Hi thorhooked:
Don't be dismayed by the negative answers and comments coming from this thread. You're doing a great thing and your heart is in the right place. You need to forgive these people and ignore them.
I understand where you're coming from and what you're trying to accomplish. My wife and I have similar aspirations when we retire. Currently we are in full-time pastoral ministry and have been for the past 34 years; and we have done extensive missionary work in the Caribbean and Central & South America.
We have brought teams of workers and helpers to many different countries in these areas to help, churches, schools, pastors, campgrounds, etc. We have also done lots of hurricane relief work and helped in these areas too. It has been a very rewarding life!
I also have a similar background as you, I too am a former diesel mechanic, welder, commercial fisherman, and my boating experience, and different my skill sets are varied and extensive also.
As a personal note, we purchased a 36' Grand Banks Classic Trawler that we plan on using for ministry when we retire and after owning it for a year, we realize that its probably NOT going to be big enough for our vision. So we are looking for something 48' or bigger. We also set up a 501-c3 non-profit organization with a board of directors made up of some great business men to help guide us in this ministry when we retire.
Just as an FYI, I have a friend in Maine who has been a very successful general contractor that bought a 80' motor yacht and does exactly the same thing as you want to do with your future boat. They keep their boat in the Bahamas and He invites pastors, missionaries, and other ministry related folks to come and stay on their yacht for a week at a time, and enjoy some R & R and spiritual renewal. This is all for free too. Of course, they have to work around hurricane season just as you do winter on the loop.
Those of us in ministry know that the average pastor in America is not well paid and works another job to make ends meet. He's also not on TV, doesn't have any published books or movies. They are pastors of a church that averages about 50 on Sunday mornings. Therefore they could hardly afford a retreat like this. As you know, I'm not knocking those that God has chosen to have a more public and larger ministry, I'm just saying that the great majority of pastors struggle to make ends meet.
I say all of this as an encouragement to you. You're doing great thing. I'd love to spend a week on your boat, somewhere on the loop, in our beautiful land and enjoy the creation! I get it. How it gets paid for is nobody's business. And you and I both know that there are lots of people who give away boats, cars, houses, planes and other things of value to many different charities around the world. I hear of it and see it all the time. I'm also a licensed yacht broker in Florida, working with a reputable company, so I speak from real knowledge and experience.
God bless you and your family and keep up the vision!!!
This is meant as personal message to thorhooked and to my friends here on the Trawler Forum, unless you have a positive response, please keep it to yourself and let's all stay nice and friendly and positive to another and treat people as you would like to be treated.
At least I didn't pick the Andy Griffith one.
