Malaysians to
experience work and service on the ship.”.
“Those
interested in the volunteer or “DEEP Discipleship” programme
(Discipleship, Exposure to Missions, Express His Love, Practical
Work) can choose from two phases in Port Klang from 29 Sept to 11
Oct, and 12 to 23 Oct. Volunteers work in one
of the ship’s departments, and are
discipled
through evangelism, Bible studies and ministry.”.
“Christian
leaders
looking to partner with Logos Hope for ministry opportunities can
contact Jessica Kiely (email jessica.kiely@gbaships.org or mobile
012-281 9054) for onboard conferences and seminars, and Jongmin Lee
(email jongmin.lee@gbaships.org or mobile 012-281 9043), for
ministry and outreach teams.”.
- “Paid
tours of the ship for church
groups
can also be arranged daily except on Mondays. Tour bookings will be
on a first-come, first-serve basis. [...] A
global ministry such as Logos Hope’s requires funding, and gifts
from local churches will be welcomed.”
.
Maklumat
di atas tentang kegiatan-kegiatan dakwah
MV Logos Hope
dipaparkan di laman sesawang NECF Malaysia. Terang-terang ia sebuah
kapal mubaligh.
Malah
nama kapal tersebut pun sudah terang lagi bersuluh. ‘Logos’
bermakna
“lord”/”god”. Ia perkataan bahasa Yunani yang mambawa
maksud
“the Word of God, made incarnate in Jesus Christ”.
Jadi
kenapa pula The
Star
enggan memaklumkan hal yang sebenar tentang fungsi dan matlamat
dakwah Kristian kapal tersebut?
Nampaknya
suratkhabar milik MCA ini bersubahat dengan gerakan Jerusubang.
“Helen,
Sometime
in late 2011, The
Star
run almost on daily basis news to promote a ship by the name of MV
Logos Hope
docked in Port Klang. Star
said the ship is a floating book fair that offers 5,000 titles at
affordable price ranging from sport, hobbies, cookery, arts,
medicine, language and philosophy.
The
Star
further said, the ship is operated by GBA ships, a charitable
organisation from Germany and crewed by volunteers.
What
we discovered after our visit there, most of the books are Christian
literatures and philosophy. The ship is operated by German Christian
charitable organisation.
The
Star
conveniently hiding the facts about the Christian Charitable
organisation, the books are almost exclusively Christian books and
the crews are Christian missionaries.
We
are fine with all these but the efforts to go Port Klang all the way
are not worthwhile and felt being duped by The
Star.
You may Google
The Star
archives on MV
Logos Hope.
Nothing mentioned about Christian books, Christian missionaries or
Christian Charitable Organisation based in Germany. A very subtle
“dakwah Kristian” and The
Star
are deliberate.
You
talk about
The Star
promoting “personality cult” evangelist and very “berkiblatkan
envengalis” in their values….a very true observation indeed…
I
still read The
Star
today but I am very suspicious of their agenda.”
The Star
kuat mempromosi Kristian
Kapal
MV
Logos Hope
dikendalikan oleh sebuah badan amal KRISTIAN.
Akan
tetapi The
Star
sengaja tidak menyebut ‘Kristian’ – hanya ia dikatakan oleh
suratkhabar itu berulang-ulang kali bahawa “MV Logos Hope is
operated by GBA Ships e.V. – an international, charitable
organisation registered in Germany”.
Sebenarnya
ia sebuah “Christian
charitable
organisation registered in Germany”.

