Help Wanted

Captain Barnaby Blackwood was a seafarer of no small reputation. Tales of his voyages spanned continents.  Battles fought, storms weathered, and treasures recovered were just a small portion of his reputation. But now the old captain found himself facing a problem more daunting than snow squalls, hurricanes, or even pirates.

His beloved ship, The Sea Serpent, once a bustling hive of adventure, lay silent at the docks. The crew, once full of life and laughter, had dwindled. Some had aged out. Others had traded sea legs for stability. Now, with her sails and decks silent, Blackwood faced the greatest challenge of his seafaring career.  He needed to recruit a new crew.

In desperation, he nailed a weathered sign to a tavern wall. It read:

“Wanted: Strong backs, stout hearts, and a willingness to face the unknown. Low wages, hard work, and the occasional encounter with pirates and tempests guaranteed.”

The next morning, more men than the docks could hold lined up to answer the call.
 

Not Sailors, But Servants

I’m not writing a help wanted sign for sailors. I’m writing one for servants. Not to move chairs in the fellowship hall, but to move hearts toward the Savior.

I’m looking for men and women who care more about the Kingdom than their comfort. Followers of Christ who are willing to walk into their communities, not merely as friendly faces, but as living witnesses with the hope of the Gospel.

I’m not talking about dropping off a tract, knocking on a stranger’s door, or hanging an invite on a doorknob. Those things have a place, but they are honestly easy in comparison to what I’m asking you to do.

I’m asking you to know your community.  To let them see Christ in you and hear Christ from you. To care enough to learn their stories, discover their wounds, and offer them the only hope that truly heals. We can do nothing for the kingdom cowering in comfort.

There are three ships docked at the port.  All three need sailors (servants), and all three are essential if we’re serious about reaching our communities for Christ. Each one is important and has its challenges as we set our sails to reach others for the Savior.  

1. The Familiar — The Ship of Proximity

This is the vessel docked closest to home. It’s your neighborhood, your workplace, your inner circle.  These are the people who see your life up close. The Gospel opportunity here is constant, needed, and wanted. It’s time to hoist the sail, identify as a Christian, and speak the name of Christ to those who already know you.

This ship rarely leaves the harbor, but it’s by far the most overlooked sea to sail!

2. The Frequent — The Ship of Rhythm

This ship follows your weekly routes—your coffee stop, gym, grocery run, or ballfield. These aren’t accidental or coincidental; they are divine appointments in disguise. It’s time to stop sailing past these souls and start steering toward intentional conversations.  These interactions may seem casual, but they present genuine opportunities. A simple “How are you doing?” might and often does open a door to share the hope of the Gospel.  People don’t care how much you know until they realize you truly care.  

This ship travels familiar waters, but the vessels surrounding you are often invisible until you look with the scope of the gospel.

3. The Frontier — The Ship of Adventure

This is the ship you must choose to board. You set the course. You chart the waters. Your compass is not pointing true north but to true needs.  It takes effort, risk, and time. It could be a cycling club, a business networking group, a PTA, or even a martial arts class. I know a pastor who joined a jiu-jitsu gym not just to get in shape, but to reach people who would never visit his church.

Jesus was intentional.  He must needs go through Samaria to a well.  He accepted various invitations to sit in the homes of the lost.  He even walked past the despised tax tables to look at a man by the name of Levi. He entered people’s lives with compassion and clarity. We must do the same.

“This ship sails into uncharted waters where comfort ends and calling begins.”

Captain Blackwood wasn’t just recruiting sailors; he was calling men into something greater than themselves. He didn’t promise ease. He offered meaning. In the same way, Jesus is not calling us to sit in ease, but to sail His Sovereign seas. 

Help is wanted.  Are you willing to set sail today?