Life often has its shipwrecks, but just because we loose one ship, it doesn’t mean that we won’t reach port. Thomas Spurgeon, son of Charles, pastored in Australia for a few years and told this story.
James Voller and his family set sail from England, called to become the pastor of the Bathhurst Street Baptist Church in Sydney, Australia. Both the pastor and the church were excited about their future opportunities. However, three quarters of the way into the journey, their ship, “Meridian” ran aground on the uninhabited island of Amsterdam in the Indian Sea. As the ship broke apart and the few survivors huddled together on the exposed rocks, the mariners and other unbelievers despaired of life. They were cold, wet, hungry and almost naked. But then, by the providence of God, several crates floated ashore. Some contained clothing and others food. Immediately after what God had given was shared, Pastor Voller lead the group in psalms of thanksgiving. Of course, the food began to diminish, but the Voller’s did not give up their trust in God’s will and power. After several days, the Lord heard the cries of His servants and an American Whaling ship saw the smoke of their distress fires. After a dangerous rescue was concluding the journey to Australia was continued.
On this day in 1854, James Voller preached his first message at his new church. The theme was shipwreck and salvation. He quickly found that the church had lost its Baptist distinctives, with the lost and unbaptized among the membership. Voller would change that. It is said that forty-eight years later, when he breathed his last upon this earth, he left behind several strong Baptist congregations in Australia.