Operation Mobilization decided on the name of their new missions ship that would represent the nature and character of their ministry, Feb. 7 at the OM Ships office in Mosbash Germany.

"This is a historic occasion!" said OM Ships Managing Director Bernd Guelker. "We have put a great deal of thought into finding the name that best represents the nature and character of our ministry. LOGOS HOPE builds on the strengths of our ministry experience and sends out a strong message for the future."

According to Bernd, the ministry opportunities open to OM's present ships are often overwhelming. Over 33 million people have visited the ministry, pioneered by the original LOGOS, with first DOULOS and later LOGOS II being added. With the renewed vision to impact the life of every visitor in a greater way, plans have been developing to replace LOGOS II for over two years.

"In all our planning towards replacing LOGOS II, we have been talking about 'the Next Ship', but from today that ship has a name - LOGOS HOPE," said Bernd.

LOGOS HOPE was chosen from among 180 other names.

"We have a clear sense that LOGOS HOPE is the name that best embodies the future direction of the Ship Ministry," said Bernd. "It combines powerful spiritual significance with our desire to make a real difference in people's lives."

The Next Ship now has a name, but no decision has yet been made about which ship will carry it. Many ships on the market have been included in the search for the 'right ship'. The Next Ship team has put together a list of criteria to be fulfilled before a ship can be purchased.

"We are first and foremost looking to the Lord for guidance and His peace and conviction about which ship we should purchase," said Lloyd Nicholas, Next Ship Project Director. "The choice of name is an important milestone in the project, but we still have other criteria to fulfil, including seeing the needed funding in place." Over half of the project funding has come in already.

OM's role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization, and to strengthen and help plant churches, especially among the unreached in the Middle East, South and Central Asia and Europe.