Read the June 2002 Reader's Digest story about Mercy Ships.

Kevin in front of the Anastasis in port in Gambia, West Africa

Part of the refrigeration unit aboard the Anastasis

One of Kevin's new friends in Gambia!

Kevin Gates - Mercy Ships Missionary

Newsletters:
JULY, 2004
April, 2004 
May, 2003
December, 2002
August, 2002

[Read Kevin's latest newsletter!] 

PHOTOS!

We are pleased to present to you our newest missionary - Kevin Gates! In the summer of 2002, Kevin made a two-year commitment to be a crewmember on the Anastasis, the flagship of Mercy Ships, a global charity operating a growing fleet of ships in developing nations since 1978. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.

Kevin has been serving the Lord for several years. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior in August of 1988 while a member of the Coast Guard. He was exposed to missions through a Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course while attending church in Florida. During his time there he made a short term missions trip to the Dominican Republic where he received his certification with Youth With A Mission, the original founding organization of Mercy Ships. The fire of serving in missions was lit.

Kevin returned to his hometown of Pineville, LA where he had graduated high school and where his parents still live. He became a faithful member of Christian Challenge in the early 90's and consistently demonstrated faithfulness and integrity. He has served in several capacities in the church, including overseeing building maintenance, operating the sound equipment and serving on our Board of Counselors, a pastoral advisory group selected by the congregation to assist the pastors in providing care to the flock.

For several years he managed his parents' family business, an air conditioning and heating enterprise, but the call to missions would not go away. In early 2002 rather than take over the business from his parents, he helped them sell it so they could retire. This freed him up to pursue the call of God on his life. He wasn't sure where this would take him, but he knew it would have something to do with missions.

Kevin had heard of Mercy Ships and had visited the Caribbean Mercy during one of its stops in Florida. He began praying about the ministry of the Mercy Ships and sensed the growing burden of the Lord in that direction. One day as he walked in his house he heard a commercial from Mercy Ships on Christian radio speaking of their need for volunteers. They specifically mentioned their need for an HVACR technician to oversee the refrigeration and cooling systems of the ship.

This seemed too much of a coincidence as Kevin had already been praying in this direction. He sent an email to the director of personnel who responded that they needed him "NOW"! It appears the Anastasis had lost its entire food refrigeration system while on outreach to The Gambia, West Africa, limiting normal function. All food had to be off-loaded onto the port and the galley crew was greatly inconvenienced in its ministry to the 350+ crew members and 50 (+/-) patients and guests.

The director of personnel asked Kevin if he would be available to fly to Gambia to meet the ship and try to repair the system. Would he? Kevin immediately sensed the Lord's witness and responded in the affirmative. Within a couple of weeks Kevin was on board the Anastasis involved in a three-week repair of the entire refrigeration system. During his time there the Lord confirmed over and over that this is where he was supposed to be.

Kevin returned to the states to settle his affairs and left the US in late July to meet up with the Anastasis in Amsterdam. He is going by faith, depending on the Lord to meet his needs. If you'd like to be a part of his support team, send your donations to Christian Challenge, 300 Pearce Road, Pineville, LA 71360 with a note that the gift is for Kevin. Prayers are especially appreciated. You can contact Kevin by email at Kevin@ChristianChallenge.org.