heard or read the glorious Gospel in his native language. The latter has been accomplished by na tional-speaking ministers, by printed tracts, by New Testaments (often bilingual), or by records from Gospel Recordings of Los Angeles. While no specific conversion statistics are kept —Mr. Bateman said he does not like to keep score —still it is known since the start of this work that more than 60,000 men have been served in the center, and over 25,000 of these have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. The Center has an executive board o f five mem bers, the Chairman of which is the Rev. Ellis R. Shaw, pastor of the Brooklyn Heights Presbyterian Church in San Diego. Everything is free to the men. Several churches and interested individuals contribute to the meager budget which barely covers the costs of meals, lit erature, and facilities. There is a growing need for expansion at the Center as well as increased staff. Hundreds of let ters are coming in from all over the world from the men who have been there. They seek help and
“We began to contact every foreign naval ship that came to San Diego,” Mr. Bateman said. “ The nationals were being sent here in large numbers for training under our government’s Military As sistance Program. Our method of reaching them has always been as follows: invite them up for a home-cooked meal — their national dish; take them on tours of the city, and entertain them in every possible way. We felt this was practical Christian ity. These people were in a strange land and needed friendship, so we provided it.” This gave validity to the witness that was then given these men. “Word quickly passed from ship to ship, and from man to man, and soon an endless stream of men from all over the world was wending its way to our door.” It was not long until the Center and its hospitality became known around the world. Commander Yu of the Korean Navy told Mrs. Bate man, “ Everyone in the Korean Navy knows you. You are the mother o f the entire Korean Navy.” Men from 54 nations have entered the doors of the Center. Each has received a warm greeting, a home-cooked meal indigenous to his land, and has
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APRIL, 1969
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