Captain, sailor, Jesus lover, Catamaran aficionado… we welcome Rob Arrand to the podcast- live form APAC gathering 2023. Originally from Arizona, Rob has spent the last 10 years living in Indonesia with his family on mission, and is now in the beginnings of a new project called Sail4Purpose… based in the remoter parts of Indonesia on a 65ft catamaran- sailing, surfing, spearing & giving back to local communities, the underlying intention of S4P has always been to share the gospel & grow the Kingdom. This is a snippet of Robs vision with the boat, and a call out to those that want to jump onboard- whether that be missional crew sowing into villages, or mad surfers & spearos that want to give back in their travels. There is room for everyone…
Your family were all saved in the same year back when you were 13? Can you tell us more about that?
Yeah my dad was hitting rock bottom in marriage, business, and life as a hardworking holdover '60's-70's' hippie party lifestyle dude. So our amazing Dutch neighbor family was crazy in love with Jesus.... So in my opinion, the rest of the story is the best ever for me and my whole family!
How did life change for you since becoming a born-again believer?
It's changed from very early in my life by being freed from addictions and massive insecurity all the way until how God has given me dreams and visions that continue to come to pass to this day. Life is far from perfect, but His ways are so much better and higher than we can ever hope or imagine, it's true!
You first came to Indonesia in 2004, and spent 8 years in Rote Island with your family… what did the Lord put on your heart to do?
His work, ha! Simply by obeying Him every step of the way, walking in love and truth.
My parents spent years on mission in both the Philippines and Japan.
As I grew older and ventured into post-college life, work, and various activities like sailing, I also began my journey into ministry within our home church. During this time, I became increasingly interested in observing my parents' activities, meeting their friends, and understanding the work the Lord was doing. These experiences began to sow seeds of fascination within me. Eventually, God prompted me to contemplate what lay ahead in life after our involvement in ministry in California and home churches.
The idea of Asia, particularly Indonesia, started to captivate me. Despite being from the U.S., I had limited knowledge about Indonesia and its location. So, I began to research and delve into this new interest. One thing led to another, and in 2005, we found ourselves amidst rice farmers on the Island of Roti, Indonesia. This marked a significant and intense introduction to the challenges of dealing with mosquitoes and language barriers. Nonetheless, it was both challenging and enriching, as God graciously helped us quickly learn the language, which greatly facilitated our interactions with locals in markets and elsewhere. This was the initial step that brought us to Indonesia.
Our journey continued as we moved from Roti to Kupang after a year, building and nurturing a sense of community. This was a pivotal period for me, as I began to fully comprehend why we were there and what we were meant to do.
When did you fall in love with surfing & spearfishing?
Surfing when I was about 10-12 along with sailing. However I never really had the opportunity to surf regularly until we began living in California in 1998.
Can you tell us about the beginnings of the sailboat ministry?
Ahhh yeah wow all the Lord of course. So, my dad began doing this as a missionary in the Philippines from a 30' catamaran with a few other Aussie and Kiwis mates, and of course young local guys. We always had talked about how cool it would be years before that, as my dad and I travelled and raced boats together a lot. It has always been a dream for a long time to use sailboats to advance God's kingdom in remote Asian islands.
My dad actually received a catamaran as a gift from another missionary. He had a couple of New Zealand guys with him who were also involved in missions and were skilled sailors. They started using the catamaran to reach out to other islands that were difficult to access from where they were stationed.
They quickly realized the incredible advantages of having this versatile and private boat at their disposal. It allowed them to transport teams and individuals between the islands with ease. Essentially, they became like water-based bus drivers. The success of this approach boosted their enthusiasm and confidence in the project.
My dad shared these experiences and ideas with me, and it resonated with me due to my background in sailing and my growing involvement in missions within our home church in California. As I continued to walk with the Lord and deepen my engagement in these activities, the concept of using a boat for outreach appeared both intriguing and unconventional. So you could say he’s been a big influence, yeah, aha.
Tell us about your dad… he was a pretty influential character for you?
Wow, just choked me up.. A legend, loved by many, very chill, influential for sure to those close to him. A bit too hard working for his own good, we both have always struggled with that.
What is your vision now with Sail4Purpose…
It's still unfolding but in a nutshell to reach the most unreachable poor in the hardest to reach islands of Indonesia, not an easy commission by any means, but none are. Reaching out to all people of course but especially, as time goes on, it will be heavily focused on missions in those places.
In 2005, while I was in Rote, I had a vision that seemed to encompass all the lessons the Lord had been teaching me throughout the years, particularly those related to sailing. It was a profound moment of realisation about my identity and how I could use the gifts God had given me to glorify Him in Indonesia.
What's truly amazing about God is that He recognizes and values all of your passions and desires, aligning them with your heart to serve Him. He uses these unique aspects of who you are to bring glory to His name. It's a beautiful partnership between your individuality and His purpose.
This is something I strongly encourage especially young people to embrace. God has made each of us incredibly unique, whether it's through music, surfing, or any other passion. He desires us to utilize these gifts for His glory, and when you begin to grasp this concept, it's like a door to blessings and opportunities opens wide.
Of course, it took me some time to fully understand this, but once I did, it was as if the heavens opened, and God began pouring His blessings upon me. Resources, people, and countless other things started coming my way. I simply soaked it all up and walked in faith.
As the Bible teaches, life is never without its challenges, but the rewards that come from walking in God's purpose far outweigh the difficulties. There are moments in your journey where you'll look back and think, "Wow, this has been quite a journey, but it's incredible to be doing this for the Lord." Moreover, it's the people you meet along the way, the partnerships you form, that make it all the more meaningful. That's what it's all about.
The catamaran that you currently sail was a bit of a God send in how you acquired that hey…
Yeah we had another 50' monohull all lined up when I arrived in Bali to purchase her at the end of Covid. It was all charter ready and locally flagged, 'perfect'. The owner sold it right out from under us as a cash deal, so I heard. Replaced it with a totally dream boat out of our reach at the time, just too expensive and needed work. As only God can do it all happened and this boat is perfect for what we need and what's in store ahead, it's His, He truly provided this boat just for us!
What is the sailing route for 2024, & opportunities available for crew & guests to jump onboard?
Mostly around Sumba, Savu, Rote and many other island locations in the area, early and mid season we got to 'uncharted' places for the brave at heart, all mostly north eastward....
It's truly exciting to witness the interest of young people from all over the world-Europe, Aus, the US- who are eager to join the boat despite having limited experience. Their passion for the Lord is evident, and some of them are relatively new believers. This enthusiasm is infectious, and I genuinely believe that this movement is in alignment with the way the early church functioned, as described in the Word. In the beginning, the church was an international community with diverse backgrounds, united by their faith in God and leadership that guided them.
I envision a similar blend of internationals and Indonesians coming together in this venture, creating a dynamic and impactful community. The current gathering we're experiencing, like the Asia Pacific Conference, is a testament to the power of unity within diversity. Witnessing the work God is doing in the lives of individuals, their communities, and the broader context is truly inspiring. People are crying out for workers to spread His message, and it's amazing to hear testimonies of how God is actively moving in their lives.
These are super exciting times & I’m eager to see the path this journey takes and how God's kingdom is advanced through our efforts. For anyone who might be listening, if you feel a calling to join this mission and make a difference, don't hesitate to step forward and become part of something incredible. The potential impact & experience is truly amazing.
Each island in Indo has its own unique cultural twist… what one do you find most fascinating?
They're all so amazingly unique for sure. But Sumba for now, a long time ago the people here have just captivated my heart.
Favourite worship album?
'Tide, Bethel Music' these days.
