Somali Pirate Christians Mourned

A sailing Southern California Christian couple killed by Somali pirates during their cruise around the world to distribute Bibles has been honored by the words of the couple's church pastor.

Retired Senior Californians Scott Adam and Jean Adam of Marina del Rey gave the remainder of their lives making a difference in the world by bringing Bibles to the four corners of the earth.

"They were faith-filled people, people of the Scripture... They were great people of our community.  Our community believes in helping to form loving disciples who will transform this world," said Pastor Lloyd Torgerson of Santa Monica.

Sharing Bibles was the missionary quest of Scott and Jean Adam throughout the missionary sailing journey they began seven years ago.

Their 58-foot sloop, the Quest, had separated from the cruise fleet traveling from Australia to the Mediterranean when they were hijacked by 19 Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Oman.

The murderous pirates captured Scott Adam, Jean Adam and their friends, Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay of Seattle.

Four U.S. naval warships were tailing the captured vessel and Navy officials were engaged in negotiations with two of the pirates on board one of the American naval ships three days ago.

Talks were abruptly ended by the sound of gunfire coming from the Quest, which Navy forces quickly boarded and captured.

All four Americans were shot --- without mercy --- while sharing the love of true friendship with strangers.

Pastor Torgerson said that his Christian friends' deaths made him feel "great, great, loss and great pain".

"They won the Crown. I believe with all my heart they are with God today," Torgerson continued, "I hope that the four of them find that great Peace."

The Los Angeles area couple had expressed their desire of finding "homes" for the Word of God as a part of what they called "friendship evangelism".

The Adams boat was sailing to the nation of Oman when they were captured.  Two Somali pirates were killed and 13 were captured in a naval confrontation.

Pastor Torgerson offered that all Californians can be inspired by Scott and Jean Adam.

"We want to make sure that each one of us does as they have done: to go about with courage and strength to make a difference in this world," the pastor emotionally declared.

"They were doing that as retired people, so all ages can go out and make some difference."

Spiritual friends around the world have offered tearful prayers and condolences to the devastated family members of the "Four Evangelists of the Sea".

Professor Robert K. Johnston of Pasadena's Fuller Theological Seminary recalled how Scott Adam earned a Master of Theology degree from the school in 2010 and how, with his sailing mission, Adam put his seminary education to good use.

"He was sailing around the world and serving God, two of his passions," said Johnston who also stated that despite an adventurous spirit, the Adams were detailed in their planning and aware of the risks of international sailing.

Scott Adam was an associate producer in the Hollywood entertainment industry when he dedicated the rest of his life to God and enrolled in studies at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Professor Johnston and Scott Adam shared a dream to start a film and theology institute in Los Angeles, and Adam taught a class on church and media at the seminary.

During their 2011 sailing mission, Scott Adam and his wife, Jean, visited Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, passing out Bibles from both the American Bible Society and Biblica. 

This California blog urges all Californians to make donations to both nonprofit organizations in honor of the sacrifice of true Christian friendship made by the sailing missionaries from Marina del Rey.