‘
Meskipun
The
Star
telah memuatkan sejumlah 9 rencana tentang kapal ini dalam tempoh 4
Sept-16 Okt 2011, namun tidak sekalipun ada perkataan ‘Kristian’
disebut. (Keputusan
Google search di kaki halaman)
Maka
adanya orang Melayu dan orang Islam yang termakan pujuk untuk melawat
sebuah kapal yang membawa mubaligh-mubaligh Kristian mendakwah ke
serata dunia.
The
Star
mempromosikan “pesta buku terapung” itu dengan berkata
judul-judul meliputi subjek sains, sukan, kegemaran (hobi), masakan,
seni, perubatan, falsafah dan bahasa.
Sebenarnya
kebanyakan buku-buku yang dijual adalah buku-buku Kristian.
Cuba
tengok bagaimana berita tentang kapal ini dilaporkan oleh media
(negara) lain:
“The
floating library will also produce an on-board interactive program
dubbed ‘Greatest Treasure,’ an hour-long imaginary voyage with
an eccentric pirate crew, games, puppet show and a
Christ-centered message of hope for the children.”
— ‘Biggest
floating library visits Subic Bay‘ (Philippines Information
Agency).
-
“a
book fair featuring over 5,000 different titles of educational and
Christian
books”
(Wikipedia).
“Not
all of the vessel’s 400
Christian crewmembers
will be helping keep Logos
Hope
shipshape during the dry dock period. Over 200 of those normally on
board have headed inland to serve communities across Sri Lanka.”
(Christian
Telegraph)
‘Logos Hope
welcomes two millionth visitor’
Cuba
bandingkan liputan berita tentang pelawat ke-2 juta yang disiarkan di
laman Christian
Today
(9 Sept 2011) dengan liputan The
Star
(4 Sept 2011).
Dalam
Christian
Today,
ia dilaporkan bahawa “Operation Mobilisation’s ministry ship,
Logos
Hope,
has welcomed on board her two millionth visitor. Local businessman
Maha Vishnu stepped onto the ship in the port of Penang in Malaysia
on September 3.”
Latar
Kristian mubaligh kapal MV
Logos Hope
dilaporkan tanpa berselindung oleh media asing.
“He
was greeted at the top of the gangway by Captain Tom Dyer, Director
Gian Walser and cheering members of the
crew, made up entirely of Christian
volunteers.
The
12,000 ton vessel was launched two and a half years ago to replace
Logos II, which went into retirement after more than two decades of
bringing
the Gospel to the world.
[...]
The
ship is stocked with 5,000
Christian and educational books
available for purchase by locals wherever it is docked, a vital
opportunity in areas where resources are scarce.
Mr
Vishnu was joined by his wife Malina, six-year-old son Mahvandra, and
four-year-old Trishikia.
He
was presented with a bag of Logos Hope merchandise and a voucher to
spend in the onboard ship fair. [...] Not expecting the special
treatment, Mr Vishnu commented, “I think I am the luckiest person!”
The
vessel is scheduled to remain in Penang until September 27, after
which it will sail to other ports around Malaysia before docking in
the Philippines at the end of the year.”
Saya
salin tampal (di
bawah)
rencana-rencana yang disiarkan oleh The
Star.
Cuba
bandingkan dengan laporan The
Star yang
juga turut memetik peni)ga (orang bisnes) Mahavishnu Veerasingam
tersebut sebagai berkata dirinya “amat bertuah” kerana menjadi
pelawat ke-2 juta yang diberi hadiah baucer percuma serta layanan
istimewa.
Namun
berlainan dengan laporan media asing, The
Star
tidak sekalipun menyebut tentang latar dan kegiatan Kristian di atas
kapal tersebut.
Cuba
anda baca sendiri The
Star (di bawah).
Rencana-rencana The
Star
4
Sept 2011: Logos gets two millionth visitor.
GEORGE
TOWN: A visitor to the book fair on Logos Hope was pleasantly
surprised to be named the two millionth visitor to the ship.
Businessman
Mahavishnu Veerasingam, his wife and two children had come
onboard at 1.20pm yesterday and were congratulated by Captain Tom
Dyer and Logos Hope director Gian Walser.
They
presented Mahavishnu with a goodie bag and a gift certificate worth
RM160 to shop at the book fair and took the family on a tour of the
ship’s bridge.
“I
feel like the luckiest guy in Penang. This is such a pleasant
surprise for me and my family,” said Mahavishnu who came with his
wife Malini Bismar, 29, and children Mahvendra, six, and Trishika,
four.

Personal
tour: Walser (left) and Captain Dyer taking Mahavishnu and his family
around the book fair area yesterday
Mahavishnu,
33, said he was looking forward to buying some fiction, non-fiction
and adventure books.
Dyer
said that it was a big milestone for Logos Hope which has been
sailing since 2009.
“We
have had very encouraging response in all the countries we visited,”
he said, adding that the ship received its one millionth visitor in
Liberia in August last year.
Logos
Hope media relations officer Jessie LaPlue said the ship received
more than 11,000 visitors a day during the recent Hari Raya-Merdeka
public holidays.
Penang
is Logos Hope’s first stop in the country. It will sail to Port
Klang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu before heading for Singapore.
.
15
Sept 2011: Port Klang stop for floating book fair
KLANG:
After docking in Penang, the world’s largest floating book fair
onboard MV Logos Hope will be in Port Klang from Sept 29 until Oct
23.
MV
Logos Hope will berth at the Port Klang Cruise Centre, Pulau Indah
(formerly known as Star Cruises Terminal, West Port), on its maiden
voyage around the world.
The
fair will be opened to the public from 10am to 10pm from Tuesdays to
Saturdays, and 3pm to 10pm on Sundays.
It
will be closed on Monday. Tickets only cost RM1 and admission is free
for children under 12 who are accompanied by an adult.
The
book fair offers an expanded selection of over 5,000 books at
affordable prices.
They
cover a range of subjects including science, sports, hobbies,
cookery, arts, medicine, languages and philosophy.
MV
Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships e.V. – an international,
charitable organisation registered in Germany.
30
Sept 2011: Biggest floating book fair in town
PORT
KLANG: The world’s biggest floating book fair the MV Logos Hope has
arrived at the cruise centre here.
The
vessel, with almost half a million books from over 5,000 titles, will
be here until Oct 23, Logos Hope managing
director Gian Walser said.
“The
ship is making its maiden voyage around the world and Malaysia is the
first eastern country we are berthing at,” Walser said yesterday
during the book fair’s opening ceremony.

