The Angel Fishing Boat

By Frank Johnson III

In 1975 I was the captain of a small mission ship called the Northern Light. My wife, Yvonne, and I lived on the ship as missionaries. We traveled up and down the coast of British Columbia, Canada, sharing God’s love with the First Nations people who lived in the villages there.

One day we were asked to visit the Kitkatla people who lived on Dolphin Island. Many of them had been listening to Christian radio programs and watching TV shows that taught about Jesus, and now they wanted someone to help them learn even more from the Bible.

I looked at the map to find the way into Kitkatla’s harbor. My heart sank when I read a warning: captains needed to have a local expert on board, because the channel was dangerous. Hidden rocks and sandbars could wreck a ship.

I searched everywhere for a guide, but no one could go with us. Yvonne and I prayed and asked God what to do. We felt impressed to go forward, trusting Him to lead us. The day was calm as we steered toward the channel. I prayed again for safety. Just then I noticed a fishing boat heading into the same passage.

“Praise God!” I shouted to Yvonne. I slowed down so the other boat could go first. “Now we can follow him in!”

We made it safely through the channel and into the harbor. I was so relieved to see an open spot at the dock where we could tie up our ship. After the ship was secure, I hurried to thank the fisherman for guiding us.

But strangely, no one had seen his boat.

I asked several men at the dock. They all said the same thing: “We didn’t see any boat ahead of you.”

That was impossible. Yvonne and I had followed it the whole way!

We spent the rest of the day visiting homes, teaching the Bible, and sharing stories with the children. Everyone was kind and eager to listen.

Later a man who worked in the village told me he had been upset when he saw us arrive without a local guide. He explained that ships had never made it through the channel safely without help. But then a woman spoke up. She said she had seen a fishing boat leading us in!

The man’s face softened. He smiled and said, “God must want you here. I expect to see you back often.”

That’s when I knew for sure: Yvonne and I hadn’t been alone. God had sent His angels to guide the Northern Light safely through the rocks so we could share His love with the Kitkatla people.

Frank Johnson III served as a teacher, principal, pastor, radio operator, and captain of the Northern Light, the mission ship of the British Columbia Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. This story was written for Mission 360°, produced by the Office of Adventist Mission at the General Conference. It has been adapted for younger readers and used with permission. Read the original story by scanning the QR code with a cell phone camera.