New Orleans Mission Trip

Personal testimony by Becky Culver

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I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for this mission trip. But what I found at that port changed something in me — and I don't think it will ever quite change back.

From the moment I arrived, it became clear that Global Maritime Ministry is something that could easily be overlooked by the world. These ship workers sail in from countries scattered across the globe, dock for a brief window of time, and then disappear back out to sea. Most people never think about them. But this ministry does — and being there to witness it firsthand was one of the most moving experiences of my life.

The Team

Steve & Sherri Gilley, Edy Fannin, Beck Culver, and
Theresa Stewart

Christmas at the port

One of the first things that struck me was the package delivery service. It sounds simple enough — a place for ship workers to receive packages — but the reality of what it means to these men was anything but simple. I watched as they tore open boxes, their faces lit with a joy that was almost impossible to contain. Some had ordered things for themselves, personal items they needed after long stretches at sea. Others had carefully chosen gifts for the families they hadn't seen in months.

One moment I will never forget: a grandfather pulled me over, beaming with pride, to show me the roller skates he had purchased for his granddaughter back home. He hadn't seen her in who knows how long. He wouldn't see her open them. But the love in his eyes as he held up those skates told me everything about why these men endure what they do. It was like watching Christmas morning happen right in front of me, and it broke my heart open in the best possible way.

The toiletries, cookies, and drinks we handed out were small things. But paired with a genuine human connection — someone looking these workers in the eye, treating them with care and dignity — they became something much larger. I could see the hunger for that connection in their faces. Many of them come from countries where speaking freely about faith isn't possible, where simply receiving kindness from a stranger is rare. Here, even for just an afternoon, that changed.

A young man from the Philippines

Of all the conversations I had, one stays with me above all others.

I met a young man from the Philippines. He didn't have a lot of time, but he gave me everything he had in those few minutes. His face lit up when he talked about his family — his wife Kristine, his high school sweetheart, and their two children waiting for him at home. He pulled out a map and showed me exactly where he lived, and together we traced the enormous distance between his home and New Orleans. He was signed on through the end of the year and was even considering extending his contract.

I kept thinking about what that means. To love your family so deeply that you are willing to spend months away from them, on the open sea, just to send money back home. The sacrifice was staggering. He was about to show me pictures of his family when our time ran out.

I still think about him. I pray for him, for Kristine, and for their children — every week. That conversation didn't just change my perspective on this trip. It changed the way I think about sacrifice, love, and what it means to provide for the people you hold dear.

God moving in the margins

Going into this trip, I prayed a simple prayer: Lord, take "me" out of "me." I wanted to get out of my own way. I wanted to stay focused on the mission — on the people we came to serve — and not let comfort or distraction pull me off course. And I believe God honored that prayer.

I saw Him moving in ways I didn't anticipate. He was using this ministry not just locally, but globally — touching lives in the Philippines, in Eastern Europe, in Africa, in countries I may never visit. I realized that through this port, the world had come to me. I didn't have to cross an ocean to share the love of Jesus with someone from another country. I just had to show up.

There were moments when ship workers were visibly hungry to hear the Word of God — genuinely open in a way that was striking. And the conversations that bloomed around a bag of toiletries and a cup of something cold became unexpected holy ground. God was faithful to give us opportunity after opportunity, and I am grateful we were there to receive them.

What I'm bringing home

I also made connections I didn't expect. I met a wonderful couple from Illinois who make this trip at least twice a year. They welcomed me like I'd always been part of the team, and I gleaned so much from their wisdom and experience. Our morning share and prayer times with the group were precious. Getting to know the hearts of the people I traveled with — that was a gift too.

When people ask me whether they should go on a mission trip like this, my answer is simple: yes, go. It's close. The need is real. And the opportunity to touch lives from around the world is unlike anything I expected.

But more than all of that — it was an honor. An honor to step into something bigger than myself, to be a small part of how God is moving through Maritime Ministries to impact the world for Jesus. I came to serve, and I left transformed.

"It was an honor to see how Maritime Ministries impacts the world for Jesus."