Book
lovers: Visitors browsing for books on board the MV Logos Hope at the
Port Klang Cruise Centre Thursday.
The
vessel had previously docked at Penang and will be making its next
stop at Kuching before proceeding to Kota Kinabalu.
Some
130,000 people are said to have visited the ship in Penang.
“Logos
Hope is not just a ship with many books or a travelling international
community. It is, in fact, a vision to make a difference in this
world.
“Our
sole purpose is to bring knowledge, help and hope to the people
around the world,” Walser said.
The
book supply is from donors in United Kingdom and United States, while
several publishers had also donated their books, he said.
“Our
store has never run out of supply as we have good Samaritans filling
them up,” he added.
Deputy
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Senator Heng Seai
Kie said the book fair was a good way to learn the diversified
culture around the world.
Impressed
with the non-salaried volunteers and crew on board, Heng also
expressed hope that more Malaysians would take part in the journey.
There
are now five Malaysians on board the Logos Hope, including a doctor,
while another 25 are expected to be recruited soon.
The
fair will be open to the public from 10am to 10pm from Tuesdays to
Saturdays, and 3pm to 10pm on Sundays. It will be closed on Monday.
Tickets
only cost RM1 and admission is free for children under 12 who are
accompanied by an adult.
The
books cover a range of subjects including science, sports, hobbies,
cookery, arts, medicine, languages and philosophy.
MV
Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships e.V. an international charitable
organisation registered in Germany.
.
4
Oct 2011: Living their dreams on board the ‘Logos Hope’
PORT
KLANG: Sailing around the world and doing volunteer work without a
monthly salary is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Five
Malaysians, however, feel that they are living their dreams by
volunteering on MV Logos Hope. In fact, they don’t even mind paying
for the accommodation and food.
“This
has to be one the best choices I have ever made,” said private
practitioner Dr
Moses Lee, 69, of his decision to be a part of the world’s
largest floating book fair on the ship.
Dr
Lee and his 69-year-old wife Leow Hian Yook, a retired nurse, have
two more months to go before completing their 13-month stint.
They
have been enjoying their time on the vessel, despite several bouts of
seasickness.
“We
believe life has just begun for us as we still feel young and
vibrant,” said Leow, who worked at Hospital Kuala Lumpur for 27
years before leaving on humanitarian missions with her husband.
Leow
said their three grown-up children were initially against the idea of
them sailing around the world.
“They
were worried about our safety. But they relented when we told them of
our dreams,” she added.
MV
Logos Hope, which is run by a charitable organisation in Germany,
will be here until Oct 23.
With
about 400 volunteers, the book fair offers about 5,000 titles at
affordable prices.
The
book fair is opened to the public from 10am to 10pm (Tuesdays to
Saturdays) and 3pm to 10pm on Sundays.
Another
volunteer, Cheah Suet Yee, 27, a media and communication graduate,
said: “I had always wanted to be a part of it. Luckily, I managed
to join them this time by signing up for a 52-day programme,” she
said.
Cheah
has about 20 days to complete her service.
As
for Lim Zhun Ming, 19, he has just completed his A-Level
examinations.
“I
believe some day I will earn a modest income. For now, I feel it is
better that I venture into humanitarian work and learn about the
world,” Lim said.
Meanwhile,
Plusliner Travel & Tours will be providing bus services to visit
the floating library. There will be two departures points Terminal
Bersepadu Selatan-Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS-BTS) and Port Klang KTM
commuter station.
The
service will cost between RM8 and RM21. For more information, please
call 1-300-888-KTB (528).
.

16
Oct 2011: Living with less
Imagine
volunteering your family to serve on board a ship for two years.
Yes, kids included.
WE
are a typical suburban American family from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This is not what people like us usually do,” says Todd Sprinkel,
laughing.

“Our
families were completely against it. We even had people take us out
to dinner, sit us down and try to talk us out of it. Or try to
convince us to at least let the kids stay with them while Molly and
I went off!”
But
Sprinkel, 48, and his family didn’t listen to such advice and have
now been on board the Logos Hope for seven and a half months.
Todd
and wife Molly, 47; sons Jonah, 16; Luke, 14; and Caleb, 13; and
daughter Moriah, 11, are gathered in their cosy little cabin on
board the world’s largest floating bookstore for our interview;
the ship is docked at Port Klang, Selangor, until next Sunday.
About
10 years ago, the Sprinkels made a decision that would change their
lives. Todd took his whole family on board a Mercy ship, with his
oldest just six years old at the time and his youngest, a
one-year-old baby.

Sprinkels,
ahoy: (From left) Todd, Caleb, Moriah, Molly, Luke and Jonah in the
living area of their family cabin on board the Logos Hope. — S.S.
Kanesan/The Star
*
Full story in The Star today.
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