History of the Old Ship of Zion

God said, “I give unto you a ship. You are to call it the Old Ship of Zion, and you are the Captain. And, you are to have the government that is aboard a ship.”

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     Ever since hearing these words so many years ago, I have often asked God the question, "Where is the ship?" I had pastored a church in downtown Hayward, California on "C" Street and Foothill Blvd. It consisted of misled "Jesus Freaks," hippies, street people and surprisingly some of the elite of Castro Valley. They were great meetings, with the power of God present in a dynamic way at each service.

 

The Ur of the Chaldees for the Ship was Hayward, CA

     Still, it was a far cry from the words I heard God speak, "I give unto you a ship that will be called The Old Ship of Zion, and you are the Captain." If God speaks today, we expect the answer tomorrow. I named my church in Hayward, "The Old Ship of Zion." In spite of its success, I kept on asking God, "Where is the ship?"

 

"Where is the ship?" I tried radio in Auburn, CA

     I went on the radio out of Auburn, California, with a Sunday morning program, still anticipating a manifestation of the ship. To my disappointment, hardly anyone felt the need to support my broadcast.
     So, I abandoned radio, with the same question to God, "Where is the ship?"

 

Still asking God, "Where is the ship?" RBN is born.

     I have been busy over the past seven years publishing a newsletter called "The RiverBank News." I believe what Jesus said, "Freely ye have received, freely give." (Matt. 10:8) But in over seven years we only had one "partner of the ministry." By definition this is one who will contribute $25 a month regularly for the continuance of the ministry. Annie Rowe, a 78-year-old songbird from the Tennessee hills, was our sole partner. All the time, I am asking God, "Where is this ship?"

     It is like God challenging us to "launch out into the deep" where the big fish live. We became tired of muddy riverbanks where only crawdads, mudsuckers and catfish survive. So, if you let down your net and catch a mugwump, what do you do with it? You certainly can't welcome it aboard. Imagine being afraid to hurt a mudsuckers feelings by throwing it back?

     Seven is God's number. After seven years, we are abandoning The RiverBank News completely. It is like God is instructing us to let down the net on the other side of the ship; the other side of the ship being the Internet. These are untried waters for our nets! Fishing in and around a riverbank is entirely different from where ocean liners go. The Old Ship of Zion has been like a ship searching for the deep. "Deep calleth unto deep." (Ps. 42:7) You must fish in deep water to get big fish.

 

The Deep Waters of the Internet Will Produce the Ship

     We are going on the Internet, out into the deep water. Perhaps, we will catch a marlin. Anyway, I feel my time spent as a pastor, on the radio, and being faithful for the past seven years of publishing The RiverBank News, equipped me for this hour "to let the nets down on the other side of the ship." "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." (Mark 1:17)

     This story of my life reminds me of the call of Abraham. God kept on talking and talking to Abraham about how He would bless his seed. "Unto thy seed will I give this land." (Genesis 12:7)
     Abraham was a young man when God first called him from the Ur of the Chaldees to go to a land that He would show him. Abraham did not know where he was going, yet he left the land of his nativity.

     Can't you see the difference between the walk of Abraham and that of a "hireling" who preaches in a stationary church that never moves? Why? It is not a ship. Ships move upon the water, which is a type of the Word of God. One cannot move an ocean liner up a river! Why not? There's not enough water. One can maneuver cult boats, and religions of emotion on boats with paddles. These boats require a minimum of water--a few scattered, unconnected scriptures--and can paddle their way in shallow, muddy water. False doctrine is what muddies up the water. But a crawdad loves mud! Everyone will not be saved. They will find some cheap comfort zone to escape the humiliation of defeat. "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied FROM HIMSELF." (Proverbs 14:14)

 

The Church Teaches Christians Need to Love Themselves!

     The church teaches Christians to first love themselves! Exactly the doctrine of humanism and the positive thinking approach to Christianity. Even if you win, you are still a loser because ultimately the question is, Who gets the glory?

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Abraham Did Not Know Where He Was Going

     "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." (Hebrews 11:8) Abraham never knew when he had arrived in the Promised Land. God had to tell him. God told him after Lot had chosen "the well watered plains of Jordan." (Gen. 13:10)

     Could it be that I have waited my entire life, and grown old like Abraham before he saw any seed. "Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised." (Hebrews 11:11)

 

Like Sara, "She Judged God Faithful Who Had Promised."

     I believe, like Sara, I "have judged God faithful who had promised," as well. "I give unto you a ship. You are to call it The Old Ship of Zion, and you are the Captain."

​The Captain