-Becky

May 2026

I Finally Said Yes — and It Changed Everything

By Danielle Dahlem · Midweek Kids Team Volunteer

I'll be honest with you — I said no for a long time. I was asked to serve on the Wednesday night kids team three or four times before I finally said yes. Each time, I prayed about it and asked God to use me where I was needed. But I kept hesitating. I wasn't sure I was the right person. I wasn't sure I could show up the way these kids deserved.

What changed my mind was thinking about my son Hunter. Watching everything he learned and absorbed between Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights — watching that foundation being laid in his life — made me want to be a part of building that same foundation for other kids. That was the moment I stopped waiting and said yes.

"I was scared I couldn't be used the way I needed to be — but after praying and saying yes, I was so wrong."

Walking into the unknown

Going into Wednesday nights, I knew it was going to be loud and a little crazy — but rewarding. When I started serving, Bethany was just beginning to lead, and honestly, it felt like an adjustment for everyone, including the kids. The structure was still taking shape. But even through all the noise and energy, something real was happening every single week.

From story time to crafts to dinner, I watched relationships form. I watched God move. The station-based setup — similar to what we do during VBS — gives kids a full evening of connection and learning, and it works. What started as something new for all of us has become something I look forward to every week.

What these kids already know

If you had told me before I started how much these kids already know, I'm not sure I would have believed you. But every week I get to serve, I am blown away. During story time and crafts, when we ask questions, these kids answer — and they answer with a depth and sincerity that warms my heart every single time.

One Wednesday stands out more than most. We talked about prayer — what it is, what it means, and how to do it. We made a craft that gave the kids ideas for what and who to pray about. As an adult, I know that's something most of us struggle with at some point in our lives. But sitting with those kids, listening to them talk openly about who they pray for, what they bring to God — it reminded me of something I needed to hear.

God doesn't need a perfect prayer. He just wants me to pray. Those kids reminded me of that. I came to pour into them, and they poured right back into me.

"Getting to watch these kids grow in their faith, accept God as their Savior, and get baptized — I am so glad I get to be a part of this."

The table where it happens

Dinner is my favorite part of Wednesday nights — and it has nothing to do with the food. It is the time when kids open up. They tell me about their days, the things they are facing, the questions they are carrying around. That table is where real relationships get built, and I get to be a part of that. I get to be someone outside of their home who genuinely wants them to know Christ.

We laugh a lot at dinner. We laugh a lot all night, honestly. But in between the laughter, something sacred happens too. Watching these kids grow week after week — seeing them take steps in their faith, accept God as their Savior, get baptized — that is more rewarding than I ever could have imagined when I first walked through the door.

How serving has changed me

I came onto this team asking whether I was the right person for it. What I found is that serving has made me a better version of myself. Knowing these kids are looking up to me, watching how I live and carry my faith, has pushed me to be more consistent — more intentional in my time in the Word, in my prayer life, in the way I show up each day.

I ask myself: if I am not living how Christ expects me to, how can I be an example to these kids on Wednesday nights? That question has become an anchor for me. I was brought out of my comfort zone, and I am so grateful for it. In many ways, I came to help build a foundation for other kids — the same kind of foundation I watched Hunter build — and God used the whole thing to build something in me too.

"It has been the most rewarding decision. Getting to watch these kids each week has brought so much joy — and it has made me stronger in my walk with God."

Come on — we'd love to have you

If you are on the fence about serving, I want you to know: I felt the exact same way. I was hesitant. I questioned whether I was enough. And I was wrong. The moment I said yes, God showed me exactly how He could use me — and He has been doing it every Wednesday night since.

Come visit on a Wednesday night. See what it looks like. Come shadow me if you want — I mean that. There are kids showing up every week who need someone to look up to, someone to ask about their day, someone to show them what a life of faith looks like in real time. The team has room. And if my story tells you anything, it's that God doesn't need you to have it all figured out before you show up. He just needs you to say yes.

The Midweek Kids Team serves on Wednesday evenings. To learn more about serving, reach out to Ashley Klitzke or Bethany Jones.