Global Maritime Ministries is an organization here in New Orleans (and in at least one other location in South Louisiana) that seeks to minister to the men and women who come in to the Port of New Orleans on ships. Not 75-year-old sunburned men in Hawaiian t-shirts and black socks coming back from their 5th cruise this year. GMM focuses on the men and women who work on those ships (cruise, cargo, and various other kinds of ships) and spend months at a time out at sea and away from their families. GMM has a ministry center down near the port where the ships’ crew can find a place to hang out and play games, get on the internet, make international phone calls to family thousands of miles away, and just have someone to talk to. They offer them rides to and from the ship to local stores and just generally just seek to meet the needs of these men and women. These are all ways that the people of Global Maritime Ministries have found to show the love of Christ to people who sometimes feel very alone and homesick. They’re doing an incredible work. So when I was asked to donate a portrait session for the silent auction they were having to raise money for the organization, I didn’t even think twice about it. They are supported entirely by donors. They exist because people give.

Enter the Townsend family. Ron, Amy, and their two girls moved here from Georgia just three months ago. God has called this family to international missions, so they left the comfortable and familiar to move to New Orleans so Ron could finish Seminary. Difficult decision, especially with three school-age girls. Since moving here, they’ve already become involved in the work going on at Global Maritime Ministries, and on the night of the auction, Amy was the winning bidder. I’m so glad. I feel blessed to have met them and been a part of their lives, if only for a couple of hours. Ron & Amy, I hope you will keep in touch…I’m excited to see how God is going to use you guys AND your girls to spread His glory among the nations. I hope you love your pictures…I think you guys are beautiful…