Title: Risking It for the Hug: A Live Shipboard Devotional

Date: May 22, 2025

Location: Starboard Lounge, Global Mercy, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Description:

Today’s episode is a live devotional I gave to the Hospitality and Housekeeping teams on Mercy Ships—right before we pack up and fly back to the U.S.

This wasn’t recorded in my usual 5AM prayer booth. It was done in real time, with real crew, real laughter, and real praise.

The message?

Don’t miss Heaven’s timing. Risk love—especially when it might not be returned.

It’s all about my 3-year-old son, Noah, giving a crew member (John) a hug on our last day aboard—after 9 months of silence.

• Romans 5:6 – At just the right time…
• Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time.
• 1 Corinthians 13:7 – Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

• 00:30 – Intro from the staff team & a few jokes about my kids’ volume levels
• 03:00 – The story of John, Noah, and the hug that took 9 months to bloom
• 06:30 – A devotional reflection: what does it mean to risk love with no guarantee?
• 08:15 – Scripture trifecta + spiritual application
• 09:20 – My challenge: Are you living like John? Willing to love anyway?
• 11:00 – A prayer over the team & our journey
• 14:00 – Housekeeping tradition finale: PRAISE GOD!

Don’t wait for the perfect script. Don’t protect your pride.

Risk the hug. Risk the high five. Risk being Jesus to someone today.

Bonus:

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience and ends with a beautiful Mercy Ships prayer and housekeeping celebration moment. You’ll feel like you were there.